LINKS

Other Resources

One of the goals of the NW Connecticut Planning Collaborative is to provide you, the towns, with more information to help effectively plan for the future of your towns. Below are a number of links to other web pages where you can find information to help in planning efforts.

Affordable Housing

Partnership for Strong Communities-
The Partnership for Strong Communities is dedicated to raising public awareness and advancing solutions to end chronic homelessness, create affordable housing and build healthy and economically vital communities.

HOME Connecticut-
HOME Connecticut is a statewide campaign aimed at increasing the stock of affordable housing in Connecticut.

Connecticut Housing Coalition-
The Coalition is the primary communication link for local housing efforts, the "switchboard" through which organizations and individuals concerned about housing share information and advice, learning from each other's experiences.

Enterprise Foundation-
Enterprise helps build affordable housing for low-income Americans by providing financing and expertise to community and housing developers.

Planning

American Planning Association-
APA is a nonprofit public interest and research organization committed to urban, suburban, regional, and rural planning. APA and its professional institute, The American Institute of Certified Planners, advance the art and science of planning to meet the needs of people and society.

Ct. Main Street Center-
Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) is the state's leading resource for cities and towns seeking to comprehensively revitalize their "main street" districts. It provides solutions to help Connecticut's main streets once more become thriving centers of commercial and social activity.

Cyurbia-
Provides numerous planning resources and tools.

Smart Growth Online-
Provides a variety of publications and other resources on smart growth.

Ct Chapter of APA-
CCAPA is the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, the national organization of professional planners and citizens involved in planning for our nation's communities. CCAPA is dedicated to advancing the practice of good planning in Connecticut by providing our members with up-to-date information about current planning issues and techniques, by building public and political awareness of the importance and benefits of good planning and by bringing the Chapter's diverse membership together from throughout the state to share experiences with colleagues.

Complete the Streets-
Complete the Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Complete streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind.

Planning Commissioners Journal-
The Planning Commissioners Journal is the nation's principal publication designed for citizen planners, including (but certainly not limited to) members of local planning commissions and zoning boards.

Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center-
The mission of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity.

Ct. Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials-
The web page of the Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials.

Ct. Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions-
This web site promotes the statutory responsibilities of Connecticut Conservation Commissions and Inland Wetland Commissions and to foster environmental quality through education and through the conservation and protection of wetlands and other natural resources.

Orton Foundation-
The Orton Family Foundation works to transform the land use planning system as a pathway to vibrant and sustainable communities. It provides a variety of education, technical and other resources to communities.

Lincoln Institute-
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is an educational institution that works to improve the quality of public debate and decisions on land policy and land-related taxation. A variety of interesting publications and courses can be found on this site.

NEMO (Non-point Education for Municipal Officials)-
NEMO provides information, education and assistance to local land use boards and commissions on how they can accommodate growth while protecting their natural resources and community character.

Green Valley Institute-
GVI provides technical assistance on a number of issues related to land use for communities in The Last Green Valley (northeastern CT and southcentral MA).

Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI)-
Housed at the University of Montana, PPRI promotes sustainable communities and landscapes through public processes that are inclusive, informed, and deliberative.

GIS/Data Resources

Ct. State Data Center-
The CtSDc at UConn serves as state's official liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau and seeks to develop a single portal for all socio-economic data sets for the State of Connecticut and its municipalities.

CLEAR-
The mission of the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) is to provide information, education and assistance to land use decision makers, in support of balancing growth and natural resource protection.

Community Viz-
CommunityViz is advanced yet easy-to-use GIS software designed to help people visualize, analyze and communicate about important land-use decisions.

Natural Resources Management

Land Trust Alliance-

IPANE (Invasive Plant Atlas of New England)

Greenprint-
A Greenprint helps identify and protect the places that sustain and define communities while allowing for appropriate development. THE LITCHFIELD HILLS GREENPRINT, a partnership of The Trust For Public Land and the Housatonic Valley Association, promotes coordinated, long-term and locally driven conservation to ensure that the ecological qualities of this landscape and the character of its communities endure for generations to come.

Trust for Public Land–
With programs in CT and RI, TPL works to preserves lands for human enjoyment and well-being. Working with communities to assist with land identification and acquisition, TPL has protected over 1.9 million acres since its inception.

The Nature Conservancy–
TNC works to preserve the natural communities across the world and has been instrumental in the protection of over 117 million acres. TNC has local office across the State, including one in NW CT, located in Winsted.

The Housatonic Valley Association-
The Housatonic Valley Association works to conserve the natural character and environmental health of our communities by protecting and restoring the lands and waters of the Housatonic Watershed for this and future generations.

Government

Legislature's Webpage-
Find your local legislature.

OPM Webpage-
This Office provides information and analysis on state policy and runs a number of programs that work with municipalities.

DEP Webpage-
DEP coordinates a variety of programs that work to protect the natural environment, including the Division of Forestry (within the Bureau of Natural Resources) and the Division of Land Acquisition and Management (within the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation).

CCM Webpage-
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities is Connecticut's statewide association of towns and cities. Its 140 member municipalities contain over 90 percent of the state's population. CCM represents municipalities at the General Assembly, before the State executive branch and regulatory agencies, and in the courts.

Council of Small Towns-
The purpose of the site is twofold: to give municipal leaders the information they need about legislative and other policy priorities affecting small towns; and, to provide 1st selectmen, mayors, managers and other town leaders with resources and contact information to help them with the job of managing and governing small towns.

Town Profiles-
Economic, demographic, and other town information on a town by town basis.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-
A program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS provides technical and other resources to conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. State offices can be accessed through this federal site.