The Town of Glastonbury is currently in the process of updating its Building Zone (zoning) Regulations.  This project is being led by a steering committee comprised of Town Council members and Town Plan and Zoning (TPZ) commissioners, with support from Community Development staff and assistance from Harford-based firm IMEG (formerly known as FHI Studio).

The Building Zone Regulations control land use in the Town and dictate what types of uses are allowed in zoning districts, the intensity of those uses and density of development, and also provide protection for environmental resources.  As with many communities in Connecticut, Glastonbury’s regulations were initially adopted decades ago and have been amended incrementally over the years.  The regulations contain text proposed and written by developers and their attorneys, consultants, the Town Council, the TPZ Commission, and Town staff.  This has resulted in a document that is inconsistent in its standards, terminology, formatting, and writing style.  Additionally, the regulations have not kept pace with the many recent statutory changes that control and limit the Town’s zoning authority.

The goal of the zoning update is to provide a new set of zoning regulations that:

• Are compliant with statutory requirements
• Are consistent with land use case law
• Are user-friendly for a wide audience including applicants, designers, staff, and TPZ
• Are easy to update
• Are clear and concise and use plain language
• Provide graphics to assist in describing spatial standards
• Are enforceable
• Are legally resilient
• Encourage development that is appropriate to the Town
• Protect environmental resources

A two-phase approach is being taken for the update as described below:

Phase 1: The focus of Phase 1 is updating the zoning regulations document to correct errors, inconsistencies, redundancies, vague language, statutory conflicts, and case law conflicts.  The regulations will be reorganized into a new document that is easy to use and navigate.  Substantive changes that would impact allowed uses, permit requirements, development density, or would modify, add, or eliminate zoning districts will not be included in this phase of work.  It is the intention to adopt the Phase 1 revisions before launching Phase 2.

Phase 2: This phase of work will consider making substantive changes to the zoning regulations that could change allowed uses, permit requirements, development density, or modify, add, or eliminate zoning districts.  This phase of work will provide the community with multiple opportunities to contribute to the process through surveys, community workshops, and public information sessions.  Multiple recommended amendments are expected to be developed during this phase of work, which may be adopted as a whole or individually.

The project was launched in the Spring of 2025 and will continue through early 2027.  The Phase 1 update is currently underway, and adoption of the Phase 1 revisions could occur as soon as December of 2025.  The Phase 2 process will launch in the Winter of 2026 and is expected to continue into the Winter of 2027, with adoption of recommended amendments occurring in the Spring of 2027.

Residents, property owners, business owners, and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the zoning update process.  Please sign up for project updates by subscribing to the Town's eNotification system, or updating your preferences to include the "Zoning Update" category under the News AND Calendar headings.*  

Please also continue to check this webpage (available at www.glastonburyct.gov/zoningupdate) to stay informed of the project status and related events. 

Community members will have an opportunity to participate in a survey and attend workshops/public information sessions starting in the winter of 2026.

*Note: You can also subscribe to receive updates of meetings and associated agendas/minutes related to the "Planning & Zoning Update Steering Committee" alone by subscribing to this category under the Calendar heading.

• Progress Report - September 2025
• Community Engagement Plan

• September 30, 2025 Progress Report to Town Council

Contact

Please contact Shelley Caltagirone, Director of Community Development at: planning@glastonbury-ct.gov with any questions you might have.

You may also provide comment on documents or share your ideas by submitting comments through our online web form.