Groton - State Rep. Aundré Bumgardner, R-Groton, has introduced a bill that would let Groton shift the boundaries of a proposed airport development zone around the Groton-New London Airport to provide potential tax breaks for businesses in Groton and New London.

The Connecticut Airport Authority has the power to permit such a zone, but state law limits it to a 2-mile radius around the center of an airport. In Groton, a third to a half of that area is underwater - the Thames River, the reservoir, Long Island Sound - or occupied by state parks and land that cannot be developed.

The proposed legislation would move the zone so it's mostly over land and reaches across the river to State Pier in New London, allowing both communities to benefit.

"By extending it into zones with the greatest need for economic growth, it provides a tool to municipalities to sell our area as a place to do business, to the private sector, to companies, to future residents," Bumgardner said. "Southeastern Connecticut needs to foster an environment where we have a diverse economy. We can't be too reliant on industries that are too volatile."

The proposed zone would extend roughly from the airport up to Routes 184 and 12, across the river to Fort Trumbull and State Pier in New London, and to industrially zoned land off Flanders Road, said Kristin Clarke, Groton's economic development specialist.

Groton plans to submit the proposal to the State Department of Economic and Community Development next week, she said. DECD would then have 60 days to approve or reject it. If approved, the plan would go to the Connecticut Airport Authority, which also would have 60 days to make a decision.

Airport development zones make it possible for a manufacturing or airport-related business to receive a tax exemption of 80 percent of assessed value for five years.

Clarke said the zone would give the community another way to attract business.

"It would reach some undeveloped areas, especially some underdeveloped areas that are zoned industrial land," she said. "Maybe this is the spur that's needed to get these areas developed."

Groton Town Manager Mark Oefinger said he hopes the bill gets some traction. It has been referred to the Legislative Committee on Transportation. A public hearing date has not yet been set.

Town Councilor Rich Moravsik said the development zone wouldn't affect use of the airport, but he believes that should also be considered. He said he would like to see the airport used for commuter flights again. For 22 years, Moravsik worked for an oil company and flew from the Groton airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to travel overseas, he said.

"If they had a carrier that went from Groton to Bradley (International Airport), at least we would keep the money in town or in the state," Moravsik said. "But now, everybody flies out of Green Airport" in Warwick, R. I.

The General Assembly created the Connecticut Airport Authority and airport development zones in 2011 to encourage development around Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. The law later was expanded to allow zones around the state's five general aviation airports, including Groton-New London.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim