New Canaan 2024 POCD

October 10, 2024 Effective November 1, 2024

Acknowledgments

The Town of New Canaan Plan of Conservation and Development was prepared with the input of elected officials, community leaders and volunteers, business owners and residents—each of whom contributed their time and expertise to the goals and strategies that will guide the Town for the next decade.

The Town of New Canaan would like to thank all those who participated and provided insightful comments and feedback throughout the process. These contributions have guided the preparation of the Plan of Conservation and Development, and the Town would like to recognize the contributions of the following:

The Residents of New Canaan and the Planning and Zoning Commission

Daniel Radman Chairman

Krista Neilson Secretary

John Kriz POCD Sub-Committee Chair

Tom Benton

John Engel

Chris Hering

Paul Knag

Eric Knowles

Allen Swerdlowe

Kristina Larson Alternate

Kent Turner (to August 2024)

Sarah Carey Town Planner / Sr. Enforcement Officer

*Names in italics signify participation on the POCD Sub-Committee

Introduction

The Town of New Canaan (the Town), located in Fairfield County, is a part of the Western Council of Governments (WestCOG). New Canaan has a population of 20,622 and shares borders with Wilton, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, and Pound Ridge (New York). The Town is well-known for its small-town charm and wide range of amenities, including notable architecture and cultural facilities, an excellent public school system, and a beautiful public park system. New Canaan’s Downtown has a village-like feel and supports a local economy of retail, dining, and various professional services.

Incorporated in 1801, the Town (previously known as Canaan Parish) was primarily an agriculture and mill town; however, the Town shifted towards small-scale manufacturing, with shoemaking becoming the primary industry in Town by 1818.1 Railroad development in the mid-1800s impacted New Canaan’s development significantly. The local rail spur connected the Town to employment centers near and far, including Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, and New York City. The Town’s accessibility to and from New York City encour-

aged New York residents to relocate to the Town and commute into the City, creating the busy, suburban community in New Canaan.

Today, New Canaan remains a well-balanced, primarily residential community. Residents are actively engaged in community development efforts and are proud of what their community has to offer. This Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD, the Plan) reviews and analyzes current Town conditions and identifies important local issues. The Plan concludes with specific recommendations that will guide the Town over the next decade, ensuring that its future is well-aligned with community desires.

Town of New Canaan

Welcome Sign © Meredith Bach

What Is a Plan of Conservation and Development?

A POCD is an official municipal policy document that sets forth a community’s conservation and development goals. The POCD presents existing conditions data, incorporates local knowledge and input through community engagement initiatives, establishes a future land use plan, and recommends next steps policies and actions to create an implementation roadmap and timeline for community use.

Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Chapter 126 §8-23 requires Planning and Zoning Commissions (PZCs) to prepare, adopt, and amend their POCD at least once every 10 years. While preparing the POCD, the PZC must consider physical, economic, social, and governmental trends, community needs, current and proposed housing, transportation, utility, water supply, land use, and zoning conditions. The Plan should also consider the contents of, and its consistency with, the State’s Conservation and Development Policies Plan and the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.

Plan Development Process

New Canaan’s PZC established a POCD Subcommittee to guide the development of the POCD. Beginning in Summer 2023, Town Staff, the POCD Subcommittee, and the Consultant Team collaborated on New Canaan’s 2024 POCD development. Over the next 12 months, the Subcommittee, Town Staff, and the Consultant Team collaborated on the Plan’s various components, including collecting and analyzing existing conditions data and mapping, reviewing State, regional, and local planning documents, conducting visioning sessions and community engagement activities, and ultimately drafting the POCD.

Data Analysis

Data analysis began in 2023 and involved collecting demographic and existing natural and built environment data to establish a baseline community profile and existing conditions inventory. Town Staff and the POCD Subcommittee reviewed the community profile, identified data gaps, and supplemented the existing conditions assessment with local knowledge to pinpoint community

needs. The complete community profile and existing conditions inventory are available in Appendix A.

State, Regional, and Local Planning Review

A comprehensive review of State, regional, and local planning efforts was conducted to ensure POCD recommendations would be consistent with ongoing municipal, regional, and State planning efforts. The State’s Conservation and Development Policies Plan, WestCOG’s Regional POCD, and New Canaan’s 2014 POCD were reviewed to understand planning issues and initiatives relevant to the Town. Chapter 9 of this POCD discusses this Plan’s consistency with the State and regional plans.

Other planning and policy documents reviewed to provide the POCD context included:

» Cross and Vitti Streets

Neighborhood Master Plan (2015)

» Western Grove Street

Neighborhood Master Plan (2016)

» Open Space in New Canaan (2018)

» WestCOG Multi-Jurisdiction

Hazard Mitigation Plan (2021)

» Western Connecticut Regional Affordable Housing Plan (New Canaan Municipal Annex) (2022)

» WestCOG Regional Bike Plan (2023)

» WestCOG Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (2023)

Community Engagement

The POCD Subcommittee emphasized the importance of integrating robust community engagement at every POCD milestone. When residents actively participate in inclusive, informative, and accessible engagement opportunities, their perspectives and needs are considered and presented in the POCD. Broad-based engagement ensures the POCD reflects New Canaan residents’ collective vision and priorities, leading to a more effective and relevant POCD.

The Community Engagement Plan consisted of four components, each designed to gather community feedback, ideas, and opinions:

1. Project Website. The project website was launched in August 2023 at the beginning of the Plan’s development and hosted meeting information, the project timeline, community data, and public engagement opportunities.

2. Community Survey. The Community Survey was created in partnership with Town Staff, the Subcommittee, and the Consultant Team. Launched in September 2023, the Survey was hosted online and promoted through various community channels, including the project website, email blasts, and local newspapers. The Survey gathered insight from residents, businesses owners, and other community stakeholders on priorities and values related to various community topics (e.g., residential development, economic development, community facilities). The Survey garnered a significant response rate of 11.2 percent, or 2,306 responses, and its results and analysis are available in Appendix B.

3. Open House. In October 2023, Town Staff, the Subcommittee, and Consultant Team hosted a project Open House at the Lapham Community Center in Waveny Park. The Open House informed the community of the overall project, shared the results of the Community Survey, and gathered additional feedback on the topics of housing and Downtown, community facilities, and the environment and sustainability in New Canaan.

4. Community Workshops/Dialogues. The Subcommittee hosted three topic-driven dialogue sessions to further spark conversations about community concerns and needs (housing, Downtown, and the environment). These dialogues identified various community priorities and generated additional ideas for New Canaan’s POCD and its implementation. In addition, the Town and the Consultant Team hosted an in-person workshop in May 2024 to present and gather concurrence from the public on the Plan’s proposed goals, strategies, policies, and actions.

God’s Acre (Christmas) © Leo Karl

Visioning

The POCD vision statement presents the New Canaan community’s long-term goals, directs decision-making, and ensures that preservation and development objectives align with desired outcomes. By defining what the community wants to be in the future, the vision statement captures the collective aspirations of residents. Planning with a vision helps establish a constancy of purpose, realistic goals, and strategies for achieving them.

The initial New Canaan POCD vision statement was crafted from insights gathered through extensive discussions with Town Staff, the Subcommittee, and the Consultant Team, and shared via the project website. The Consultant Team created an online community vision exercise for community members to provide feedback and suggestions on the proposed community vision. Participants commented on and refined the vision’s components (who we are, our vision for the future, and community themes), ultimately achieving consensus on the vision that would form the foundation of this POCD.

Community Themes and the Implementation Plan

An effective POCD provides the Town with an action-oriented implementation schedule. Identifying goals, strategies, policies, and actions aligned with the Town’s vision and themes is crucial for successful implementation of the Plan. Goals and strategies defined in New Canaan’s 2014 POCD were reviewed; those that remain consistent with the Town’s current vision were carried forward into this POCD. Where gaps existed, new goals and strategies were developed to address additional community priorities and needs. Policies and actions were then woven into the POCD to provide the Town, Commissions, and Boards with the means to implement the goals and strategies that were identified.

The Glass House © Michael Biondo

Nature Trail © Town of New Canaan

How to Use this Plan

This POCD is intended to be a living document with recommendations to guide the physical and economic development of New Canaan. The Town, and its various Commissions and Boards, should reference this POCD when making decisions related to land use and development.

This Plan May Be Used to:

» Guide Commission and Board Activities. When reviewing proposals and initiatives (private land development and municipal projects), Town Staff and elected and appointed officials should confirm consistency of the proposals with the POCD vision and Future Land Use Plan. Thoughtful compromise and site-specific context must be considered when evaluating a development proposal’s conformance with the POCD. Other considerations when evaluating a proposal’s consistency with POCD policies include whether the initiative or proposal fits within, or detracts from, the goals, strategies, policies, and actions presented in this POCD. Consideration of the Town’s capacity to carry out a proposed action outlined in this POCD will be necessary; as a result, some actions may need to extend beyond the duration of this POCD. (See Appendix C for more information.)

» Plan for Improvements. The Plan’s community profile and existing conditions analysis identifies community demographic trends and establishes an inventory of community facilities, infrastructure, and natural resources. This baseline, and the identification of policies and action items, can support Town departments in capital improvement planning and budgeting.

» Secure Funding. The POCD identifies the Town’s position on community-related issues, including residential and economic development, transportation planning, and community facilities and infrastructure. When seeking funding for capital improvement projects, or subsequent planning initiatives, the Town should reference priority initiatives detailed in the POCD to support these pursuits.

Elm Street Clock © Peter Hanson

NEW CANAAN TODAY

Waveny Rainbow © Deborah Burke

New Canaan Today

This chapter reviews New Canaan’s demographics, housing, economy, community facilities, infrastructure, land use, zoning, and natural resources. The Town conducted this comprehensive assessment to understand New Canaan’s existing conditions, identify its strengths and challenges, and inform decisions about New Canaan’s future. In addition, we contextualize key data by comparing New Canaan to Fairfield County and the neighboring communities of Darien, Westport, and Wilton. The complete data analysis is available in Appendix A .

Community Profile

The community profile provides insights into New Canaan’s demographics, housing, and economy. By combining quantitative data with local knowledge, the Town can develop a complete picture of its residents, where they live in the community (and in what conditions), and where they work.

These analyses identify significant community trends between 2010 and 2020 (or 2010 and 2021) and leverage these insights to predict the community’s evolution over the next decade. The primary data sources for these analyses include the 2010 and 2020 US Decennial Censuses, and the 2010 and 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates.

Elm Street Clock © Meredith Bach

Demographics

Population

New Canaan’s population is growing and will continue to grow marginally over the next decade. The COVID-19 pandemic likely drove the largest population growth of the last decade.

From 2010 to 2020, New Canaan’s population grew 4.5 percent to 20,622 residents.2 The Town’s population growth during this period was consistent with population growth in Fairfield County (4.4 percent) but notably higher than the State overall, which grew less than one percent during this time. New Canaan’s population increase between 2010 and 2020 was also greater than nearby communities including Darien (3.7 percent), Westport (2.8 percent), and Wilton (2.4 percent).

The Town’s population grew 2.8 percent from 2019-2021, which is the highest three-year period of growth in the last decade.3 During the pandemic, many residents of New York City relocated to nearby suburban areas, such as New Canaan. This population jump may be representative of an acceleration of in-migration that would have otherwise naturally occurred over several years. Current population estimates show the Town’s population peaked in 2021, which suggests population is stabilizing post-pandemic.

Source: State of Connecticut, Office of the Secretary of State, Population of Connecticut Towns 1900-2000 s

Downtown New Canaan © Connecticut Office of Tourism

Though New Canaan’s population has grown, its growth from 2010 to 2020 is moderate and indicative of a largely built-out town with a stable population. New Canaan’s population grew significantly between 1950 and 1970, when the population more than doubled along with prolific housing development, followed by a 20-year period of population stabilization through 1990.4 Since 1990, the Town’s population has continued to grow but at a slower rate than in previous decades.

Population projections suggest that New Canaan’s population may grow 1.5-2.2 percent by 2030.5 It should be noted the Regional POCD states that tempered population growth will be a concern for the coming decade, as low birth rates and limited net migration continue to impact the region.

Source: US Census, Annual Population Estimates, 2010-2022

Race and Ethnicity

Families with children remain the largest component of New Canaan’s population, but populations of young adults (20-34) and older adults (55+) are growing.

Between 2010 and 2020, New Canaan’s median age decreased slightly from 43.0 to 42.7 but remains higher than Fairfield County (40.3) and the State (41.1).6 This decline, although small, differs from the trend seen in communities like Darien, Westport, and Wilton, whose median ages increased during the decade.

To better understand the cause for the decreasing median age,7 age cohorts were analyzed.8 The following conclusions were made:

• Both the youth and adult cohorts shrank (0.8 and 11.4 percent, respectively) but remain the two largest age groups, making up 59.5 percent of the Town’s population.9

• The young adult cohort increased 53.3 percent (+719 people) between 2010 and 2020, now reflecting 10 percent of the total population compared to 6.8 percent in 2010. Most of this young adult cohort increase is among residents aged 20 to 24.10 These young adults are likely former residents who have returned home after finishing their college educations. This increase may be caused by the temporary impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and/or high housing costs in the area.

• The older adult population increased 20.2 percent (+794 people), and the senior population increased 11 percent (+154 people). Together, residents aged 55 and older comprised 30.4 percent of the Town’s population in 2020.11

Further analysis of these age cohorts suggests that most changes in age groups are a result of generations of different sizes aging. However, there has been some in-migration of those aged 10-19 and 30-49, which could indicate an increase in younger families from 2010 to 2020.

Racial and ethnic diversity in New Canaan is increasing.

New Canaan’s racial and ethnic composition continues to be predominately white (83.3 percent), but the population has diversified. Between 2010 and 2020,12 the Black or African American population increased 25.8 percent, the Asian population increased 75.1 percent, and populations of those reporting as “some other race, alone” and “two or more races” both increased by over 200 percent.13 In addition, the Town’s Hispanic or Latino population increased 96.7 percent, now making up 5.4 percent of the total population in 2020, compared to 2.9 percent in 2010.14

Education and Income

New Canaan’s population is well-educated and high earning.

New Canaan’s educational attainment levels for those ages 25 years or older are higher than both the County and State. Eighty (80.1) percent of the Town’s population age 25 or older holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 49.2 percent in the County and 40.6 percent in the State. When looking at advanced degrees, 38 percent of New Canaan’s population over the age of 25 hold a graduate degree or higher, compared to 22.2 and 18.3 percent for the County and State, respectively.15

Residents are predominately employed in three industries: Finance and Insurance (16.7 percent), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (14.5 percent), and Healthcare and Social Assistance (11 percent).16 All three of these industries represent a larger share of employment now than they did in 2010. Just over half (55.9 percent) of employed residents in New Canaan are between the ages of 30 and 55. An additional 30.8 percent of employed residents are aged 55 or older, and young professionals (ages 29 or younger) make up 13.3 percent of all employed residents in the Town .

As of 2021, the Town’s median household income was $214,977.17 While this figure is more than double that of the County and State, it does reflect a slight decline (3.5 percent) compared to 2010, when adjusted for inflation.18

Household income distribution is varied, though 76.2 percent of households earned over $100,000 in 2021, and 52.8 percent of households earned over $200,000.19 New Canaan’s significantly higher household incomes correlate with the community’s high educational attainment levels, the nature of the industries in which residents work, and the historically high real estate prices within the Town.

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

Main and Elm Streets © Town of New Canaan

Housing Stock

New Canaan’s housing stock has increased slightly, but the Town remains largely built-out.

As of 2023, New Canaan had 7,566 housing units. The Town has seen small but steady growth in its housing stock since 2010, and unit construction has been increasing since 2015. Permit data shows a net increase of 127 units between 2015 and 2023, all of which were multifamily units incorporated into expansion projects of existing developments within the Town, including the Millport Apartments, The Vue, and Canaan Parish.20 New Canaan is largely built-out, and new growth will likely consist of infill and densification projects, rather than single-family subdivisions.

Source: Town of New Canaan Permit Data, 2015-2023

Canaan Parish © Town of New Canaan

Unit Diversity

Housing development in New Canaan has resulted in a more diverse housing stock, particularly for renter-occupied housing.

New Canaan’s housing stock is more diverse, in terms of unit types, than it was in 2010. In particular, there has been an increase in low- to medium-density (3- to 20-unit) multifamily housing. New Canaan’s housing stock is also more diverse than that of neighboring communities. As of 2021, 82.9 percent of the Town’s housing units are either single-family detached or attached homes,21 compared to 90.7, 91.9, and 88.9 percent in Darien, Westport, and Wilton, respectively.22 (See Appendix A for more informaiton on housing tenure and diversity.)

There is more diversity in housing types among renter-occupied housing in New Canaan as compared to owner-occupied housing: 94.2 percent of all owner-occupied units in New Canaan are single-family homes (attached and detached), whereas only 32 percent of renter-occupied units are single-family homes. Renter-occupied units have diversified significantly since 2010, when 52.1 percent of renter-occupied units were single-family homes. The density of multifamily rental housing varies, with 43.3 percent of renter-occupied units in structures with two to nine units and 24.1 percent in structures with 10 or more units.23 New Canaan’s housing diversity will continue to be reflected in and influence its population, household incomes, and household composition.

The diversification in New Canaan’s housing stock since 2010 has created a broader spectrum of housing choices that can better match the needs of the Town’s diverse population.

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

Household Composition and Housing Unit Size

New Canaan’s household composition and housing stock is characteristic of a community in which families make up the largest share of the population.

New Canaan has a larger share of households with four or more people (34.6 percent) as compared to the County (26.1 percent). New Canaan’s larger household sizes correlate with its larger share of family households (77.8 percent) as compared to the County (69.2 percent).

Though New Canaan’s housing stock has become more diverse, most of its housing units are best suited for large families—59.8 percent of housing units have four or more bedrooms. New Canaan’s housing stock is consistent with

its historic role as a bedroom community and one in which a large portion of the population is made up of families with children. However, only 34.6 percent of households in New Canaan have four or more people. A lack of smaller-sized units may be limiting the ability for young adults, young families, and senior populations to move into or stay within the community. An additional consideration is that the percentage of New Canaan’s employed residents who work from home has increased, a trend that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend may influence real estate preferences as buyers seek out larger homes with home offices. As populations of young adults and those 55+ continue to grow, and as the region recovers and adapts to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Canaan should consider how its housing stock aligns with household sizes.

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

Home Values and Rental Costs

Home values are high, as are rental costs.

Sources: Various26

Home values as recorded by ACS are representative of a respondent’s estimate of how much their property would sell for, if listed. New Canaan’ median home value was $1,264,400 in 2021, which is 185 percent higher than the median home value of Fairfield County.24 Over 91 percent of homes in New Canaan are valued at over $500,000, and 65.6 percent are valued at over $1,000,000 (compared to just 15 percent in Fairfield County). Only 8.3 percent of homes in New Canaan are valued at less than $500,000, compared to 57.4 percent for the County and 82.5 percent for the State. The lack of housing units valued below $500,000 poses a challenge for individuals wishing to move into, or downsize within, the community. High demand and limited opportunities to significantly increase housing supply indicate that the creation of homes at prices accessible to moderate and low-income households will require government intervention through funding, subsidy, or incentive.

Though New Canaan has made strides in affordable housing development, the median monthly rent in New Canaan is $2,477, which is over 55 percent higher than the County median and nearly twice that of the State. The Town’s median rent is comparable, however, to those of Darien, Westport, and Wilton ($3,066, $1,999, and $2,039, respectively).25 Per 2021 ACS data, 71 percent of rental units cost $2,000 or more per month.

Housing Affordability

New Canaan has increased its affordable housing stock since 2010, but many households still struggle with high housing costs.

Due to high housing costs and a small number of protected affordable units, many low-income households in New Canaan are cost burdened. CGS §8-39a defines affordable housing as “housing for which persons and families pay 30 percent or less of their annual income, where such income is less than or equal to the area median income (AMI) for the municipality, as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).” Individuals or families paying more than 30 percent of their household income on housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording other necessities. According to HUD 2023 Income Limits, an individual living in New Canaan making less than $75,750, or a family of four making less than $108,150, would be classified as a low-income household and qualify for affordable housing.27 The latest data from HUD indicates that 21.4 percent of households in New Canaan meet the low-income threshold.28 When broken down by tenure, 16.2 percent of owner households and 44 percent of renter households fall within the low-income category. The percentage of households in New Canaan that are considered low-income has increased since 2013, which may be in part due to the increase of affordable housing units that the Town has constructed at Canaan Parish and Millport.29

The New Canaan Housing Authority manages over 200 affordable housing units within the Town, including those at the Mill Apartments, Millport Apartments, and Canaan Parish. All of the units the New Canaan Housing Authority has constructed will remain as “affordable housing” and are not limited to 40 years like the typical §8-30g State-mandated projects. These public affordable housing projects have been partially funded by the Housing Trust Fund via New Canaan’s inclusionary zoning fee. As of 2023, existing protected affordable units (PAU) make up 3.93 percent (295 units) of the Town’s housing stock, which is comparable to that of Darien, Westport, and Wilton (4.09, 3.77, and 3.55 percent, respectively).30 This reflects an increase of 115 affordable units in

Town since 2010, when only 2.52 percent of the housing stock was classified as a PAU. Of all PAU in New Canaan, 87 percent are government-assisted affordable housing, 11 percent are units occupied by households receiving tenant rental assistance, and two percent are homes financed with single-family Connecticut Housing and Finance Authority mortgages.

While 21.4 percent of households in New Canaan are considered low-income, this does not mean that all these households live in PAU or that their housing costs are affordable—32.9 percent of all households in New Canaan are cost burdened, many of which are likely low-income households living in unprotected units. Using the criteria of spending no more than 30 percent of gross household income on housing, a low-income family of four in New Canaan could afford a home valued at a maximum of $406,000, or a maximum monthly rent of $2,704, without becoming cost burdened. Based on the previous analysis of the Town’s median home value and gross rent, we can assume that a significant portion of these low-income households in New Canaan are cost burdened and paying greater than 30 percent of their income on housing.

New Canaan adopted an Affordable Housing Plan in 2022, which recommends several actions to be taken to support the following four strategies for increasing affordable housing within the community:

» Maintain a rolling §8-30g moratorium allowing New Canaan to manage the type, form, and location of affordable housing.

» Continue to prioritize the public (Town-facilitated) construction of affordable housing to facilitate the moratoria.

» Continue to enable private construction of housing that meets a variety of types, opportunities, choices, and costs. Encourage private construction of housing that is affordable to the workforce, senior, and special needs populations.

» Continue to study alternative strategies. Perform additional studies that inform where existing housing stock should be conserved; where higher-density housing stock should be developed; and identify partners to assist with construction, financing, development, asset management, and maintenance.

Unemployment Unemployment levels in New Canaan peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic but have historically been lower than in the County.

New Canaan’s most recent peak in unemployment was in 2020 (5.7 percent) and a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate has been declining since but has not reached pre-pandemic levels (as of 2022), when the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent.31

Employment

Employment in New Canaan is concentrated in education, health care and social assistance, and retail industries. Most people who work in New Canaan live elsewhere, and most New Canaan residents work outside of New Canaan. However, since 2020, an increasing number of New Canaan residents now work from home or in Town in satellite offices.

As of 2020, 5,883 people worked in New Canaan. The top three industries employing people in New Canaan are educational services (21.2 percent), healthcare and social assistance (15.7 percent), and retail trade (10.2 percent). Other industries with higher employment rates include other services, accommodation and food services, and finance and insurance.32 According to County ACS data, the median wages for these industries are $120,826 (education), $107,019 (health care and social assistance), and $58,464 (retail trade).33 These industries are associated with the Town’s excellent public school system and the presence of private schools in the community, various medical and long-term care facilities and services, and the retail/services available in New Canaan’s vibrant Downtown.

According to the Town’s 2022 Financial Report, the top 10 employers in Town employ 35 percent of the Town’s employment base. New Canaan itself is the largest employer in the community, with an estimated 958 employees (12.7 percent), including public school employees. Other principal employers include the Waveny Care Center / the New Canaan Inn, the Silver Hill Foundation, and the New Canaan Country School.

Source: On the Map, 2020

Downtown © Town of New Canaan

Most people who work in New Canaan live outside of New Canaan (85.9 percent), and most employed people who live in New Canaan work outside of New Canaan (93 percent). The most common home locations of those who work in New Canaan are Norwalk (14.8 percent), Stamford (13.7 percent), and Bridgeport (4.0 percent). The most common work locations for New Canaan residents are New York City (21.9 percent), which many residents access via the Metro-North Railroad, Stamford (14.6 percent), and Norwalk (6.0 percent). New Canaan is an attractive place to live for those earning high incomes in the regional employment centers of New York City and Stamford who wish to have a suburban lifestyle and access to top public schools. However, when the incomes of most residents are significantly higher than the wages and salaries of the jobs offered in Town, and housing is in high demand, it becomes unaffordable for those who work in Town to live in Town.

According to the Regional POCD, New Canaan’s Downtown and the area around South Avenue are considered a potential growth area for the region due to the existing land use patterns and employment concentration. Overall growth in employment within New Canaan will likely be situated around the existing infrastructure and public transportation corridors near Downtown. WestCOG has identified that significant growth in the service sector—including employment in health care services, as well as educational, financial, professional, and scientific fields—has characterized the Western Connecticut region in recent years.

Fiscal Health

The municipality is financially healthy but very reliant on residential property tax income.

New Canaan’s municipal fiscal indicators were reviewed to understand the Town’s financial health in relation to other communities and the State. New Canaan’s grand list, which represents a listing of all taxable property within the Town, is more dependent on residential taxes (87.3 percent) than the State average (65.1 percent), leaving the Town more vulnerable to changes in housing values.34 The Town’s equalized net grand list per capita, which measures the town’s taxable property per resident, is significantly higher than the State average ($503,101 compared to $162,533) and is ranked the fifth-highest within the State. This figure, along with the Town’s low mill rate, reflects the high property and home values in the community. Finally, New Canaan’s debt per capita ($4,960) is 21.7 percent less than the State average and largely made up of AAA-rated bonds.

Source: On the Map, 2020

Existing Conditions

The existing conditions section of this chapter will provide background information and details on the community facilities, infrastructure, historic and cultural resources, natural resources and the environment, and land use and zoning within New Canaan. This portion of the chapter is intended to serve as a baseline inventory of the resources, environment, and related regulations in New Canaan today. Further analysis of the issues and opportunities related to these resources will be within the Community Theme chapters.

Land Use and Zoning

Land use and zoning regulations are essential to understanding a community’s development patterns and planning for the future. This section will discuss the existing land use patterns and current zoning within New Canaan.

Land Use

New Canaan’s existing land use (see Figure 1) is predominately residential, with 75 percent of the Town’s land (by acreage) classified as some type of residential use.35 The next highest land use categories are public and private recreation and open space (combined 7.5 percent), which includes Townowned parks, recreation, and open spaces, as well as privately owned recreation and open spaces, such as the New Canaan Country Club, and various New Canaan Land Trust properties. Rights-of-way account for an additional 7.5 percent of the Town’s acreage.

Commercial, industrial, and mixed land uses make up less than one percent of New Canaan’s land, while community facilities and institutional uses combine for 3.2 percent of the Town. Public utility uses, which includes all Water Company and Taxing District land, accounts for 3.8 percent of the Town’s land, and vacant land comprises another 2.3 percent.36

Existing Land Use Breakdown

Commercial

Community Facility (including Town-owned Facilities)

Industrial

Institutional (Hospitals, Private Schools, and Places of Worship)

Mixed-Use (Residential and Commercial)

Private Recreation and Open Space

Public Recreation and Open Space

Public Utility (Water Company and Taxing District Land)

Residential (All Types)

Right-of-Way

Transportation and Parking Facilities (Town- and State-owned)

Vacant

New Canaan’s Zoning Regulations utilize 17 different zoning districts and six overlay zones to regulate development within the community (see Table 1 and Figure 2).37

1

Residential Districts: 96 percent of New Canaan is zoned for residential use. Residential districts in New Canaan are intended to permit residential type uses that are appropriate to the environmental characteristics of the land and the neighborhood. New Canaan utilizes nine residential districts, each of which permit different lot sizes, densities, and housing types.

• Acre (1/3, 1/2, 1, 2, 4) Residential: These residential districts primarily permit single-family dwellings and are spread across the community; larger residential lots cover most of the Town, with 4 Acre Residential in the northern portion of the community. Smaller lots are primarily within the interior and southern areas of Town.

• Residence A and B: These residential districts permit some additional flexibility towards residential and non-residential uses; the Residence B district allows two-family dwellings, rooming houses, medical offices, and nursing homes.

• Apartment and Multifamily: These residential districts allow for a diversity of housing types while retaining the Town’s existing residential scale, including various multifamily structures.

Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan

Commercial Districts: Less than one percent of New Canaan is zoned for commercial use, but the Town has six unique commercial districts located within Downtown to guide such development. They are intended to provide suitable areas for business development appropriate to overall community needs, the location and characteristics of the land, and the neighborhood, with different sizes and intensities.

• Retail A and B: The Retail A district is meant to provide for a compact, pedestrian-oriented shopping district. Uses permitted within this district include retail businesses, restaurants, outdoor dining, theatres, offices, and personal services, among others. The Retail B district provides areas adjacent to Retail A with on-site parking and allows mixed-use development, with residential uses on upper floors.

• Business A, B, C, D: The Business A-D districts provide for a range of commercial uses that are more intense than the Retail districts. Business A provides for single-purpose shopping and services with on-site parking, and Business B provides for services, specialty retail, and residential uses that can be provided in a mixed-use setting. Business C and D provide for heavier commercial uses (C allows for large office buildings, and D provides larger retail and services).

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space: This district is intended to provide a diverse range of activities and functions on Town-owned properties. The district also provides for flexibility to protect nearby neighborhoods and community needs. Permitted uses are focused on indoor and outdoor recreational areas and open spaces.

Waveny Zone: The Waveny Zone is similar to the Park, Recreation, and Open Space district, in that it provides for a diverse range of activities and functions on the Town-owned Waveny property. Recreational, educational, and community activities, as well as nonprofit community health facilities and some temporary uses are permitted within this zone.

Overlay Zones: New Canaan has six overlay districts that are used to protect certain natural resources and guide development related to specific development projects. These include the floodplain and aquifer protection overlays, as well as four unique overlays related to municipal initiatives for housing, active mobility, and community facilities.

Downtown © Town of New Canaanl

Lapham Community Center © Aggie Aspinwall

1 Acre Residence Zone

1/2 Acre Residence Zone

1/3 Acre Residence Zone

2 Acre Residence Zone

4 Acre Residence Zone

Community Facilities

New Canaan is known for its incredible community facilities, including the town buildings, the public school system, and a wide range of options for parks, recreation, and open spaces. The following section will establish an inventory of these facilities within the Town.

Town Facilities

New Canaan’s key town facilities (see Figure 3) are primarily located on Main Street and South Avenue. The Town Hall, the Fire Department, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) are located along Main Street, while the Lapham Community Center, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services are located on South Avenue. The Town’s transfer station is located along Lakeview Avenue.

Public Schools

New Canaan’s excellent, high-ranking public-school system is a defining characteristic of the community . The school system includes East, South, and West Elementary Schools; Saxe Middle School; and New Canaan High School.

New Canaan’s public-school enrollment has remained stable over the last decade, while nearby benchmark communities have seen declines in enrollment (4.6, 6.9, and 11.9 percent in Darien, Westport, and Wilton, respectively).38 Within the last decade, East Elementary School, Saxe Middle School, and New Canaan High School have seen small increases in enrollment (3.8, 0.1, and 2.4 percent, respectively), while South and West Elementary Schools saw more significant declines in enrollment (5.2 and 10.1 percent, respectively).

Town Hall © Town of New Canaan

» Figure 3: Community Facilities

Parks and Recreation Facilities

New Canaan has various Town-owned and privately run parks and recreation areas (see Figure 4). Town-owned properties include Mead, Waveny, Dixon Memorial, Kiwanis, and Irwin Parks, as well as the Connor and School Athletic Fields. The New Canaan Nature Center is owned by the Town but managed by a not-for-profit organization. Waveny Park is the largest of these facilities and is utilized for active and passive recreation opportunities including grass fields (baseball and soccer), an outdoor pool, walking trails, and a community dog park. Waveny Park is also adjacent to, and accessible from, the high school athletic fields (turf) and outdoor track facility. The Town’s smaller parks offer a mix of baseball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails, and playscapes. In addition, both Mead and Kiwanis Parks have public ponds.

The New Canaan Nature Center is located north of the downtown area off Oenoke Ridge and offers nature-based preschool, summer camp, and adult educational programs for the community. The 40-acre property includes a visitor center, picnic areas, gardens, greenhouses, walking trails, and a range of diverse habitats. In addition to the programming at the Nature Center, the Town offers various youth sports, afterschool programs and summer camps, adult fitness classes, and non-fitness-oriented activities (arts, boardgames, language, history, etc.) at the Lapham Community Center.

Other recreational facilities in the Town include the New Canaan Land Trust properties, the New Canaan Country Club, Field Club, Winter Club, Grace Farms, and the YMCA. These facilities, although not Town-owned, are recognized by the community as significant contributors to the overall quality of life and recreational opportunities within New Canaan.

Open Spaces

For purposes of the analysis within this Plan, open space includes public open spaces, such as Town-owned protected land, parks, and recreational spaces, New Canaan Land Trust properties, and land with other legal protectants (deed restrictions, conservation easements, etc.). Perceived open space, such as land owned by water companies or land that is not formally protected from future development, is not accounted for in the open space data presented here.

New Canaan owns just under 700 acres of open space, with the largest area being Waveny Park. Connections among open spaces are important for human recreation and habitat preservation. The New Canaan Land Trust has developed a GreenLink Trail that connects open space and walking trails at the Nature Center to those at Irwin Park.

New Canaan’s Conservation Commission, in partnership with the New Canaan Land Trust, developed an Open Space Plan (OSP) in 2018 to establish an inventory of open space in the community. The OSP includes perceived open space in its calculations, which includes public utility (water company) land. According to the OSP, 15.7 percent (2,276 acres) of New Canaan is protected, dedicated, or unsecured (perceived) open space, which amounts to approximately 0.11 acres of open space per capita. In addition to the inventory, the OSP prioritizes land conservation projects using a ranking system developed by the Land Trust. This ranking system considers property size, ownership, current use, and the natural resources present on site, and identifies two possible acquisitions projects (consisting of 40 acres) and two protection projects (consisting of 55 acres owned by the Town but not formally protected).

Mead Park Pond © Town of New Canaan

Public Recreation and Open Space Alice Bristow Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve

State of Connecticut Open Space

New Canaan Land Conservation Trust Open Space Town of New Canaan Open Space

Olive and George Lee Memorial Garden*

New Canaan Land Conservation Trust Trail

Infrastructure

This section includes an inventory of New Canaan’s existing transportation and utility-related infrastructure, such as sewer, water, and telecommunications.

Vehicular and Multimodal Transportation

Functional classification is a roadway hierarchy used to determine eligibility for state and federal transportation funds. Collector and arterial roads are eligible for this type of funding, whereas local roads are a municipal responsibility.

New Canaan’s roadway network (see Figure 5) is largely local; however, there are various collectors (West, Valley, and Ponus Ridge Roads, etc.) and arterials (Oenoke Ridge, Weed Street, Smith Ridge Road, etc.), as well as one expressway (Merritt Parkway). Traffic volume is generally higher on these roadways compared to the local road network.

In New Canaan, CT Routes 15 (Merritt Parkway) and 123 (New Norwalk Road / Smith Ridge Road) have the highest daily traffic volumes, ranging from 34,000 to 70,000 vehicles per day.39 Safety is a major concern on these heavily traveled roads. The Merritt Parkway has a high number of vehicle crashes, particularly at the on- and off-ramps within the community.40 Main Street, East, and South Avenues, and around New Canaan’s Downtown, also have a significant number of crashes, as well as the highest concentration of crashes involving pedestrians.

Roadways are not the only transportation infrastructure to be considered for future planning. Multimodal transportation options can increase mobility and enhance residents’ quality of life. Communities may implement these options through sidewalk and bike infrastructure planning, as well as considering (or adopting) complete street policies.41

New Canaan is considered a very walkable community and somewhat bikeable, according to Walk Score.42 The Town has historically implemented sidewalk infrastructure projects within the Downtown area and continues to improve connectivity between existing and planned sidewalks. Bike infrastructure is less

common within the community. However, New Canaan partnered with Darien in 2019 to conduct a feasibility study for a 25-mile bike route connecting the two municipalities. This route would connect two key focus areas within the community—the Downtown and Waveny Park.43 Construction for this route is included in regional transportation plans for the Housatonic Valley and Southwestern Region and planned for some time between 2027-2032.44

Public Transportation

New Canaan is fortunate to house two Metro-North train stations within the community: New Canaan Station (Downtown) and Talmadge Hill Station (south of CT Route 15). Both stations are a part of the New Canaan Branch of the New Haven Line (see Figure 5). This is a single-track spur commuter line with moderate capacity and frequency of service.

Current ridership levels are down compared to the 1990s. However, ridership on the New Haven Line (and New Canaan Branch) have increased significantly since the decline associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.45 In 2023, the New Canaan Branch underwent scheduled track improvements, which left the branch inactive until services resumed in September 2023. Additional performance and safety improvements to the New Canaan Branch are considered in regional transportation planning efforts, including additional sidings46 and a new signaling system.

New Canaan Metro-North train station © SLR

Freeway/Expressway

Principal Arterial

Minor Arterial

Major

Sewer, Water, and Utilities

New Canaan’s public sewer and potable water infrastructure (see Figure 6) serves portions of the community, while other portions of the Town rely on private septic systems and wells. The Town’s WWTP manages 25-miles of sanitary sewer and three pump stations within the community. Sewer infrastructure is concentrated around the Downtown area but also extends south along much of South Avenue. The WWTP recently underwent a performance evaluation to understand the current loading conditions compared to its designed capacity. This evaluation revealed that there has been at least one recent high intensity rainfall event in which the peak flow exceeded the facility’s designed peak. The Town is undertaking an inflow and infiltration study, which is anticipated to be in draft form by the end of 2024.

Public water infrastructure in New Canaan is managed by the Aquarion Water Company. Public water services cover more of the Town compared with the sewer system, with infrastructure present in much of the central and some of the south and west areas of the Town. Average customer demand for water is 1.5 million gallons per day and is piped to New Canaan from Canal Street and Coleytown well fields in Westport and reservoir systems in Stamford and Fairfield. The Aquarion Water Company publishes an annual water quality report, and the 2021 report indicated that per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) levels (also known as “forever chemicals”) are well below the State and federal limits.

Telecommunications

Telecommunication infrastructure in New Canaan is limited and coverage has been difficult to improve due to the topography of the Town, high real estate costs, public opposition, and minimal vacant land. There are currently six cell towers within the community, with a seventh recently proposed but not yet constructed. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile serve the area, but there are still significant coverage gaps in the northern and western portions of the community. Inconsistent telecommunications also affect fire, police and ambulance services.

Public Works © Town of New Canaan

» Figure 6: Sewer and Water Infrastructure

Historic and Cultural Resources

Historic and cultural resources contribute to a community’s identity and sense of place. New Canaan is known for its many historic structures (see Figure 7) and cultural amenities, including the Town’s unique architecture, music and theatre, and community spaces. This section will provide details about the various historic and cultural resources in New Canaan.

Historic Districts and Structures

New Canaan has a local Historic District known as the Historic District of New Canaan (or colloquially as God’s Acre), which is overseen by the Historic District Commission (HDC). The HDC reviews activities proposed within the historic district to ensure that architectural changes are made with respect and consideration for the historic character of the property and the community as a whole. The New Canaan Historic District was established in 1963 and encompasses the areas of Oenoke Ridge, Main Street, Park Street, St. John Place, and Seminary Street. The district is mostly residential, with large single-family homes dating from the mid-18th century through the early 20th century and includes multiple churches, the Hanford-Silliman House, and Rodgers Studio.

The Town, in coordination with various community stakeholders, is considering expanding the Historic District’s boundaries and applying to the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to the local historic district, New Canaan is home to the Philip Johnson Glass House Estate, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark/District in 1997. The Estate is located on Ponus Ridge Road and includes 16 structures, including The Glass House itself. The Glass House was constructed in 1949 and serves as the centerpiece for the west side of Town and the additional modern homes created by the Harvard Five and other modern architects.

The Hanford-Silliman House was built in 1764 by a local weaver and includes a craft room with a travelling loom, spinning wheel, and other weaving tools. (Hanford-Silliman House © Town of New Canaan)

The John Rodgers Studio was built in 1878 as a studio room for one of the country’s most popular sculptors, John Rodgers Jr. The John Rodgers Studio was relocated from its original location on Mr. Rodgers’ property to the New Canaan Historical Society’s campus in 1965. (John Rodgers Studio © Town of New Canaan)

Historic Resource with National Significance

Church Hill Historic District (NR-listed)

Merritt Parkway (NR-listed)

Philip Johnson's Glass House (NR-listed)

Silvermine Center Historic District (NR-listed)

Waveny Park (NR-listed)

New Canaan Historic District

Cultural Facilities and Resources

The New Canaan Museum and Historical Society released a cultural guide in 2022 that details the Town’s various non-profit art, architecture, music, theatre, and community spaces. Below are details about many of the cultural amenities in Town.47

Arts. Art facilities in Town, including the Carriage Barn Arts Center and the Silvermine Arts Center, offer residents and visitors the opportunity to visit a range of art galleries, exhibitions, performances, and lectures, among other activities. In addition, the Silvermine Arts Center includes the School of Art and educational outreach programs for under-resourced schools nearby.

Architecture. Much of New Canaan’s unique architecture can be attributed to the work of the Harvard Five, a group of young modern architects, who designed numerous mid-century modern homes built between 1949 and 1973. In addition, the Cultural Guide highlights Grace Farms, which is an architecturally significant structure itself and offers exhibits and programs regarding astronomy, nature, and gardening.

Silvermine Arts Center © Town of New Canaan

Grace Farms © Betsy Barosky

Music and Theatre. New Canaan has various music and theatre facilities in Town, including the New Canaan Chamber Music, the Summer Theatre, and the Town Players of New Canaan. The Chamber Music group offers four to six concerts annually, while the Summer Theatre produces theatre and educational programs for students ranging from middle school to college. The Town Players also operates the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park and hosts productions throughout the year.

Community Spaces. New Canaan is also home to numerous community spaces that serve as cultural amenities, including the New Canaan Land Trust, the Nature Center, the YMCA, the Library, Waveny Park, and the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society. These facilities serve as social hubs for all ages within the community and offer various educational programs, vast open spaces for passive and active recreation, and host many community-wide events.

Powerhouse Theatre © Town of New Canaan

New Canaan Museum and Historical Society © Peter Hanson

Natural Resources and the Environment

New Canaan’s natural resources and environment are highly valued by the community and impact quality of life, public health and safety, and the local economy. This section will discuss New Canaan’s natural resources, including land cover, water resources, and wildlife habitat, among other elements (see Figure 8).

Soils

Soil classification is useful for determining the land’s potential for farming, flooding, subsurface sewage disposal systems, and stormwater runoff management. New Canaan has a significant amount of farmland soils, much of which is considered prime, located in the flatter areas of the Town.48 Farmland soils may be suitable for stormwater runoff management techniques.

Wetland soils are those that are poorly or very poorly drained. These soils are often avoided due to their unsuitableness for development or subsurface sewage disposal systems and are found in low-lying areas, including adjacent to watercourses. Wetlands themselves provide many ecosystem services, including groundwater retention, water quality improvement, and fish and wildlife habitat. New Canaan’s wetland complexes are spread across the community. However, they are well-protected, as the Town uses 50–250foot upland review areas to ensure that activities occurring near these critical ecosystems maintain the integrity of the systems.

Surface Water Resources

Surface water resources include streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. New Canaan’s surface waters span across six subregional watersheds, which are all a part of the larger Southwest Coast Watershed. The four largest rivers in the community include the Rippowam, Noroton, Silvermine, and Fivemile Rivers. In addition to these rivers, New Canaan has four drinking water reservoirs within its borders that serve nearby municipalities: The Laurel, New Canaan, Norwalk Lake, and Grupes Reservoirs. No reservoir physically located in New Canaan actually provides water to the Town.

The Fivemile River is one of the most well-known waterbodies within the community. Its headwaters, located at the New Canaan Reservoir, are used for drinking water, while the lower portion is used for wastewater conveyance. The Fivemile River is the only impaired waterbody within the Town. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) first classified the Fivemile River as impaired in 2010, and it remains so today due to its inability to support aquatic life and recreational uses. According to DEEP, the water quality impairment is most likely due to stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution sources, such as farms, golf courses, and residential yards (fertilizers).

Groundwater Resources

While New Canaan does have public water infrastructure, many residents still utilize private wells for their drinking water. The groundwater quality in New Canaan is largely classified as GA or GAA. These classifications refer to a water supply that is suitable for drinking without treatment.49 Groundwater in the vicinity of the WWTP, however, is noted as potentially impaired due to the historical discharge of sewage nearby.

New Canaan does not have any aquifers50 within its borders. However, the Town does utilize an aquifer protection overlay zone along its southeast border with Norwalk to help protect the Kellogg-Deering Aquifer.

Sewage Pond Water

Groundwater Quality (May be Impaired)

Alluvial and Floodplain Soils

Poorly Drained and Very Poorly Drained Soils

Natural Diversity Area

Flora and Fauna Habitats

New Canaan’s most predominate land cover types are forested (40 percent), developed (32 percent), and turf/grass (24 percent). The Town has seen a decrease in forested and agricultural land cover, and an increase in developed and turf/grass land cover over the last forty years.

Unfragmented forested areas, grass and turf areas, and steep slopes provide habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna within the community. Steep slopes include areas where slopes are greater than 25 percent and are more common in the northeast portion of the Town and along the larger rivers and streams in the community. These steep slopes are more susceptible to erosion and often have additional protections related to development.

Related to these habitat types, New Canaan has multiple Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) sightings. The NDDB shows approximate locations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species, and important natural communities within the State. Species that have been documented in New Canaan include the Eastern Box Turtle, the Bald Eagle, the Great Egret, the Little Brown Bat, the Silver-haired Bat, the Red Bat, and the Hoary Bat.

A proposed development project located within one of the identified diversity areas may be required to conduct more detailed project review with DEEP to avoid adverse ecological impacts.

While New Canaan contains some excellent habitats for flora and fauna, including the Helen and Alice Bristow Bird Sanctuary and Wildwood Preserve, and has made commitments to improving biodiversity in Town by adopting the Cam Hutchins Pollinator Pathway Resolution, there are continuous threats to habitat quality at the State, regional, and local level. One of the most significant threats to these habitats in New Canaan is that of invasive species. Invasive species are plants, animals, and other living organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem and cause, or are likely to cause, economic or environmental harm to that ecosystem. These species are often better at adapting to changes in the ecosystem and are, therefore, able to outcompete native species for resources. This competition and establishment of invasives species in a community reduces natural biodiversity and could harm water quality and stress forests and soils. Common invasive plant species in New Canaan and Fairfield County include multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, bittersweet, burning bush, and garlic mustard. In addition, invasive animals, such as the Emerald Ash Border, Spotted Lanternfly, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Jumping Worms, and the Spongy Moth are also a challenge.

Jeliff Mill Waterfall © Russ Kimes III

Climate Resiliency and Sustainability

Climate resiliency and sustainability are growing areas of concern for New Canaan and other municipalities. Climate projections and recent trends in weather patterns have long-term implications for public health and safety, infrastructure capacity, and environmental quality. Historical trends for Fairfield County indicate that temperatures and precipitation levels have been increasing since the 1900s. By 2050, the State is expected to see an increase in average temperature of 5°F and precipitation levels by eight percent. Weather events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity over the next century, including droughts, floods, and wind events.

Climate Resiliency

New Canaan has four regulated floodways: the Silvermine, Rippowam, Noroton, and Fivemile Rivers. Most 100- and 500-year flood zones within the community are found along these rivers’ banks or in proximity to wetland complexes. New Canaan is fortunate to not have any critical infrastructure located within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain. The Town utilizes a floodplain overlay zone within the current zoning regulations that encompasses all 100-year flood zones in Town. This is used to regulate development within these areas and to promote public health and safety from flood conditions.

Hazard Mitigation

New Canaan has worked at both the regional and local level to combat these changing conditions and to prepare for future needs through planning and mitigation efforts. The Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) adopted by WestCOG in 2021 includes regional and municipal recommendations and initiatives for the Town to work towards over the next five years. The HMP presents a regional profile related to the geography and cultural setting, planning and regulatory capabilities, and critical facilities. It also assesses the hazard risks across the region and identifies potential mitigation strategies and challenges that may present themselves. New Canaan’s municipal index of the Regional HMP includes a community-specific hazard risk assessment and capability analysis that prioritizes mitigation projects. Some of these projects include floodplain restoration at the Bristow Bird Sanctuary, drainage infrastructure maintenance for various facilities and roadways, improved public alert systems and communications, and investigations into the need for a municipal microgrid for emergency services, among others.

Sustainability

New Canaan obtained its Sustainable CT Bronze Certification in 2020 through focused actions, including an inclusivity and equity impact survey, open spaces, tourism, and cultural asset inventories, agricultural and sustainability-focused practices and regulations, and various other educational and community events. In addition to the Sustainable CT program, New Canaan has various opportunities to work with existing community partners, including Planet New Canaan, the New Canaan Land Trust, Walter Stewart’s Market, and the Nature Center on sustainability initiatives and programs within the Town.

VISION AND COMMUNITY THEMES

03

New Canaan’s vision statement has been thoughtfully and inclusively crafted to capture our present identity, envision our community a decade from now, and establish community themes that will inform decision-making in the future. Rooted in the values expressed at many engagement events, this vision is the foundation for the goals, strategies, policies, and actions presented in this POCD.

Our Vision for the Future Who We Are

New Canaan is a primarily residential community with a vibrant Downtown, an active and involved citizenry, exceptional quality of life, convenient access to major employment centers, top-ranked schools, a rich architectural heritage, and a steadfast dedication to preserving open space, maintaining recreational facilities, and supporting cultural organizations. Our residents champion environmental protection, historic preservation, and forward-thinking, financially sustainable creative planning.

New Canaan’s vision for the next decade is to creatively address the needs of current and future generations with strategies that meet housing demands, facilitate sustainable living, provide a high quality of life, and maintain our vibrant Downtown, excellent public schools, and small-town feel. New Canaan will continue to be energetic in meeting future challenges and be a leader in achieving sustainable and balanced development. Energized by this shared vision, mindful planning and active community engagement will allow New Canaan to build a future that is both vibrant and sustainable by prudently investing in our people and places.

COMMUNITY THEMES and VISIONS

Preserve New Canaan’s Welcoming, Small-Town Identity

New Canaan is a charming suburban community renowned for its residential neighborhoods, historic and cultural sites, excellent public schools, and picturesque natural beauty. Downtown is the heart of the community—a vibrant hub where commerce, culture, and community converge. Here, residents enjoy supporting local businesses and connecting with friends and neighbors.

New Canaan envisions a future where the Town’s history and defining landmarks are honored, thoughtfully preserved, and balanced with innovative and creative development. New Canaan will remain a place that welcomes all, encourages connections, celebrates diversity, and provides the resources needed for the well-being of residents across all stages of life.

Promote Creative, Balanced Development

Though New Canaan is a great place to live, the Town is faced with the ongoing need to adapt to a dynamic world. The demand for housing remains a shared challenge for both New Canaan and the State of Connecticut.

New Canaan envisions a future where housing needs are met with creative and appropriate solutions. These solutions will address current and future New Canaan residents’ diverse needs for housing, mobility, public services, critical infrastructure, and access to open space while enhancing cultural, recreational, and social opportunities that enrich residents’ lives.

Embrace Sustainability and Resiliency

New Canaan’s community demonstrates a passionate commitment to the natural environment. Residents actively work to preserve natural resources, protect open space, reduce environmental impacts, and prepare for climate-driven challenges while supporting biodiversity.

New Canaan envisions a community that is not only environmentally aware but also socially and economically sustainable—a community that takes prudent action to safeguard against the consequences of more frequent and intense weather events, ensuring the protection and preservation of biodiversity.

Enhance Community Infrastructure and Facilities

New Canaan boasts an array of exceptional community facilities, from Waveny Park to the “new” New Canaan Library and the recently renovated Playhouse Theater in the heart of Downtown. New Canaan’s gas, water, and other utilities are supplied by private utility companies, while sanitary and storm sewers are publicly managed. In addition, New Canaan benefits from excellent emergency service providers, including police, fire, and emergency medical services.

New Canaan envisions a future where public services continue to exceed expectations, existing facilities and infrastructure are well-maintained, and there is a continued commitment to replace out-of-date facilities and infrastructure to meet the current and future needs of residents and businesses.

Community Theme Chapters

Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this POCD focus on these four community themes and are organized by:

1. Theme Rationale: Each chapter explains why a specific community theme was chosen.

2. Goal Introduction: Within each community theme, the chapter introduces specific recommended goals supported by community context and analysis.

3. Recommended Strategies, Policies, and Actions: Within each recommended goal, the chapter lists potential strategies, policies, and actions that New Canaan can, if it chooses to, employ to achieve each recommended goal, with terms defined as:

» Goal

A broad statement reflecting the Town’s ambitions related to a primary topic.

» Strategy

A targeted statement directing attention to a secondary topic.

» Policy

A guiding statement for potential decision-making within the context of a suggested strategy.

» Action

A unique activity addressing a broader goal or strategy, categorized by short-, medium-, and/or long-term implementation.

These elements collectively form New Canaan’s Implementation Plan (see Appendix C). The Implementation Plan identifies suggested responsible entities and timeframes for each recommended action, serving as a roadmap to assess the Town’s progress towards meeting its recommended goals over the next decade.

Waveny Statue © Ariel Ling

COMMUNITY THEME

PRESERVE NEW CANAAN’S WELCOMING, SMALL-TOWN IDENTITY

Old Faithful Fire Engine © Alexander Pitt

Preserve New Canaan’s Welcoming, Small-Town Identity

New Canaan is a charming suburban community renowned for its residential neighborhoods, historic and cultural sites, excellent public schools, and picturesque natural beauty. Downtown is the heart of the community—a vibrant hub where commerce, culture, and community converge. Here, residents enjoy supporting local businesses and connecting with friends and neighbors.

New Canaan envisions a future where the Town’s history and defining landmarks are honored, thoughtfully preserved, and balanced with innovative and creative development. New Canaan will remain a place that welcomes all, encourages connections, celebrates diversity, and provides the resources needed for the wellbeing of residents across all stages of life.

Why Is New Canaan’s Identity Important?

Throughout the development of this POCD, active and broad community engagement played a key role in identifying the characteristics that define New Canaan. The Town’s quaint residential feel and engaged citizens emerged as defining features, with many residents citing the small-town charm as a reason they live in New Canaan. Historic resources, architectural significance, and a rich cultural scene also contribute to the Town’s unique identity. New Canaan’s compact, walkable Downtown ranks among the top community features that make it special.

The rationale of the first theme—Preserve New Canaan’s Welcoming, Small-Town Identity—is to safeguard and enhance the elements that have drawn residents and businesses to New Canaan. The POCD’s goals, strategies, policies and actions that support this theme are intended to foster community well-being and sustain a vibrant small-town atmosphere.

Livingston-Higley Meadow © Susan Bergen God’s Acre Snow © Russ Kimes III

Goal 1.1: Embrace New Canaan’s Small-Town Identity

Approximately 75 percent of the Town of New Canaan is zoned for residential uses (large and small single-family residential lots, and multifamily and townhouse properties), and it is this residential focus that supports the Town’s small-town character. The community structure in New Canaan contributes to a charming village ambiance, with varying residential densities extending outward from the Downtown. New Canaan cherishes its natural setting and New England architectural styles and wants to preserve and build upon these identifying characteristics.

Previous generations of New Canaan’s residents and leaders have thoughtfully crafted zoning and land use regulations to ensure land development patterns are consistent with community goals and the natural environment. New Canaan adopted its first Zoning Regulations in June 1932. These regulations established the framework for future development and shaped how New Canaan looks and feels today. The 2024 Zoning Map is similar to the 1932 Zoning Map, which established residential, commercial, and industrial zones, including the concentration of commercial uses around Elm Street and the residential density “bullseye” surrounding Downtown. Between 1940 and 1960, New Canaan adopted several amendments to the Zoning Regulations that increased minimum lot sizes to one-acre, two-acre, and four-acre lots in what are now known as the 1, 2, and 4 Acre Residence Zones, as well as further defined the denser portions of Town in the 1/2 Acre, 1/3 Acre, A Residence, B Residence, Multifamily, and Apartment Zones. With these amendments, New Canaan reduced allowable residential density town wide. Since these amendments, New Canaan has made few changes to its Zoning District boundaries while employing strategies to ensure the Town evolves and its regulations meet community goals.

Looking to the future, New Canaan will use zoning and other land use tools to continue to protect residential areas and the environment while allowing appropriate and complementary growth. For example, New Canaan has historically permitted institutional, and community uses (schools, churches, clubs, etc.) within residential districts. The Town is seeking to explore zoning or land use tools to manage the impact of these uses on their residential neighbors. Another priority will be ensuring that new development enhances, rather than detracts, from New Canaan’s natural environment and aesthetics.

Strategy 1.1.1 Promote land use patterns consistent with the Town’s residential character, environmental initiatives, and infrastructure capabilities.

Policies

1. Advocate for the enrichment of New Canaan’s small-town identity. Key features of this identity include the Town’s development pattern, consisting of the Downtown, suburban neighborhoods, and outlying rural areas, as well as New Canaan’s rich historic resources and cultural amenities, and commitment to quality community facilities.

2. Ensure that new development is complementary to existing land use patterns.

3. Proactively manage transitional areas between residential and non-residential districts to minimize impacts on neighboring residential properties.

4. Seek housing opportunities that use innovative and creative approaches to complement the existing small-town identity.

Actions

A. Review development applications for consistency with Zoning Regulations, the Future Land Use Plan and this POCD.

B. Update Zoning Regulations to be consistent with this POCD and the Connecticut General Statutes, with a focus on innovative housing approaches that complement New Canaan’s existing residential densities.

C. Evaluate the Town’s position on non-residential uses within the residential areas and consider amending the ways in which they are managed using the Zoning Regulations.

D. Amend Zoning Regulations to incentivize preservation of New Canaan’s existing, smaller housing units.

Strategy 1.1.2 Enhance Town’s aesthetics, through building design and natural landscapes, to maintain New Canaan’s historic New England village qualities.

Policies

1. Continue to reinforce the built and natural aesthetics that contribute to New Canaan’s small-town feel, such as its Downtown walkability, street trees, preservation of historic and architectural resources, commitment to high quality public open spaces, and the centralization of community facilities.

2. Ensure new development and redevelopment considers the Town’s architectural design history and is consistent with its existing aesthetic, including preserving unique architectural features during rehabilitation of historical structures.

3. Encourage and incentivize new development to provide public realm improvements that complement and expand existing Town assets.

Actions

A. Review and consider codifying the Village District Design Guidelines into the Zoning Regulations and adopting a form-based code51 for Downtown commercial district(s).

B. Consider adopting a form-based code for residential zones serviced by public sewer and water to promote well-planned residential development. This code might address building forms, landscaping, and public realm improvements.

C. Amend the Zoning Regulations to require preservation of key built and natural features, such as barns, historic stone walls, pre-existing topography including steep slopes, and scenic viewsheds by imposing specific conditions to site plan approval.

D. Review and update sign standards for Downtown and residential properties.

Elm Street Clock © Town of New Canaan

Goal 1.2: Preserve

and Enhance Historic Resources and Cultural Amenities in Town

New Canaan is renowned for its architecture, historic resources, and cultural scene. The Town’s architectural style and historic sites provide a tangible connection to the past, and its cultural facilities and amenities support a creative and vibrant future. The Town’s early historic preservation efforts included establishing the Historic District and its Commission in 1963. Since then, the Historic District Commission (HDC) has managed the Historic District’s regulations, ensuring this piece of New Canaan’s history is always preserved. In addition to the work of the HDC, the Town has partnered with the Waveny Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, to manage Waveny Park, a 130-acre Estate purchased by the Town in 1967. More recently, the Town renovated the 1920s Playhouse Theater in the heart of Downtown, which reopened as a movie theater in June 2024, honoring its past as a key cultural performance venue.

The New Canaan community is dedicated to the continued preservation and maintenance of historic and cultural resources. These resources require mindful and dedicated community support for safeguarding, enhancing and seamlessly integrating them with contemporary development. The Town will identify opportunities for protecting and preserving additional cultural amenities.

Strategy 1.2.1 Support the identification and preservation of historic resources that contribute to the Town’s identity and sense of place.

Policies

1. Support historic preservation efforts (e.g., documentation of historical and archeological resources) by local groups, including but not limited to the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society and the Historic District Commission.

2. Support building, structure, object, site and district nominations for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

3. Continue to maintain the existing Demolition Delay Ordinance.

Actions

A. Assist the Historic District Commission and local historic groups with developing and implementing a system to identify and seek grants for historic resource preservation.

B. Conduct a comprehensive historic and cultural resource inventory. This inventory should identify existing local, State, and National Register-listed historic and cultural resources, as well as those eligible for listing.

C. Strengthen existing Zoning Regulations that provide relief to projects that preserve New Canaan’s local, State, and nationally historically significant structures.

D. Consider options for expanding the Historic District Commission’s involvement in the application and development review process. This could include supporting the expansion of the existing Historic District or revising the ‘triggers’ for their review.

E. Host educational programs related to the Town’s architectural diversity. Discuss partnering with the New Canaan Library or New Canaan Historical Society to host such events.

Old Faithful Fire Engine © Alexander Pitt

Strategy 1.2.2 Pursue opportunities to expand the cultural amenities to strengthen New Canaan’s role as a cultural hub.

Policies

1. Support ongoing cultural events and expansion efforts by New Canaan organizations, including but not limited to the Carriage Barn Arts Center, the Silvermine Arts Center, the Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Town Players of New Canaan, and New Canaan Chamber Music.

2. Encourage new development to provide public cultural amenities in the Town.

Actions

A. Explore using existing municipal facilities as cultural events venues/hubs.

B. Seek grants and other funding opportunities to support the maintenance of existing cultural facilities in Town, such as the Public Library, the Playhouse Theater, and Waveny Park.

C. Work with the Chamber of Commerce on regularly updating the New Canaan Culture Guide.

A Night at the Glass House © Jeanne McDonagh

The Playhouse Theater © Town of New Canaan

Powerhouse Theatre © Town of New Canaan

Goal 1.3: Encourage Downtown Vibrancy

New Canaan’s Downtown is the heart of the community, offering shopping and restaurants, cultural facilities, and hosting community events. Over the last decade, the Town has actively enhanced Downtown’s vibrancy with the following improvements:

• Identified an underutilized commercial area (Cross and Vitti Streets) and revised the Zoning Regulations to permit more active ground floor uses;

• Renovated and reopened the Playhouse Theater;

• Revised the Town’s outdoor dining regulations to permit such use associated with a restaurant establishment, thereby supporting an active streetscape during the summer months; and

• Created additional public green space at the new Library Green in 2024.

The Town supports initiatives to enhance activities in Downtown New Canaan while acknowledging resident concerns regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety, affordable housing, and the lack of available parking. New Canaan has prioritized supporting an active community, addressing vehicular traffic and parking concerns, retaining and growing businesses, and designing high-quality public realm improvements.

Strategy 1.3.1 Support business retention and growth within the Downtown area.

Policies

1. Support the Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to maintain anchor uses within the Downtown, such as community facilities like the Playhouse Theater and the New Canaan Library.

2. Prioritize increasing foot traffic in Downtown, by incentivizing ground-floor, commercial uses that engage the community.

3. Support the Tourism & Economic Development Advisory Committee with their efforts to guide economic development in and around Downtown.

Actions

A. Pursue innovative planning policies suitable for New Canaan’s Downtown. These policies might include transit-oriented-development (TOD) zoning principles, a form-based code, and/or a complete streets policy.

B. Review and update permitted uses in Downtown Zoning Districts allowing flexibility for commercial and mixed-use projects, facilitating economic development, and ensuring consistency with municipal and residents’ needs.

C. Review and update the dimensional standards for Downton Zoning Districts to encourage flexibility in new development opportunities. Items to be reviewed include building setbacks and amend maximum commercial floor area to further support small businesses.

D. Collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce to address business owner/ tenant concerns and needs. Efforts may include improving communication channels between the Town and business owners, providing online resources and guides, streamlining permitting processes, and hosting special events to attract visitors to Downtown.

E. Update the 2011 Downtown Market Study to identify new commercial/retail strengths, weaknesses, issues, and opportunities. Consider addressing known market impacts and trends, including the role of e-commerce and demand for experiential businesses.

F. Collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to attract and maintain the current Downtown workforce. Identify options that could increase in-Town employment, such as summer job programs for teens and young adults, or partnerships with local educational or workforce organizations.

Strategy 1.3.2 Maintain and expand multimodal transportation opportunities and connections to and in Downtown.

Policies

1. Promote the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy’s eight transit-oriented development principles within Downtown New Canaan.

2. Advocate for train station and service improvements.

3. Continue to support and possibly expand New Canaan’s non-profit mobility services, such as Get About and Staying Put.

Actions

A. Explore establishing a Transit-Oriented Overlay District proximate to the Metro-North Railroad Station in Downtown.

B. Review and update existing Zoning Regulations to facilitate multimodal transportation options. Zoning revisions may include developing design guidelines for and requiring pedestrian and bicyclist amenities and shortand long-term bicycle parking facilities.

C. Conduct a bicycle-route routing feasibility study, either Town-wide or focused on Downtown.

D. Collaborate with WestCOG and the Town of Darien to implement the 25.5mile Darien-New Canaan Bike Route identified in the WestCOG Regional Bike Plan.

E. Sponsor bicycle-oriented events and engage local groups, including but not limited to the New Canaan Cycling Club and Sound Cyclist Bicycle Club, to discuss route and event opportunities.

Strategy 1.3.3 Support efforts to promote walkability within the Downtown area.

Policies

1. Provide a convenient, attractive, and safe network of sidewalks, crosswalks, and other pedestrian connections.

2. Prohibit or discourage off-street parking in front yard setbacks to maintain an active streetscape.

Actions

A. Develop and adopt a Comprehensive Sidewalk Expansion Plan for Downtown and the surrounding area. The Plan could address sidewalks Town-wide or focus on Downtown. The sidewalk plan should address pedestrian safety and target gaps in connectivity to ensure parks and schools are well connected to Downtown.

B. Develop a pedestrian guide and/or app with mapping that illustrates walking routes, municipal parking, and signage directing visitors to and from Downtown.

C. Create educational material related to pedestrian safety in New Canaan. This material should be hosted on the Town’s website and may include information on safe routes to community facilities and Downtown.

D. Pursue funding opportunities, including Community Connectivity and Safe Routes to School grants and the Transportation Alternatives Program to support sidewalk connectivity projects in and around Downtown.

Strategy 1.3.4 Explore creative solutions to Downtown parking.

Policies

1. Support alternative modes of transportation, including walking and biking, to reduce vehicular traffic and parking demand Downtown.

2. Encourage creative off-street parking solutions within public and private development and redevelopment opportunities.

3. Increase the efficiency of (and potentially capacity within) existing parking facilities using wayfinding, technology, and alternative payment programs.

Actions

A. Undertake a Downtown parking study to understand existing supply and demand, parking ratios and payment structure, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the need for additional parking/enforcement staff and/or parking structures. Pricing models should consider demand- and locationbased pricing.

B. Review and update the Zoning Regulation’s parking requirements in Downtown zoning districts. This update should be informed by findings from the parking study and may include establishing guidelines for off-street parking lot design, amending parking ratios, and improving shared parking regulations.

C. Evaluate the cost and benefits associated with constructing a parking structure (underground, tiered, or decked) in the Downtown. Consider various municipal lots for this endeavor.

D. Review and update shared parking requirements and standards within the Zoning Regulations. Consider the use of parking space trading system, in which properties within a defined area may ‘trade’ available spaces to accommodate for unmet and/or excess parking requirements.

E. Conduct pilot programs to evaluate the effectiveness of and introduce concepts for proposed parking improvements in Downtown. These programs may include alternative circulation patterns, road diets,52 and metered/paid parking models.

F. Educate the public about parking alternatives using the Town’s website, signage, wayfinding, and other communication techniques.

G. Consider establishing a Parking Benefit District, within which the revenue collected from parking in Downtown is reinvested into the District.

H. Investigate the use of online apps for collecting parking fees. This system could include registration elements that would provide discounted rates for residents.

I. Explore the potential to issue overnight parking permits for residents of Downtown housing.

Strategy 1.3.5 Encourage

public realm improvements in Downtown to enhance a cohesive sense of place.

Policies

1. Promote a high-quality street environment in Downtown, including trees.

2. Encourage public realm improvements that enhance connectivity between Downtown and neighboring residential areas and community facilities.

Actions

A. Develop a comprehensive streetscape design approach for Downtown, which considers complete streets and infrastructure resiliency concepts.

B. Identify methods to improve the physical appearance of Downtown using Zoning Regulations. Strategies may include façade, landscape and off-street parking lot design requirements.

C. Conduct a wayfinding study for Downtown. Components of this study may include signage, pavement markings, and mapping, in both physical and digital formats. While the study would focus on Downtown, consider developing a design theme that would translate well to other parts of the community.

Goal 1.4: Encourage Continued Community Involvement

and Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is fundamental to the New Canaan identity. New Canaan residents actively engage with local government, municipal efforts, organizations, and groups dedicated to supporting a healthy, active, and sustainable Town. This community spirit is a source of pride for residents, who note that volunteerism underscores New Canaan’s quality of life.

Strategy 1.4.1 Encourage civic participation with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s review of applications.

Policies

1. Ensure transparency in the activities and meetings of the PZC.

2. Reassure residents and stakeholders that community involvement is welcomed at all PZC meetings.

Actions

A. Post important information, including development applications, mapping, and other municipal initiatives to the Town’s website.

B. Increase public awareness related to land use planning and zoning procedures, including the roles of the Town Planner, Zoning Enforcement Officer, and PZC and the associated permitting processes. Consider utilizing the First Selectman’s monthly newsletter to increase awareness and education.

Strategy 1.4.2 Support activities that promote broad community conversations and involvement.

Policies

1. Promote activities, sponsored by the Town and local organizations, that enhance the overall sense of community spirit and pride.

2. Promote community philanthropy.

Actions

A. Partner with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to coordinate community events in and around Downtown.

Irwin Park © Town of New Canaan

COMMUNITY THEME

PROMOTE CREATIVE, BALANCED DEVELOPMENT

Promote Creative, Balanced Development

Though New Canaan is a great place to live, it is faced with the ongoing need to adapt to a dynamic world. The demand for housing remains a shared challenge for both New Canaan and the State of Connecticut.

New Canaan envisions a future where housing needs are met with creative and appropriate solutions. These solutions will address current and future New Canaan residents’ diverse needs for housing, mobility, public services, critical infrastructure, and access to open space while enhancing cultural, recreational, and social opportunities that enrich residents’ lives.

What is Creative, Balanced Development to New Canaan?

The Town understands the need for (and wants) development that is forward-thinking, complementary, and equitable, but is constrained by limited available land and the existing sewer district boundaries. Various development related concerns were identified by the public throughout the planning process including the appropriate mix of housing types and affordability, the impact of non-residential developments on residential areas, and the need for more conservation and sustainability initiatives, among others.

The Promote Creative, Balanced Development theme was crafted to address the community’s concerns regarding future development. New Canaan will aim to promote creativity in building and site design and balance development with community and environmental needs and constraints. For New Canaan, creative development is intended to address new or infill development that provides diverse housing types and employs “outside-the-box” thinking to ensure that building, architectural, and site design(s) are consistent with the existing built environment (height, bulk, density, etc.) of New Canaan. The following goals, strategies, policies, and actions will guide the PZC, other relevant Town Boards and Commissions, Town Staff, and elected officials in their efforts to address this theme area.

Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan Building in Spring © Norm Jensen

Goal 2.1: Support Balanced and Appropriate Development

and Redevelopment Opportunities

New Canaan is substantially built out, which requires the Town to be thoughtful in planning for future development and redevelopment opportunities. The majority of new development in Town has been housing, specifically teardowns and replacements of single-family homes, or development/redevelopment of multifamily structures in Downtown and commercial areas. In the residential districts, new structures often maximize building height and coverage requirements and replace smaller, more affordable homes, leading to inconsistent housing sizes in the town’s more densely populated neighborhoods.

One of the Town’s major priorities for the next decade is to ensure that new development is compatible with the existing community and the immediate surroundings, with an emphasis on preserving the community’s residential setting. Factors that will impact compatibility include the location, scale, design, and aesthetics of development and its impact on existing community facilities and infrastructure. New construction must be appropriately scaled, meaning that no structure (inclusive of parking) should be more than one story taller than its adjacent structures at street level, to ensure that existing neighborhoods remain cohesive.

In addition, New Canaan recognizes the responsibility of being proactive in addressing environmental and sustainability concerns associated with the changing global climate. The Town has identified green building and site design as an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of new developments and create a more sustainable community.

Strategy 2.1.1 Ensure the Town’s zoning regulations support desired development patterns within the community.

Policies

1. Encourage the appropriate scale, intensity, and design of development within New Canaan’s various zoning districts by regularly reviewing the Zoning Regulations to ensure that they are relevant for the coming years, with a focus on using innovative zoning to facilitate complementary new housing opportunities.

Actions

A. Review and update the Zoning Regulations to be consistent with this POCD and the Future Land Use Plan.

B. Review and update the Zoning Regulation’s dimensional / bulk standards to ensure that each district is utilizing the appropriate minimum and maximum requirements for its intended purpose(s).

C. Review and update the Zoning Regulation’s site development standards to ensure that new development is designed and constructed in an appropriate way for New Canaan.

D. Review and update permitted housing types within residential districts through the Zoning Regulations and ensure any updates complement the existing housing densities in New Canaan.

Heritage Hill © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 2.1.2 Ensure that new development is appropriately scaled for its location in the Town.

Policies

1. Preserve the existing relative residential densities within Town, with higher densities in the Downtown / Village Core and lower densities outside of Downtown.

2. Seek ways to creatively balance New Canaan’s economic and housing goals with the potential impacts of new development on Town facilities and infrastructure.

3. Maintain the existing Zoning Regulation’s building coverage and building height requirements to limit structures greater than four stories.

Actions

A. Continue to process and review development applications in accordance with all Town regulations and ordinances.

B. Engage in a proactive neighborhood planning process to evaluate and envision new, higher density development in appropriate areas

C. Revise the 2016 Grove Street Study, including a reevaluation of the Business D Zoning Regulations, to revitalize the area using more modern, appropriate land use regulations.

D. Review and update the apartment / multifamily regulations for the Downtown area. Consider increasing the permitted bedroom capacity for these units.

E. Review and update existing open space requirements associated with new residential developments.

Strategy 2.1.3 Promote high quality building and site design to enhance community aesthetics and livability.

Policies

1. Emphasize high-quality building and site design as priorities for new developments.

Actions

A. Review and update Townwide Zoning Regulations to ensure that appropriate standards are in place for high quality landscaping and design that also limits possible negative impacts from lighting, noise, and signage.

B. Explore the development of Townwide design guidelines that would address structural, landscape, and signage standards, as well as general site layout expectations. Consider adopting a threshold for making these guidelines mandatory, such as all new commercial and/or residential developments of a certain density.

C. Research Green Building Codes, such as the International Green Construction Code, for their potential use and adoption to promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly building strategies.

Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 2.1.4 Ensure that new development can be properly supported by existing infrastructure and other Town public services, and that effects on environmental resiliency and open space are carefully evaluated.

Policies

1. Maintain the existing sanitary sewer district footprint to promote concentrated development within the pre-established sewer area to limit sprawling effects on environmental and open space areas.

2. Carefully consider the impacts of new development on public facilities, services, and infrastructure, and any associated mitigation strategies.

Actions

A. Continue to involve various Town land use departments in the development review process to better understand and plan for the potential impacts of new development on existing facilities, services, and infrastructure.

B. Utilize the recent Flow and Load Review conducted by AECOM when reviewing new development proposals to ensure that such proposals are consistent with the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s capacity.

C. Complete a build out analysis /scenario for the existing sewer district and its capacity under current Zoning Regulations to better inform future planning decisions related to housing development within the sewer district’s footprint.

D. Require privately funded infrastructure improvements/mitigation efforts when new private development(s) are expected to have significant incremental impact on such infrastructure.

E. Consider the creation of a fund for capital improvements related to first responders, sanitary and storm sewer, and roads, with a fee imposed upon new developments with densities greater than the existing zoning.

F. Update the Zoning Regulations to further connect these Regulations with the Town’s low impact development and stormwater best management practices.

G. Review and update existing Zoning Regulations to create impervious coverage limitations for residential properties.

Strategy 2.1.5 Encourage green building and infrastructure technologies to build a more sustainable community.

Policies

1. Facilitate the use of green infrastructure and technology in new residential, commercial, and institutional development(s).

2. Promote the residential use of renewable energy, including that of solar, wind, and geothermal technologies.

Actions

A. Update Zoning Regulations to include voluntary green building standards for new development(s). These standards may include energy efficiency and green roofs, among others. Consider adopting a threshold at which these standards are mandatory, such as all new commercial and/or residential developments of a certain density.

B. Develop a program to incentivize private developers to design for and obtain green certifications, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Incentives could include dimensional flexibility, density credits, or an abbreviated review process, among others.

C. Investigate ways in which the Town can support residents in transitioning their homes to use more renewable and green technologies, such as financial incentives or permitting procedures.

Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan

Goal 2.2: Provide a Diverse Housing Portfolio that Supports Residents of All Circumstances

Diverse and affordable housing is, and will continue to be, a significant priority for New Canaan and the State of Connecticut. The Town knows that the focus of future development within the community is likely to be housing and acknowledges that its limited available land will push new development towards infill and densification. Over the last decade the Town has redeveloped and expanded existing publicly managed affordable housing, including the Millport and Canaan Parish complexes, by creating over 100 new affordable units. New Canaan continues to be focused on providing quality, and permanently, affordable housing to its residents. Key priorities will be to support the New Canaan Housing Authority and its management of the existing affordable units in Town, supporting the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Committee to achieve future moratoria, and working with private developers to build quality housing that avoids employing CGS 8-30g.

New Canaan seeks to provide housing that meets the needs of all residents and that reduces barriers to joining and remaining in the community. The Town will approach housing issues with an eye towards sound policies and partnerships and the use of appropriate incentives to generate the desired additional housing for the community. Priority projects will include senior housing and housing in and around Downtown. New Canaan will carefully consider community opinion on private and public housing projects and implement recommendations from the Affordable Housing Plan.

Downtown Housing © Town of New Canaan

Mulifamily Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 2.2.1 Implement the recommendations of the Town’s Affordable Housing Plan.

Policies

1. Support affordable housing opportunities that complement the existing residential areas and expand housing choices within the community.

2. Support the Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendations to achieve a rolling moratorium, so that New Canaan can manage the type, form, and location of affordable housing in the community.

3. Prioritize permanent public affordable housing as the preferred means of construction.

4. Evaluate the Town’s current Affordable Housing Trust Fund fees and management processes and consider updates.

Actions

A. Regularly update the municipal Affordable Housing Plan, in accordance with State requirements. Collaborate with various Town land use departments in doing so to ensure a cohesive approach among the community.

B. Assess the feasibility of acquiring, developing, or redeveloping land and/or structures for publicly owned/facilitated affordable housing projects.

C. Identify public and private partners to assist with construction, financing, development, asset management, and maintenance of affordable housing development(s) within the community.

D. Regularly study and identify naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) within the community and consider strategies to preserve such units.

E. Maintain a consolidated housing database to track inventory and eligibility of affordable housing units.

F. Continue to evaluate the Town’s existing Inclusionary Zoning Regulations for potential improvements that support the development of housing for workforce, senior, and special needs populations.

G. Work with State Representatives to amend CGS §8-30g to allow a broader definition of affordability, such as naturally occurring affordable housing units, to be counted toward State affordable housing goals and moratoria.

Strategy 2.2.2 Support the increase of housing opportunities in proximity to Downtown that are walkable and near transit and commercial uses.

Policies

1. Support the use of Transit-Oriented Development principles in housing developments in and around Downtown.

2. Promote mixed-use, private development in the existing commercial districts.

Actions

A. Consider establishing a focused Transit-Oriented Overlay District in proximity to the Metro-North Station Downtown.

B. Explore opportunities to connect Downtown to the existing housing surrounding it, primarily through multimodal transportation methods.

C. Review and update the Zoning Regulations related to density, coverage, height, parking, and landscaping requirements, to encourage high-quality housing development in and around Downtown.

D. Consider requiring mixed use development in multi-level structures in Downtown.

E. Determine the feasibility of repurposing an existing municipal parking lot for a future affordable housing development project. Collaborate with the Affordable Housing Committee and and New Canaan Housing Authority on this effort.

Strategy 2.2.3 Explore housing opportunities for older members of the community.

Policies

1. Encourage a range of housing types that are configured for an aging population, for both market rate and lower income senior citizens.

2. Support the efforts of the Affordable Housing Committee and the Health and Human Services Department related to addressing the needs of older residents.

3. Ensure that new development includes accommodations for “visitability” in their building and site design, including provisions for all buildings and units to be accessible to those with special mobility needs.

Actions

A. Collaborate with Health and Human Services and other Town entities to address housing needs for the Town’s older population.

B. Identify ways in which the Town can support the private market in enhancing housing opportunities for senior citizens.

C. Develop a municipally run system to help seniors identify smaller housing unit options within Town. This system may include an active database of units, a designated Town official for answering questions and comments related to such inquiries, and a page on the Town’s website for locating associated senior housing information.

Strategy 2.2.4 Provide workforce housing opportunities within the community.

Policies

1. Seek to provide for a diversity of housing types, opportunities, choice, and costs consistent with community conditions and constraints.

Actions

A. Update existing Zoning Regulations to define what “workforce housing” means in New Canaan.

B. Identify the appropriate housing type(s) for new workforce housing in New Canaan, with consideration for the various types of middle (medium density) housing that would be suitable for the community, including duplexes, townhomes, or cottage courts.

C. Consider ways to provide a density bonus or a simplified approval process for developments which provide workforce housing units.

Millport Apartments © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 2.2.5 Promote targeted, creative, and financially prudent housing incentives, policies and partnerships that increase housing affordability within New Canaan.

Policies

1. Seek to preserve affordable housing units in perpetuity rather than just for a modest period.

2. Continue to support the Affordable Housing Committee’s efforts to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing within New Canaan.

3. Preserve the quality of the New Canaan Housing Authority’s existing affordable housing stock within New Canaan.

Actions

A. Explore housing opportunities that can be provided with the assistance of non-profit agencies or state and federal grants or subsidies.

B. Consider developing an Affordable Housing Overlay District in which 100 percent of proposed residential units are protected as affordable housing.

C. Investigate grant opportunities that may enable additional affordable housing development in New Canaan, including those from the CT Department of Economic Community Development (DECD).

D. Consider updating the Zoning Regulations related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on single-family lots. Consider incentives to increase construction of ADUs and explore the development on an incentive program for designation of ADUs as protected affordable units.

E. Identify ways to protect the quality of the Town’s public affordable housing units, including enhanced maintenance and access to municipal resources.

Millport Apartments © Town of New Canaan

COMMUNITY THEME

EMBRACE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY

Rose Garden © Jeanne McDonagh

Embrace Sustainability and

Resiliency

New Canaan’s community demonstrates a passionate commitment to the natural environment. Residents actively work to preserve natural resources, protect open space, reduce environmental impacts, and prepare for climate-driven challenges while supporting biodiversity.

New Canaan envisions a community that is not only environmentally aware but also socially and economically sustainable—a community that takes prudent action to safeguard against the consequences of more frequent and intense weather events, ensuring the protection and preservation of biodiversity.

Why Should New Canaan Embrace Sustainability & Resiliency?

Today’s changing environment and climate conditions behooves national, state, and local governments to consider their environmental footprints and seek opportunities to improve environmental conditions and climate preparedness within their jurisdictions. New Canaan is active in addressing environmental issues and will continue to do so, aspiring to be a regional leader in environmental stewardship, sustainability, and resiliency. Public engagement events throughout this Plan’s development highlighted the community’s dedication to the environment; community survey participants were happy with the Town’s efforts to protect environmental resources like wetlands, waterbodies, and open spaces, and they ranked the preservation of undeveloped land and open space as a priority focus area for the Town, ranking it third overall.

The Embrace Sustainability and Resiliency theme was developed to ensure that New Canaan keeps environmental issues at the forefront of future planning efforts. The Town will embrace the natural environment through preservation and conservation of its natural resources. In doing so, New Canaan will create a more sustainable and resilient community that considers present and future generations’ needs. The following goals, strategies, policies, and actions will guide the Planning and Zoning Commission, and other Town leaders in their efforts to address this theme.

Mead Park © Betsy Barosky

Still Pond © Leo Karl

Goal 3.1: Preserve and Enhance Open Spaces in New Canaan

New Canaan has an active community that is committed to preserving and enhancing its open spaces and acknowledges this as a key contributor to its local identity. The town has a wide array of entities, some public and others private, that focus on the preservation and enhancement of open spaces. These organizations include but are not limited to: the Conservation Commission, New Canaan Nature Center, New Canaan Land Trust, New Canaan Beautification League, Friends of Bristow, New Canaan Garden Club, Planet New Canaan, and Grace Farms.

The Town’s open spaces contain sensitive resources that are important for human and environmental health. New Canaan also acknowledges that access to open spaces and the associated recreational opportunities is a significant component of residents’ quality of life. The Town intends to focus on further development of the public’s awareness and access to existing spaces and acquisition of additional open space properties and connections among these spaces.

Strategy 3.1.1

Preserve open spaces, especially those that are environmentally sensitive and ecologically important.

Policies

1. Support the Conservation Commission’s efforts to preserve additional open spaces within the community, including associated funding initiatives.

2. Support the Conservation Commission and Land Trust’s efforts to encourage the protection of privately owned property and undeveloped parcels as open space.

3. Prioritize open space acquisition and protection projects in accordance with the 2018 Open Space Report, developed by the Conservation Commission and New Canaan Land Trust.

Actions

A. Utilize the 2018 Open Space Report when reviewing development applications. Incorporate the report’s property-level conservation ranking system when evaluating individual development applications and consider the property’s economic and natural capital value(s).

B. Collaborate with the Conservation Commission and the New Canaan Land Trust on regularly updating the 2018 Open Space Report to further the Town’s preservation and conservation efforts.

C. Pursue grant opportunities for open space acquisition and improvement projects, such as projects that may mitigate flooding concerns within the community. Such grants may include FEMA and CT OSWA grants, among others.

D. Communicate and coordinate with the various water companies that own land in Town and strongly consider acquiring their land should it become available for purchase. The purchase of this land should be a priority for the Town over the next decade.

E. Develop a sustainable funding mechanism for the Open Space Acquisition Fund.

Nature Boardwalk © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 3.1.2 Increase public awareness of and access to open spaces.

Policies

1. Seek opportunities to enhance and increase public access and connectivity to open spaces.

Actions

A. Evaluate pedestrian, bicyclist, and vehicular access to each open space area and consider existing demand and supply for various parking facilities to generate more use of open space areas.

B. Utilize the existing educational materials and mapping features at the Town’s more widely used open spaces to further educate the public about other accessible properties in Town.

C. Continue to partner with organizations, such as the New Canaan Land Trust or Nature Center, on increasing public access and use of New Canaan’s open spaces.

Strategy 3.1.3 Improve and expand recreational opportunities that connect residents to nature, such as walking and bike trails.

Policies

1. Promote the creation of walking and biking trails within dedicated open spaces and their outlying areas.

2. Support the New Canaan Land Trust’s efforts to expand and maintain their public trail systems.

Actions

A. Continue to support the New Canaan Land Trust’s GreenLink Trail System and consider its expansion where appropriate.

B. Pursue a Town-wide trail planning study that emphasizes connectivity and expansion of the existing trail system, both within New Canaan and between abutting municipalities.

C. Pursue grant opportunities, such as the CT DEEP Recreational Trails Grant, to conduct improvements to the Waveny Park Loop Trail.

D. Conduct a bike route feasibility study for the Town’s existing open spaces. This study should address bike connectivity among open spaces, enhancements to existing open space bike trails, and identify the safest bike routes to and from the various open spaces in Town.

E. Continue to work with WestCOG and nearby municipalities on implementing the goals and strategies of the Regional Bicycle Plan, including connectivity and educational goals, and the implementation of the Darien-New Canaan Bike Route.

Mill Pond © Leo Karl

Goal 3.2: Preserve and Maintain the Natural Environment

A healthy natural environment, including air, water, soil, wetlands, biodiversity, and other natural resources, contributes to community wellbeing. New Canaan will be active in its preservation and maintenance efforts related to the natural environment. The Town’s Inland Wetlands and Conservation Commissions are champions of this effort. The Inland Wetlands Commission ensures the protection, preservation, maintenance and proper use of inland wetlands and watercourses in the town, which are an indispensable, irreplaceable, and fragile natural resource. The Conservation Commission has been involved in the master planning of the Bristow Bird Sanctuary, open space mapping, the implementation of the Pollinator Pathways program, as well as various other preservation initiatives throughout New Canaan.

The Town will continue to act as an environmental leader and consider implementing additional protections for natural resources to ensure a healthy natural environment that supports a range of flora and fauna, with an emphasis on protection of water quality and biodiversity. The Town will promote low impact development and sustainable design in public projects and private development to further cement the local commitment to environmental stewardship.

Strategy 3.2.1 Protect natural resources within the community.

Policies

1. Promote the conservation of natural resources in Town to preserve various ecosystem services (groundwater recharge, flood control, etc.) and enhance the community’s overall quality of life.

Actions

A. Identify opportunities to protect and enhance Natural Diversity Areas and critical habitat areas in New Canaan, such as additional site development standards for projects in proximity to these resources.

B. Review and update Zoning Regulations to preserve and protect pre-existing topography and steep slopes during the development process. Updates should include defining steep slopes and ensuring that best management practices for erosion and sediment control are in place.

C. Identify opportunities to implement CT DEEP’s Responsible Recreation principles at the local scale, in active and passive recreation areas. This may include educational programming, or materials related to responsible hiking, biking, and off-roading practices.

Nature Center Hut © Norm Jensen Waveny Walled Garden © Susan Bergen Irwin Park © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 3.2.2 Protect water aquifers, ponds, and watercourses to enhance water quality.

Policies

1. Ensure that protection of surface and groundwater quality is a priority throughout the development review and construction process.

2. Support water company initiatives to protect public watersheds and drinking water reservoirs in Town.

3. Support regional efforts to update the 2011 Five Mile River Watershed Based Plan in partnership with neighboring municipalities and WestCOG.

Actions

A. Collaborate with the Inland Wetlands Commission on protecting New Canaan’s inland wetlands during the development review process.

B. Consider conducting a comprehensive wetland and vernal pool inventory for Town-owned properties. This study would document existing resource locations and quality and consider appropriate preservation techniques for such resources.

C. Regularly test New Canaan’s surface waters for recreational and community health quality in cooperation with CT DEEP.

D. Educate residents about sources of water pollution and ways to reduce contamination from fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, road salt, agricultural chemicals, and discharges from improperly operating septic systems. Consider utilizing the Town’s website or the MS4 public education and outreach plan in doing so.

Strategy 3.2.3 Support biodiversity within the Town.

Policies

1. Encourage the use of native species of plants in landscape design, and discourage the use of invasive species, on both public and private properties.

Actions

A. Consider formalizing an Invasive Species Eradication Program within New Canaan. This program could be Townwide or focused on specific locations or problem areas and may address terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. Consider implementing this program on Town-owned properties as a pilot initiative.

B. Identify opportunities for the Town to limit its use of pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides during property maintenance. Collaborate with various Town Departments on this effort to ensure that suggestions are appropriate for each property and cost-efficient.

C. Review and update Zoning Regulations to develop a more robust and modern tree removal/replacement policy for new development(s) and consider using a fee-in-lieu requirement to support the policy. Also consider modifying street tree requirements for new public and private projects.

D. Review and update Zoning Regulations to encourage and/or require native plantings and drought-resistant landscaping regulations for new developments.

E. Work with local environmental groups on the Pollinator Pathway program. Consider opportunities to advance their goals through the application and development review process, and promote the installation of pollinator gardens on Town-owned property, where feasible.

F. Educate the public on biodiversity issues within New Canaan, including terrestrial and aquatic native and nonnative species and wildlife habitat quality. Collaborate with the Nature Center on opportunities to sponsor or participate in educational events related to such.

Mead Park Pond © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 3.2.4 Encourage low impact development and sustainable design.

Policies

1. Encourage the Town to act as a community leader in implementing low impact development and various sustainability initiatives on town-owned properties.

2. Promote the use of low impact development (LID) and green building and site design in private development, to the maximum extent possible.

3. Support the development of a more diligent environmental impact study and review process associated with Town projects and purchases.

Actions

A. Review and update Zoning Regulations related to stormwater management to better comply with the State’s Stormwater Manual. Consult with the Town Engineer and Public Works Department on such an update.

B. Require low impact design regulations, as a part of the abovementioned stormwater management update, that promote groundwater recharge and water quality improvements.

C. Evaluate the ability to use Zoning Regulations to incentivize the use of green technologies in private developments.

D. Review and update Zoning Regulations to require building and impervious coverage limits for new developments. This update may include updating what is counted towards building and impervious coverages and defining related terms, such as pervious and impervious surfaces.

E. Utilize Resilient Connecticut’s Climate Change Vulnerability Index to identify priority areas for heat and flood risks in Town. Consider opportunities to enhance the use of low impact development and sustainable building and site design within higher-risk areas.

F. Identify opportunities to educate the public on the benefits associated with low impact development and design. Consider focusing on how residents can implement small-scale LID practices on their private property to advance sustainable development in Town.

Nature Center Boardwalk © Town of New Canaan

Goal 3.3: Promote Sustainability & Reduce the Community’s Environmental Impacts

New Canaan has taken measures to increase sustainability and reduce the community’s environmental impacts, most notably by obtaining a Bronze Certification from Sustainable CT. Sustainability is, however, an evolving field, and the Town will work to stay ahead of current issues and strengthen the community’s existing initiatives.

New Canaan will promote these initiatives from the municipal level, acting as a community leader in sustainability, as well as encouraging residents and private development to consider sustainable practices. Water and energy conservation, waste reduction, Dark Sky initiatives, and sustainable building practices will be key areas of focus. The Town will provide opportunities to educate residents on sustainability ideas and practices to widen the community’s understanding of current sustainability issues and available resources.

Strategy 3.3.1 Encourage sustainability initiatives and practices related to energy conservation, water conservation, waste reduction/recycling, and composting.

Policies

1. Promote sustainability initiatives at a Town-wide and household scale.

2. Encourage the use of accessory renewable energy structures on residential, commercial, and municipal properties.

3. Encourage the use of electric lawn maintenance equipment on private properties over gas-powered equipment.

4. Support the expansion and continued success of Planet New Canaan’s Swap Shop program.

Actions

A. Pursue a Silver Certification from Sustainable CT.

B. Prepare an Energy Conservation Action Plan to reduce operating costs, lifecycle costs, and lower the carbon footprint of the Town’s buildings. This plan should evaluate the municipality’s use of renewable energy systems and consider the establishment of an energy task force to implement energy conservation initiatives.

C. Investigate opportunities for renewable energy generation (solar, wind, hydro, fuel cell, etc.) in Town as a way to lower energy costs and enhance resiliency.

D. Analyze the costs and benefits associated with transitioning the municipal fleet to electric vehicles, and continue to consider the need to construct electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the Town.

E. Revise the Zoning Regulations to articulate the desired location and type of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for new private developments.

F. Review and consider updating the Town’s landscaping requirements for parking lots, both privately and publicly owned, to reduce urban heat island impacts.

Flooding in New Canaan © Russ Kimes III

G. Work with Town Departments to identify opportunities to enhance the existing Transfer Station’s services and infrastructure to continue to maintain adequate arrangements for solid waste, bulk waste, compostables, and recycling operations.

H. Explore purchasing mechanical composters to process local food scraps from the Town’s schools, residents, and restaurants.

I. Consider adopting a municipal ordinance to regulate the use of gas-powered lawn equipment in Town.

Strategy 3.3.2 Promote “Dark Sky” initiatives, where appropriate.

Policies

1. Encourage the Town to act as a leader in initiating Dark Sky initiatives on Town-owned properties.

Actions

A. Review the Zoning Regulations for shortcomings in outdoor lighting standards, and consider updating such regulations using the Model Regulations for Dark Sky Zoning in Connecticut, prepared by “Lights Out Connecticut.”

B. Review and update the Zoning Regulations by considering unique lighting standards for residential and commercial properties, as well as sports fields. Considerations in this update may include the use of light controls, maximum illumination levels, and correlated color temperature.

C. Identify ways in which New Canaan can increase its enforcement capabilities related to nuisance lighting issues.

Strategy 3.3.3 Educate and support residents on sustainability ideas and practices.

Policies

1. Support the development of sustainability-focused programs and activities for all ages as a means to engage residents in sustainable initiatives.

Actions

A. Develop educational materials for residents related to the available sustainability programs in the community, including single-stream recycling, food waste and composting, and water conservation.

B. Consider opportunities to involve residents in various Sustainable CT initiatives as the Town moves towards obtaining Silver Certification.

C. Collaborate with various local environmental groups including, but not limited to, Planet New Canaan, The Nature Center, and the New Canaan Land Trust, on opportunities to host educational programs related to sustainability. Consider the use of municipal facilities or the Downtown area as potential sites for these events.

D. Develop educational messages on the importance of tree and property maintenance, with an emphasis on the impact this maintenance can have on the Town’s ecosystem and overall aesthetics.

The Nature Center © Town of New Canaan

Goal 3.4: Build Resiliency to Changing Environmental Conditions

A resilient community is a healthier, safer community. New Canaan understands that changing environmental conditions will ultimately have an impact on its resident’s health and wellbeing. The community has already experienced these impacts, including property damage, loss of power/utilities, and difficulty accessing community facilities due to roadblocks—all stemming from increased storm intensity and frequency. The Town is an active participant in regional hazard mitigation planning. Over the last decade, New Canaan has:

• Invested in a portable generator capable of running one key municipal facility in the event a backup generator fails;

• Replaced and upgraded its entire first responder public radio system; and

• Implemented an emergency communication system (Everbridge).

While the Town is pleased with its progress to increase resiliency against more severe and frequent weather events to date, it is clear there is more to be done. New Canaan will work to reinforce its climate resiliency by further implementing recommendations from the Regional and Municipal Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), with efforts focused on flood protection and mitigation and regional partnerships. As the Town continues to strengthen its resiliency, it will also work to ensure that emergency preparedness and communication are top quality by strategically planning resource and communication enhancements that will improve community safety in times of emergency.

Strategy

3.4.1 Implement initiatives from the Regional/Municipal Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Policies

1. Support WestCOG’s efforts to regularly update the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan and its municipal annexes.

2. Promote economic and social resilience within New Canaan.

Actions

A. Actively participate in updates to the Regional and Municipal Hazard Mitigation Plan(s).

B. Enhance municipal educational content and programs related to resilience and hazard mitigation, including chemical management, flood zones, and hazards.

C. Regularly coordinate with State and regional partners to address drainage issues within New Canaan, including that of the streets and park systems.

D. Complete the Bristow Bird Sanctuary rehabilitation project, incorporating floodplain restoration and other flood mitigation actions, as described in the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.

E. Evaluate and participate in FEMA Community Rating System. The Town is not part of CRS but should consider joining and exploring opportunities to enhance flood management for protection to property, infrastructure, and people.

F. Review and update Zoning Regulations to consider the use of a Resiliency Overlay District, which would designate an area in which to focus municipal resilience initiatives. Consider using the Climate Change Vulnerability Index as a primary tool for delineating such a district. This District could also be used to further promote the use of sustainable and resilient buildings and site design for private development.

G. Collaborate with WestCOG on local and regional economic and social resilience initiatives, including comprehensive community outreach and engagement to identify such vulnerabilities and opportunities to address them.

Strategy 3.4.2 Improve emergency preparedness programs and communication.

Policies

1. Encourage the hardening of electric and utility infrastructure to reduce utility disruptions in Town.

Actions

A. Work with Town Departments to identify opportunities for on-site power generation on municipal properties.

B. Review and update emergency preparedness programs, including ensuring there are sufficient 911-viable options and electric power backup for communication systems. This could include increasing the visibility of hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness pages on the Town’s website.

C. Continue to identify socially vulnerable populations in New Canaan who may need additional support and resources to combat heat, flooding, and other climate-related risks.

D. Identify opportunities to enhance social reliance and support vulnerable populations during times of emergency. This could include enhancing communication channels (access to public officials, multilingual resources, etc.) and improving evacuation and sheltering procedures to further address vulnerable population(s) needs.

E. Locate strategic areas in Town suitable for burying utilities to safeguard against infrastructure and public safety impacts associated with severe storms.

F. Evaluate the Town’s stormwater management system capacity for its ability to withstand more significant storm intensities, and identify opportunities to reduce its burden or expand its capacity.

Mead Park © Janet Karl

COMMUNITY THEME

ENHANCE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES

Enhance Community Infrastructure and Facilities

New Canaan boasts an array of exceptional community facilities, from Waveny Park to the “new” New Canaan Library and the recently renovated Playhouse Theater in the heart of Downtown. New Canaan’s gas, water, and other utilities are supplied by private utility companies, while sanitary and storm sewers are publicly managed. In addition, New Canaan benefits from excellent emergency service providers, including police, fire, and emergency medical services.

New Canaan envisions a future where public services continue to exceed expectations, existing facilities and infrastructure are well-maintained, and there is a continued commitment to replace out-of-date facilities and infrastructure to meet the current and future needs of residents and businesses.

How Can New Canaan Maintain its High-Quality Community Infrastructure and Facilities?

Residents use and rely on New Canaan’s community facilities and infrastructure daily, making them a key contributor to quality of life. New Canaan is proud of its quality community facilities, which support a wide range of services and activities for residents of all ages. Survey and workshop participation highlighted the community’s appreciation for the Town’s excellent facilities and services, particularly the public schools, park facilities, and fire and police services. Community infrastructure, including sewer, water, roads, and utilities provide essential services that support development, public health, and public safety. Community members identified road maintenance, improvements, and capacity of existing infrastructure as important considerations for this POCD. Residents also expressed concerns about the reliability of privately managed utilities, such as cell service, internet, electricity, and gas.

The Enhance Community Infrastructure and Facilities theme was developed to address community concerns about long-term maintenance and ensure that future improvements align with community desires. New Canaan will work to maintain the quality of existing facilities and infrastructure, while identifying improvements that would increase quality of life. The following goals, strategies, policies, and actions will guide the PZC and other Town leaders in their efforts to address this theme.

Waveny House © Barbara O’Shea Sunset © Chris Otis

Goal 4.1: Maintain and Enhance Community Facilities and Services

Community facilities are plentiful in New Canaan. Existing facilities and services include municipal buildings, park facilities, recreational programming, public schools, and emergency services, among others. The Town has dedicated significant resources into updating facilities like Town Hall, the New Canaan Library, the Police Station, and various recreational fields, including ongoing upgrades to Dunning Stadium at New Canaan High School.

Looking to the future, New Canaan will need to evaluate and prioritize maintenance or enhancement of community facilities, including, but not limited to, the Waveny House, Transfer Station, Lapham Community Center, and the Fire Station. The Town will also continue to support and collaborate with the Board of Education to continue to provide the highest quality of public education possible.

Strategy 4.1.1 Maintain existing community facilities and enhance those who are aging.

Policies

1. Ensure that the Town is intentional about the leasing and/or selling of Townowned land and buildings.

2. Support municipal efforts to increase the quantity and quality of vegetation and plantings on Town-owned properties and its buildings, with an emphasis on that of municipal parking lots and street trees.

Actions

A. Conduct an overall facility planning study to identify, evaluate, and prioritize community facility needs. This study should consider opportunities to consolidate the maintenance of various municipal facilities and public schools.

B. Implement an evaluation system to periodically assess municipal facility needs, maintenance issues, and capital improvement projects, including ADA compliance.

C. Conduct a Townwide Parks Master Plan study to better understand facility and programming gaps, including field maintenance/scheduling. This plan should consider the need for adequate public facility provisions, such as rest rooms, at parks and recreation sites.

D. Work with Town Departments to determine the futures of the Irwin House and Vine Cottage structures, considering cost-effectiveness, historic preservation, and town facility needs.

New Canaan Library © Jonathan Haggar

Strategy 4.1.2 Maintain and expand park facilities to meet the needs of residents.

Policies

1. Support the Parks and Recreation Department in their efforts to maintain existing facilities and ensure those facilities are optimally designed and managed.

2. Encourage municipal interaction with volunteer groups that contribute to park maintenance, such as the Garden Club, Beautification League, and Pollinator Pathways.

Actions

A. Conduct a comprehensive land survey of New Canaan’s park system to better understand each site’s boundaries and existing conditions. Explore grants to fund this project.

B. Develop and adopt individual park Master Plans with an emphasis on revitalization and enhancement of existing facilities. Priority parks include Waveny, Kiwanis, and Irwin Parks.

Strategy 4.1.3 Provide a range of recreational facilities and programming that supports all residents.

Policies

1. Support the Parks and Recreation Department in their efforts to expand recreational programming in New Canaan.

Actions

A. Work with Parks and Recreation to locate an appropriate indoor space to support additional youth recreational programming.

B. Work with the Parks and Recreation Department to ensure that park and recreation facilities have the appropriate mix of sports fields and courts; identify any gaps and additional needs.

Baseball Field © Town of New Canaan

Pickleball Courts © Barbara O’Shea

Strategy 4.1.4 Maintain excellence in education programs and facilities.

Policies

1. Support the New Canaan Board of Education in continuing to provide an exceptional public education system.

Actions

A. Coordinate with the Board of Education on monitoring New Canaan’s enrollment trends to anticipate potential future needs relating to all types of school facilities.

Strategy 4.1.5 Support and enhance emergency services provision in Town.

Policies

1. Maintain existing emergency services mutual aid agreements with the surrounding communities and larger WestCOG region.

2. Advocate for the expansion of the public water supply service(s) in Town to support residential and municipal needs, such as that of the Fire Department.

3. Support the Fire Marshal’s education and prevention efforts, including those in the public school system.

Actions

A. Work with the Fire Department to evaluate the feasibility, costs, and benefits of constructing an additional fire station. Focus on locations that would help reduce response times to the Town’s outlying areas.

B. Collaborate with the Police Department to acquire a more efficient and effective software program for managing traffic during emergency situations.

C. Support resident efforts to form Neighborhood Watch programs. Identify opportunities to increase public interest and involvement.

New Canaan Fire Department and Main Street © Town of New Canaan

Goal 4.2: Enhance Transportation Services and Infrastructure

Local roads and multimodal (pedestrian and bicycle) infrastructure facilitate and enhance everyday life in New Canaan. The Town wants to maintain and improve its infrastructure to provide an efficient and safe transportation network. Recent municipal projects include sidewalk extensions on Richmond Hill Road (now connecting Marshall Ridge Road to Mead Park) and Oenoke Ridge (now connecting Parade Hill Road to Downtown). Residents supported these projects and use them frequently. The Town understands the community’s growing concern about traffic congestion and plans to address it by improving local roadways and promoting active transportation to alleviate vehicular dependency. The Town will promote active transportation through comprehensive sidewalk and bicycle planning to create efficient and safe routes within the community.

Strategy 4.2.1 Improve road and sidewalk infrastructure throughout the Town.

Policies

1. Seek to provide a connected and extensive sidewalk network in areas where it will enhance pedestrian mobility and accessibility to key destinations, such as schools, parks, Downtown, and transit hubs.

2. Support the Town’s efforts to expand the sidewalk network through a Sidewalk and Bike Master Plan and as a part of regularly scheduled road maintenance and improvement plans.

3. Promote road safety through road and pedestrian safety improvements.

Actions

A. Identify New Canaan’s primary scenic roads and consider adopting a Scenic Road Ordinance to enable designation of local and/or State Scenic Roads.

B. Review development applications for their impact on transportation infrastructure and traffic congestion in Town. Consult with the Police Department to identify the preferred traffic calming techniques for mitigation.

C. Create a comprehensive Pedestrian and Bicyclist Master Plan. This Plan should consider priority connection areas, material and maintenance plans, and an implementation strategy/schedule. Ensure that this Plan provides for ADA-compliant facilities.

D. Identify opportunities for the public to participate in sidewalk planning efforts. Consider hosting public workshops during sidewalk and bicycle master planning to generate new ideas and gather public opinion on sidewalk projects.

E. Coordinate with CT Department of Transportation (DOT) on State road and intersection improvements to ensure they address appropriate local land use and traffic concerns.

New Canaan Metro-North Station © SLR

Strategy 4.2.2 Enhance alternate transportation infrastructure and services.

Policies

1. Promote the Vision Zero53 strategy in public and private roadway projects to ensure safe mobility within the community.

2. Encourage the New Canaan public school system to introduce a bicycle safety curriculum/program for the appropriate age-level(s).

3. Support Town-driven and private development-driven incentives to increase multimodal transportation.

Actions

A. Develop a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan54 to evaluate road safety within New Canaan for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Pursue Federal DOT grant funding to develop this Safety Action Plan.

B. Partner with the Department of Public Works on the development and adoption of a Complete Streets Policy for New Canaan. Ensure that this Policy addresses standards for public and private roadway projects.

C. Research the Vision Zero Network priorities and initiatives and consider pursuing recognition as a Vision Zero Community.

D. Work to become recognized as a bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists. Consider designating a local cycling group as a champion for this effort.

E. Identify local streets that are suitable for safe bike routes in New Canaan. Determine the feasibility of constructing a bike lane on South Avenue that would connect Downtown to public schools, churches, the YMCA, and Waveny Park.

F. Host a bike route mapping system on the Town’s website with suggested bike routes across the community. Consider various route classifications for this system including closed-loop paths and off-road routes.

G. Pursue grant funding opportunities, such as the Active Transportation Microgrant Program, to finance non-infrastructure initiatives related to active transportation. Consider coordinating with the public school system on pursuing these funds.

New Canaan Metro-North Station © SLR

Goal 4.3: Ensure that the Utility Infrastructure Matches the Evolving Needs of the Community

New Canaan’s utility infrastructure has existing limitations, and the Town expects that new development, redevelopment, and municipal projects will continue to impact infrastructure and utility capacity over the next decade. Recent intense precipitation events have forced the local stormwater system over its capacity, leading to localized flooding in the community. Residents have also expressed concern over the lack of cell service in certain areas of town; but finding a suitable location for new cell towers has been challenging.

Over the next decade, the Town will focus on assessing gaps in existing utility infrastructure, such as cellular telecommunication and natural gas services, while also promoting the use of renewable energy in public and private projects. Prioritizing the effective use of existing infrastructure, the Town seeks to preserve its remaining sewer capacity (based on the findings of the 2022 Flow and Load Review for the Water Pollution Control Facility) for desirable development projects with public support. The Town will improve utility reliability and resilience for its residents in innovative, but cost-effective, ways. New Canaan’s revamped Utilities Commission will play a vital role in addressing these challenges and educating the public.

Strategy 4.3.1 Ensure that the infrastructure and utility systems are of sufficient capacity and design for the needs of the Town.

Policies

1. Encourage infrastructure improvements within the existing sewer district area while limiting its expansion outside of its current boundaries.

2. Support the cost-effective hardening of public and private utility infrastructure as a means to increase service reliability within the community.

3. Advocate for the expansion of natural gas capacity and connections within the community, particularly those in residential neighborhoods in proximity to Downtown.

4. Support the Public Works Department in implementing suggested recommendations from the Inflow and Infiltration Study.

Actions

A. Perform a utility infrastructure assessment to identify weaknesses and/or gaps and targeted improvement areas. This assessment should consider water, sewer, cell service, and natural gas services, among other utility offerings, and compare services to those of benchmark communities.

B. Work with Town Departments and local utility companies to increase residents’ understanding of the various services offered. This educational campaign should address the differences between private and public utility infrastructure, and identify ways to connect residents with the appropriate resources and parties to address their utility needs and concerns.

C. Modernize the Town’s landscaping and tree management strategies and practices with the intent of reducing utility service disruptions and increasing its reliability.

Public Works © Town of New Canaan

Strategy 4.3.2 Expand renewable energy options within the Town.

Policies

1. Encourage the Town to lead renewable energy initiatives, including the installation of appropriate facilities on Town-owned land and buildings.

2. Promote the use of renewable energy as a viable energy source for the town, on public and private properties and within new development applications.

Actions

A. Identify appropriate opportunities to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure at Town facilities.

B. Study the feasibility of incorporating green and renewable technologies into municipal facility renovations. Consider incorporating these technologies into projects at Waveny Park, Irwin House, and the Lapham Community Center.

Strategy 4.3.3 Enhance wireless communication coverage and reliability for residents, visitors and first responders.

Policies

1. Support the Utilities Commission’s efforts to improve wireless communications and other utility services within the community.

Actions

A. Conduct an updated wireless coverage study to identify cell service gaps within the community and identify the preferred approach to improving wireless service within the Town.

B. Research a comprehensive range of methods to increase wireless coverage.

C. Improve public safety communications in New Canaan by addressing service reliability concerns in specific areas of Town.

D. Work with Town Departments and the Chamber of Commerce to establish a public Wi-Fi system in Downtown.

Strategy 4.3.4 Ensure that public utilities are resilient against changing environmental conditions.

Policies

1. Encourage the Town to be an effective leader in addressing climate change concerns over the next decade, with an emphasis on staying ahead of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.

2. Explore the cost-effective hardening of public and private utility infrastructure related to their capacity to mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change, such as increased storm frequency and intensity.

Actions

A. Strategically require new utility infrastructure to be located underground to reduce power interruptions, when feasible.

B. Utilize the Capital Improvements Plan to fund public utility maintenance and improvement programs to actively address concerns related to climate change including addressing stormwater system improvements to alleviate drainage and flooding issues.

C. Guide the Utility Commission on conducting research to identify innovative approaches towards hardening public and private utility infrastructure in New Canaan. Encourage the review of other local, regional, state, and national policies and best management practices in doing so.

D. Coordinate with the Department of Public Works on implementation or recommendations from the Inflow and Infiltration Study. Utilize the findings of this study in review of development applications. Consider low impact development opportunities.

FUTURE

LAND USE PLAN

Future Land Use Plan

New Canaan’s Future Land Use Plan (FLUP) was developed by analyzing the community’s existing zoning, land use patterns, and community facilities and infrastructure plans, along with careful consideration for the POCD’s goals, strategies, policies, and actions. Maintaining New Canaan’s existing density patterns—including its concentrated Downtown and lower-density residential areas surrounding Downtown— was an important consideration for the FLUP. The resulting FLUP outlines the Town’s desired land use patterns, aligned with the goals of this POCD, and serves as a tool to guide future conservation and development within the community. Listed below, and shown in Figure 9, are the FLUP land uses, including a description of the land uses and the associated zoning categories.

Low-Density, Single Family Residential

Low-Density, Single-Family Residential consists of those areas in New Canaan currently zoned 1, 2, and 4 Acre Residence. This land use category can be characterized by its larger parcel size, most of which are served by private well water and septic systems, and represents the suburban, outer residential ring of the community. This portion of the community is home to significant natural resources, including higher concentrations of forested land cover and natural diversity areas, dispersed wetlands and waterbodies, and some steeper slopes.

The Low-Density, Single-Family Residential areas are expected to remain single family in nature. However, any future development will be mindful of its environmental impacts, particularly related to groundwater quality, as a means of preserving well water quality for residents. The Town will encourage high quality stormwater management strategies on both public and private properties within this land use category. New Canaan will also need to consider how to best address unreliable cellular service within this portion of the community, which was identified as a concern by residents across the Town.

High-Density, Single-Family Residential

High-Density, Single Family Residential consists of the areas of New Canaan currently zoned as 1/2 and 1/3 Acre Residence and Residence A and B zones. These zones are primarily characterized by smaller lots, lending themselves to a higher residential density, and their proximity to New Canaan’s village core (Downtown). The majority of properties within this land use category are served by public water and sewer infrastructure, and the Town will want to ensure that any future development or redevelopment within this area is consistent with the system’s existing capacity.

The High-Density, Single-Family Residential areas are expected to remain single family in nature, with the understanding that future development within the area is more likely to be redevelopment or infill projects. New Canaan will also be mindful that these smaller parcels contain the community’s smaller housing stock, and that the preservation of these units are important to the Town’s overall housing diversity. Future public realm enhancements within this land use category will be focused on accessibility and connectivity to nearby community facilities, such as parks, public schools, and Downtown.

Housing in New Canaan © Town of New Canaan

Multifamily Residential

Multifamily Residential are those areas of New Canaan currently zoned Multifamily or Apartment. These zones are near Downtown and the New Canaan Metro-North Railroad train station and contain most of the Town’s denser multifamily housing communities. Properties within this area have access to public water and sewer infrastructure. When considering new developments in this area, the Town will want to ensure that there is adequate infrastructure capacity to handle additional residential density.

Housing diversity and affordability are also important issues for future development and redevelopment within this land use category. New Canaan will prioritize an affordable housing stock that offers more diverse housing types than those found in the low- and high-density single-family residential areas. The Town will also emphasize the importance of high-quality site design and neighborhood continuity. Site design will be creative in dealing with building techniques and stormwater management approaches while remaining consistent with the surrounding neighborhoods.

Downtown Commercial and Mixed-Use

Downtown Commercial and Mixed-Use includes land zoned as Business A, B, C, and D, and Retail A and B within the Town. New Canaan’s Downtown is its commercial center and home to various local businesses. Downtown is also characterized by its proximity to community facilities and the New Canaan Metro-North Railroad train station, its access to public sewer and water infrastructure, and its existing walkability. New Canaan’s priorities for Downtown include moderate to higher densities, a shift towards mixed-use development, consideration for transit-oriented planning and development (TOD), and high-quality building and site design.

New Canaan has identified Downtown as a priority location for more housing diversity and affordability. By focusing housing efforts into Downtown, the Town can shift development of the area into mixed-use, to support a more vibrant residential and commercial core within the community. The transition to a mixed-use Downtown is also supported by its proximity to the train station,

making Downtown an excellent opportunity to explore other TOD principles, including vehicular and non-motorized multimodal transportation (and parking) and multifamily housing.

Open Space

Open Space in the FLUP consists of all publicly and privately owned open spaces, whether formally protected or not. This includes, but is not limited to, municipal parks, state-owned open space, cemeteries, New Canaan Land Trust properties, and the Country Club. These lands are characterized by their natural landscapes and offer residents and visitors of New Canaan a variety of active and passive recreation opportunities within the community.

The continued environmental stewardship of these open spaces, protected or not, will remain a priority for the coming decade. New Canaan will maintain existing public and private partnerships that protect its natural resources and explore additional opportunities and partnerships. Another community priority includes the acquisition of additional open spaces, with an emphasis on acquiring properties that enhance connectivity among open spaces in the community and are environmentally sensitive.

Public Community Facilities

Public Community Facilities includes all properties owned by the Town of New Canaan that house community facilities, such as Town Hall and the Police and Fire Departments, among others. Each of these facilities provide resources, services, or infrastructure essential to the day-to-day operations of the municipality and support residents’ quality of life.

New Canaan’s focus for Public Community Facilities is maintenance and enhancement. The Town will ensure that existing facilities are well-maintained, and that appropriate opportunities for expansion are considered. Since many of the Town’s community facilities are Downtown, ensuring pedestrian access and connectivity within Downtown will be important.

Private Institutional and Philanthropic Facilities

Private Institutional and Philanthropic Facilities include properties that house various religious, healthcare, and educational facilities not owned and operated by the Town. These facilities are generally publicly accessible and provide the community with additional resources and services that enhance community quality of life, such as healthcare, recreation, private education, and religious institutions.

A priority focus area for the Private Institutional and Philanthropic Facilities is neighborhood compatibility. New Canaan will work to ensure that new development or redevelopment within these areas remains compatible with its surrounding residential areas, including considerations for design, scale, and density. Building and site design should take into consideration appropriate landscaping and buffering between land uses. New Canaan will continue to coordinate with these properties/facilities on opportunities to improve zoning within these areas.

Public Utility

Public Utility land includes all water company and utility land within New Canaan, most notably land owned by the First and Second Taxing Districts, the State of Connecticut, Aquarion Water Company, and others. These properties contribute significant amounts of protected and unprotected open spaces to the community and safeguard the Town’s drinking water supply and its quality. New Canaan will continue to cooperate with the various water companies with property in Town, including seeking opportunities to further protect these lands from development.

Water

Water consists of all rivers, streams, and waterbodies within New Canaan. Many of these waterbodies in New Canaan are located on water company land and managed by their respective owners. Surface and groundwater initiatives, discussed in the Community Theme chapters, are essential in maintaining the quality of New Canaan’s water features.

Right-of-Way

Right-of-Way consists of all local and state roads within New Canaan. While the State is responsible for improvements on State roadways, such as the Merritt Parkway, New Canaan will ensure that the Town is a part of State-led transportation projects to ensure that local concerns are being considered in planning. The Town is responsible for maintaining and improving all local roads.

Focus Area

TOD Focus Area

The FLUP provides New Canaan with two conceptual options for focused transit-oriented planning and development—a quarter mile and half-mile radius around the New Canaan Metro-North Railroad train station. Transit-oriented development refers to the creation of compact, mixed-use communities near transit hubs, with ample access to housing, employment, and services. The eight principles of TOD are walk, cycle, connect, transit, mix, densify, compact, and shift.55 Future land uses within these focus areas should consider multimodal transportation, mixed-use development, and multifamily housing. Over the next decade, the PZC should further tailor the TOD concept to fit the needs of New Canaan.

Low-Density, Single-Family Residential

High-Density, Single-Family Residential

Multifamily Residential

Downtown Commercial and Mixed-Use

Potential Transit-oriented Development (1/4-mile)

Potential Transit-oriented Development (1/2-mile)

CONSISTENCY WITH STATE AND REGIONAL PLANS

Consistency with State and Regional Plans

CGS §8-23 requires a municipality to consider the State and Regional POCDs while developing its POCD. The municipal POCD must address any inconsistencies between the State’s Growth Management Principles and the Regional POCD’s guiding framework. This chapter will address New Canaan’s consistency with both plans.

The Plan for Connecticut: Conservation and Development Policies

The State of Connecticut’s 2018-2023 Conservation and Development Policies: A Plan for Connecticut was adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly on May 4, 2022, and is organized around the State’s six Growth Management Principles.56 These Principles are intended to address statewide growth issues like economic development, housing, transportation, and the natural environment.

Principle 1: Redevelop and revitalize regional centers and areas with existing or currently planned physical infrastructure.

New Canaan’s physical infrastructure is concentrated within the Downtown and the immediately surrounding neighborhoods. This Plan calls for New Canaan to maintain the existing sewer district boundaries, while focusing redevelopment and increased density within the sewer district. Downtown is important to the community and this Plan identifies opportunities to support its vibrancy, including business retention and growth and creative approaches to walkability, parking, and public realm improvements. See Strategies 1.3.1; 2.1.4, 4.3.1, and 4.3.4 for more information.

Principle 2: Expand housing opportunities and design choices to accommodate a variety of household types and needs.

This POCD identifies housing diversity and affordability as major priorities for New Canaan in the coming decade.

The Town recognizes that housing is likely to be the next decade’s primary redevelopment effort, and this Plan seeks to create high quality housing opportunities that are consistent within the community’s existing residential setting. Key housing initiatives include implementation of the Town’s Affordable Housing Plan and senior housing. See Strategies 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, and 2.2.5 for more information.

Principle 3: Concentrate development around transportation nodes and along major transportation corridors to support the viability of transportation options.

New Canaan is fortunate to have two train stations within the community, one of which is located Downtown. This POCD suggests that the Town utilize transit-oriented development within Downtown to capitalize on this transit asset, with focuses on mixed-use development and increased multimodal transportation opportunities to reduce vehicular traffic and parking demand. This effort is also supported by the Town’s desire to maintain the existing sewer district area while promoting increased density around the New Canaan Metro-North train station. See Strategies 1.1.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 2.2.2, 3.1.3, 4.2.1, and 4.2.2 for more information.

Principle 4: Conserve and restore the natural environment, cultural and historical resources, and traditional rural lands.

The preservation of New Canaan’s small-town identity and the historic, cultural, and natural resources that contribute to the local identity is a priority of this Plan. This POCD addresses maintaining the Town’s residential nature, identifying and preserving historic and cultural resources, and protecting open spaces and environmentally sensitive natural areas. These efforts will connect the Town’s past to the present day and further enhance the community’s quality of life. See Strategies 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, and 3.2.4 for more information.

Principle 5: Protect and ensure the integrity of environmental assets critical to public health and safety.

New Canaan’s community is committed to environmental stewardship, and recognizes the importance of natural assets to public health and safety. This POCD identifies numerous opportunities for New Canaan to further protect its natural resources, including that of surface and groundwater quality, and natural biodiversity. In addition, the Plan calls for more incorporation of low-impact design and development strategies, in both public and private projects, to further advance the Town’s commitment to environmental quality. See Strategies 2.1.5, 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4.1, and 4.3.2 for more information.

Principle 6: Promote integrated planning across all levels of government to address issues on a Statewide, regional, and local basis.

New Canaan’s POCD emphasizes the importance of wellcoordinated local, regional, and State planning. This Plan identifies multiple opportunities for the Town to cooperate with nearby municipalities, the WestCOG region, and State entities on economic, transportation, and environmental initiatives. This Plan also actively promotes civic engagement to create an integrated and transparent local planning environment. See Strategies 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.2.5, 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.3.1, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.3.1, and 4.3.3 for more information.

Regional Plan of Conservation and Development

WestCOG, of which New Canaan is a member, adopted its Regional POCD in 2020, which addresses regional conditions and trends and identifies policies for infrastructure, housing economics, community character, water supply and natural resources, air quality, and agricultural resources. Below are some key points from the Regional POCD and how New Canaan’s POCD has addressed these issues:

Infrastructure. The Regional POCD notes that physical infrastructure, including roads, telecommunications, and sewers will continue to need maintenance and enhancements. New Canaan’s POCD includes Strategies, Polices, and Actions to guide and support the Town on continually maintaining and enhancing existing infrastructure. This Plan notes the need for additional wireless telecommunication infrastructure. In addition, this Plan establishes specific strategies for New Canaan to increase the community’s climate resilience, through the hardening of physical infrastructure, the promotion of renewable energies, and the incorporation of low-impact design strategies.

See Strategies 1.3.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5, 3.2.4, 4.1.1, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, and 4.3.4 for more information.

Housing. The Regional POCD discusses the shortage of affordable housing and the significance of creating more housing diversity and affordability within the region. New Canaan’s POCD addresses this issue at the local level and includes Goals, Strategies, Policies, and Actions that may enable the Town to further expand housing choices and implement affordable housing initiatives for a variety of residents. See Strategies 1.3.2, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, and 2.2.5 for more information.

Community Identity. The Regional POCD identifies the significant presence of historic and cultural resources within the region, and notes that these assets contribute to the regional and local economies. New Canaan’s POCD highlights the Town’s significant historic and cultural resources and calls for additional identification and protection for these resources. See Strategies 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.3.5, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, and 2.1.3 for more information.

Water Supplies. The Regional POCD acknowledges that water quality and quantity is likely to be impacted by climate change and calls for further protection of the public water supply. New Canaan residents use both public and private water systems, making surface and groundwater quality an important local issue. The Town is also home to large parcels of water company land. This POCD identifies additional opportunities for the Town to protect surface and groundwater quality and supports municipal coordination and cooperation with the local water companies. See Strategies 3.1.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.4, and 3.3.1 for more information.

In addition, New Canaan’s POCD includes multiple policies and actions tied to regional and local planning coordination and cooperation. The Town will continue to coordinate with WestCOG on transportation, economic, housing, and infrastructure issues and initiatives that advance the needs of both the Town and the region.

Champion Tree © New Canaan Land Trust

Endnotes

1 New Canaan Museum and Historical Society

2 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

3 US Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates, 2010-2022

4 State of Connecticut, Office of the Secretary of State, Population of Connecticut Towns 1900-2000

5 The ratio projection utilizes State population projections from the Census bureau and State-Town population ratios. The ratio projection assumes that New Canaan’s population pattern will mirror that of the State; however, it should be noted that between 2010 and 2020, the Town’s population grew more than the State (4.5 vs. 0.9 percent), and, therefore, the ratio projection may be more conservative than other projections.

6 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

7 Five age cohorts were used to reflect the general stages of life: youth (ages 0-19), young adults (ages 20-34), adults (ages 35-54), older adult (ages 55-74), and seniors (ages 75+).

8 For additional age cohort information, please see page 8 of Appendix A.

9 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

10 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

11 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

12 US Decennial Census, 2010 and 2020

13 The US Census notes that, in addition to demographic changes, this increase in the two or more races category is mostly due to improvements to the race/ethnicity questions and in coding and interpreting answers.

14 For additional race and ethnicity data, please see pages 10 and 11 in Appendix A.

15 ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

16 On the Map, 2020

17 ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2010 and 2021

18 Household income values for 2010 were inflated to 2021 dollar values using the US City Average Consumer Price Index for both 2010 and 2021.

19 Please note that the highest income category used by the ACS is “$200,000 or more.”

20 Town of New Canaan Permit Data, 2015-2023

21 An attached single-family structure may generally be thought of as a townhome or row houses that are separated by a wall from ground-to-roof, have separate utilities, and have no units located above or below them. 22

ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021 25 ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

26 Housing Units: US Census (2020) and Town of New Canaan Permit Data, 2015-2023; Median Home Value and Median Rent: ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021; Low Income Households: HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Survey, 2016-2020; Protected Affordable Units: State of Connecticut Department of Housing’s Affordable Housing Appeals List, 2023

27 A low-income household is defined as one that makes less than 80 percent of the AMI. AMI refers to the midpoint of a fair market area’s income distribution and is calculated on an annual basis by HUD. New Canaan is a part of the Stamford-Norwalk Metro Fair Market Rent Area, which consists of the following towns: New Canaan, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich.

28 HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Survey, 2016-2023

29 See Appendix A for more detail on unit counts.

30 State of Connecticut Department of Housing’s Affordable Housing Appeals List, 2023

31 Connecticut Department of Labor, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2006-2022

32 See Appendix A for more detail on employment in New Canaan.

33 ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2021

34 Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Municipal Fiscal Indicators, Financial Years 2017-2021

35 Land use was determined by reviewing the latest municipal parcel data. Parcel data included municipal and State land use designations. SLR generalized these land uses and used aerial and street view imagery to further correct any discrepancies between municipal and State designations.

36 New Canaan defines vacant land as one in which there are no structures on any portion of the property, including those dedicated to open space, parks, or parking. For the purposes of this analysis, much of New Canaan’s vacant land is captured within the community facility, public/private recreation and open space, public utility, and transportation and parking facilities land use classifications. The remaining 2.3 percent still classified as vacant can be thought of as undeveloped residential properties and other vacant properties that do not fall into the other mentioned land uses.

37 New Canaan Zoning Regulations, amended through 11/2023

38 Edsight.gov

39 Connecticut Department of Transportation Annual Average Daily Traffic, 2022

40 University of Connecticut Crash Data Repository, 2018- August 2023

41 According to the US Department of Transportation, Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users.

42 Walkscore.com

43 WestCOG Regional Bicycle Plan, 2023

44 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Housatonic Valley and Southwestern Region), 2023-2050

45 Metro-North Railroad Annual Ridership Report, 2022

46 A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line, branch line, or spur, and are often used for marshalling, storing, loading, and unloading rail vehicles.

47 The New Canaan Culture Guide, 2022

48 Prime farmland soils are those that have the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and that is available for these uses.

49 See Appendix A for more detail on groundwater classifications.

50 An aquifer is defined as a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.

51 A form-based code is a land development regulation that fosters predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form (rather than separation of uses) as the organizing principle for the code.

52 A road diet is a roadway reconfiguration that typically involves using thinner travel lanes (US Department of Transportation).

53 Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

54 The SS4A program supports the US Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach.

55 Institute for Transportation and Development Policy

56 This State Plan remains in effect until the 2025-2030 State Plan is adopted in late 2025.

Figure Sources: Town of New Canaan GIS (all figures); New Canaan Zoning Regulations (Figure 2); State of Connecticut, New Canaan Land Conservation Trust (Figure 4); CT CRIS, National Register (Figure 7)