Weathersfield
That was the consensus among about 20 residents who attended a village revitalization planning workshop Thursday night.
The opinions of several suggested the villages lack a center or a place for people to gather, and Ascutney, located at the intersections of routes 131 and 5, was perceived mostly as a quick stop for gas or food.
“I would like it to look more like an attractive village and less like gas station heaven,” Patti Arrison said.
One of the first suggestions was the need for bike lanes and sidewalks to make the villages more welcoming to a slower pace.
“I think they would go a long way toward making it look like a community and not a place to drive through,” former Selectman John Arrison said.
Arrison said preliminary plans for sidewalks were derailed years ago by concerns over right-of-ways, particularly in Perkinsville, where many houses are close to the road.
Town Manager Ed Morris opened the discussion hosted by Jason Rasmussen, director of planning with the Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission, inside the Weathersfield Town Garage.
Morris said rethinking the image of the villages and improving the local economies does not automatically mean elaborate commercial development. He said Weathersfield, with a population of 2,800, needs a “brand” that highlights the town and surrounding area.
“It can mean small changes that make the community a better place to live and improves the quality of life,” Morris said. “Not bigger but better.”
That was the theme of the discussion: promoting the region’s history and its unique outdoor recreational opportunities, and encouraging small shops and restaurants.
“We don’t have an identity. That is something we need to work on,” Morris said.
Several said the villages need a “public gathering place” like a coffee shop and bakery. Resident Ray Stapleton said Cavendish provides an example of a village center.
“They have a place people can go to visit with people in the community. We don’t have that here,” Stapleton said.
He also said he would support assisting new businesses thinking of locating in the villages with some sort of tax help.
The former Red Barn Cafe was mentioned as a place with quality food and conversation but it was not immediately visible from the intersection of Routes 131 and 5 for motorists and required crossing four lanes of traffic to reach by foot.
The audience suggested a variety of ways to improve the village environment and give people a reason to stop. These included a bank, or at least an ATM; a park, perhaps on the site of the old Yankee Motel on Route 5; recreation facilities; maps indicating places to hike and bike; and a focus on history. Getting Connecticut River Transit to run bus routes through the villages and more signage on the interstate for the Ascutney exit were two other ideas.
Thursday was the first of four workshops where the regional planning commission will continue to accept comments and ideas from the public on their vision for the villages. Additional workshops are scheduled for Sept. 28, Oct. 26 and Nov. 16.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
