Annual Report 2007-2008(color).pub - Town of South Windsor

Planning Department
Marcia A. Banach
Director of Planning
Fiscal Year 2007/2008 saw the completion of
several economic development projects in South
Windsor. Construction of 90,000 square feet of
new retail and restaurant area at the Promenade
Shops at Evergreen Walk was completed and
launched with the opening of
LL Bean in August. ECHN
began construction on a
second office building at
Evergreen Walk; Town &
Country Barber Shop on
Buckland Road completed
construction of their new,
larger Vision Salon, and M&R
Liquors began construction of
a new store on Buckland
Road. The 400,000+ squarefoot
Aldi Distribution Center on Rye Street was
completed.
Another age-restricted apartment complex was
approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission
for construction on Gerber Rd near the Vernon
town boundary. When completed, Hillcrest will
provide rental units to seniors of varying income
levels from low-rent to market rate.
Single family housing development has
continued to decline as remaining land in South
Windsor has more environmental constraints or
becomes harder to acquire from owners not
interested in selling for development. The one
notable exception was the approval and start of
construction of the Dzen Tree Farm Subdivision
between Barber Hill and Maskel roads. The loss
of the Dzen Tree Farm is painful to the Town,
but more than half of the land (over 50 acres) is
being preserved as permanent open space. The
open space includes a hilltop that is the 2 nd
highest point in South Windsor (the Town also
owns the highest point, in the Niederwerfer
Wildlife Sanctuary). The farm pond which has
been the site of the Super Sixties fishing derby
for the past several years is also being
preserved as open space.
Works Department to expand the walking trails
at the Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve on
Sullivan Avenue; and trail construction has
begun at the 160-acre Wapping Park between
Ellington Road and Clark Street. Eagle Scout
p r o j e c t s u n d e r t h e
supervision of the Planning
Department have resulted
in construction of new trail
sections at Wapping Park.
When completed, the trails
will connect from the
parking lot on Clark Street
all the way over the Podunk
River to Ellington Road.
The Planning Department
continues to work with
youth and civic organizations that are willing to
provide volunteer services at local parks and
preserves.
The Planning Department continues to be
involved in internal and external projects of
community-wide interest. We provide a
representative to the Capitol Region Council of
Governments Transportation and Pedestrian/
Bikeway committees. Staff are involved in local
pedestrian/bikeway efforts, including a hugely
successful Safe Routes to School (SR2S)
program. The SR2S program, administered by
the Capitol Region Council of Governments,
provides engineering and technical assistance to
school to identify and correct obstacles to
walking safely to school. Orchard Hill School
was the first South Windsor school to participate
in the program (kudos to the school staff,
administration, and parents of students for their
recognition of the value of this program). Eli
Terry School is next in line for the program.
Open space preservation continues to be a high
priority in South Windsor. The Planning
Department continues to partner with the Public
52 | Town of South Windsor: Annual Report 2007/2008