Some Tolland residents are speaking out tonight about their concern on the size of a proposed project, which would house residential and retail space.
The proposed Tolland Village area consists of 369 apartment units, along with some businesses on the bottom floor, a restaurant and a hotel. They would be located off of exit 68 on I-84.
Tonight the developer, New England Real Estate, will meet with the Planning and Zoning Committee to propose zone changes.
The developer is requesting changing the 3-story multi-family buildings to 5 stories; to extend the width of buildings from 200 feet to 300 feet; and to change the height of the hotel from 45 feet to 55 feet.
The historic district is located near the proposed project. Jonathan Gould, Vice Chairman of Tolland’s Historic District, said changing the scale of the project would disrupt the small-town feel.
“The scale of the buildings, the height of the buildings are going to be very different from what is surrounding it and it’s really going to take away kind of from a quintessential, historic area here in Tolland,” said Gould.
Alona Croteau lives in the historic district.
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“I’d love some places to go shopping and maybe go to a restaurant however this kind of development seems like it’s a little bit bigger than what was originally contemplated in the Tolland village area concept, said Croteau.
The apartments would house UConn students and faculty.
The development is projected to cost $100 million.
NE Real Estate tells NBC Connecticut the reason they're changing the scale of the project is because the size of the current planned building would not generate enough revenue to pay for the cost of construction.
The Planning and Zoning director chose not to comment on the proposal.
