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Needs of Connecticut Community-based Initiatives
Fundamental obstacles commonly stand in the way of community-based groups in Connecticut achieving their missions.
In addition to tackling the challenges of informing local planning and decision-making processes, many work independently to raise operating funds, staff, generate awareness of local issues, muster public support and lobby elected officials.
Several basic needs are often cited:
A Need For Greater Coordination:
"The conservation opportunities are mind-boggling, the threats are varied and in some places dire. The partners are diverse and effective, but not coordinated. As a result, we believe opportunities are being missed to do more for [the Connecticut River] watershed and its communities."
Clem Clay, Director of the Trust for Public Land's Connecticut River program.
Land Trust Conducts Hearings On Preserving River Watershed
Hartford Courant, September 22, 2006
A Need To Collaborate In Support Of A Common Vision:
"The problem is there's no comprehensive plan of where and how we want to develop and the places we want to preserve. There's not enough money in the state or world to preserve all the land we want to."
Heidi Green, President of 1,000 Friends of Connecticut.
Land Trust Conducts Hearings On Preserving River Watershed
Hartford Courant, September 22, 2006
A Need To Easily Reach Out To & Connect With Diverse Segments Of Our Communities:
"I'd like to see the [Higganum] area preserved, but what can we as residents do about it? It's impossible to get support from anyone except neighbors. The town is going to go the way of urban sprawl because I can't find help."
Michael Lutz, resident of Higganum
Land Trust Conducts Hearings On Preserving River Watershed
Hartford Courant, September 22, 2006
A Need To Support Municipalities At The Local Level
"While the state wrestles with the big picture, sprawl actually happens on the local level, one public hearing at a time. Since nearly all land-use decisions in Connecticut are made at the local level, [towns] can stop sprawl if they work at it.
"Educate members of land-use boards…volunteers from all walks of life. They can be overmatched by high-powered lawyers, architects, engineers and consultants that big developers can assemble. The better trained board members are, the better job the board will do."
Relentless, helter-skelter development is chewing up CT landscape
The Hartford Courant, editorial, October 10, 2005.
Reproduced by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
A Need To Leverage Political Support At The State Level
"If Connecticut is to get a handle on growth, Gov. M. Jodi Rell or her successor must take the lead, articulate the vision and make it a top priority. This is the threshold step."
Relentless, helter-skelter development is chewing up CT landscape
The Hartford Courant, editorial, October 10, 2005.
Reproduced by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
“If left unchecked, sprawl will continue to fragment the landscape, impair our ability to remain economically competitive, consume precious natural resources, waste energy, and pollute our air and water. This is an issue that has been talked about by state and local officials for years. It is time we tackled the issue head on. It is time to lead our state in a more responsible direction.”