Norwichtown Colonial Burying Ground

Protect Our Norwichtown Colonial Burying Ground

The Norwich Historical Society and area residents teamed up to advocate for the Norwichtown Colonial Burying Ground. The residents and property owners of the Norwichtown Historic District were concerned about how the future development on 61, 63 and 65 Town St. may affect the historical integrity and the quality of life of the neighborhood.

To learn more about our advocacy effort on this crucial issue, visit The Day Newspaper to read their article “Proposed Burger King in Norwichtown Opposed by Neighbors.”.

The Norwichtown Historic District and the Norwichtown Burying Ground are important historic assets which must be protected. NHS and area residents requested that the Norwich City Council consider amending the zoning regulations to encourage compatible development and support historic preservation in this historic district.

We requested that the City Council:

  1. Amend zoning regulations to include site plan review for buildings less than 10,000 sq.ft. within and close to the historic district.
  2. Adopt Village District regulations for the Norwichtown Historic District.
  3. Consider additional regulation changes to protect the distinctive character and physical integrity of this historic neighborhood.

As a result of our advocacy efforts, the City Council adopted the Norwich Village District Overlay Zone whichencourages the conversion, conservation and preservation of existing buildings and sites in a manner that maintains the historic or distinctive character of the specific district. The Norwich Village District Overlay Zone will ensure that any future development in Norwichtown is compatible with our historic assets.

To learn more about this important preservation tool, please read The Day Newspaper’s article “Norwich City Council Approves New Norwichtown Design District.”

Additionally, the Norwich Historical Society and the developers reached an agreement. Both parties agreed to an enhanced historically appropriate landscaped buffer between the burying ground and the property. Additional plantings will be donated for either the burial ground property, which is owned by the city, or neighboring abutting properties to be used with permission of those owners to improve the buffer around the burial ground.

Further, as a courtesy, the developer designed the site plan to comply with the recently adopted Norwich Village District Overlay Zone, even though the site plan was grandfathered in under the old regulations. Lastly, the developer agreed to perform an archaeological survey on the property prior to site work beginning.

For more information about the agreement, please visit The Day Newspaper to read their article “Norwichtown Burger Kind Developer Norwich Historical Society Reach Settlement.”

For more information about the archaeological findings, please visit The Day Newspaper to read their article “Archeological Dig at Norwich Burger King Site Finds No evidence of Burials.”