Mago Point redevelopment planning begins

Waterford - Planning and Zoning is poised to take the initial steps of redeveloping Mago Point, a piece of shorefront land that juts into the Niantic River, according to Director of Planning and Development Dennis Goderre.

Since the bridge connecting Waterford to East Lyme was replaced in 1991, residents and owners of businesses on the point have complained that the small peninsula lies so hidden in the shadow of Route 156 that people don't even see it.

Goderre said Friday that a portion of a $500,000 state Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant the town received over the summer will be used to fund the development of a master plan slated for completion in the spring.

"We'll now have a fantastic road map that shows that we have a plan," Goderre said.

He said the town will use the plan to apply for further state and federal grants, including a second STEAP grant and a grant to explore the possibility of bringing commercial aquaculture back to the point. Goderre said aquaculture is currently only permitted in the area for research, though shellfishing was common in the past.

The town plans in the next week to sign an agreement with planning, engineering and construction services firm BETA Group Inc., according to Goderre.

BETA will be charged with surveying the point over the next few weeks. On Dec. 13, the firm will hold its first workshop for members of the public to give suggestions for the master plan.

The master plan will look at walkways, waterfront access, design regulations for buildings, layout of parking lot space, design of the point's park and more, according to BETA project manager Randall Collins.

BETA Senior Vice President Najib Habesch called the point a "diamond in the rough."

BETA will develop two to three master plans by the end of January, at which time it will hold further public workshops, according to Goderre.

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Mago Point redevelopment planning begins