Simsbury planners present draft TerraFill neighborhood plan, seek public input

The Simsbury Planning Commission and consultant SLR Consulting presented draft recommendations for the TerraFill neighborhood plan at a public meeting in Simsbury and asked residents for written and verbal feedback on proposed changes to village character, parks and trails, multimodal connections and zoning.

The draft plan lays out five theme areas and a set of recommended actions intended to preserve the neighborhood’s historic and natural assets while improving access, safety and economic vitality. “These recommendations are still in draft form, so we welcome all your feedback,” Assistant Town Planner Britney McGilpin told the gathering. Consultant Robert Collins said, “we're here tonight to get your feedback and then to continue on with that before we finalize the recommendations.”

Why it matters: The recommendations would guide future capital projects, zoning updates and maintenance priorities for the TerraFill neighborhood, affecting road and sidewalk work, park improvements at TerraFill Park, river access to the Farmington River and the safety of routes used by elementary school children.

Key recommendations and details

Village character: The draft calls for defining and enhancing a distinct TerraFill village character through gateway features at primary entrances, improved streetscape treatments on Winthrop Street, Main Street and Elm Street,…