Planning Department News

    Planning Department Mission

    IMG_3477The East Lyme Planning Department under the direction of the First Selectman supports the Town and the East Lyme Planning Commission. The East Lyme Planning Commission is responsible for regulating the subdivision of land through the use of local subdivision regulations, established and administered by the Planning Commission, and the development of the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development a State mandated requirement.

    The Planning Department reviews residential and non-residential subdivision applications, performs consistency analysis of commercial and industrial development proposals with the Plan of Conservation and Development (“POCD”), and provides guidance with regard to existing and future land use policies to insure the East Lyme interests and regulations are met. The Planning Department provides input and guidance to long range planning initiatives and oversees the implemented regulations. For example, the East Lyme Planning Department provides technical guidance in the development of the Plan of Conservation and Development for the Town. The POCD was last amended November 9, 2020. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes a town’s POCD must be updated every 10-years. Our next update of the POCD is due by December 2030.

    Other functions of the Planning Department include the review of Inland Wetland applications, enforcement of regulations, investigation of wetland violations, and coordination and review of development proposals with local and state agencies. In addition, the Department works to procure grants to help fund capital improvements throughout East Lyme.

    The purpose of the East Lyme Planning Department is to ensure the town’s objectives, goals, and strategies for sustainable development conserve open land; promote balanced and responsible growth; maintain an adequate level of community services and facilities; and ensuring a high quality of lifestyle and an atmosphere that promotes success for East Lyme citizens and business.

    The Role of the Town Planner

    The Town of East Lyme is a growing community; productively managing this growth is the function of Planning. The Town Planner is charged with working on the Town’s future. Land use regulations result in benefits that accumulate over the years. Effective planning on major physical projects will benefit residents for decades by providing environmental protection along with economic development providing jobs and balancing the tax base. The Town Planner guides the Town on long-term projects.

    There is no “typical” role for the town planner; he has a position that has little day-to-day routine. The town planner is project oriented, future oriented, and typically involved with long-term high cost projects. To help evaluate issues to achieve responsible and effective decision making, the town planner uses available tools such as Geographic Information System (GIS).

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