Regional GIS Portal: WestCOG is beta testing a web-based, Regional GIS mapping portal. Currently in beta testing, it includes all GIS data that has undergone a quality control process. Contact Carl Zimmerman (czimmerman@westcog.org) for a password to view and comment on the site. In addition, COG staff are available demonstrate the utility of the product to your employees, land use boards (i.e. wetlands commission) and citizens. Schedule an on-site demonstration if you are interested.

Stamford Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: On November 17 and 18, WestCOG, the City of Stamford, and Toole Design Group held a series of stakeholder meetings for the Stamford Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The team met with the Technical Advisory Committee, Community Advisory Committee, Stamford Police Department, Access4All, Eastside Partnership as well as several other City departments. In addition to providing an update on the plan’s progress, the groups had an opportunity to discuss existing challenges in Stamford regarding safety, roadway design, and ADA accessibility. The Community Advisory Committee focused on developing a draft of the bicycle network identifying connections across Stamford to improve accessibility to key destinations. For more information on the plan, please visit the project website. The study’s survey and WikiMap will be collecting responses until December 31, 2016. 

GIS Data: WestCOG has received all preliminary planimetric data (e.g. street, roads, and sidewalks) for the 10 northern towns. If you would like to review the data set (preliminary only) or learn more contact Carl Zimmerman. The GIS Team has just completed several hundred of hours of review and improvements. In addition, the WestCOG GIS team will host a Regional GIS meeting in early January on updated data, the Regional GIS service, and MS4 mapping. An annoucement will be coming soon. 

Branchville TOD: Consultants for the Branchville Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Plan will be presenting some of their work in the lower level meeting room of Ridgefield Library on January 5 at 6 pm.

Drug Task Force: On December 1, Drug Task Force members met to learn about and discuss Juvenile Review Boards as a preventative tool for drug addiction and other risky behaviors. Minutes and materials from the meeting can be found on the group's webpage.

MS4 Support: At the December TAG meeting, WestCOG announced that it would help assist Stormwater Management Plan Development meetings for municipalities. The goals of these meetings are to bring in multiple departments from a given town, allocate responsibilities, and lay down the ground work to meet MS4 requirements. Contact Mike Towle (mtowle@westcog.org) to schedule. Additionally, UConn CLEAR has hired a dedicated MS4 support staff member, Amanda Ryan, (Amanda.ryan@uconn.edu) to support communities with the MS4 process.

RDIP Program: On November 29 & 30, WestCOG participated in the Roadway Data Improvement Program (RDIP) at CTDOT to discuss data quality, utility, and sharing issues. This process facilitates innovations in safety and quantitative transportation planning for our region and communities.

Agenda for the Upcoming MPO Meetings: SWRMPO Available here. HVMPO Available here.

DEEP is accepting proposals for Connecticut's Recreational Trails Program Grants. Pending availability of funds during 2017-2018, grants may be made to any private nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments and tribal governments. Applications will be accepted through December 15, 2016. 


EPA has announced a new request for proposals for its Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant.These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). The proposal submission deadline is December 20, 2016.


In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities announces the opening of Round Ten of Partners for Places. Partners for Places is a matching grant program, creating opportunities for cities and counties in the US and Canada to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. Through these projects, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our urban areas more prosperous, livable, and vibrant. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. The application deadline for Round Ten is January 30, 2017 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone).


DEEP is accepting applications through February 2, 2017 under its Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, which includes its Urban Green and Community Gardens Program. This grant program provides financial assistance to municipalities and non-profit land conservation organizations to acquire land for open space that will enhance local outdoor recreation, protect unique geographical features, or conserve wildlife habitat, and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II water supply. property.