What Should Stratford Look Like in 20 Years?

[The following is press release from the town.]

What do residents of the town of Stratford want their town to look like in 20 years?

How can the town's quality of life be improved upon?

What makes Stratford a good place to make a home, raise a family, run a business?

These questions and others will be posed during a public workshop for the town's new Plan of Conservation and Development.

The session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. It will be held at the Baldwin Senior Center, 1000 West Broad St., Stratford.

The workshop will feature background information about the Plan of Conservation and Development, the planning process and time frame. The interactive portion of the program features individual input as well as group consensus building exercises.

The Plan of Conservation and Development guides growth and change in the town. The plan considers all facets of community life including:

• population
• growth
• housing
• transportation
• waterways
• parks
• open space
• the economy

The plan will establish actions that aimed at helping the town to achieve a vision of the preferred future crafted during the process.

"Public input is a central element of the plan because it lays the foundation for the vision of the future for Stratford," says Planning Commission Chair John Zbell. "The workshop on March 6 is just one element of a broad public input program that will take place throughout the plan process. It is an exciting opportunity to set the course for the future of the town and we encourage residents to get involved."

During the plan process there will be a community-wide survey and additional public forums to encourage input from residents, set priorities and raise awareness about the plan and its importance to the community. The project consultant, peter j. smith & company of Buffalo, NY, will also conduct focus groups, interviews and visioning sessions with town leaders.

The community last produced a Plan of Conservation and Development in 2003. The 2013 plan will be a comprehensive update and will include new guiding goals, objectives and policies.

The workshop is free and open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. For more information, contact town of Stratford Planning & Zoning Administrator Gary Lorentson at 203.385.4017.