2 - Town of Colchester

Implementation
See the implementation chart
on page 118 for the priority
and the assignment of
responsibility
for
implementation of these
community structure
strategies.
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Reinforce Colchester’s Overall Structure
1. Reinforce the defining elements of Colchester’s community structure:
• the Town Center as the major community focal point, and
• a secondary focal point in Westchester, and
• low intensity areas that provide a greenbelt around developed areas.
2. Maintain the prevailing pattern of higher density residential uses near the Town Center with a density reduction away
from the Center.
Protect and Enhance the Town Center
3. To protect the Town Center, convert the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone to village residential and village
business districts, taking advantage of P.A. 00-145 authorizing the creation of village districts.
4. Maintain and enhance the Town Center as the business, government, civic, institutional, and cultural center of the
Town.
5. Undertake a detailed study of the Town Center during the planning period to address land use, circulation, parking,
and pedestrian issues and, as part of the study, consider zoning changes that may be desirable to implement the study
recommendations.
6. Allow a variety of residential types and densities in the Town Center and encourage mixed uses that complement
community character and add activity and stability to the Town Center.
7. Adjust zone boundaries in the Town Center so that, to the extent practical, individual parcels are located in one zone
(or zone boundaries follow property lines).
Promote Westchester As A Secondary Focal Point
8. Pursue efforts to establish a “village green” in Westchester.
9. Undertake a Westchester Area Study to address zoning, land use, transition, circulation, and parking issues and, as
part of the study, consider zoning changes that may be desirable to implement the study recommendations.
10. To the extent feasible, avoid “strip” type development in Westchester and encourage creation of a village center.
54