Planning and Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission, appointed by the Board of Selectmen, meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month, at the Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road.  Current Commission members are:

                        Ellsworth McGuigan, Chairman

                        Philip Fischer, Secretary

                        Joseph Vaiuso

                        Stephen Duhamel

                        Charles R. Andres

                        David Perkins  (alternate member)

                        John B. Lust     (alternate member)

                        Marcia Palluzzi (alternate member)

In its planning capacity, the Commission is responsible for developing the “Plan of Conservation and Development” (POCD). The POCD establishes land use goals and action steps for the community’s future.  The Commission adopted the most recent POCD in 2008.

Another planning function of the Commission is to develop and administer the Subdivision Regulations, which regulate the division of property into legal building lots and the construction of public infrastructure (such as roads and sewers) necessary to support such development.

In its zoning capacity, the Commission adopts and implements Zoning Regulations, which regulate various aspects of construction such as size, location, and use of structures as well as site development features such as parking, grading, landscaping, and outdoor lighting.

Note that the Short Beach Civic Association (SBCA) and the Pine Orchard Association have zoning jurisdiction within their respective association boundaries.  However, the Branford Planning and Zoning Commission, having planning jurisdiction for the entire town, handles all subdivision and Coastal Site Plan review applications, including those for properties within Short Beach and Pine Orchard.