741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Economic Development Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Chairman

John Vincent

Special Meeting

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

5:30 PM

Town Hall Annex Council Chambers -

Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

CALL TO ORDER - Chairman Vincent called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council

Chambers of the Town Hall Annex Building. Chairman Vincent welcomed all to the Hybrid

Meeting.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Carol Ann Schneider

Recording Secretary Michael Dreimiller

Chairperson John Vincent

Present

Vice Chair Peter Hary

Commissioner Michael Cherry

Commissioner Richard Tashea

Excused

Mayor Fred Allyn III

Director of Land Use & Planning, Elizabeth Burdick

In addition, the following were present:

Derrick O’Connor of Goman & York

Land Use Assistant, Anna Wynn

III.

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Justin LaFoutain of Goman & York: Update of GF Corridor Study

He presented a draft of their report which has already been posted on the Town website. Some of

the items that he highlighted were:

Average family size is decreasing, Mostly single-family housing in Ledyard, Suburban corridors

like Rt. 12 aren’t thriving due to changing retail landscape, Spending in restaurants has

increased, Population in Ledyard has increased slightly, vs. overall decrease in southeastern CT,

Age pyramid shows increase in 30-45 in town from 2010-2024, Unemployment rate in Ledyard

is slightly below state average, growth in jobs is slightly above state average, Rt. 12 businesses

aren’t walkable, Majority of people responding to the survey do most of their shopping out of

town, Average year built of properties is 1977, Office buildings in town average year build is in

the 1950s, Rt. 12 has daily traffic count of about 13,500, most major chains require at least

20,000/day, Geofencing report shows most business traffic is local, Holmbergs draws

out-of-town traffic, Amenities in Gales Ferry include State Park, river, scenic wood areas, which

can be leveraged, Feedback from public engagement session and from survey totaling over 300

responses shows that a lot of people fall in the middle - the want to see some improvement, but

don’t want traffic to get out of hand, High demand for pedestrian and bicycle activity, Lack of a

sewer line on Rt. 12 is a major issue limiting development, Consider financial incentive program

for façade improvement, Consider a tax-freeze for businesses making major improvements,

Town’s zoning regulations are good, Consider using blight ordinance if necessary to spur action

on ignored properties, Soli Engineering looked at traffic patterns, pedestrian patterns, roadways

and identified areas where improvements can be made, Rt. 12 is a state highway so any changes

to it have to be approved by State, Possible funding opportunities from the State.

The full Soli Engineering report will also be posted to the Town website. LaFountain will be at

the next EDC meeting in August. EDC Commissioners will forward comments on the draft to

Burdick who will send them to LaFountain.

TABLED

RESULT:

CORRESPONDANCE

None.

VI.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

Karen Parkinson, 55 Rose Hill Rd, member of the Ledyard Historic District Commission,

president of Tri-Town Trail. Lived in Ledyard for 50 years and is owner of Rose Hill Farm. She

said that she didn’t hear anything in the Rt. 12 Corridor draft report presentation that provided a

vision for the Town. A vision should be a 50 year plan, with the Plan of Conservation and

Development providing 10 year plans to get to the vision. Thought should be given to what we

would like to see replace the Riverside Mall if it was to go away. Lack of housing options

causing the young and older residents to leave town. She would like to see the town develop of

vision of what they would like Gales Ferry to be 50 years from now.

VII. REPORTS

Mayor’s Report

Not present.

Planner’s Report

Not present.

VIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

EDC Regular Meeting Minutes of June 3, 2025

Motion to approve the Regular EDC Meeting Minutes of June 3, 2025. Motion Passed by the

following vote.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael Cherry

RESULT:

MOVER:

Carol Ann Schneider

SECONDER:

Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Cherry

Tashea

AYE

EXCUSED

XI.

OLD BUSINESS

Corridor Study Update

Previously Covered.

Business Directory Update

Dreimiller added entries for the two historic districts and for the hiking trails to the Tourism

Spots & Attractions category. Hary will update the downloadable PDF within a week.

Business Directional Signage

Still no response from CT DOT. Mayor was to have followed up with them after last meeting.

CT Main Street town visit

This will be held off until the August EDC meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Business Bazaar Discussion

North Stonington - After hours. Business owners were invited to get to know the EDC. Town

Planner was there. Vincent thinks this would be a good thing for us to do with one of the local

Chambers of Commerce.

XI.

ADJOURNMENT

Our next meeting is scheduled for August 5th at 5:30pm in the Town Hall Annex.

A motion was made by Commissioner Schneider, seconded by Commissioner Cherry, to adjourn

at 6:40pm. The motion carried by the following vote:

RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

MOVER: Schneider

SECONDER: Cherry

AYE: 5 Cherry, Dreimiller, Hary, Schneider, and Vincent

ABSENT: Tashea

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________________