A $256,000 grant-funded study of Branchville began in earnest Tuesday, with the inaugural meeting of the Branchville Transit Oriented Development Task Force.
The task force of Branchvhille business leaders and Ridgefield officials met at Town Hall to carve out a work plan for the summer and gear up for a three-day concept design charette in September, to envision what Branchville can become.
Virtually everyone even remotely connected to Branchville will be invited to share ideas and concerns in the three-day workshop. The charette is expected to attract as many as 100 people at a time.
Branchville is a section of the southern end of town with Route 7, and a commuter rail line running through it — hence the “transit oriented” aspect of the planning.
“Our study area will extend out a half mile from the train station,” said Francisco Gomes, manager of the project for Fitzgerald & Halliday Inc., a community planning consultant based in Hartford, which is hired to do the work.
“We want to identify things we can do,” Gomes said.
The firm was hired under a grant managed by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, a regional planning agency that represents Ridgefield.
“We’re trying to do a study that helps Branchville find its future destiny,” said John Chew, manager of the project for the council of governments.
The consultant will study zoning in Branchville, real estate availability for development, existing businesses, architecture styles, infrastructure including bridges, and other details.
On June 2, for example, local business owners expressed the need for street lighting and sidewalks so customers can feel safe walking in the area, where there are restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.
“It’s simple things that could help, like having street lighting a pedestrian walkway,” said Joseph Ancona, owner of a business in Branchville.
The study will take 16 months. At the end, the town will have a vision of development for Branchville that fits Planning and Zoning Commission expectations and encourages development.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi attended the session, and said he was glad to see Branchville business owners attending and sharing their ideas.
The task force will next meet on Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall and choose a location for the three-day charette event.
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