Preston, Water, Sewer, and the Future of Route 2
A Town Meeting Minutes Special Edition
There has been growing discussion about the possibility of expanding water and sewer infrastructure along the Route 2 corridor in Preston.
For some residents, that idea represents opportunity — the ability for existing commercially zoned properties to finally become viable for modern businesses that require water access. For others, it raises understandable concerns about growth, traffic, and whether Preston could lose the rural landscape and character that make the town special.
Both perspectives deserve thoughtful consideration.
But there is one point that is often misunderstood in these discussions.
Utilities Do Not Decide What Gets Built
Planning and zoning do.
Water and sewer infrastructure do not automatically create development. They simply make certain types of land use possible. The real decisions about what happens next still rest with local leadership, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the residents of Preston.
Those decisions determine:
- Where development is allowed
- What types of uses are permitted
- How dense development can be
- What protections, buffers, and design standards must be followed
In other words, infrastructure provides options, but policy shapes outcomes.
Why This Matters Along Route 2
Many of the parcels along Route 2 that people associate with potential development are not newly created opportunities. In many cases, these properties have been commercially zoned for years, sometimes decades.
However, many businesses today require reliable water service and, in some cases, sewer capacity in order to operate. Without those utilities, the zoning may technically allow commercial activity, but the land can remain functionally limited.
This is why many commercially zoned properties along major corridors struggle to sell or attract the types of businesses the zoning originally envisioned.
Providing infrastructure can change that dynamic.
What Supporters of Infrastructure Are Saying
Those who support expanding water and sewer are often focused on practical realities. Businesses require water, certain uses require sewer capacity, and viable commercial land helps strengthen a town’s tax base.
When commercial corridors become economically functional, it can:
- Make commercially zoned land actually usable
- Attract businesses that need water service
- Increase the commercial grand list
- Reduce pressure on residential property taxes
For many communities, targeted infrastructure is a way to guide growth toward appropriate areas rather than allowing it to occur randomly.
What Residents Concerned About Change Are Saying
At the same time, many residents want Preston to remain Preston.
They value the open space, the wooded landscape, and the rural character that distinguishes the town from more densely developed areas in the region. Their concern is that infrastructure could open the door to growth that feels out of scale with the community.
These concerns are legitimate and deserve careful attention.
But the answer to those concerns does not necessarily lie in rejecting infrastructure altogether. Instead, the real solution lies in thoughtful planning.
The Real Question for Preston
The question is not simply whether water and sewer should exist along Route 2.
The real question is this:
How should Preston guide growth in the areas already designated for it while protecting the rural landscape that residents value?
That is a planning conversation.
Through zoning regulations, design standards, buffering requirements, and careful oversight, a town can guide development to specific corridors while preserving the broader character of the community.
A Balanced Path Forward
Preston does not have to choose between growth and preservation.
With thoughtful planning, it is entirely possible to support appropriate commercial activity along major corridors like Route 2 while continuing to protect the rural identity that defines the town.
Infrastructure may provide the tools, but the future of Preston will ultimately be shaped by the decisions the town makes about how and where those tools are used.
Town Meeting Minutes – Special Edition
If you would like to discuss how planning, zoning, infrastructure, and market demand intersect in Southeastern Connecticut, Our team is always happy to share insights and help residents better understand the forces shaping our communities.
Posted by Tim Bray onEnjoy this blog post? Click here to subscribe for updates
Leave A Comment