Essex planning draft sets Centerbrook priorities for housing, sidewalks and sustainable redevelopment
A working draft of Essex’s 2026-2036 Plan of Conservation and Development identifies proposed priorities for Centerbrook, including better sidewalk and bicycle connections, changes to multifamily-housing rules and smaller-scale multifamily housing in business and commercial districts.
The document, dated March 12, 2026, treats mixed-use, compact and sustainable development and redevelopment in Essex’s three villages — Essex, Centerbrook and Ivoryton — as a guiding principle. Its recommendations could influence future housing options, village-center redevelopment, pedestrian safety and land-use decisions in Centerbrook.
What the draft proposes
The working draft calls for continued improvement of sidewalk and bicycle facilities and connections within and between the villages. For Centerbrook residents, commuters and local businesses, that places pedestrian and bicycle connectivity among the planning priorities under consideration. The document does not establish that construction has been funded or scheduled.
On housing, the draft proposes revising rural multifamily residential zoning outside the villages. It also identifies the potential expansion of existing multifamily developments in areas of Centerbrook and Ivoryton described in the plan.
A separate proposal would allow smaller-scale multifamily housing in business and commercial districts. These are recommendations in a planning document, not immediate changes to Centerbrook’s zoning rules. The draft does not show that new housing has been approved or that construction is underway.
Who would carry out the work
The draft assigns implementation roles to the Essex Planning and Zoning Commission, town staff, the Public Works Department and the Economic Development Commission. Some housing actions are described with a four-year implementation window, while the overall planning horizon runs from 2026 through 2036.
The Centerbrook Meetinghouse is in the village center, confirming the community’s identity within Essex and the document’s exact local focus. The planning record also includes policies applying to Centerbrook and Ivoryton, alongside broader priorities for the town’s villages.
What happens next
The public planning process remained active in 2026. The available record identifies the March 12 working draft but does not establish final adoption, an enacted zoning amendment tied specifically to Centerbrook, or a later August 2026 final vote.
Residents, property owners and businesses should therefore treat the listed actions as proposed priorities rather than new requirements. The town’s official agenda records are the next place to check for later action by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Selectmen or other responsible municipal bodies. The draft also provides no project costs beyond broad order-of-magnitude categories.
Sources
- Working Draft – March 2026, Town of Essex
- Centerbrook Meetinghouse, Town of Essex
- Essex Agenda Center, Town of Essex
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.