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"About Weston" is all about Weston, Connecticut.  Web-contact, click here: margaret@aboutweston.com

"About Weston" provides original research on Weston, Connecticut, links to official sources, and expresses the opinions of this Weston, CT website. 

LATEST "ABOUT TOWN" SHOW:

What are the issues facing the seven towns in the 26th State Senatorial District?  Rep. Toni Boucher of Wilton and retiring State Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport answer our questions.   Watch now!

ON FILE - SEE THESE AGAIN!  Bruce LePage, Executive Director of the Aspetuck Land Trust for 15 years, reviews where that organization is heading - and what he sees as some challenges to the planet that open space preservation can help with!  Watch now!
  • Nichole Peyreigne, Mezzo-Soprano, and Grace Heaphy, Pianist, are two extraordinary young talents in the field of classical music.  Watch them perform in a very special concert to benefit pediatric brain tumor research via the Making Headway Foundation, to help support the research of distinguished neuro-oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Allen of NYU Medical Center.  Watch now!
  • "ABOUT TOWN" interviews Dr. Jeana Wirtenberg, Director of External Relations and Services at the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise of Fairleigh Dickinson University: In this very special two-part edition of "About Town," a leading authority tells us all about Enterprise Sustainability, and how corporations can and in some cases are implementing "win-win-win" strategies that are good for the environment, for society, and for themselves.--Watch now!
  • MAGIC!  So you want to learn to make some? Watch now!  Also, see "Art Through A Poet's Eye," featuring Adele Kamp, as well as all three parts of the Weston High School tour: click here!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
Freedom of Information Commission gives seminars on F.O.I. act in Weston Library - videotaped by Town TV for later broadcast.  The law itself has not changed--but court cases in the last decade have muddied more the already muddy water regarding what is public information and what is not.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCE INVENTORY:
All the data - left- and the "how-to" directions, right, for studying Weston's natural characteristics.  Governor's thinking: "clear" need for responsible development in CT - where it all began...   

"Responsible Growth" - bill signing story.  Further improvements to "Responsible Growth" in 2008 "short session" fail..but so does a bad bill (from the LWVCT website description):

Conservation Zone Development: HB 5641 “AAC Conservation Development.”  Key Feature:  This bill would have essentially set state standards for conservation development overlays and for conservation subdivisions that may very likely “tie the hands” of municipalities to set their own standards, particularly for conservation developments.  Outcome: LWVCT opposed. Died on House calendar due to strong opposition.

 

Responsible Growth: SB 39  “AAC Responsible Growth.”  Key Features: Included a new section that defined “responsible growth” as the use of land and resources in ways that enhance the long-term quality of life for current citizens of the state and future generations; stressed comprehensive long-range planning for conservation and development; and stated that not less than 2% of the cost of development would be used to develop pedestrian and other non-motorized transportation improvements.  Outcome: Passed the Senate.  Several amendments added and bill not voted on in the House.



LINK TO OPM OFFICE OF RESPONSIBLE GROWTH HERE.

 IN CONNECTICUT, THE PLACE TO GO FOR DATA: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/
The information about Weston provided at the NEMO link below is not detailed or accurate enough, but that is why "About Town" recommends an independent "windshield survey" approach when doing a Town Plan.
On-line environmental, virtual course of study for the University of Connecticut...NEMO!!!
For those who follow the Legislature...passed House then the Senate, at 11:40pm June 6, 2007  "An Act Concerning Responsible Growth" H.B. 7090
It was amended at the end - bi-partisan amendment here.


Unofficial version of CT State and SWRPA Regional Plans of Conservation and Development maps...

State Plan of Conservation & Development 2005-2010, (Weston shown at left), and as it applies to SWRPA.  The South Western Regional Planning Agency is an eight-town Region from Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk and Westport and north of the Merritt Parkway including New Canaan, Wilton and Weston.  Its latest Plan was adopted in February, 2006.

Regionalism:

Thought piece-editorial by Hartford Courant

 Regional Maps of SWRPA eight-town area:  1995 SWR Plan (l.) and from 2005-2010 State of CT Plan of C&D next, from an early draft of the on-going Housing Study (follow-up to Regional Plan 2006-2015 of SWRPA)--a map of where there is sewer or water service;  Latest CTDOT train/bus data.  Down to the see in ships a thing of the past?  Will there ever be intra-state rail commuting--and when will we see new cars on Metro-North? 

Another great story...

The Connecticut Department of Transportation - OUR NEWEST PAGE
"...On June 28, 1983, a section of I-95 highway bridge over the Mianus River in Greenwich collapsed, killing three people and seriously injuring three more. The tangle of bodies and mangled vehicles that fell 70 feet to the peaceful little river sent a horrific message that Connecticut's transportation system was in dire need of repair..."  Read full, seven page story here.

Regional Housing Needs and Supply Assessment 2007 (l.) and Regional Legislative Breakfast 2008 (r.)

Interesting story 21 October 2007 explains the housing industry in U.S.A. by Reuters here.

FOR A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME (VIRTUAL LAND USE):  http://www.communityviz.com/

S.W.R.P.A.(South Western Regional Planning Agency on the WEB)
"Responsible Growth" bill sHB7090 passed and this is the section that spoke to Economic Development...


SWRPA Housing Needs and Supply Assessment (August 2007): how it may fit into Weston's planning...

To download the various sections (text, maps and related documents) of this report for yourself, please visit the SWRPA website, and go to the Housing Committee page:  http://www.swrpa.org/swrpa/housing_cmte.htm
Other sources:
Think tank link:  http://www.ctpartnershiphousing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=62
"About Weston" ideas and research (unofficial) here.
"Think piece" on the subject here: http://www.sacia.org/workforcehousing.htm

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"As the world turns..." on the Federal Level...to the cabinet" and other links...any new developments in open beach policies?


U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ON-LINE:

  • U.S. Census Bureau WEBsite:  Fairfield County Data
  • AMERICAN FACTFINDER an official place for tabular data, GEOGRAPHIC link
  • American Factfinder tabular data link to Weston U.S. Census 2000
  • NEW - Annual Capital Expenditures Survey: http://www.census.gov/csd/ace/
  • Estimates of the Population for Minor Civil Divisions  in CT, lisited alphabetically within County, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:  http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-05-09.xls
  • Pyramid of population projections 2000-2010 for Connecticut from the U.S. Census Bureau (0-5 age cohort down statewide): http://www.census.gov/population/projections/07PyrmdCT1.pdf
  • Map of Weston down to Block Level - some sample data for Weston.
  • U.S. Census page on estimates and methodology: http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
  • Estimates of population.


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    PLANNING & ZONING:      Please remember that this is not official information, nor does it purport to represent the opinions of anyone but the author of these pages.  A source for basic urban planning education is:  http://www.planning.org/


      Weston land use 1999 at left;  Georgetown Land Development gets "smart growth" award and now funding comes through for green design at Gilbert & Bennett - see CLEAR aerial photo and official UK greenbelt next...      for overview of the Weston Plan itself, click HERE.


      PLANNING & ZONING: