GROTON — A regional effort to coordinate development around Naval Submarine Base New London reaches its final public presentation Tuesday, October 20, with residents invited to examine draft recommendations and raise questions about how military operations and neighboring communities can coexist.
The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments says the virtual meeting runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Its project website says no registration is required. The official Get Involved page provides the Zoom link and telephone access, including webinar ID82648364979 and passcode518777.
The Compatible Use Plan addresses more than the base’s boundaries. Its stated topics include transportation, zoning, housing, economic development, use of the Thames River and climate resilience. The aim is cooperative land use and communication: supporting the military mission while reducing effects on neighboring communities and addressing issues shared by military and civilian households.
SECOG initiated the study with SUBASE New London and hired IMEG as planning consultant. Participating local governments include Groton town and city, New London, Norwich, East Lyme, Ledyard, Montville, Preston, Stonington and Waterford. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Mohegan Tribe also participate, according to the project’s entity list.
Tuesday’s presentation will explain findings and recommendations, how technical work and community input shaped them, and next steps toward completing the plan and moving into implementation. SECOG explicitly describes the recommendations as draft; the announcement does not establish that participating municipalities have adopted a new zoning or construction program.
The project’s resources page identifies the2017 Joint Land Use Study as the current planning document and links a2019 SUBASE-area zoning and market study, along with municipal conservation and development plans. Those are background resources, not proof of new approvals in2026.
The Day reported the public-input opportunity Monday, updating its report at7:35p.m. Its description of the meeting matches the current agency and project notices. These notices concern the same planning process and are not separate independent studies.
Residents should use the project’s Get Involved page for the current meeting link. SECOG’s official notice directs anyone needing disability or language assistance to860-889-2324. The agency lists questions and feedback among the meeting’s purposes; a final adopted plan or detailed recommendation-by-recommendation review was not established in the materials reviewed.
Photo: USS Virginia and USS Connecticut at Submarine Base New London on February2,2007. This U.S. Navy archive photograph illustrates the base, not the2026 public presentation or current vessel positions.