As a borough of the Town of Groton, the City has its own land use policies. The Department of Planning and Economic Development provides land use planning and economic development services, administration of land use regulations, and professional support for the City of Groton Planning and Zoning Commission and Economic Development Commission. Staff works closely with the Building and Zoning Department, which is responsible for Historic Districts, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses, variances and zoning enforcement. Visit our Land Use Development Guide for an overview of how to receive land use permits leading up to applying for a building permit. Specific Department content can be viewed by navigating the menu on the left of your screen for desktop users or scrolling to the bottom on mobile devices. More specific services the Department of Planning and Economic Development provides include: For planning and economic development inquires contact: Leslie Creane, AICP, is the City Planner for the City of Groton. She is responsible for ushering in the first municipal-wide form-based code in the State of Connecticut. Leslie has worked as an urban designer, architectural designer, project manager, community organizer, and housing policy analyst. She is an expert in Form- and Use-Based Zoning Regulations, developing Plans of Conservation & Development, and other land use policies and programs. She taught Sustainability and Urban Planning, architecture, urban planning and design at the university level. Experienced at generating public consensus around municipal visions for economic, physical and community development, Leslie has fashioned zoning regulations in several CT municipalities, ensuring the development of what communities want, their ability to retain and improve existing structures, and protect valuable open space. Leslie served as National Program Director for the Congress for the New Urbanism, Senior Consultant with Creane + Company, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Derby, CT and the Town Planner for Hamden, CT for 13 years. Leslie thrives in diverse communities where challenges become opportunities, and measurable accomplishments result in safe, vibrant neighborhoods. Having worked in the public, private and non-profit worlds, she understands the process for getting things done. She excels at common sense, creative and implementable problem solving. 860. 446.4169 Cierra Patrick is an economic and community developer from New London CT. Cierra orchestrates the strategic planning, implementation, and investment for local improvements, infrastructure, community assets and amenities for the City of Groton. Cierra earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Hampton University and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University. Feeding her curiosity about the tools of entrepreneurs in our economy, bottom-up economic development, community revitalization and wealth creation. Cierra devises creative approaches to community engagement that encourage a variety of local entrepreneurs to collaborate. Cierra’s gift is her ability to engage diverse members of the City’s citizenry in developing and implementing plans/projects that support economic activity, stimulate local excitement, and enhance local quality of life. 860. 446.4066
Leslie Creane
City Planner
Cierra Patrick
Economic Development Manager
