Colchester - Positioned For Growth

Of all the things I do in my "spare time," I have enjoyed a seat on the Colchester zoning and planning commission for about 3 years now. I have seen a lot of subdivision approvals come across the commission's desk over the last few years. I keep wondering, "where are you people going to sell all of these houses?"

The new homes and subdivisions have sort of slowed down for now. The next big waive - commercial real estate. Colchester has recently rezoned a few hundred acres of prime land to commercial and business park. This land is right in the areas the Route 2 and Route 11 interchange. There is no more prime place in our part of CT in my opinion.

Once this land is developed, it will position Colchester for a more balanced tax basis. Right now, 90% of the burden lies on the residential property owners. The town's goal is to get to a 70/30 split. Therefore, with the extra commercial development and tax revenues which will be brought in without as much of a hit to our infrastructure and maintenance costs as residential development, home owners will see thier property taxes decrease.

What does all of this mean? Well, to begin with, forget about paying 10% higher prices in our local grocery store, as the new development will likely bring in some competition. You know that 20 minute trip you need to make everytime you realize you need to go shopping? Well, now it will be 5 minutes. All of this increased interest in our town, along with lower property taxes, will mean INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES.

There is a trade off to all of this. Colchester is loosing a part of its rural character. It has been only a matter of time. We are 30 minutes to Hartford, (the insurance capitol of the world) and 30 minutes to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos (amongst the largest casinos in the world), 30 minutes to the Groton sub base and then there's the Pfizer world headquarters in New London. Basically, Colchester is in the middle of it all. It is natural for us to grow next.

At the end of the day, Colchester offers many reasons to live here. If you or someone you know are considering moving to the area, consider talking to me.