OPM's Determination of Adequacy

After an EIE is developed. the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will determine if the Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) is adequate. If not, OPM will specify the areas of inadequacy with reference to CEPA or the CEPA regulations and specify the corrective action required. Read More

1) Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, Torrington

Complete Address of Property: 843-855 and 852 University Drive, Torrington, CT

Commonly used name of property or other identifying information:  Former University of Connecticut Torrington Campus (the “Campus Property”)

Number of acres to be transferred:  95.25 acres total. 843-855 and 852 University Drive consist of 91 acres and 4.25 acres, respectively.

Click to view map of property location

Description of Property

Below is some general information about the property.  It should not be considered a complete description of the property and should not be relied upon for making decisions.  If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses:  Before 1965, the Campus Property was undeveloped.  It was acquired by the University of Connecticut (“UConn”) in the 1960s for the purpose of establishing a branch campus in Torrington.  The Campus Property now consists of approximately 95 acres of land.  There are two buildings on the Campus Property: the campus’s former classroom building (the “Classroom Building”) and an agricultural center that hosts UConn’s Extension program (the “Extension Center”).

The Classroom Building was built and opened for use in 1965 and was used by UConn to host academic programs and other campus activities until the campus closed in the Spring 2016.  The Extension Center was built and opened for use in 2001 and continues to be used by UConn as an agricultural center in furtherance of UConn’s support of agricultural activities in Litchfield County.  UConn will continue to use the Extension Center for such purposes following the transfer of the Campus Property.

The Classroom Building and the Extension Center are located on 91 acres of land at the 843-855 University Drive location.  A parking lot and a cell tower are also located at this location.  The remainder of this location consists of approximately 85 acres of unimproved wooded land (the “Unimproved Land”).

The 852 University Drive location is across the street from the main portion of the former campus.  This location consists of 4.25 acres of land that includes at least a portion of the underground septic system that services the Classroom Building and the Extension Center.

The property to be transferred contains the following:

Click to view aerial view of property

Click to view photographs of property

The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

Special features of the property, if known:  The Campus Property includes the Classroom Building and the Extension Center, as well as a parking lot and a cell tower.  The Classroom Building and the Extension Center are approximately 29,446 and 7,776 square feet, respectively.

Value of property, if known:

Links to other available information: Additional information about the Campus Property can be found at the University’s website.  The link is: https://evpacfo.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2318/2018/05/Torrington_Campus_-RFEI.pdf.

Type of Sale or Transfer:

Proposed recipient, if known: UConn has entered into two Purchase and Sale Agreements with Five Points relating to the sale of the Campus Property.  Five Points has the right to assign its right to purchase the Unimproved Land to the City of Torrington.  UConn understands that the City of Torrington intends to acquire the Unimproved Land from Five Points and, upon such acquisition by the City, grant Five Points the right to use the Unimproved Land.  Neither UConn nor the State of Connecticut will be a party to those transactions.

Proposed use by property recipient, if known:  UConn’s sale of the Campus Property to Five Points is conditioned on Five Points granting UConn the right to continue to use the Extension Center and certain other portions of the Campus Property for the continuation of UConn programs, such as the continued operation of the Extension Center as an agricultural center in furtherance of UConn’s support of agricultural activities in Litchfield County and the operation of a wind tower for certain research activities.

The remainder of the Campus Property will be used by Five Points to establish an art and education campus, which is expected to include some or all of the following contemplated uses:

• Art gallery;
• Art classes for children, teenagers, adults, families and senior citizens;
• Artist workshop spaces (such as printmaking, darkroom, painting and drawing space);
• Launchpad Expansion program, including skills and employment training for young art professionals;
• Sensory Garden located in courtyard of Building 1;
• Hosting lectures;
• Educational, cultural, philanthropic and social events, such as job fairs, art fairs, ceremonies and receptions, which may be located indoors or outdoors;
• Accessory store for the provision of supplies, books, and other related goods to employees, students, and visitors of both UConn and Five Points;
• Accessory office use and café use for employees, students, and visitors of both UConn and Five Points.

  In addition to the above, Five Points also desires, in the future, to render the remaining 85± undeveloped acres of 855 University Drive accessible to its employees, students, and visitors, in a manner that both respects and enhances the natural beauty of that acreage.  Currently the Unimproved Land has no recreational features and is not widely accessible to the public.  Contemplated future uses include an art park, sensory sculpture gardens, environmental installations, landscape designs, and walking trails.  It is contemplated that these future uses will be available to the public.  These enhancements and increased public access is planned to occur regardless of whether the Unimproved Land is acquired directly by Five Points or is acquired by the City of Torrington.
  
  The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:  UConn is reserving the right to continue to occupy and use the Extension Center building from Five Points and certain portions of the Campus Property for ongoing research activities pursuant to a lease agreement that will be entered into between UConn and Five Points at or prior the sale’s closing.  The reservation of rights relating to UConn’s continued use of the Extension Center is also subject to certain orders entered into on September 16, 2019 by the Connecticut Superior Court (Shaban, J.). Except for these reserved uses of the Extension Center and Campus Property by UConn, UConn is not proposing any other restrictions on future uses of the Campus Property.
  

  If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

  Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:  UConn has closed its Torrington branch campus operations and ceases to have any use for the Campus Property, except with respect to the Extension Center.  By transferring the Campus Property, UConn will reduce the expenses it incurs to continue to maintain and operate the Campus Property, including the Classroom Building.  The transfer of the Campus Property also provides an opportunity for the Classroom Building to be reutilized in a manner that benefits the City of Torrington and the surrounding community.
  
  Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on November 7, 2019.

  
  Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.

  
  Written comments* should be sent to:

  Name:            Paul Hinsch
  Agency:          Office of Policy and Management
  Address:         450 Capitol Avenue MS#52 ASP
                         Hartford, CT 06106-1379
  E-Mail:            Paul.hinsch@ct.gov

*E-Mail submissions are preferred.  (Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head.  Scanned copies are preferred.)

What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor. Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.

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