Brookfield, Connecticut 2015 Plan of Conservation and Development Effective July 2, 2015, Amended Effective March 17, 2016 Acknowledgements Brookfield Planning Commission Jon Van Hise, Chairman Arthur Kerley, Vice Chairman David Frankel, Secretary Geoffrey Hunton, Regular member Linda Taylor, Regular member Mel Butow, Alternate member George Blass, Alternate member Former Commissioners who participated Board of Selectmen Steve Dunn, First Selectman Sue Slater, Selectman Martin Flynn, Selectman Former Selectmen who participated Other contributors Ryan Blessey, Chairman and other Zoning Commission members Katherine Daniel, Community Development Director Alice Dew, Chairman and other Conservation Commission members Dennis DiPinto, Parks and Recreation Department Director Parks and Recreation Commission Sharon Fox, Chairman and other Inland Wetlands Commission members Richard Groski and the Brookfield Housing Authority Denise Hames, Assessor and her staff Ralph Iassogna, Acting Superintendent and the Board of Education Hal Kurfehs, Chairman and other Economic Development Commission members, Rebecca Lollie and the Chamber of Commerce Page | 2 Betsy McIlvaine and the Library Board of Trustees Nelson Malwitz and the Water Pollution Control Authority commissioners and staff Lou Memoli and the Brookfield Open Space Legacy Jacqueline Salame, Robert Brown and other Historic District Commissioners Ralph Tedesco, Director of Public Works Michael Jastremski, Housatonic Valley Association Candlewood Lake Authority First Light Hydrogenerating Company Paul Elconin and others from Weantinoge Land Trust The Brookfield Craft Center Carol Gould, Francisco Gomes and Mike Morehouse, Fitzgerald and Halliday, Inc. Todd Poole and Darlene Wynne, 4ward Planning Rebecca Augur, David Sullivan, Kwesi Brown and Kristen Braun of Milone and MacBroom Joseph Lenahan and other staff of Fuss and O’Neill Dave Hannon and Jonathan Chew, Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials And not least all members of the public who participated in meetings, workshops and online through EnvisionBrookfield.com and the town website. Page | 3 2015 Brookfield Plan of Conservation and Development Effective July 2, 2015, Amended Effective March 17, 2016 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 6 II. Introduction to Brookfield and Plan Objectives ......................................................................................... 11 Brookfield’s History and Regional Role ......................................................................................................... 11 Principles and Objectives of the Plan of Conservation and Development ....................................... 13 III. Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Demographic conditions and trends ............................................................................................................... 14 Impact of demographic shift on community services .............................................................................. 17 Housing Conditions and Trends ........................................................................................................................ 19 Employment Conditions and Trends .............................................................................................................. 21 Labor and Industry Trends ................................................................................................................................. 24 Real Estate Trends .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Land Use Conditions and Trends ...................................................................................................................... 26 IV. Updating the Plan .................................................................................................................................................. 27 Central Federal Road Corridor Study ............................................................................................................. 27 2012 Amendment of 2002 POCD: Four Corners Town Center Revitalization Plan ..................... 27 Current Update Efforts .......................................................................................................................................... 28 V. Vision Statement ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 VI. Achieving the Vision ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Community Character ........................................................................................................................................... 30 Aspects of Brookfield’s Character ................................................................................................................ 30 Community Character – Issues, Goals and Action Agenda ................................................................ 32 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 Inventory of Brookfield’s Natural Resources .......................................................................................... 36 Natural Resources – Issues, Goals and Action Agenda ........................................................................ 40 Open Space Conservation and Preservation ................................................................................................ 44 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 44 Progress since 2002 .......................................................................................................................................... 44 Open Space Plan – Issues, Goals and Action Agenda ........................................................................... 44 Protecting Historic Resources ........................................................................................................................... 50 Page | 4 2015 Brookfield Plan of Conservation and Development Effective July 2, 2015, Amended Effective March 17, 2016 History of Brookfield’s protection of historic resources .................................................................... 50 Historic Resources – Issues, Goals and Action Agenda ....................................................................... 52 Revitalizing the Four Corners: Creating a new downtown .................................................................... 57 Establish a Village Center in the Four Corners ....................................................................................... 58 Four Corners Future Concept Plans ............................................................................................................ 58 New Downtown at the Four Corners – Issues, Goals and Action Agenda ................................... 68 Promoting Economic Development ................................................................................................................. 70 Housing ........................................................................................................................................................................ 74 Residential Development Patterns.............................................................................................................. 74 Housing Needs ..................................................................................................................................................... 75 Facilities ...................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Community facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 80 Government facilities ........................................................................................................................................ 83 Educational facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 84 Recreational facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 86 Transportation System ......................................................................................................................................... 87 Route 7 Bypass .................................................................................................................................................... 88 State Route 202 Improvements ...................................................................................................................