The Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Inc. has been created as an independent, non-profit organization charged with coordinating the enhancement and revitalization of three of Mansfield’s commercial areas - Storrs Center, King Hill Road and the Four Corners.  As a public-private partnership, the organization is composed of representatives from the community, business, town, and the University of Connecticut. 

Project History

As part of the America Downtown Program sponsored by the National League of Cities, the Mansfield Town Council retained the national planning firm of HyettPalma in 1999 to develop an enhancement strategy for the revitalization of downtown Mansfield’s commercial areas.  Following a collaborative community-consultation process, HyettPalma produced the Mansfield Downtown Partnership Action Agenda, which details a series of findings and recommendations.

Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Inc. Action Agenda

Key recommendations from the Downtown Partnership Action Agenda are:

·         Develop a community green space	·         Improve traffic flow and parking
·         Business retention and attraction	·         Real estate development and improvements
·         Marketing and promotion	·         Public improvements, i.e., streetscape, signage

Progress to Date

An 18-member Board of Directors has been established and has made much progress:

One of the Partnership’s first tasks was to commission the development of a concept Master Plan for Storrs Center to create a sense of identity, cohesion and ambiance.  Milone & MacBroom, Inc. consultants in association with Harrall-Michalowski Associates, the Miniutti Group, Johnson Land Design, and Norman Garrick prepared the concept Master Plan.  The concept Master Plan was presented in several public forums and was revised through the public process.  The concept Master Plan was completed in summer 2002 and can be found on the Partnership’s website at www.mansfieldct.org. 

 The concept Master Plan includes three main elements: mixed-use development (retail/restaurant/office/housing), a town square (s), and market-rate housing.  Streetscape improvements are also a vital piece of future development.

The Partnership has been working since 2002 on the implementation of the Master Plan.  On May 28, 2002, the Town of Mansfield authorized the Partnership to serve as its municipal development agency to undertake the development of the Storrs Center area on behalf of the Town.  A municipal development plan was prepared to address the technical and legal description of the development to take place. 

In June 2004, the Partnership identified the firm of LeylandAlliance LLC from Tuxedo, NY, to serve as its master developer for the project.  The team also includes three Connecticut companies, Herbert S. Newman and Partners from New Haven, the engineering firm of BL Companies of Meriden, and the Hartford law firm of Robinson & Cole.  A development agreement between the Partnership and LeylandAlliance was signed on August 3, 2004, which, among other agreements, lays out a timeline for completion of the municipal development plan and a business plan.

A major milestone occurred in November 2005, when the local approvals of the Storrs Center Municipal Development Plan (MDP) were completed, including approval by the Windham Region Council of Governments Regional Planning Commission, Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission, Partnership Board of Directors, Mansfield Town Council and UConn Board of Trustees.  The MDP was approved by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development on January 27, 2006. 

On July 5, 2006, the Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission approved the first building on Dog Lane, which will be constructed to accommodate some of the businesses in the Storrs commercial plaza that will be relocated as part of the project.

On February 20, 2007, the Partnership and LeylandAlliance submitted to the Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission applications to create a special design district for the project area.  Four nights of public hearings were held on the applications with unanimous approval by the Commission on June 18, 2007.  On October 1, 2007, the Mansfield Inland Wetlands Agency approved a wetlands permit for the project.  Construction of the first building for the project is planned for late 2007.  The zoning applications and approvals, a draft concept plan, and initial renderings of buildings are available for download off the Partnership’s website at www.mansfieldct.org.

The Partnership’s Fourth Annual Festival on the Green was held Sunday, September 16 in the Storrs Center commercial plaza.  Food, music, children’s events, the bikes, tykes and trikes parade, and an art exhibit highlighted the Festival.  Fireworks, sponsored by the Town of Mansfield, kicked off the weekend at Mansfield Hollow State Park on Saturday.

The Partnership’s six committees (Advertising and Promotion, Business Development and Retention, Finance and Administration, Membership Development, Planning and Design, and Nominating) are working on projects to enhance downtown Mansfield as a great place to work, live, and visit.  Anyone who is interested in serving on a committee is welcome and invited to serve. 

Future

The Board of Directors will consult with community members, the Town, and the University and will keep the public informed of its activities.  Interested parties are encouraged to stay in touch by sending ideas, comments, and suggestions to: Cynthia van Zelm, Executive Director, Mansfield Downtown Partnership, PO Box 513, Storrs, CT  06268, (860) 429-2740, mdp@mansfieldct.org.  The Partnership website can be accessed as a link from www.mansfieldct.org.