Town Creates New Department, Planning, Conservation & Development, Formally Effective Oct. 1

BRANFORD, CT —The Town of Branford is pleased to announce the creation of the Department of Planning, Conservation & Development, formed through the merger of several offices.

This new department will guide Branford’s growth, advance environmental stewardship, and support long-term community planning.

The Department combines planning, zoning, natural resource protection and blight enforcement into one coordinated framework, ensuring that Branford’s future is shaped thoughtfully and sustainably. From protecting coastal and inland ecosystems to reviewing development proposals, the department will balance community needs with environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance.

"The Department of Planning, Conservation, & Development will utilize and leverage
existing town resources to better serve the residents of Branford, improve the regulatory
process, and provide greater support to the boards and commissions," First Selectman James Cosgrove was quoted as saying. "Under the leadership of Director Michiel Wackers and Deputy Director Jaymie Frederick, the newly established department will bring a collaborative approach to enhancing the town’s overall quality of life, by guiding future growth while protecting historic and natural resources."

This new Department will be led by previous department heads in the following new roles:

• Wackers, AICP is a certified urban planner and community development leader with over 20 years of experience in housing policy, economic development, and land use planning. He has held senior roles in Cleveland, Ohio, and Middletown, CT, spearheading major housing equity initiatives, zoning reforms, and multimillion-dollar redevelopment projects while managing large teams, budgets, and federal funding portfolios.
• Fredricks is a valued 10-year town employee with over a decade of experience in municipal planning, wetlands management, and environmental science. With a strong background in research, GIS, and regulatory compliance, she brings expertise in permitting, enforcement, interagency coordination, and conservation planning.

Five other positions will round out the Department, providing overlapping support to five
areas of responsibility: Planning & Zoning, Wetlands, Enforcement, Development and
Natural Resources.

This structure ensures collaboration across disciplines to support regulatory activities while also pursuing strategic initiatives.

The Department will also staff and support the commissions and boards involved in the land use permitting process including the Planning and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, Town Center Revitalization Review Board, Stony Creek Architectural Review Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

This new department will formally be established Oct. 1, 2025.