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Downtown redevelopment raises traffic concerns and solar-siting questions in Windsor Locks
Summary
Commission members heard that two new Main Street buildings will add about 130 apartments with ground-floor commercial space, and residents urged installing solar on the new buildings; members flagged traffic bottlenecks around the new train station and said feasibility and contract terms need review.
Committee members and residents used open time to discuss downtown redevelopment plans for Main Street and associated infrastructure and energy questions.
A committee member said the redevelopment envisions two new buildings that together would hold about 130 apartments, with ground-floor space intended for businesses. "When they get the 2 buildings up that will house, something like a 130 apartments," the committee member said, and members warned the added residents and the new train station are likely to increase traffic and create bottlenecks on Main Street.
A resident asked why solar panels were not already planned for the new buildings, arguing rooftop or parking-canopy solar could reduce town electricity costs and power lighting. "Why no one ever thought about having solar panels installed on these new buildings," the resident said. Committee members responded that municipal solar deals and lease structures vary and past programs sometimes did not deliver clear financial benefits for towns. One member with energy-law experience said residential savings do not directly translate to municipal installations because rate structures and contract terms differ.
Members also discussed traffic-light synchronization with the state highway department and expressed uncertainty about how to resolve congestion once the new station is operational. Other community topics raised during open time included safety concerns about laser holiday lights affecting pilots, increasing drone activity, and noise from aircraft testing at regional facilities.
Next steps: The commission said it will follow up on whether the downtown redevelopment plans include solar in design documents and will seek further information from planning staff and the state about traffic-mitigation measures as the train station opens.
