East Bethel City Center

East Bethel was on the verge of becoming a populous suburban community and foresaw the need to create a place that would be recognized as its commercial, civic and visual hub.

McCombs Frank Roos led a planning committee through a process of defining for themselves the meaning of "city center" and educating them about the design features that would create a sense of place and set the city center apart from the typical suburban commercial area.

The result was a land use and circulation plan, urban design guidelines and implementation program for a square-mile area. The plan called for mixed- and multi-use development, traditional neighborhoods, a walkable environment, "Main Street" and auto-oriented shops, a town square, linear parks, greenways, parkways, landscaping and road and utility improvements.

The plan was adopted and the City is taking steps to achieve it.