Groton plans pedestrian-only area to improve worker safety

Mystic — Officials from Groton and Stonington held their annual discussion on local developments on Friday at The Mystic Hilton. A key topic was the introduction of a pedestrian-only area near Electric Boat in Groton. Mayor Keith Hedrick announced a three-month trial starting on April 28 to improve safety for the thousands of workers leaving the facility at shift changes. Electric Boat is expanding its operations as it prepares for the next-generation Columbia-class submarines. With over 11,000 employees, the company is a major player in Groton, which has around 29,000 workers total, including those at the Naval Submarine Base and Pfizer. Town Manager John Burt highlighted a housing study indicating a need for 6,500 new housing units in the area over the next decade. Hedrick noted that Groton Utilities is collaborating with Electric Boat to ensure reliable power as the company’s electricity needs grow. He also mentioned Pfizer's significant investment in the Groton facility, where it will spend a third of its global renovation budget. In Stonington, First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough updated attendees on zoning regulations and the need for community feedback. The town plans to work on improvements to sewer infrastructure to reduce stormwater issues and end a moratorium on development in Mystic. Chesebrough stressed the importance of unified voices to advocate for tourism funding and to push back against unfunded mandates from the state. Chamber of Commerce President Tony Sheridan echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for local voices to address legislative issues. Stonington schools Superintendent Mary Anne Butler shared new initiatives to prepare students for future employment or education. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce also announced plans for community engagement programs to highlight local members and attract visitors this summer.