Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Strategic Plan Guidelines

Description

This document is a guideline for communities that are considering developing strategic plans as required under the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) legislation (Connecticut General Statutes, Sections 7-600 through 7-607).

Under the Connecticut legislation which established NRZs, the state Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is charged with the responsibility of reviewing NRZ strategic plans. To ensure that the plans we receive are comprehensive and consistent with the intent of the legislation, we have designed this document to interpret the law in an easy-to-read manner and to describe the basic components which should be included in the strategic plan.

This document is organized as a series of questions and answers that reflect the kinds of questions that neighborhoods may have about NRZs. We have attempted to anticipate your questions about NRZs and to provide practical and useful answers. If you find that you have additional questions that are not addressed here, please contact Bruce Wittchen by email at bruce.wittchen@ct.gov or by phone at (860) 418-6323.

What are Neighborhood Revitalization Zones or NRZs?
In 1995, An Act Establishing a Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Process (P.A. 95-340) was passed by the Connecticut General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Rowland. This law -- the first of its kind in the nation -- established a collaborative process for communities to work with all levels of government to revitalize neighborhoods which have become substandard, unsafe and blighted. Amended in 1999(PA 99-35), the law now addresses how amendments to the strategic plan are done.

NRZs represent a new kind of partnership and cooperation between neighborhoods and municipal government to bring planning to the neighborhood level.

NRZ Guidelines

Community Organizing Handbook:  A Guide for NRZ Members and Leaders

The Community Organizing Handbook dates back to 2000 and might be updated in the coming year but can help guide people interested in forming an NRZ.  Chapter 7 is guidelines for developing a strategic plan and a 2005 update of that is also available.  These documents remain useful, but please contact us for advice if interested in forming an NRZ or in updating a strategic plan.

Resources

NRZ Resource Directory for Rebuilding Communities

This NRZ Resource Directory dates back to 1995 and remains useful, but please contact us for advice if interested in forming an NRZ or in updating a strategic plan.

Hartford NRZ Compliance Checklist