Colchester Visioning Sessions, Dec. 2 & 4, 2010
Summary of Responses to Questions

On December 2 and December 4, 2010, community visioning outreach sessions were held with the residents of the Town of Colchester.  Over 130 people participated. The sessions allowed townspeople to express how they feel about the direction of the town as well as allowed Evergreen consultants to develop overlying trends in ideas, perceptions, and goals of members of the community.  Five general questions were asked to residents during these small group sessions.  Below is a summary of overlying trends identified on the community’s response to these questions.

1. What image comes to mind when you think about Colchester?

• There was a consensus among residents that the Town of Colchester offered diversity in terms of economic activities. Specifically, residents felt that the broad array of industries in and around the town provide a good place for residents to grow financially. However, there was a general consensus that the town held “untapped potential” that residents agreed need to be exploited.  Residents felt that to do this the town should focus on the agricultural opportunities that exist in the area, increase commerce, and maintain the economic diversity that currently exists. At the same time, session participants expressed concern for becoming overly commercialized and mentioned several times the high taxes in the town.
• Overall, residents acknowledged and appreciated the isolation and ample rural space that the Town of Colchester has to offer. Residents expressed their fondness of the recreational areas, available natural resources, and peace and quiet.  In addition to growing economically as stated in the first bullet, residents want to ensure that the parks, undeveloped space, dispersed nature, and serene areas of Colchester are recognized and preserved. Specific recreational activities and offerings mentioned include bike paths, summer camps, parks, boating areas, and dog parks. Residents stressed that the lake and the bay located in the town are areas to highlight when discussing advantages of the town.
• A third common theme resulting from this question was the strong community presence felt by Colchester residents. Residents felt that strong community support is a staple of life among the Town’s population. Residents have a deep appreciation for the mature, friendly, active bedroom communities that exist in the town. A family atmosphere is present at the town, and the residents feel connected to each other. This sense of a small, welcoming, civic-minded community is one point that residents feel should be embraced.  Participants mentioned the willingness of citizens to volunteer and provide social based services.
• Residents of Colchester feel that the town is situated in an ideal location for growth and development. They emphasize that the ease of access made the town a great vacation location. However, a very prominent resident perception is the fact that the town offers no formal town center or hub for visitors and residents alike. Although participants felt that there is plenty of activity (shopping, dining, etc.), they identified the lack of a central location for which activities to gather around attributed to a reduction in economic potential for the town. In addition to supporting the town’s current tourist industry, residents expressed that a Community Center would contribute to retaining and building tourist and visitor interest, promoting resident social life, and developing jobs which would lead to an increased number of commuters from larger areas such as Burlington.  This defined economic center was cited as an area of unification for town residents. One specific idea was the development of a clear town entrance. However, residents seemed to agree that the town should stick with low-impact commercial development.  
• In addition to providing an economic center for the town, in several instances residents mentioned that improving the town’s public transit system would be beneficial. Residents stated that the town had poor public transportation and that roadways should be better marked for visitor and resident travel. Residents stated that public transportation systems should be improved for both motorized (buses, trollies, etc.) and un-motorized (bike, walk, etc.) travel.
• The final reoccurring theme which was prevalent among residents was the presence of an excellent school system in the town. Many residents feel that the school system is very supportive of the educational needs of the community.

2. What advantages excite you about the Town of Colchester?


When asked this question, the most common theme offered by participants was access to the lake, bay, rivers, and other water resources of the area. Residents feel that this presented a huge advantage for the town. Similarly, residents feel that the numerous additional recreational activities are a selling point of the community. Bike paths, parks, and recreational programs are all noted in addition to the water-based activities.  

• Participants stated that the community atmosphere was the second greatest advantage of Colchester. Several times, members of the community mentioned that Colchester had a small town feel in the sense that residents are friendly, connected, and diverse. This was thought of as an advantage as it acts to attract more families and encourages an increasingly safe atmosphere. This small town feel also fosters increased volunteerism and willingness of residents to interact and support their community.
• The third advantage that residents agreed on is the availability of open space for development. They mentioned that the growth that has occurred in the community has been diverse and that this will play to the advantage of Colchester. However, it should be noted that, while residents agreed that development in available areas is important, they would like to preserve the feel of open space that the town currently offers. Residents felt that if planned right, the available space for expansion could greatly benefit the community.
• In addition to noting the room for economic expansion, residents felt that the existing economic infrastructure was an advantage as Colchester moves forward. Specifically, residents identified Costco, ample farmland, affordable real estate, the library, and low-income housing among several existing advantages the town currently has to offer. In addition, the location of the town is considered as a huge advantage.  Residents believe that the proximity to Burlington was advantageous, but noted that maintaining the unique identity of the town was important.  Session participants noted that becoming “South Burlington” is not an option. In addition, the ease of access to Colchester and the presence of two highway exits are seen by most residents as an advantage. They identified these exits as a potential place to begin further development of the town.
• The education system and public administration in Colchester were both mentioned several times as a noteworthy advantage of the town. Town residents feel that the community is supported by a strong education system which offers challenging academic opportunity. The town’s administration was praised for its recognition that Colchester needs to develop a strong vision and residents expressed that this showed administrators have a caring interest. Residents were also praiseworthy of the police and emergency services in the community.  

3. What could be improved in the Town of Colchester?

One overlying issued that residents identified was public transportation. Specifically, public transportation was mentioned as being poor, and a focus needed to be placed on improving the network of roads, as well as biking and pedestrian access. One specific idea that residents have is to put a bike path on Lakeshore Drive. In addition, town residents cited other amenities and improved town infrastructure among desired priorities for Colchester.  This includes water quality, more sidewalks, improved sewage (on-site waste water treatment), energy generation, improved cell phone signals, and communications.

• Residents stated that the town government should better support involvement of schools as well as the relationship between the town and the schools. In addition, many participants stated that the school needs to be allocated more funding for improvement. Several residents mentioned that cuts to education were viewed as being negative.
• Residents stated that the town’s government should work toward greater transparency, implementing more mechanisms for citizens to voice their opinions (e.g., email), and reassessing taxes (property and commercial taxes).  Many participants stated that taxes are too high. It was also apparent that residents felt as though the town government needs to make an effort to increase interaction with local businesses. In addition, participants noted that if large growth is to take place, Colchester would need to reassess the town’s government structure to ensure it could support growth.
• Residents noted that the town should better leverage the lake and existing recreational assets. They stated that increasing the number of parks on town land should be done before purchasing additional land. The consensus was that, since recreational activities are such a big part of the town, Colchester should expand on these already diverse opportunities. Residents cited improving access to the lake and providing additional public lake amenities as an option, and also agreed that increasing the amount of public lake shore was of great interest. In order to attract visitors, residents mentioned that more town planned and promoted recreational activities should occur. Just as residents feel outdoor activities are important, they also feel that indoor recreational activities should be available.
• Many participants stated that growth should begin at the two highway exits (exits 16 and 17) since access to these areas is increased being right next to the highway. Residents stated that new and existing benefits of the town should be marketed to improve tourist operations.

4. What characteristics might define the Town of Colchester as we create our identity and vision for the next 10 years?

Characteristics identified by residents included:

• Diverse recreational activities
• The lake
• Green jobs and better quality of jobs
• Strong schools backed by the community and the town government
• Controlled and managed growth
• Stable and predictable taxes
• Clean, comfortable, caring, and safe family community
• Prime destination and attractive to business
• Affordable housing and living
• Good neighborhoods and safe communities
• Tourist destination
• Strong public transportation
• Conservation and preservation minded
• Open and scenic
• Diverse economic, entrepreneurial, and business base
• Supportive and accessible government
• Unique and self-sustaining identity
• Revenue generating
• Small town feel
• Strong communication

5. How should our time and resources be used?

• Residents stated that time would be well spent on carefully planning and managing growth, including planning, funding, and allocation of resources; promoting the adopted vision; continuing to raise the financial base of the town; and investing in current resources such as severance corner and recreational land.  Residents stated that careful planning is needed to better understand growth as well as sustain momentum of growth activities. Creating a town growth and sustainability plan were cited as a positive use of time and resources.
• There was a consensus that increased focus should be placed on improving communication among residents, town government, small and large businesses, and the community as a whole.
• Residents identified better marketing of Colchester as a destination as being beneficial.  This would include marketing not only the recreational activities, but also the businesses that reside in the town.
• Residents noted that, in order to sustain the natural assets that the town will use to attract visitors, conservation and water quality efforts must be implemented.
• There was a consensus that time should be spent planning events and activities to encourage visitors to come to Colchester.
• Residents strongly agreed and supported the use of resources for improving the town’s transportation as well as other infrastructure systems. One transportation improvement idea that was identified was a park and ride system.
• Residents noted that fostering relationships with the state and other cities and towns in the region would be a positive use of time and potentially open opportunities for outside awareness.
• Activities that encouraged commercial growth through the attraction of business would be a positive use of town resources and time.

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