Selectmen’s Public Hearing on POCD Draws Criticism

The Woodbridge Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on September 3, 2025, continuing its public hearing on the draft Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). The hearing drew more than a dozen residents, many of whom voiced sharp concerns about the draft’s emphasis on housing and lack of attention to conservation.

The POCD, updated every ten years under state law, guides decisions on land use, housing, open space, and economic development. While the Town Plan and Zoning Commission (TPZ) is responsible for adopting the plan, the Board of Selectmen can submit comments to TPZ by no later than September 10.

Public concerns

Residents described the draft as unbalanced, with too much focus on development and too little on conservation. Some said it read more like a “Plan of Development” than a true plan of conservation and development. Concerns ranged from the possibility of expanded sewer and water service enabling high-density housing, to the omission of maps showing farms and watersheds. Others pointed to errors in the draft’s background sections, including misstatements about local history and open space designations.

Speakers also questioned whether the document had been shaped by a flawed affordable housing plan adopted in 2022, and argued that last year’s TPZ survey — where residents ranked open space and schools far ahead of housing — was largely ignored. Several called attention to conflicts between the draft’s housing recommendations and conservation goals, urging closer collaboration between commissions before finalizing a plan that will guide the town for the next decade.

Some residents criticized the public process itself, saying commissions such as conservation were sidelined and that too much reliance was placed on outside consultants. Others questioned the accuracy of consultant-prepared summaries of community input, particularly regarding the Country Club of Woodbridge property. Across the evening, a common theme emerged: a call to slow down, fix errors, and ensure the plan reflects the community’s values before adoption.

Next steps

The Board of Selectmen noted that the draft they first received was incomplete and only included key sections, such as the 19-page draft implementation table, hours before the hearing. The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to its September 10 regular meeting, limiting it to 30 minutes.

The Selectmen plan to transmit their recommendations to TPZ, which will later hold its own public hearing before adopting a final plan. Residents may also submit written comments in advance by following directions posted to the Town website.

The meeting minutes, which include the text of submitted comments, are available on the Town website. The full meeting recording is available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking below: