1. Notice of Scoping for the CT Department of Veterans' Affairs Cemetery Expansion
Municipality where proposed project might be located: Middletown
Address of Possible Project Location: 317 Bow Lane
Project Description:
Located at 317 Bow Lane in Middletown, Connecticut, the State Veterans’ Cemetery is the largest State-operated cemetery in Connecticut. The site is set on 24 acres of land, approximately 12 of which are developed. The site currently accommodates approximately 7,400 occupied burial sites, an administration building within which is a nondenominational chapel, and an internal vehicular travelway to access the burial sites. The cemetery was established in 1985.
Current issues of concern at the Veterans’ Cemetery include limited capacity for additional grave sites, an inadequate internal access road system, loss of sections of the cemetery due to high water table, code compliance within the administration building, and inadequate parking.
As of 2012, a total of 7,123 gravesites were utilized. Projected gravesite utilization for 2013 was 479, bringing total utilization to 7,602 by December 2013. Based on the rate of filling, the cemetery is anticipated to be depleted of space in approximately 4.6 years.
CTDVA intends to construct a 3,000-niche columbarium, 3,200 feet of access driveway, limited parking, and improvements to the existing administration building. These improvements are needed in order to bring the building up to code, including handicapped access, and to extend the life of the cemetery by approximately ten years, thus providing the necessary time for CTDVA to locate and develop a new state cemetery. Details of the project are described in greater detail in the Draft Environmental Assessment (link below).
Project Map(s): Click here to view a map of the project area.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: May 22, 2014
Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below. If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting. Such requests must be made by May 2, 2014.
Additional information about the project can be viewed in person at CT DAS-DCS, 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 482, Hartford, CT 06106 or online at: Draft Environmental Assessment (DCS website).
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
|
Name: |
Jeff Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst |
|
Agency: |
DAS - Division of Construction Services |
|
Address: |
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 482, Hartford, CT 06106 |
|
Fax: |
860-713-7250 |
|
E-Mail: |
Jeffrey.bolton@ct.gov |
If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
|
Name: |
Jeff Bolton |
|
Agency: |
DAS - Division of Construction Services |
|
Address: |
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 482, Hartford, CT 06106 |
|
Phone: |
860-713-5706 |
|
Fax: |
860-713-7250 |
|
E-Mail: |
The agency expects to release a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with NEPA for this project, for public review and comment, in June 2014
Other information: https://www.ct.gov/ctva/lib/ctva/Cemetery_Brochure_rev_4.pdf