Public Hearing on Tolland Village Zoning Amendments Remains Open

TOLLAND - In the words of Director of Planning and Development Heidi Samokar, the potential for developing the Tolland Village area have progressed farther than ever.

That's because a developer - NE Real Estate - is proposing zoning amendments to the area, not just the town. Concepts have been bantered about for more than a decade, but NE Real Estate seems serious about setting things up to at least develop the area behind Papa T's, Subway and the Electric Blue, yet include both sides of Route 195.

And there is interest, as evidenced by the hundreds of residents who packed the Tolland High School auditorium Monday night for a Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on the Village area, Fox 61 reported.

The hearing involved a mixed-use development in an area locally known as "Tolland Village," a piece of land abutting the Interstate-84 exit 68 interchange.

The proposal included mixed-uses like a hotel, apartments, retail shops and "an adult entertainment venue." The Electric Blue, a strip joint, has been there for years, but the hotel would be a key new concept, considering the Nathan Hale Inn, about 7 miles away in Storrs, will cease being a hotel after the University of Connecticut turns it into dorm space.

The P&Z commission was asked to exempt certain conditions of town code to allow for buildings up to five stories, and a facade of up to 300 feet.

The PZC has spent several years examining the "Tolland Village Area."

The public hearing has remained open and is slated to continue on May 9 at the high school, Samokar said.

To see the latest on the Village project, visit:

http://www.tolland.org/planning-development/pages/news-and-events

For a history of Tolland Village concepts, visit:

http://www.tolland.org/planning-development/pages/tolland-village-area