Council sends $511 million school rebuild to November voters

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  The Enfield Town Council voted unanimously to approve a $511 million school project, supported by an $89 million town share. Voters will have final say in November.  The Town Council voted Wednesday unanimously to send a $511 million plan to Enfield voters to rebuild the town's elementary school system. The town's cost is $89 million, and that's what voters will be asked to approve in November. The plan builds four new PK-5 schools on the sites of Hazardville Memorial, Prudence Crandall, Edgar H. Parkman and Henry Barnard, and converts Eli Whitney into a new home for Eagle Academy. Work runs in two phases. The entire project will take seven to eight years. Mayor Gina Cekala said Enfield doesn't have much choice. "$89 million is a lot of money. It sounds like a lot of money. It is a lot of money," she said. But she put the town's share in proportion. Of the $511 million, "Enfield is going to be responsible for a maximum of 17% of this project."...
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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 in 2019:

MassMutual — 1,538
Enfield town/schools — 1,487
Department of Correction — 639
Lego — 594

Top employers in 2024:

Enfield town/schools — 1,406
Lego — 740*
Advance Auto Parts — 415
Retail Brand Alliance/Brooks Brothers — 350

*Lego has since announced plans to relocate to the Boston area.

If Amazon builds a significant logistics operation in Enfield, it could quickly become one of the town's largest employers.

Property tax implications

Too early to say, but if Amazon builds something substantial on this property, it could potentially approach generate $3M plus in taxes -- nearly one mill or more. That would have gone a long way to absorbing the 5.1% percent mill rate increase. But again, this is speculation.

Amazon paid $20M for the property alone. Winstanley, the prior owner, had initially planned a 819,000-plus square foot building. 

Potential downsides

Increased truck traffic and local infrastructure, as well as noise and neighborhood concerns for nearby residents.

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