The first of a series of discussions about Derby and its future is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15 at the Kellogg Environmental Center on 500 Hawthorne Ave.
OK. Here’s the thing …
… The vast majority of you are going to read the next paragraph, and then go back to streaming House of Cards on Netflix.
Derby is updating its plan of conservation and development. It’s a document that guides Derby officials — particularly the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission — when making decisions related to land use.
Yes, this post is trying to convince you to talk about a municipal land use planning tool on your day off.
BUT WAIT.
The Plan Of Zzzz
Despite its government-speak name, the plan of conservation and development is an important advisory document. It’s supposed to spell out, generally, the types of development you want to see in Derby.
If 5,000 people show up Sunday screaming “we want a nickel slots casino to replace the former Derby Cellular Products on Roosevelt Drive,” the plan would include that information. Then, down the road, the city could, theoretically, change the zoning at the property to allow a nickel slots casino in Derby.
I live on Hawthorne Avenue in Derby and this is my chance to weigh in on some things that need improving, particularly in terms of land use.
Unfortunately I can’t attend Sunday’s forum, but feel free to steal my list.
One Guy’s Wish List
We need walkable sidewalks (minus piles of broken glass) from Roosevelt Drive into downtown Derby. West Derby is cut off from downtown Derby. It’s not walkable, especially at night.
We need to rezone Roosevelt Drive’s under-utilized industrial properties along Park Avenue with something that works (other than truck storage, or illegal encroachments into residential zones).
We need to consolidate the Irving and Bradley schools, or at least do an impartial study of the issue.
We need at least a partial resurrection of the old “HALO” plan to reduce density in the area of Hawkins and Anson streets.
We need to keep tearing down abandoned properties and replace them with playgrounds or “pocket parks,” because Derby has neither.
We need better train service.
Other Dates
If, like me, you can’t make Sunday’s meeting, the city has scheduled two additional forums this month:
Thursday, March 19
6:30 p.m.
Archie Moore’s
17 Elizabeth St.
Wednesday, March 25
6:30 p.m.
Grassy Hill Lodge
77 Sodom Lane
Whaddaya Say?
A key to all this, of course, is whether the public actually shows up and talks about Derby.
You have my two cents above. Use Sunday’s meeting to offer yours.
Towns and cities are required by the state to update the plans every 10 years. Derby updated its plan in 2002.
The document is posted on the Electronic Valley. Click here to read it.
I hate to step on toes — but it is not an impressive document. It’s a vanilla read, full of generic statements (although it does harp on the need for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure, which Derby residents committed $30 million to last year).
Hopefully, the updated plan has more “oomph,” because these forums are a waste of time if the public is ignored.
But the city is taking steps to make sure that doesn’t happen.
The Facilitators!
This week I talked to Tiffany Zezula. She is the deputy director for the Land Use Law Center at Pace University’s law school in White Plains, N.Y.
She will be one of the land use professionals “facilitating” the upcoming forums. Meaning — she’ll help pull all our random thoughts into some type of cohesive form.
The forums will lack the stuffiness of a formal government public hearing. For the one scheduled Sunday at the Kellogg Environmental Center, there’s even a nature program planned for kids 8 years old an up (dress them for outdoor activity).
Zezula said small group discussions will be held to get people talking.
“There will be small breakout sessions that will have professional facilitators that all have backgrounds in land use and planning,” she said.
“We’ll have people rotate around to different stations to discuss different topics, whether it be housing, commercial centers, transportation. The facilitators will ask people questions about what they like currently about Derby, what things they would like to see changed, or issues that should be addressed.”
Those observations and statements will make their way into a public engagement report. Pace Law land use gurus did the same thing in New Castle, N.Y. in northern Westchester County. The document was 300 pages long. Click here to read about it.
Mayor Anita Dugatto said the top priority is simply to get people talking about Derby. What they like, what they want to improve, and suggestions as to how to get there. Dugatto said the forums are being held outside Derby City Hall with the hope people will be more comfortable sharing their thoughts.
“You’re usually at a restaurant when you’re discussing things like ‘I wish Derby had this type of store,’” Dugatto said. “It’s a casual conversation we’re trying to promote. It’s not a lecture. It’s a conversation.”
Marjorie Shansky, the lawyer for the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission, said the city expects to have a draft of its updated plan of conservation and development completed by July.
