Woodstock’s Planning & Zoning Commission approved plans for Scranton Village at 292 Route 169, next to Scranton’s Shops, CT Insider reported. The proposal envisions a cluster of small storefronts around a restored 1951 carousel that developer Josh Biando plans to bring to the site. Approval establishes a planning milestone; the available reporting does not give a construction schedule or opening date.
The location is on a road with a broader scenic designation: The Norwich Bulletin reported in 2016 that 32 miles of Route 169, from Lisbon to Woodstock, were designated a National Scenic Byway, and that the road received State Scenic Road designation in 1999. That corridor-wide context does not establish why this particular project was approved or how many people it will attract.
A small-scale retail plan, with details still unsettled
CT Insider describes eight new small buildings arranged around the carousel, with two existing buildings intended for a cafe and a general store. The general store is planned to house Polar & Finn’s Ice Cream Shop, named for characters in Biando’s children’s book “Polar & Finn: Christmas Chaos.”
The project is a retail-and-attractions development, not a farm-tourism measure. As separate statewide context, the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture includes data on Connecticut farm income.
CT Insider also reported that Biando is in talks with a potential restaurant tenant. No tenant name or opening timeline has been announced in the available reporting. The restored carousel is planned for the site.
