2 - Town of Colchester

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PROGRAM Over the years, the Town Center has always been the focal point of the community and it is the business, government, civic, institutional, and cultural center of the town. While this has helped enhance community character, it has also created issues. In Colchester, “all roads lead to the Center” and there can be traffic congestion and bypass traffic on adjacent local streets due to traffic volumes, signalized intersections, pedestrian activity, on-street parking, and curb cuts. While the Westchester area, located at the intersection of Routes 16 and 149, has not developed as a village to the same extent that the Town Center has, Westchester has the potential to have a stronger village character. Town Center Streetscape Westchester Center Streetscape 52
During the planning period, detailed study of the Town Center, Westchester, and the surrounding areas should be undertaken in order to: • reinforce the village center characteristics unique to each area, • maintain an appropriate balance among different uses, • avoid “strip” type development, • enhance the overall pedestrian and vehicular circulation pattern, • address parking and circulation issues, and • promote the compatible development of these areas. The studies should evaluate the residential and business zoning and consider alternative zoning patterns. Certain areas might be considered for rezoning based on the prevailing lot sizes and adjustments to some zoning designations and/or boundaries could be considered so that zoning boundaries follow property lines wherever possible. A detailed sidewalk inventory and Plan should be included. The studies should also review and take appropriate advantage of P.A. 00-145 authorizing the creation of village districts. These recommendations are consistent with the 1995 Town Center Cultural Resource Development and Heritage Plan which recommended, in part; 1. Adopt a town center growth policy to better enhance the town center area and preserve the historic character. 2. Develop a dynamic town center with the appropriate use of historic buildings as the center piece of these efforts. 3. Improve the town centers appearance by better integrating parking and developing a streetscape plan. 4. Provide incentives for property owners to preserve and maintain their properties (such as tax, loan/grant, and code incentives). 5. Increase marketing and tourism for the town center area through public awareness, education, and the creation of tourism amenities. Strip-Type Development Strip-type development typically refers to nonresidential development that occurs along major roads in a linear fashion and is generally characterized as: • having wide and shallow lots, • individual or strips of stores that orient towards parking areas between the building(s) and the street, • having one-story buildings with very simple architectural features, • multiple curb cuts, • limited pedestrian interconnections between sites, and • uncoordinated signage. Overall, it is important to stress that the level of future development in Westchester is anticipated to be much less intense than that expected in the Town Center. Westchester is intended to be more of a rural center with a village flavor. As a result, it is considered unlikely that water service or sewer service will be necessary or desirable in the foreseeable future. 53
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COLCHESTER
Page 3 and 4:
2001 Colchester Plan of Conservatio
Page 5 and 6:
2001 Colchester Plan of Conservatio
Page 7:
Colchester Street Map
Page 10 and 11: Statutory Reference Section 8-23 of
Page 12 and 13: The Planning Process WHERE WE ARE W
Page 14 and 15: PRIORITY ISSUES Many issues that ar
Page 16 and 17: Congregational Church As population
Page 18 and 19: Reasons For Moving To Colchester At
Page 20 and 21: Migration Statistics Year Household
Page 22 and 23: Adults (ages 20-54) Adults (ages 20
Page 24 and 25: Use Versus Zoning The table on this
Page 26 and 27: Definitions Developed Land - land t
Page 28 and 29: Sampling & Variation The sample siz
Page 30 and 31: Tax Base Composition Percent Busine
Page 32 and 33: Telephone Survey What Makes Colches
Page 34 and 35: Implementation See the implementati
Page 36 and 37: Town Efforts At Protecting Natural
Page 38 and 39: Natural Diversity Database The Conn
Page 42 and 43: Open Space in Colchester Perceived
Page 44 and 45: Land Acquisition Fund Section 7-131
Page 46 and 47: Trails The Open Space Plan on page
Page 48: Implementation See the implementati
Page 51 and 52: For many years, Colchester has had
Page 53 and 54: Historic Resources Map 45
Page 55 and 56: ASSESSMENT For many years, Colchest
Page 57 and 58: COMMUNITY STRUCTURE 8 OVERVIEW Comm
Page 59: Map defining Centers 51
Page 63 and 64: HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL AREAS 9 OVERV
Page 65 and 66: ASSESSMENT Issues related to reside
Page 67 and 68: Such developments can: • help mai
Page 69 and 70: Conventional Subdivision Design Ope
Page 72 and 73: Density Definition Residential dens
Page 74 and 75: Elderly Housing Options 1. Remain i
Page 78 and 79: Encourage Housing Diversity 11. Con
Page 80 and 81: Employment Trends Employment 1960 9
Page 82 and 83: Establish Economic Development Foca
Page 84 and 85: Development Types Village Business
Page 88 and 89: Promote Appropriate Site Design 14.
Page 90 and 91: INVENTORY & ASSESSMENT Town Hall Mo
Page 92 and 93: Public Works Public Works Garage -
Page 94 and 95: Telephone Survey Should the Town Bu
Page 96 and 97: Education Facilities Colchester has
Page 98 and 99: School Enrollment Ratios Year Town
Page 100 and 101: Map of Community Facilities 92
Page 102 and 103: TRANSPORTATION 1 OVERVIEW The trans
Page 104 and 105: Colchester Road Classes Class Throu
Page 106 and 107: Telephone Survey The Town Should Bu
Page 108 and 109: Landscape Center Islands While road
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Implementation See the implementati
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Improve Transit Services 13. Increa
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Wired Utilities Wired utilities in
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Implementation See the implementati
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15 FUTURE LAND USE PLAN OVERVIEW Th
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Future Land Use Plan Center Detail
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PLAN CONSISTENCY This Plan was comp
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Plan of Conservation & Development
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Legend ID ZPC CC BOS Town Other BOE
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17 CONCLUSION The Plan of Conservat
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2 - Town of Colchester

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