Windsor Locks town meeting set to address corridor study, poll ordinance

Matthew Knox, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Oct. 18—WINDSOR LOCKS — A town meeting is set for tonight on whether to fund a study of the Route 20 and Route 75 area of town and to repeal an out-of-date ordinance on poll locations.

TOWN MEETING

WHY: For taxpayers to approve spending $21,000 on a study of the Route 20 corridor, including Route 75 and Old County Road, and repeal an old ordinance on polling places.

WHEN: 7:30 tonight in Town Hall.

Voters will be able to decide on spending $21,000 on the Route 20 Corridor Planning Study Overview during the meeting, which scheduled for 7:30 in Town Hall.

The study will cost more than $200,000, but the town has received a grant from the Capitol Region Council of Governments to cover a majority of it.

Despite being named after Route 20, the study will focus mostly on Route 75 and Old County Road, said First Selectman Paul Harrington.

The goal is to take an area that he believes is underutilized, and study its potential for development, and vehicular and pedestrian improvements, Harrington said. That could include constructing a pedestrian trail along Route 20.

The town has been attempting to complete the study since 2017, when it first applied for the grant. The funding was suspended at the time and only became available again in 2021, when the town reapplied.

A steering committee with 10 members has been formed to work alongside the study made up of residents, local businesspeople, and staff from the state Airport Authority.

The study will be completed by Tighe and Bond and make recommendations regarding future land use and development scenarios, signage improvements, a multi-use trail, and the Bradley International Airport Master Plan.

Voters also will be asked to repeal a town ordinance regarding polling locations.

An ordinance from 50 to 60 years ago still on the books says polls must be located at Union School and Southwest School. There are a few problems with it, Harrington said. First, neither of those locations exist, at least in name. Union School is now the Town Hall, and Southwest School is now senior housing.

Town Hall and Windsor Locks High School serve as the town's polling places.

The ordinance also is in violation of state law, which gives the power of selecting poll locations to the town registrars, Harrington said.

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