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What’s Next for Saugatuck?: A Conversation with the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority
Event Details
David Kooris, executive director of the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority (CMDA), will be on hand at the Library to discuss development, community concerns, traffic issues, and creating a more walkable Westport.
In this presentation and conversation, David and local advocate David Briggs will discuss:
- Innovative funding opportunities that could accelerate Saugatuck's development.
- Success stories from communities that have transformed their transit hubs.
- Practical next steps Westport can take to unlock economic growth and housing opportunities.
- How you can get involved in shaping our community's future.
Why You Should Come
This isn't just another planning meeting. The CMDA has resources and expertise that could be the key to creating a vibrant, walkable Saugatuck.
The CMDA — a state agency launched by Governor Lamont with dedicated funding — specializes in partnering with communities like Westport. With $60 million in bonding authority and a team with a track record of transforming transit-oriented districts across Connecticut, they're uniquely positioned to help Westport navigate state bureaucracy and help advocate for and advise on infrastructure improvements. While not a panacea, David’s experience and urban planning expertise could provide the catalyst to a thoughtful, community-driven discussion and action-plan.
About the Speaker & the CMDA
David Kooris is the first executive director of the newly formed Connecticut Municipal Development Authority (CMDA), a statewide quasi-public authority established to provide towns and cities across Connecticut with the resources necessary to add the homes that will help realize their community’s goals for their downtowns and transit station areas.
David previously held various public and civic sector positions focused on urban revitalization and placemaking, resilience and emissions reduction, and coordinated land use and transportation planning including: President of Stamford Downtown; Board Chair of the Connecticut Port Authority; Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; Director of Resilience at the Connecticut Department of Housing; Director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development and Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency for the City of Bridgeport; and Vice President and Connecticut Director at Regional Plan Association.
Since 2012, he has been a lecturer at Yale University’s School of Environment. And in Spring 2025, he transitioned to Yale’s School of Architecture.
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The Westport Library is committed to intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Our mission is to provide spaces where diverse perspectives can be explored and discussed respectfully. Inviting a speaker does not equate to endorsing their personal views. We aim to offer programming that fosters dialogue and reflects a broad spectrum of ideas and experiences.
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The Westport Library is committed to intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Our mission is to provide welcoming spaces for the free exchange of ideas. The Library does not endorse or condemn points of view, including any program content or the views expressed by presenters or participants.
