Berlin Economic Development Commission Schedules March 20 Public Information Session

The Berlin Economic Development Commission will hold a public information session for March 20, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Room of the Peck Memorial Library at 234 Kensington Road in Berlin.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide information on topics related to the development of the Town Center area in the vicinity of the Berlin Train Station. Business owners and property owners in the vicinity of the Train Station are encouraged to attend.

The Department of Transportation’s Project Director for the New Haven Hartford, Springfield commuter rail project, John Bernick, will provide an update of the plans, status, and timeline for the project. The State of Connecticut plans to spend over $500 million dollars to upgrade rail service on the New Haven/Hartford/Springfield line to offer commuter and high speed rail service scheduled to begin in 2016.

The Town of Berlin’s primary transit facility is its AMTRAK train station located on Depot Road just off Farmington Avenue. The station is one of the 9 stops on the New Haven to Springfield rail corridor. In the initial operating plan for the commuter rail service, Berlin is the first stop south of Hartford so the station has an important role in the rail revitalization plan. The State’s plan for the Berlin Station includes a significant expansion of the parking lot to accommodate expected increases in ridership.

The Economic Development Commission will also provide information on the plans for a new façade and landscape grant program that is being funded with a STEAP grant from the State of Connecticut. At this time, the Town is still finalizing the grant agreements and policies and procedures for the program. Any interested property owner can also contact Economic Development Director Jim Mahoney to get on the list to receive a funding application when it is available.

The final item on the agenda for the public information session is a discussion of proposals for the downtown area that are being considered in the update of the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. Among the recommendations under consideration are changes to encourage mixed use development opportunities with a housing component and changes to parking requirements.

Planimetrics will present information on the Incentive Housing Zone study for the Train Station area that they completed for the Town and Town staff will give an update on the status of Town projects in the Train Station area.

The Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development Committee is nearing completion of a draft Plan that will be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council. The POCD Committee will also be holding a public information session on April 3, 2013 at 7 PM at the Berlin Town Council Chambers, 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT. After the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee submits its report to the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission will be holding a public hearing on the document later in the spring.

For further information contact Jim Mahoney, 860-828-7005, jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us.