Following discussion at a December 3 session, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members approved two illustrated aerial photos depicting the Hawleyville Conceptual Sidewalk Plan.

George Benson, town planning director, told P&Z members that having such a conceptual sidewalk plan in place creates the basis for the town to seek grant funding toward sidewalk construction projects.

Also, with such a plan in effect the P&Z could require private developers to install sidewalks alongside streets as part of their construction projects, he said.

Mr Benson presented what he described as a “sketch” to P&Z members depicting the Hawleyville area covered by the conceptual sidewalk plan. That graphic will be refined, he said.

The approved aerial photos included yellow lines, symbolizing sidewalks, running along both sides of two major roads in Hawleyville.

The sidewalks are depicted along both sides of a section of Hawleyville Road (Route 25).

Along Hawleyville Road’s southbound road shoulder, sidewalks would lie between that road’s intersection with North Ridge Drive and its intersection with Mt Pleasant Road (US Route 6).

Along Hawleyville Road’s northbound road shoulder, sidewalks would lie between the northern driveway for the Housatonic Railroad’s Shepaug Reload & Distribution Center and Hawleyville Road’s intersection with Mt Pleasant Road.

Mr Benson said that extending a sidewalk along Hawleyville Road to North Ridge Drive would provide easy public access to open space areas there.

Also, the proposed sidewalks would extend along both sides of Mt Pleasant Road in the area lying between its intersection with Hawleyville Road and the Bethel town line.

P&Z Chairman Robert Mulholland said that having such a conceptual sidewalk plan in place will be a stimulus to foster the construction of such walkways.

Mr Benson said he expects that the town will be seeking grant funding for the construction of sidewalks in Hawleyville.

Earlier this year, the town was awarded a $696,000 state Department of Transportation grant toward the construction of 5,900 linear feet of sidewalks on South Main Street, Mile Hill Road, and Wasserman Way. The town will contribute $174,000 toward the overall $870,000 project.

The sidewalk design will comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, which require a minimum three-foot sidewalk width.

That sidewalk project is in the planning stages. That project grew out of a conceptual sidewalk plan for central Newtown, which was approved by the P&Z.