Tolland Economic Development Action Plan Breakdown

The town council will consider endorsing the town's economic development action plan, submitted by the Economic Development Commission, at Tuesday's council meeting. 

Here's a break down of what the plan entails for Tolland:

The History:

An economic development action plan was orginally approved back in 2002 and resulted in changes such as the creation of public sewers along Route 195, commercial development along Route 195 and the Tolland Business Park, a new approach to how the town interacted with the business community, as well as a strengthened relationship with the University of Connecticut. 

Nearly ten years later, the Economic Development Commission has looked over the plan again and updated it to fit the town's economic needs of 2011. 

The commission took into account results from the 2007 Citizen Survey when creating the plan.

Highlights:

• The plan acknowledges that 81 percent of the properties on Tolland's grand assessor list are residential. The report notes that single family dwellings tend to have negative net impact in taxes due to the large numbers of school-age children, while properties that are office buildings or industrial-focused tend to have more positive net impacts. Due to decreasing state funding, the action plan calls for smart development of the three percent of Tolland land zoned for commercial/industrial uses to strengthen the tax base.
• The plan points out that increased retail businesses in town would create job opportunities for a diverse set of Tolland residents, as well as decrease travel for those working or shopping in the area, among other benefits.
• The plan details the need for a traffic study along the Route 195 corridor to accomodate growth.
• Some statistics from the 2007 Citizen Survey: 
•  "The town should diversify the tax base by encouraging non-residential development within areas best suited for such usage." (82% agree or strongly agree)
• "Tolland should allow businesses with a drive-thru for food service." (50% agree or strongly agree)

The full plan can be read in the town council's agenda packet.

Editor's Note: All of the information used and quoted in this article comes from the Economic Development Action Plan posted as part of the town council's agenda packet.