MAIN STREET MATTERS, please voice your support June 19th at the town meeting

Mainstreetmatters

https://vimeo.com/centerbrook/review/217209591/988213fa3a

Dear Friends,

Many of you are aware that Essex Boat Works has proposed a new Essex waterfront marina building and restaurant VIEW VIDEO. After a year of thoughtful planning by top-notch engineers and local architects, we have presented a final plan that is in compliance with town zoning regulations and has the needs and desires of our local townspeople in mind.

We have an important zoning hearing on Monday, June 19th and we are requesting your support at the meeting which will take place at the Essex Elementary School Gymnasium at 7pm.  There is opposition in town and we need our residents to speak up in support of our plan to revitalize downtown Essex.   This group of opposition is planning “speaking parts” using inaccurate and incomplete background information and requesting a head count of opposing views.  At our last zoning meeting, we presented facts and our numbers of supporters were strong.  Let’s make this happen again; if you share our vision, please voice your opinion.

The time is now. The retail economy on Main Street in Essex needs a boost, and the taxpayers need a break. Our vision is in line with the Essex Economic Development Commission, whose primary desire is to increase foot traffic and visitors (locals and tourists) to the Main Street areas of our three villages by means of an increase in the number of restaurants in town. The building and use of the building will generate new tax dollars to the Town of Essex. We are fortunate to channel our love for this community into an economic benefit that will serve our taxpaying residents while providing public access to Connecticut River waterfront dining.

We have been residents of the town of Essex and supported many of many of our local businesses and non-profit organizations for more than 30 years.  Our plans for the new marina building and restaurant respectfully keep to the aesthetic of our town and history while providing further economic benefits to the town for years to come. 

We want to assure you that we worked very hard to come up with a plan to satisfy our neighbors without giving up our plans for Main Street and legal rights to access our property.

Main Street Matters. We are requesting your attendance and comments of support of our proposed building plan at the upcoming Zoning Commission hearing on Monday, June 19 at 7pm at Essex Elementary School Gymnasium.

We sincerely thank you for your continued support.  Rick Carlson and Diana Gregory