Essex EDC adopts town Plan of Conservation and Development, approves local zoning changes

The Essex Economic Development Commission adopted the town's Plan of Conservation and Development and approved several zoning actions at its July 8 meeting.

Carey Duques, the town's planning and zoning liaison and zoning enforcement officer, reported that the commission approved a zoning plan for a handicap ramp at 78 Main Street in Centerbrook and adopted a text amendment to permit dance studios in the affected zone. The commission also adopted the Plan of Conservation and Development; printed copies will be provided once photos are added.

The commission noted a related change in state law, Public Act 25-1, which allows residential and mixed use in commercial zones and includes a parking component. Duques presented the zoning updates in the context of that statutory change.

Procedural notes: the meeting record shows the June 10 minutes were approved earlier in the meeting by motion of Chair Brian Weinstein and seconded by Ward Feirer; the commission recorded unanimous approval of that motion. The transcript records the zoning items as "approved," but it does not provide individual vote tallies for those zoning approvals in the minutes.

The commission said printed copies of the Plan of Conservation and Development will be distributed in about one to two months after photos are added. The next regular EDC meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.