Welcome to the Bridgeport Master Plan of Conservation and Development Website!

In January 2005, the City of Bridgeport invited the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to assess its strengths and weaknesses and plot a course for revitalization. ULI recommended that Bridgeport 1) come together as a community to set goals for the City and 2) update its Master Plan. To achieve these important goals the City initiated a coordinated update of its land use policies and planning documents: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), Master Plan of Conservation and Development, and Zoning Regulations.

In December 2006 the City hired BFJ Planning and its subconsultants, Stantec (formerly Vollmer Associates), Urbanomics, and the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis to prepare its Master Plan, which will chart a course for the future of Bridgeport. The Mayor assembled a Steering Committee of residents and business owners to work with the consultant team to create the City's Master Plan. Between February and May 2007, the City hosted 12 public workshops and seminars to provide residents and business owners with an opportunity to share their thoughts and discuss important issues addressed in the Master Plan including land use and zoning, environmental protection and open space, housing, economic development, historic preservation, neighborhoods, transportation and infrastructure, cultural resources and municipal facilities and services.

As a result of these effects, a Draft Master Plan of Conservation and Development was prepared and made available for public review and comment. This plan synthesized all of the information that was gathered by the City and its consultants over a period of seven months, including the feedback provided by the public at various public meetings and seminars, and written and emailed comments.

After the close of the public comment period, a public hearing on the Master Plan was held on November 19, 2007, at City Hall. Written comments were also accepted at the hearing. At a special meeting on January 16, 2008, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered all proposed revisions to the plan and voted to approve or disapprove each change. Based on the results of this Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, a Final Master Plan of Conservation and Development was prepared and approved by the Commission at their regular meeting on January 28, 2008. The final plan became effective on March 17, 2008, and copies will be made available at that time to members of the public through the zoning office. The plan will also be available in electronic form on the City’s website and a two-part version (for easier download) is available on the Master Plan page of this website.

The City is now updating the zoning regulations to reflect the goals outlined in the Master Plan. Two public workshops were held on Thursday, April 10, 2008, to review proposed changes to the zoning regulations. The draft zoning regulations are available for review on the Zoning page of this site.