Groton, Preston, East Lyme recognized for sustainability efforts

Three local towns were honored by Sustainable CT, a program that recognizes communities that have taken steps to become more sustainable.Groton earned a silver certification, Preston received a bronze certification, and East Lyme was recognized as a climate leader. Overall, 43 towns and cities were recognized, which Sustainable CT said in a news release is the largest number ever.Sustainable CT offers incrementally more challenging levels of certification: Bronze, Silver and Gold, said Executive Director Jessica LeClair. Each level requires the community to complete more actions, and the community then realizes more benefits. Certification lasts for three years. "These best practices are designed to yield multiple benefits, from improving the health of the environment, to strengthening the local economy, to improving health outcomes for residents, and more," LeClair said.Action steps for certification are focused on inclusivity and equity, the economy, land and natural resources, arts and culture, resilience planning, clean transportation, renewable energy, recycling and reducing waste, health and wellness, sustainable and diverse housing, and preventing homelessness, according to a list on Sustainable CT's website. LeClair explained that certification is a "badge of honor" for the communities. She said the towns "go through a rigorous process of self-review, planning, and implementation of sustainability projects" and are "planning for a future that is resilient, vibrant, and sustainable for all."GrotonGroton has received both Silver and Bronze certifications this year from Sustainable CT, LeClair said. A news release from Sustainable CT said Groton earned the Bronze award in the spring certification cycle and the Silver award in the fall certification cycle.Megan Granato, sustainability and resilience manager for the Town of Groton, which first earned Bronze certification five years ago, said her favorite aspect of the program is that it looks at sustainability holistically. The program's dozen impact areas span a variety of sustainability considerations, from typical environmental projects to support for the local economy to resources for homelessness prevention.The town's Sustainable CT re-certification application highlighted Groton's initiatives to create a complete streets policy, compile a tree inventory, work with businesses to improve resilience, and designate funding for homelessness prevention, according to a news release. "I am thrilled that the Town of Groton has been awarded the silver certification in the Sustainable CT Program," Town Manager John Burt said in a statement. "This honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication of town staff. It also illustrates the support of these green ideals by the Town Council, Representative Town Meeting, and community as a whole."Granato said certification lasts for three years, and the work will be ongoing to track and document what the town is doing, as well as to look at ideas within the Sustainable CT actions list for new initiatives. She said as a certified town, Groton, is able to participate in programs that Sustainable CT offers, including peer-learning opportunities, Community Match Fund and equity coaching. As a Sustainable CT town, Groton also was able to work with The Nature Conservancy to hold a community resilience-building workshop this past summer, she said.As the town looks ahead to its future environmental goals, Granato said she appreciates that environmental impacts are being considered as part of many of the town's planning processes.The town's Plan of Conservation and Development already includes sustainability, and many ideas are being discussed about further strengthening sustainability in the updated plan that is being developed, Granato said. "We are also in the process of hiring consultants to help us develop the first town-wide climate plan, called Climate Ready Groton, which will include a number of goals of how to make our town more sustainable and resilient to climate change impacts," she added.PrestonPreston obtained a Bronze medal rating in the Sustainable CT ranking. During a presentation to the Board of Selectmen Aug. 14 on the submittal, committee members working on the plan said the town needs to work on housing, both for seniors and affordable housing for young families to improve the ranking."We worked hard," Gary Piszczek, chairman of the town's Conservation and Agricultural Commission, said of the town's submission. "It was a challenge to put it all together and get it in for the Aug. 20 deadline."Cara Sawyer, chairperson of the Sustainable CT committee for Preston, said the application highlighted efforts in Preston that included the marketing of the redevelopment opportunity for the Preston Riverwalk, a CTVisit webpage to highlight local businesses and all that Preston has to offer, a right-to-farm ordinance, an open space plan with resources prioritized for protection, watershed education, and a homelessness resources web page. She said the certification is a testament to the town and all the work, especially that done by First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn-Gauthier. She said Preston is looking forward to continuing to move up to higher certifications in the future. "We're just proud that our community was able to complete the actions and achieve this certification from the state," said Sawyer, adding that it shows how resilient, efficient and inclusive the community is.East LymeEast Lyme, which already is Bronze-certified, earned the Climate Leader designation, a separate designation from the Bronze, Silver and Gold certifications, which means the town is "taking measurable steps to prevent and prepare for climate change," said LeClair. The town received Bronze certification in 2019 and 2022.Penny Howell-Heller, chair of the East Lyme Natural Resources Commission, said East Lyme, through the commission, has pursued this program since 2018 to help the town staff and volunteers to gain a better appreciation for all the town has done and can do to protect its natural resource, especially its drinking water aquifers.For the climate leadership certification, she said the commission documented initiatives that included the town's purchase of three tracks of undeveloped land ― the Hathaway property, Raven Woods, and an addition to Oswegatchie Nature Preserve ― in keeping with the Plan of Conservation and Development; the planting of pitch pine saplings by volunteers in Oswegatchie to supplement a declining tree species; and the commission completing a town vulnerability assessment and hosting a Community Resilience Building Workshop, run by The Nature Conservancy, with town staff and volunteers. She also noted that after the Planning Commission passed a Complete Streets Policy, the town is using a state grant to build sidewalks on East Pattagansett Road. The town engineer also conducted an assessment for locating EV charging stations, with installation planned for next year, depending on Eversource's schedule, and the Zoning Commission established a special floodplain development permit, she added."Communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations and encourage residents and businesses to do the same," LeClair said. "Communities are also planning for the impacts of climate change and taking steps to make their city or town more resilient. These forward-looking communities are truly leading the way." The towns will be honored at an awards ceremony on Nov. 13 at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.Day Staff Writer Claire Bessette contributed to this article.k.drelich@theday.com