Planning (now Planning & Zoning)

Click Here to be redirected to the Planning and Zoning Commission 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING PRIOR ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING THE ESSEX ZONING COMMISSION AND THE ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION AND ESTABLISHING IN PLACE THEREOF A COMBINED PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION - November 2020 Click Here

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The Planning Commission has approved a new Plan of Conservation & Development for 2015-2025 
Click HERE for the Final Document.
Hard-copy versions are available for review and purchase in the Land Use Office

Update - April 2020
The Planning Commission is working with the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG) to update the region's Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). This Plan is a requirement of FEMA for municipalities to apply for hazard mitigation funding, and provides an opportunity for communities to assess their ability to withstand and recover from natural disasters, and to prioritize mitigation actions. 

Please help the Town with this Plan update by completing this community survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WNMKMJH

Update - February 2020
The Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission worked with a group of UConn students for a "Senior Design" Project, looking at the parking management and pedestrian environment on Main Street in Essex Village in the fall of 2019. The recommendations for a "tactical urbanist quick build" renovation to the public space on Main Street were presented to the Town in the winter of 2019-2020. The draft student report is here

Update - March 2019
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Sect. 8-30j, the Essex Planning Commission has adopted a
five-year Affordable Housing Plan, 2019-2024

 

The Planning Commission is responsible for the development and implementation of the municipal Plan of Conservation and Development and for the review of subdivisions and re-subdivisions. It advises the Board of Selectmen regarding municipal projects and the Zoning Commission regarding changes to zoning maps or regulation. Click here to see the 2009 updates to the Plan of Conservation & Development.

Per the Connecticut General Statues the planning commission:

  • Must prepare, amend and adopt a plan of conservation and development, showing the commission's recommendation for the most desirable use of land for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial and other purposes at least once every ten years.
  • Must review and may make recommendations on all proposed municipal improvements, such as street locations or changes; public schools, parks and utilities; and public housing developments.
  • May establish, change or repeal regulations for the subdivision and resubdivision of land.
  • Determines whether the existing division of any land constitutes a subdivision or resubdivision.
  • Hears, considers, and decides upon applications for approvals of the subdivision or resubdivision of land.
  • The commission may waive certain requirements of the subdivision regulations when deciding upon applications for subdivision or resubdivision where special conditions exist, in accordance with standards and criteria set forth in the zoning regulations but only if the waiver will not adversely affect adjacent property with respect to public health and safety.

Staff Contacts

Name Phone
John Guszkowski 860-785-5449

Commission Members

Name
Gary Riggio