Editorial: A legal victory with complications

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...
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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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