Amazon in Enfield: A first glimpse of their plan

Amazon bought 200 acres of industrial land off Bacon Road in Enfield about a year ago. Until now, what they planned to do with was a guess. A zoning filing offers the first real clue. Amazon.com Services LLC has filed a zoning text amendment seeking to allow motor vehicle repair garages in the I-1 industrial zone under specific conditions. It appears on the May 28 PZC agenda, with a public hearing scheduled for June 25. The proposed amendment is narrowly written. It would allow fleet vehicle maintenance on site, but prohibit body work, outdoor storage, and battery storage. Whatever Amazon is planning, the operation will require maintaining vehicles on the property. Will this ultimately become a fulfillment center, regional distribution hub, delivery station, or something else is unclear. The May 28 meeting may give some indication. Implications for Enfield The filing comes at a time when Enfield's employer base is changing significantly. [Data from latest town audit] Top employers ...
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Santannella Talks Taxes, Schools, and the Enfield Square Project in Candid Interview

I had the chance to interview Councilmember and State Rep. John Santanella on his Cox TV show, Community Crossroads. We discussed some of the major issues in this election.

One thing missing from Enfield’s election season is real discussion. There are no debates, no forums where a panel or the public can question the candidates. As a result, we usually hear more about their backgrounds and resumes than how they would tackle the town’s biggest challenges.

With that in mind, Councilmember and State Rep. John Santanella invited me to interview him on his Cox TV show Community Crossroads.

[Here’s the link to the show.]

Usually, he’s the one asking the questions, but this time he asked me to turn the tables and focus on town issues. I was glad to take him up on it.

The questions I asked are the same ones I’d put to any candidate: the property revaluation, school funding, economic development, the Enfield Square redevelopment, outsourcing of town services, the charter-revision questions, and the election outlook.

Santanella did not see the questions in advance — credit to him for taking the initiative. Whether you agree or disagree with his positions, you’ll come away from this discussion with a clear sense of where he stands.