Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1547355
HBJ | 2026 BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS 14 | HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM the city 's director of economic development. Norwalk overhauled its zoning regulations in 2024. In commercial and multifamily areas, the new rules focus more on how buildings look and fit into a neighborhood, rather than primarily separating housing, stores and offices into different areas. Known as "form-based" zoning, the approach is intended to give developers a clearer understanding of what they can build, said Jay Habansky, the city 's chief of economic and community development. Benjamin said Hartford is reviewing its zoning map to identify barriers to development. The city is also looking to expand the types of projects eligible for by-right approval — generally meaning projects that meet existing zoning requirements can proceed without special permits or discretionary zoning approvals. Danbury has taken similar steps, easing downtown building-height restrictions and rezoning a key commercial corridor to allow more mixed-use development, said Farley A. Santos, the city 's economic and community development advisor. Windsor changed its zoning in response to pandemic-era shifts in office demand, allowing apartment conversions along its Day Hill Road commercial corridor while continuing to preserve space for corporate users, according to Patrick McMahon, the town's economic development director. Groton is exploring zoning changes to allow more "missing middle" housing — options such as townhouses, duplexes and small apartment buildings — in existing neighborhoods, said Economic and Community Development Manager Corinne Piazza and Director of Planning and New Playbook Municipalities rethink zoning, permitting and infrastructure to attract development By Clarissa Garza P ratt Street in downtown Hartford is closed to traffic — not for construction, but by design. The pedestrian corridor is part of a broader effort to remake a downtown that lost a portion of its daily workforce during and after the pandemic due to the wider embrace of hybrid or remote work. With downtown's office vacancy rate above 25% at the end of the second quarter of 2026, according to brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield, the city is working to convert vacant office space into apartments and redesign streets to attract residents and visitors, not just commuters. The goal, an official says, is to create a "16- hour downtown" that remains active beyond the traditional workday. Hartford's approach reflects a broader shift in municipalities across Connecticut. Over the past decade — and with greater urgency since the pandemic — communities from Stamford to Groton have changed how they compete for commercial investment. The pandemic-driven disruption of the office market prompted local officials to reconsider zoning rules. Faster permitting became a competitive advantage rather than simply an administrative matter. And communities have invested in infrastructure and amenities to attract both businesses and residents. The changes represent an evolving municipal playbook aimed at making development faster, more predictable and better suited to shifting market demands. "We're going through the (zoning) regulations with a fine-tooth comb to see where we can potentially find pinch points and places that are inhibiting economic growth and investment," said Hartford Economic Development Director Jack Benjamin. ZONING MODERNIZATION Zoning is often among the first areas municipalities target in their efforts to attract development. Stamford has concentrated transit-oriented development around its train stations, allowing denser, mixed-use projects in areas with strong transportation access, according to Leah Kagan,