UCONN and DEP Announce New Website to Provide Expanded Resources for Land
Use Planners Site permits easy mapping of natural and cultural resources

The University of Connecticut (UConn) and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today unveiled a new website that will allow local land use decision makers to practice better landscape stewardship and protect important natural resources in their communities.

The site, the Community Resource Inventory (CRI) Online

(http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/cri) enables visitors to create a series of key natural and cultural resource maps for any of the state’s 169 municipalities, without any specialized knowledge of mapping or computer mapping technology. These maps provide essential information for land use planning at the local level. The maps are based on CT DEP and UConn statewide data. They include water
resources, land cover, protected open space, and wetland and farmland soils, in addition to such cultural information as roads and utility service areas.
DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy said, “Governor Rell this fall announced a ‘Responsible Growth’ program that is designed, in part, to provide local land use planners with the information and tools they need to make more informed decisions. This new web site is one important first step in fulfilling that vision and as a result, DEP was pleased to provide financial support for it.”

“This site will help local officials and concerned citizens better identify natural resources in their community that should be protected and assist them in determining what steps are necessary to protect them,” Commissioner McCarthy said. “This site provides more information to more people and it will improve the local land use planning process all across our state.”

The web site was developed at the Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program, which is part of UConn’s Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR). NEMO has been working with towns on land use planning since 1991. Officials there say they have wanted to provide mapping services for those involved in local planning for a long time, but had to wait for the technology to catch up.

John Rozum, the Director of the NEMO Program, noted that, “Having a town resource inventory is a critical first step to planning community growth so that it’s protective of natural resources. We’ve been giving workshops on resource inventories for years, but have found that getting access to mapping data is a real stumbling block. With the new website, local land use planners don’t need any technical know­how to get started.”

Once a user chooses the town of his or her interest, the website searches databases of statewide resource information to create a series of 14 key resource maps for the town. The user can page through the maps over the web and print them out. In addition, the system allows interactive mapping so users can create, view and print customized maps of their own geographic area and combine two or more of the data layers together.

Emily Wilson, a Geospatial Educator with the NEMO Program and the chief architect of the site, notes that while the site is specifically designed to give access to non­technical types, it canalso be a resource for the computer­mapping crowd who use GIS (geographic information system) technology. “GIS users can connect their local projects with the interactive map, so that they can use our data in combination with local zoning, property, or other information.”

UConn faculty and DEP officials believe these maps will stimulate and boost local planning discussions and capabilities. “For instance, a conservation commissioner or land trust member might want to combine the open space, wetlands, and stream data to get a better handle on priority areas for conservation,” says Rozum. He notes that the UConn team plans to post
both theoretical examples and real world Connecticut case studies of how towns can use their resource inventory.

Both DEP and UConn officials point out while the Community Resource Inventory website fills an important gap, technological solutions can only go so far to address the sprawl and smart growth issues so prevalent in public debate over recent years.

“Ultimately, land use in Connecticut heavily involves local people making local decisions,” said Commissioner McCarthy. “But with the use of the new CRI website, they will be able to make these decisions with a little more information at their fingertips.”

DEP provided a $35,000 grant to assist with development of the web site. The funds were made available through the Section 319 program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA program is designed to assist local governments with managing storm water and other effects of polluted runoff.

The Garden on the Bridge in Willimantic
A True Community Project

It was a long awaited day, as the dedication ceremony began for the Town of Windham’s new Garden on the Bridge. What has been described as a ‘bridge renaissance’ drew hundreds of joyful supporters to celebrate the culmination of a six year long effort to save the old RTE 601 bridge. The project, funded by state DOT enhancement funds and the Town of Windham, was truly a community effort. Six years ago the WMSHP Advisory committee, due to lack of funding for design work, approached Master Gardener Coordinator Kimberly Kelly. Ruth Cutler and Kimberly Kelly, of the Windham County Extension Center had a strong community orientated vision, and designed what is now the Garden on the Bridge. From the playful colored pavers, hand built stone planters, and irrigation system the design was developed to meet the needs of the community. It created a space that both complements and celebrates the history of the mills and the revitalization of the riverfront. Cutler and Kelly’s design principles were based on sustainability that will assist in the long term maintenance of the garden by the Windham garden Club. Kelly and Cutler made presentations to the Windham’s Planning Board, Finance Board, Board of Selectman, and other community groups. The Windham Garden Club spearheaded the very successful effort to gain community support for the project. First Selectman Mike Paulhaus, whose support was crucial, recognized the key players in the success of this project; Recreation director Mark Paquette, town engineer Joe Gardener, Ruth Cutler and Kim Kelly, the Windham Garden Club. The Garden on the Bridge dedication also remembered the late Virginia Darrow, whose vision and memory will be kept alive with this successful community project.