Great Pond Village: A Fiscal Boon For Windsor?

Windsor residents and business owners are invited to attend a special informational session at Town Hall on Mon., Aug. 22 regarding the proposed 4,000-unit Great Pond Village development. The session will feature presentation aimed at answering one of the most important questions buzzing around development: "Will the cost of maintaining quality of life for new shops, restaurants and nearly 8,000 new Windsor residents negatively impact on the local economy?"

According to a fiscal study commissioned by landowner ABB and developer Winstanly Enterprises, and conducted by TischlerBise, Inc., the answer is "no."

A representative of TichlerBise, a national group that analyses cost growth and revenue enhancement issues, will be on hand Monday to answer questions from the public and present details supporting their findings — that the development would come to yeild approximately $2 million annually to the town.

The development will cost an estimated $750 million, according to a 2010 Hartford Business Journal article — an amount the Town of Windsor is not responsible for.

The town, however, will be responsible for services provided to the new community, which will likely inlude a new fire house and apparatus, a new police station or substation and vehicles, and additional seats for incoming students.

The estimated 700 students added to the local public school population would not require the construction of a new school, town officials.

The TischlerBise study did not take inflation into account, but, , the study did conclude that all necessary capital improvement costs will not exceeed revenue generated by the development.

The specifics of potential revenue streams will be discussed Monday during the information session.

The session will begin at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers.