2 - Town of Colchester

Center Definitions
The Plan talks about three
different community centers.
These areas are generally
defined as follows:
Village Center
A compact area bounded by
the Town Green, Lebanon
Avenue, Mill Street, and
Norwich Avenue and
extending:
• northerly along
Broadway to Jaffe
Terrace,
• southerly along South
Main Street to Tavern
Lane, and
• westerly along Linwood
Avenue to Stop & Shop.
Structure is also an important guide for land use regulations and decisions. Regulations can be designed and
implemented to reinforce the community structure and enhance community character. One only need look at
communities with no discernible structure to realize that community character has been adversely affected.
At meetings conducted during the planning process, residents indicated that they were very supportive and protective of
these “centers”. In the Town Center, residents were strident about:
• preserving “the Town Green” since it is the character of Colchester, even though the Town does not own the
entire Green (the southern part is owned by the Bacon Academy Trustees),
• improving the character of the area through new sidewalks, façade improvements, reducing pavement (at Old
Bacon Academy),
• making the Town Center more pedestrian friendly and encouraging pedestrian use and activity, and
• re-using existing structures for new uses and maintaining the scale of buildings.
For Westchester, residents were concerned that this area was being adversely affected, possibly by inadequate demand,
too much competition, poor economics, absentee owners, or some combination of factors. Residents were concerned that
Westchester had changed over last 25 years and that the area needed attention.
Town Center Westchester Center
Town Center
A larger area on the north
and east side of Route 2
extending from:
• Exit 17 easterly to
include the recreation
area,
• over to Windham
Avenue to the west of
Highwood Drive,
• continuing southerly to
the east of Elm Street
and Westerly Terrace to
Route 2.
Westchester Center
The area within about a onequarter
mile radius of the
intersection of Route 16 and
Route 149.
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