By
Larry Eliason, Commercial Broker
Windham
has a variety of zones that can accommodate commercial real estate development
and businesses. Below is a summary of the zones that offer opportunities for
commercial real estate development for retail, office, manufacturing,
warehousing and agricultural uses.
C1
– Commercial Zone: This zone is designed to provide general retail sales,
services and business space within the town in locations capable of
conveniently servicing community-wide and/or regional trade areas, with safe,
well-regulated automobile access and pedestrian access where appropriate.
A
sample of permitted uses include; agriculture, retail sales automotive and
outdoor, private warehousing, business and professional office, light and heavy
industry, child care, construction services, hotel, motel, multi-family housing
and housing for older persons, restaurant, bank, drive-through, convention
center and auto repair.
The
C1 Commercial Zone is in many ways the Downtown of Windham. The Comprehensive
Plan, 21st Century Downtown Plan and the WEDC Strategic Plan encourage
having people live and work in the downtown. As an example, a new development
on Anglers Road and Rt. 302 is close to receiving final approvals for
multi-family housing in the C1 Zone.
C2
– Commercial Zone: The intent of this
district is to provide for a mixed commercial and residential zone as a buffer
zone between the C1 Commercial Zone and the abutting residential areas.
A
sample of permitted uses include; agriculture, fitness center, theater,
restaurant, medical office, housing for older persons, recreational facility,
motel, hotel, club, bank, convention center and drive thru.
C3
– Commercial Zone: The intent of the C3 Commercial Zone is to provide areas for
a mixture of light, low-traffic generating commercial uses and single-family
housing.
The
biggest news about the C3 Commercial Zone is the recent addition of Contractor
Services being allowed in the zone. This recent change as approved by the
Windham Town Council, will allow tradesman like electricians, plumbers,
carpenters, etc., to operate their contractor services businesses in the C3
Commercial Zone.
Historically,
the zone has accommodated agriculture, business and professional office,
service business landscaping, private warehousing, public warehousing, childcare
and many home occupations.
I
– Industrial District: The intent of the
Industrial District is for manufacturing, processing, treatment, research,
warehousing, storage and distribution.
This
zone allows agriculture, distribution center, industry light, industry heavy,
mineral extraction, warehousing private, warehousing public, truck terminal and
some home occupations to name a few. The Industrial Zone appears to be good
candidate for adding Contractor Services and Construction Services.
Enterprise
Development Zone: The intent of the ED
Zone is to provide a unique area within the town to allow manufacturing,
processing, treatment, warehousing, storage, research and distribution with
safe, well regulated vehicle access located off a major street.
Some
of the permitted uses in the zone include, auction house, automobile auction
facility, business and professional office, construction services, convention
center, hotel, motel, light and heavy industry, warehousing private and
warehousing public.
One
of the biggest challenges in this zone is that it is accessed from Rt. 302 via
Enterprise Drive, a non-signalized intersection. Windham could certainly use
help from stakeholders such as our town leaders and staff, legislators,
business and real estate owners and their employees, residents and others to
seek a partnership with the MDOT to make a signalized light at Enterprise Drive
a reality.
From
an economic development perspective, there could be tens of millions in
investment in this massive business park site if we only had a signalized
light. A light would dramatically improve ingress and egress a well as make
that intersection a lot safer for all as well.
And, it seems like agriculture would be a good candidate for this zone,
especially for large scale agricultural operations.
Village
Commercial Zone: The intent of this zone is to serve as a primarily residential
area with a mix of stores, services and commercial enterprises. Several
properties in this zone actually have access to public sewer, while the rest of
town is served by private septic systems.
This
zone allows agricultural, artist studio, assisted living facility, business and
professional office, childcare, construction services, fitness center, medical
office, light industry, restaurant, retail and sales and personal and
commercial service businesses.
As
a commercial real estate professional, I strongly recommend talking with town
staff and other industry professionals before making a decision and/or a
commitment to lease or buy commercial property in Windham or anywhere else.
Larry
Eliason, Commercial Broker, www.ButtsCommercialBrokers.com
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