The village of Old Mystic once was the site of bustling shipyards, factories and even a museum of curiosities in the days predating Mystic Seaport Museum. Today, the village located at the head of the Mystic River is a much quieter place, a bastion of serenity in comparison to the village of Mystic to its south.

Old Mystic is home to a tiny post office and a deli, as well as a popular breakfast spot on nearby Route 184. For the most part, however, the village is a collection of quaint and well-kept houses, some of which date to Colonial times and many of which are of more recent vintage.

Most village residents are happy with the status quo. They are not keen about the prospect of any large-scale commercial or apartment development. They told Groton zoning officials this during recent public sessions conducted to review the first major overhaul of the town’s zoning regulations in more than 30 years.

In response, zoning officials approved the newly rewritten regulations without the proposed Mixed-Use Village Center zone for Old Mystic. That zoning designation would have allowed for retail, restaurant, hotel, multi-family and cottage-style housing developments that adhered to a specific set of design guidelines. Instead of the special village center zone, Groton’s zoning officials left current village zoning in place.

This is how the process is supposed to work. A proposal is made. A responsible citizenry — informed by a newspaper with strong local coverage, we will note — pays attention. They express their concerns and objections and the Zoning Commission, made up their fellow townspeople, responds.

It is a good lesson. But what happens if there isn’t local news organization to gather information and objectively inform the public? What if there are not good people willing to serve on local commissions? Given the financial pressures confronting small, local newspapers and the challenge local officials say they more frequently face in trying to fill boards and commissions, these are more than hypothetical questions.

As for the decision itself, we agree this was the appropriate action to take. The type of intensive commercial and retail development now located along Route 27 in Mystic, an area that is in the neighboring town of Stonington, would not be appropriate for this sleepy New England village enclave.

Leaving the current zoning designation in place on the Groton side of Old Mystic village should not be the final word on this issue, however. The rural residential zoning designation now in place requires two-acre house lots, essentially making most of the village’s current development non-conforming. Large-lot zoning is common in rural towns such as those in northeastern Connecticut. One of the only commonalities between Old Mystic and such towns is a lack of sewers.

Because most Old Mystic houses are sited on non-conforming lots, even minor changes and additions necessitate variances, said Deborah G. Jones, Groton’s assistant director of planning and development. This can be a time-consuming and possibly expensive process for homeowners. And approval is no certainty.

Groton’s Plan of Conservation and Development identifies Old Mystic as a place that developed as a village, and a village is a place that historically encompasses a mix of types of properties. Villages also are pedestrian friendly. Residents attracted to village life generally enjoy living amid a variety of types of housing and within walking distance to stores, coffee shops and restaurants. New England villages generally encompass historic structures and residents also like this connection to the past.

Many Old Mystic residents said they believe keeping current zoning designations for Groton’s portion of the village would be the best way to retain and protect the village’s integrity. We agree this was the most appropriate decision for the short-term. For the future, however, the town’s planning and zoning officials should take another look at Old Mystic and find a way to both protect the village’s integrity, while also making more properties conform to their zoning designations and make small-scale, village appropriate commercial development possible.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.