Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

Torrington Courthouse 2

3. Notice of Scoping for Proposed Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse at Torrington

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Torrington

Addresses of Potential Project Locations: The following is the list of potential sites that were submitted in response to a Department of Public Works’ Request for Proposal (RFP) that met the minimal site requirements as set forth in the RFP:

Property Owner(s)/Representative(s)

Site Name

Address

N & L Associates

Nickerson Site

Intersection of Winsted Road and Burr Mountain Road

Torrington Company

Timken Site

59 Field Street and adjacent parcel across Clark Street

O & G Industries

O & G Site

Intersection of Kennedy Drive and Alvord Park Road

Nidec America Corporation

Nidec Site

100 Franklin Drive

Joseph and Marilyn Ricci

Ricci Site

341 and 371 Pinewoods Road

PRAX LLC, RKX LLC, Carolle Jenkins, Dennis Gouey, and City of Torrington

PRAX Site

408, 422, 432, 442, 452, 456 Main Street and Grove Street

The Kelly Realty Company, E.J. Kelley Company, and City of Torrington

Kelley Site

136 Water Street and adjacent municipal parking lot at the intersection of John Street and Church/Mason Street

Project Description: The proposed action consists of the construction of the Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse (Courthouse) with associated improvements in Torrington, Connecticut. The approximate 160,000 square foot new Courthouse is proposed to consolidate and house the Civil, Criminal, Family, and Juvenile Matters Divisions of the Litchfield Judicial District.

In order to support these Divisions, the proposed action is to provide the following:

  • 1 arraignment courtroom
  • 2 criminal jury courtrooms
  • 6 civil courtrooms (2 civil; 2 family; 1 juvenile/delinquency; 1 juvenile/child protection)
  • 2 hearing rooms
  • 1 Administrative Judge’s chambers
  • 6 Resident Judges’ chambers
  • Court Operations space for: civil, criminal, and juvenile clerk’s offices, court reporters and monitors, interpreters, caseflow, court service officers, judicial marshals, and support enforcement and victim services
  • Court Support Services Division space for: civil intake, adult intake and assessment and supervision, juvenile probation
  • Space for State’s Attorney, Public Defender, and Attorney General
  • Approximately 400 parking spaces

The current Litchfield Judicial District functions are located at the following four locations:

  • Judicial District located at 15 West Street, Litchfield, CT (state-owned property)
  • Geographical Area 18 located at 80 Doyle Road, Bantam, CT (leased property)
  • Juvenile Matters located at 410 Winsted Road, Torrington, CT (leased property)
  • Family Services Unit at Litchfield Commons, West Street, Litchfield, CT (leased property)

The proposed new Courthouse would continue to serve the following towns: Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, New Milford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winchester (Winsted).

Project Maps: Click on the two figures for the general location of the potential sites within the City of Torrington (Overview North Figure) (Overview South Figure):

Click on the following site names for more detailed figures for each potential site:

 Ricci Site A and Site B

Written comments from the public concerning the nature and extent of any environmental impacts of the proposed action are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: March 28, 2005

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:

DATE: March 23, 2005

TIME: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)

PLACE: Torrington City Hall Auditorium, 140 Main Street, Torrington, Connecticut

NOTES: The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to receive public comments and to provide additional information regarding the proposed action and potential sites. The public may still submit written comments five (5) days following the public scoping meeting.

Written comments should be sent to:

Name:

Joseph McMahon, Director of Facilities

Agency:

Judicial Branch

Address:

90 Washington Street

Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Fax:

(860) 706-5093

E-Mail:

joseph.mcmahon@jud.state.ct.us

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:

Name:

David Wlodkowski, Project Manager

Agency:

Department of Public Works

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue, Room 460

Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Phone:

(860) 713-5934

Fax:

(860) 713-7270

E-Mail:

david.wlodkowski@po.state.ct.us

The agency expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment in August/September 2005