Groton Open Space Association

Planning Endorses Floating Zone But Seeks Refinements

GROTON — The Planning Commission unanimously issued a favorable advisory opinion June 26, 2007, on a proposed zoning regulation amendment that would allow creation of floating zones.

However, the commission expressed a number of concerns about the amendment and recommended that the Zoning Commission address them.

The Zoning Commission had referred the matter to the Planning Commission for an opinion. If the Planning Commission had recommended against the proposal, then the measure would have had to pass the Zoning Commission by a supermajority, rather than a simple majority, in order to take effect.

The Planning Commission said it wanted:

–language to ensure that the Planning Commission would have enough time to comment on proposed floating zones and master plans. Concerns had been raised, including by GOSA, that the Planning Commission could be rushed or excluded altogether from referral opinions.

–more specific protection of recreational and green space, a point pushed by Commission Member Peter Roper.

–explicit affirmation of the Planning Commission’s undiminished authority to approve site plans associated with master plans.

–mechanisms to ensure that master plans were carried out in accordance with the terms approved by the town.

The initial scope of the floating zone proposal has been narrowed considerably from the original draft. On June 5, 2007, the applicant, L & L Groton LLC, excluded from the application the Industrial Park zones, totaling nearly 1,200 acres, and four “nodes” identified by the 2002 Plan of Conservation and Development.

The floating zone amendment at present would apply only to four other POCD-identified nodes: downtown Groton, the area surrounding the crossing of I-95 and Route 1, the submarine base area and the intersection of Routes 117 and 184.

The floating zone language would free developers of conventional zoning requirements in designated areas and allow them to build in accordance with a town-approved master plan. Atty. Timothy Bates, representing L & L Groton, has listed walkability, good architecture and a sense of place as among the goals of floating zone proponents.

Though the proposals for the Industrial Park zones have been withdrawn for now, they are expected to resurface. GOSA had opposed them originally on grounds that they lacked provision for protecting open space.

The first “landing” of the floating zone reportedly is planned for Routes 117 and 184, where a mixed-use commercial-residential “village” is proposed. Commission Member Roper said such a development would be preferable to a big box store, which potentially could locate there.