The new POCD, titled Groton 2035, must be adopted by June 30, 2026. The 2016 document included chapters addressing Conservation, Development and Infrastructure. Discussion of energy efficiency, sustainability and sea level rise was woven into each chapter. The Planning and Zoning Commission is not committed to this format for the update. The Commission will serve as the Steering Committee and town staff will provide daily direction to the consultant. The Planning and Zoning Commission and town staff recognize that citizen participation was very limited during development of the 2016 Plan. Staff and the Commission are committed to a more inclusive process with this update. This will involve significant effort to include populations that generally do not participate in town projects. In the months leading up to this project’s start, town staff and the Commission will be holding a series of community engagement meetings at a variety of venues on a number of topics that will inform Groton 2035’s development. Groton 2035 should be a concise document that focuses on a vision for the future. Each component should address the question “What do you want Groton to look like for the next generation and your children in 2035?
