41st Year
2007-08
The Connecticut River Estuary
Regional Planning Agency (CRERPA) is in its 41st year of planning for the
nine-town Estuary region. CRERPA
consists of two representatives from each member town, one representing the Board of Selectmen and the other
representing the Planning Commission.
The CRERPA Board meets on the first Monday of each month at
CRERPA has a staff of 7 full and
part-time employees,,. with consultants are occasionally
contracted independently. CRERPA is
supported financially from a variety of federal, state and local sources. A significant portion of the CRERPA budget
continues to be the annual contribution of its member towns, with other major
support coming from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the State
Office of Policy and Management, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection,
and the Department of Emergency Management.
REGIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
CRERPA helps its member towns work together voluntarily to
solve common problems affecting the Estuary Region. During the year, CRERPA provided staff
support and meeting space for several area organizations including the
following:
The Connecticut River Metropolitan Planning Organization: The CREMPO Board is comprised of the nine chief elected officials and their alternates, a CRERPA board representative and alternate, and a representative from the Estuary Transit District. CREMPO is the approving board for transportation planning and projects within the region and towns receiving state or federal funding. CRERPA and CREMPO have made significant initial progress over the last year on transportation planning in adoption of the regional transportation plan, assistance with local road and bridge construction projects, liaison with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, transportation preparedness for emergency response during disasters, planning for integrated transportation which will promote efficient and safe connections for pedestrians, bicyclists, public bus passengers, rail, and automobile.
Although designated as an urban area, the region is characterized by small densely populated town centers separated by rural scenic areas and roadways. The need for alternative transportation, more efficient use of the automobile and inter-modal planning remains an important goal of the region even with limited funding opportunities. The most promising work is with the small public transit system, planning for improvement of bicycle commuting corridors, rail access and expansion, transit oriented development, and parking.
The Lower Connecticut Valley Selectman’s Association (LCVSA),
brings the chief elected officials of the region together monthly to discuss
common interests, including transportation, elderly services, solid waste
disposal and recycling. The LCVSA
oversees the operation of a regional household hazardous waste collection
facility in
Janice Ehle/Meyer serves as the
CRERPA Recycling, Environmental Education, and HHW Coordinator. Janice organized and managed the Household
Hazardous Waste and electronics collections at the regional facility in Essex
operated by CRERPA on behalf of the nine towns.
The
Tidewater Institute, under the direction of Judy Preston, is an
independent non-profit environmental education organization working in the
estuary and headquartered at CRERPA. Currently, TI is working with the Gateway
Commission and CRERPA to amend the recommended Gateway zoning standards to
protect water quality. Through the
creation, restoration or enhancement of vegetated buffers along important
waterways in the Gateway conservation zone, estuary residents can contribute substantially
to improving the quality of the region’s water bodies and waterways, including
Long Island Sound.
Local Technical
Assistance
A major component of CRERPA’s work program is technical assistance to individual member towns including review and comment on inter-municipal referrals for zoning applications, zone changes, subdivisions or as required by statute. During the year, staff supported towns with consultant planning services through special project planning, writing zoning regulations, or conducting surveys. CRERPA also worked as consultant on a comprehensive update of Chester’s Plan of Conservation and Development. CRERPA staff continues to be available to answer questions or conduct research on land use and planning for local officials as requested.
GIS and Environmental Planning:
Margot Burns has completed the Ground Truthing Project with Judy Preston of the
Tidewater Institute. The study and its associated maps can be obtained from the
Agency’s web site at http://www.crerpa.org/openspace.html.
This project has provided baseline information and collaborative
opportunities for the regional protection of open space towards the protection
of natural resources and greenway creation.
This will be a continuing effort in the coming year.
3D modeling through the use of Sketch Up and Google Earth has been added to the Agency’s GIS capabilities, and we have begun working with the Pictometry data and software provided by the State. These tools will allow CRERPA to continue to work to expand the integration of GIS technology into the regional planning tasks.
The Estuary Transit District: (ETD) was established in 1981, with the help of CRERPA, to provide public transportation in the Region. In July, 2003, CRERPA successfully transferred administration of the program to an independent office for the Estuary Transit District. CRERPA provides transportation planning services for the district.
CENSUS: Chief Elected Officials and other designated personnel- assessors, registrars of voters etc. have participated in the 2010 Census Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) as authorized by the Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994.
Harbor Management: Studies funded by the CTDEP and NOAA enable CRERPA to be involved with several of the Harbor Management Commissions that exist on the lower river valley. CRERPA has also been involved in the guidance of a multi town effort to develop standards for private residential docks in the lower river. During the year, CRERPA assisted the Town of Old Lyme with the development of dock standards.
Kayak and Canoe Trails: CRERPA provides education materials for canoers and kayakers through their Connecticut River Estuary Canoe and Kayak Trail program. This very popular service includes the trail map series of maps for waters of Old Lyme, Essex, Deep River and Old Saybrook. Free laminated trail guides can be found in local libraries, town halls, the DEP Marine Headquarters, at the CRERPA office in Old Saybrook, and online at the CRERPA website (www.crerpa.org).
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING: The agency continues to work with the Valley Shore Emergency Management Association (VSEMA) to facilitate their emergency planning goals with GIS, financial services, and grant writing support. Several agency staff became NIMS certified during the year. Bill Buckridge, Joel Severance, and Jean Davies continue to represent the interests of the CRERPA region on the DEMHS Region 2 Emergency Planning Team for emergency planning, sheltering, and evacuation
CRERPA staff continues to assist member towns with local open space plans, which will serve as building blocks for a regional greenway plan. The greenway plan will be part of the background work for the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.
Board Members as of June 30, 2008:
CLINTON Alan Kravitz.
DEEP RIVER: Bruce Edgerton, Chairman; Rob Wylie
ESSEX
KILLINGWORTH Pat Smulders, Jere Adametz
LYME Frank Skwarek,
OLD LYME Jane Marsh, Vice Chairman
OLD
SAYBROOK Karen Jo Marcolini,
WESTBROOK William Neale, Secretary; Lee Bridgewater
CRERPA STAFF: Linda Krause, Executive Director; J. H. Torrance Downes, Senior Planner; L. Jean Davies, AICP, Principal Planner; Margot Burns, Environmental Planner; Janice Ehle-Meyer, Recycling Coordinator; Dorothy Papp, Financial Administrator; Pat Anthony, Office Manager. Wini Olson, long-time CRERPA Staff member, resigned at the end of the fiscal year after almost 40 years of service.
