Commercial Market Study

BFJ Planning, in collaboration with Urbanomics, prepared a commercial market study of the New Canaan downtown area to evaluate the overall market feasibility of future development by assessing the existing supply of commercial uses, quantifying the demand for new uses and evaluating the potential market impacts of a range of Town initiatives. These include changes to parking capacity, recent and proposed zoning changes, the potential for increased in-town housing and possible marketing initiatives with Metro-North Railroad. Along with market trends and gaps analyses, focus groups were held with community members, and a subsequent online survey was administered. The unmet local demand by retail type identified in the analyses was examined in terms of spatial requirements and appropriateness under zoning restraints and resident preferences. The resulting recommendations included specific retail types to be pursued and an organizational structure to implement strategies to attract more shoppers to downtown New Canaan by highlighting existing strengths and through collaboration with local cultural attractions.

Facilities Master Plan

BFJ Planning and Perkins Eastman Architects worked with the Town of New Canaan to develop a Municipal Facilities Master Plan. The Master Plan addressed space and service needs for the Town Hall, Library and Fire Station and other buildings, as well as parking and traffic in the Town Center. The plan recommendations were determined by financial impacts, efficiency of space utilization, parking and traffic impacts, and by the public preferences expressed during the community outreach program.  Recommendations included the renovation and expansion of the Town Hall, a proposal that was fully implemented following the completion of the study.