ManchesterNext

The Planning Department has assessed all comments collected during the public comment period that ran from February 15 - March 15, 2023. A summary of the comments received is now available for review.

PDF: Summary of Comments Received During Public Comment Period

The Planning and Zoning Commission had the opportunity to review the public comments received along with a summary during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that took place on Monday, April 3rd, 2023. Recommended revisions have been submitted to the Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative (TPUDC) consultant team. A final, updated Plan of Conservation and Development is anticipated in the coming months. An announcement will be made on the Town Website and Your Voice Matters platform when an updated draft is available.

A public hearing will be held once an updated plan is received. The public hearing will tentatively be held in June 2023.

A draft of Manchester Next, the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), will soon be available! The Town of Manchester and planning consultant, Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative LLC, will hold a community open house and presentation to allow members of the public to get familiar with the draft POCD and provide questions and feedback.

Wednesday, February 15th, 2023

WORK_SPACE, 901 Main Street, Manchester, CT

Open House (Drop-in Hours): 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Presentation: 7:00 pm (In case of inclement weather, the presentation will be virtual)

Parking Information & Directions | Public Transportation

Thursday, February 16th, 2023

Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce Street, Manchester, CT

Open House (Drop-in Hours): 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Parking Information & Directions | Public Transportation

You may view pieces of the plan and provide feedback at your convenience during the open house and presentation. The public draft will also be available for online viewing on February 15, 2023, and the Town will continue to accept comments on the draft plan through March 15, 2023. The open house and presentation are opportunities for the public to submit final comments. Public comments are consulted when finalizing the plan.

Questions? You can reach us at epetersen@manchesterct.gov or 860-647-3044.

Please RSVP for the presentation using the email or phone number above.

Last Thursday we closed out an intensive week of planning Manchester's future with a work-in-progress presentation at Manchester High School. To view the presentation click below:

https://yourvoicemattersmanchesterct.com/15292/widgets/48374/documents/31371

You can watch the presentation here:

WHAT’S A PLANAPALOOZA™ ? (\plan•uh•puh•loo•zuh\)

A Planapalooza™ is an intense, participatory design, and public input process where you are invited to work directly with your neighbors, fellow business owners and a multidisciplinary consulting team. The entire process is open to the public. So please join us as we work together to prepare a Plan of Conservation and Development that will protect and enhance Manchester and set a clear vision for the future.

Monday May16^th through Thursday May 19^th: The Town’s consultant partner TPUDC will be in town for their week-long “Planapalooza” process where they conduct multiple public workshops and meetings. All are welcome to attend.

The Planapalooza process consists of two major pieces:

1. Public Opening Presentation/Hands-on Workshop (Monday 5/16) and the closing Work-in-Progress Presentation (Thursday 5/19); both of these sessions will take place at the Manchester High School cafeteria from 6-8pm.
2. Open Studio & Technical Meetings: These will take place throughout the day during the entire week at WORK_SPACE (903 Main Street); WORK_SPACE is open to the public and residents should feel free to stop by to see the TPUDC team working during Open Studio. For those interested in the various Technical Meetings, please see the schedule on the right hand side of this page for specific times and dates.

Please reach out to the Planning Department if you have any questions. Thank you again for your interest in this project and passion for Manchester. We hope to see you at some point during Planapalooza week!

The Thursday night Work-in-Progress presentation on 5/19 will also have a virtual option. To register for that virtual meeting option, click here.

The Manchester Planning & Economic Development department is sponsoring an art contest as part of the Town’s Manchester Next project, the update of the Manchester’s Plan of Conservation & Development. Participants are encouraged to think creatively about what Manchester means to them! There will be separate categories for Pre-School, Elementary School, Middle School, High School and Adults. Winners from each category will be selected by online survey and have the opportunity to win a $50 gift card to a participating local business of their choice.

Download the template here.

Participants may either drop art off at Town Hall, submit it through the "upload your art link" on the right side of this page, or email it to kshiel@manchesterct.gov

What is "On The Table"?

For the Manchester Next project, On The Table is an opportunity to have group conversations to build personal connections and explore how we can work together to make our community stronger. Everyone is encouraged to participate, either as a host or a meeting attendee. Meetings can take place any time before June 6, 2022.

On the Table invites residents and business owners in Manchester to come together to talk, collaborate, become more involved, and be more committed to our community. You can gather around the table with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and maybe even a few people you are meeting for the first time to talk about the issues, big and small, that impact our lives in the Town.

Where?

Anywhere! The conversations can be hosted in homes, restaurants, places of worship, schools, libraries, offices, parks, and other community locations. Or they can be hosted online through Zoom, GoToMeeting, Facebook, etc. Anywhere you can gather in person or virtually and talk with a group of people.

Why?

When we talk about our experiences and listen to others, we connect and learn about what matters to all of us. The issues we face today aren’t often solved with quick fixes. On the contrary, progress will result when residents, organizations, businesses, and government work together. This On The Table initiative is part of the larger Manchester Next process that will update the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. It is an opportunity for you to have meaningful conversations on your own time in a smaller, more intimate setting with people you feel comfortable with. What happens next is up to you.

How?

If you are interested in being an On The Table Host, please download the packet at right, complete the survey below, and schedule your event this spring! When you register to host, you join a community of people who are leading important conversations across Manchester.

What happens after June 6th?

All On The Table participants will be invited to complete a short email survey about their conversations that will cover important issues and themes, big ideas, and what matters most to them. We want to hear form every voice!