WILTON — Revitalizing the downtown will take time, effort, money, commitment and volunteers, but it all starts with a plan, Amanda Bunker of Wright Pierce architects told a gathering Wednesday at Academy Hill School.
Bunker, along with consultants, presented highlights of the Wilton Downtown Revitalization plan during the second public meeting.
Funded with a Community Development Block Grant, the process began last summer. A community survey sought ideas last fall and was followed by a first public workshop prior to development of the plan, Bunker said.
Work to finalize the plan that focuses on the area from the Lake Road to Academy Hill School begins after Wednesday’s session.
It’s a long-term action plan that hones in on making downtown more attractive and drawing more people, both visitors and local residents, downtown, Bunker said. It’s also about marketing the downtown area, exploring new economic potential, identifying funding options and setting priorities for short- and long-term strategies.
Some strategies have already started, including putting up new signs leading people downtown, considering a tax increment financing program for downtown, the Buy Local program supported by the Wilton Group and window displays in some vacant buildings, Bunker said.
Other plan components include building and facade improvements, and property cleanup, downtown marketing and promotion, promoting outdoor recreation for economic development, promoting arts, culture and entertainment downtown, and the future relocation of the town hall to downtown.
A group of volunteers, including perhaps some with expertise in areas of architecture, design and marketing, are charged with implementing or making the downtown plan move forward. The plan or portions of it chosen by the group can be done in phases over several years, Bunker said.
Nothing is locked in. The community can use it as a tool, she added.
When residents questioned how to keep the plan moving, consultants suggested even small improvements can grow and bring more people to buy into it. The plan and improvements also need to be discussed often.
“Some focus on tourism but I’d like to get the 4,500 people who live here to come downtown,” Nancy Merrow, Wilton resident and business owner, said.
Some locals, including Merrow, raised concerns about blight or unsightly properties with no town ordinance in place to prevent them.
During the town’s annual meeting in June, residents will be asked if they would like to see property maintenance standards set for the town, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.
Although the town seemed split on the idea of moving the town office downtown, it’s included in the plan, Bunker said.
It’s an idea that’s been considered for more than 30 years but never gets anywhere. The town’s too frugal to spend when there’s already a functioning town office, Conrad Heeschen said.
Previously, the town has looked at the move as “make it nice and they’ll come. If we put it downtown then they’ll have to come,” he said.
Others agreed that businesses downtown could benefit from trips people make to the post office, banks or library.
Copies of the plan are available at the town office.
Along with Bunker, Jim Damicis of Camoin Associates, Brian Kent of Kent Associates and Frank O’Hara of Planning Decisions shared ideas about the plan.
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