Date: Fri 13-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

CEPEC-Expo-P&Z-Hawleyville

Full Text:

Planning and Zoning To Meet On CEPEC Plan

The Planning and Zoning Commission will once again take up the issue of the

proposed exposition center in Hawleyville at its October 19 meeting in the

Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall.

The commission has already conducted three hearings on the proposal submitted

by a group called Connecticut Expo Development to build the Connecticut

Exposition and Performing Events Center (CEPEC) on an 80-acre parcel across

Route 25 from the Hawleyville Post Office. The plan calls for the construction

of a hall of more than 100,000 square feet that would be used for trade shows,

public shows and events, and recreational sports.

To realize the CEPEC plan, developers are seeking a zone change from P&Z to

change the 80-acre parcel from residential to an industrial use. Connecticut

Expo Development argues that the change would be in keeping with the town's

1993 Plan of Development, which calls for industrial development in the

Hawleyville section of town.

Many Hawleyville residents, however, believe the zone change would be

misguided, creating an unsightly "gateway" to Newtown in the Hawleyville area,

in addition to creating traffic congestion and posing environmental risks.

The developers counter by saying that the expo center will inject new life

into the local economy, citing studies that show participants in some major

events can yield hundreds of thousands of dollars for local businesses and

merchants.

The October 19 meeting of the commission will begin at 8 pm.