Plan Organization
The Plan is organized around guiding principles which are identified in the Plan’s vision statement. The Plan also identifies goals that support the guiding principles and strategies that provide guidance on how to achieve the goals. Specific actions are identified in the implementation section of the Plan. Actions are the step by step methods of implementing strategies and achieving goals.
The plan also identifies four areas, or themes, that should be prioritized for implementation. These themes follow on the priorities identified in the 2008 POCD, and describe development strategies to pursue over the coming decade. They include:
Clean, protect and redevelop the Waterfront as an economic engine and recreational resource.
Concentrate dense, mixed use and walkable development around upgraded multimodal transportation infrastructure.
Strengthen neighborhood centers and corridors by reviving commercial activity and ensuring connectivity to other neighborhoods and the Downtown.
Create the necessary conditions for increased residential development, at all price points and of all types, that can be financed without City assistance.
The vision describes what the people of Bridgeport value and what the City will strive toward over the next 10 years. The vision is not a description of the city as it is today. Instead, it is an expression of the desires and aspirations of the community in a statement that is meant to guide municipal leaders and organize the goals and strategies of the Plan. The vision anchors Plan Bridgeport in an ethos that can be continually returned to for comparison as policies and strategies are formed into the future.
The guiding principles are components of the vision. Each guiding principle comprises a section of this Plan. The Plan’s goals, strategies and recommended actions are organized around these principles.
Goals are commitments towards achieving the vision. They are consistent with the guiding principles and establish a desired impact.
Strategies are the methods by which the goals will be achieved. They describe the interim outcomes that can lead to achieving the impact described in a particular goal.
Actions are specific steps that can be taken to accomplish strategies. They are the first steps to be taken toward achieving the Plan’s vision.