Struggling Economy Means Less PZC Business Items

March 19, 2010 by Josh Morgan

Over the past few months, the Planning and Zoning Commission's meetings have usually been relegated to minutes rather than hours, with roll call and the Pledge of Alligiance taking up nearly as much time as discussion on business items.
That's because the continuing struggles of the economy have reduced the amount of development in town, and signs aren't pointing to much of a bounce back in the future.
The most recent meetings of the PZC have been short and sweet, often times wrapping up in under 30 minutes, a stark contrast from two years ago when one particular meeting regarding the W/S development in the north end went on for more than six hours. A quick perusal of the last handful of agendas of the PZC shows that, when the meetings are not canceled for a lack of business, things have been light.
On Jan. 11, there was one item listed for a public hearing, and the meeting adjourned in approximately 10 minutes. That same item was approved during the regular meeting in under 15 minutes. The following month, during a Feb. 22 PZC meeting, there was no new business to report and only a few communications that needed to be read into the record. This month, the March 8 meeting was canceled and the March 22 meeting is expected to have little to no business, with the Commission planning to discuss zoning regulations.
Compared to this same time last year, when the PZC was dealing with an affordable housing application, the Rite Aid project, and rear lot subdivision access, it's tough to deny the fact that things have slowed down in Cheshire, considerably.
"I think every industry is experiencing a slow down," said PZC Chairman Sean Strollo. "Everything is slow right now. If there is no business, there won't be business for us."
Applications for new businesses and new commercial development have all but ceased in 2010. Strollo, who has served for six years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said this is the slowest he has seen it. The Commission used to be extremely busy, with full agendas after the Town was "riding a booming economy" Strollo said. Now, there is "time on our hands."
"We will be looking at regulations and other out-of-date items," Strollo said. "These are things we normally can't get to."
Fellow Commissioner Martin Cobern said, quite simply, the lack of business is "a reflection on the economy."
"People aren't building and that shows in our lack of business," Cobern said. "Meetings are lasting five minutes instead of five hours, but we expect it to pick up this spring and summer."
The winter months might seem like a normal time to have a lull in business, but Cobern said isn't the case. Many commercial developments routinely apply for permits during the winter months, when construction cannot take place, so, when the spring thaw occurs, everything would be approved already.
"In a busy year, we pick up November through January, but we haven't seen that," Cobern said. "This is the slowest it's been and I've been on the PZC for 10 and a half years. We've had lulls before, but nothing like this. It's lasted six months, maybe more."
"In some ways it's good," Cobern said, of the slow down. While the Commission waits for business to pick up, Cobern said, it will focus on regulations and other housekeeping items that often get put on the back burner during a busy year. For instance, Cobern said they will begin working on the Plan of Conversation and Development, which has to be completed by 2012, but could take some time to finish.
"It's not a bad thing to have this lull," he said.
The PZC next meets Monday night, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.