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Economic development update: developers eye Simsbury Commons; 223 rental units and 200,000 sq ft commercial under construction
Summary
Planning staff reported a steady development pipeline: about 200,000 square feet of commercial construction and 223 rental units underway, new childcare and recreation uses opening, and an informal proposal to place up to 300 residential units at part of Simsbury Commons.
Planning staff told the commission the town has an active development pipeline, including roughly 200,000 square feet of commercial projects and about 223 rental units currently under construction.
Active and under‑construction projects discussed included an Ensign Bickford expansion of roughly 41,000 square feet, a Raising Cane’s restaurant that opened at the town edge, The Nest childcare facility nearing completion at 30 Hot Meadows, the Luminary (formerly Barber Cove) residential development with three buildings under construction (75 units total, five buildings planned), and a 23,000‑square‑foot ice‑rink expansion at the ISCC with additional smaller rinks intended for youth programming.
Staff also reviewed projects in the approval pipeline: the Wagner Ford property area (proposed Chipotle, Starbucks and a multi‑tenant building), and other mixed‑use redevelopment opportunities. Town staff said the Wagner Ford site team has applied for a state brownfields remediation grant and that remediation work is part of the site pro forma moving forward.
The commissioners discussed a developer’s informal presentation to the zoning commission about a possible Simsbury Commons redevelopment that could include up to 300 residential units on a portion of the property. Planning Director George said that conversion of large retail boxes to recreational or residential uses is an ongoing regional trend and that such a proposal would likely require a planned area development review and come before the planning commission for formal comment.
Don from Gorman & York (market consultant) summarized regional market forces and told commissioners that “Residential is driving retail,” a point used to explain why developers are proposing housing‑centric redevelopments of older shopping centers.
Other topics noted in the update included childcare facilities coming online, the indoor pickleball and trampoline conversion trend in larger boxes, and continuing discussion about solar farm ownership and battery storage projects in the region. Staff said the town will host further public materials and a library presentation related to a Terrafill plan and recommended follow‑up with the zoning commission and planning commission as formal proposals arrive.
