April 8, 2014
- Hill to Downtown MDP, New Haven
- REVISED! Greater Waterbury Bus Storage and Maintenance Facility, Watertown
- NEW! Springborn Dam Removal, Enfield
- NEW! Marlborough Center Water Main, Marlborough
- New Haven Rail Yard Maintenance of Way Building and Parking Lot, New Haven
- NEW! East Haven Industrial / Business Park, East Haven
- NEW! Meriden Transit Oriented Development, Meriden
- NEW! Final Recommendations of Commissioner of DEEP Regarding Proposed Land Transfer at Former Cedarcrest Hospital, Newington
"Scoping" is for projects in the earliest stages of planning. At the scoping stage, detailed information on a project's design, alternatives, and environmental impacts does not yet exist. Sponsoring agencies are asking for comments from other agencies and from the public as to the scope of alternatives and environmental impacts that should be considered for further study. Send your comments to the contact person listed for the project by the date indicated.
1. Notice of Scoping for the Hill to Downtown MDP
Municipality where proposed project might be located: City of New Haven
Addresses of Possible Project Locations: The proposed Hill to Downtown Municipal Development Plan (MDP) project area is located approximately 0.6 miles west of New Haven Harbor and is bounded by College Street on the west, South Frontage Road on the north, and South Orange Street on the east. The southeastern boundary of the project area is formed by a line that is north of and generally parallel to Columbus Avenue between South Orange Street and Church Street. The proposed project boundary continues north along Church Street South to Amistad Street at which point the boundary turns west to the intersection of Amistad and Gold streets. Gold Street forms the southwestern boundary of the project area.
Project Description: The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) was awarded a $2 million Community Challenge Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (U.S. HUD). Portion of the funds will be utilized to prepare the Hill to Downtown MDP in the City of New Haven.
The proposed project would create infrastructure (roads, pedestrian and bikeways, and upgraded/new utilities) that would support private development of a mixed-use neighborhood by transforming many of the existing underutilized parcels and surface parking lots into vibrant community spaces, medical and research uses, retail and entertainment, and housing units. A new street grid would improve connectivity and mobility throughout the proposed project area and improve connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods. Improved streets and sidewalks would incorporate Complete Streets principles (such as sidewalks, bike lanes, accessible public transportation, and frequent and safe street crossing opportunities) to help create an urban environment that bolsters walking, cycling and increased transit use. Key improvements to the street grid in the proposed project area include the realignment of Lafayette Street to connect College Street and South Orange Street, and construction of New Temple Street that will ultimately provide a new connection to downtown. The proposed realignment and redesign of Lafayette Street would involve the removal of one of the Church Street South Apartment buildings. The MDP includes a detailed description of how this property would be acquired and how residents of this apartment building would be assisted in relocation.
A central part of the development of the new street grid and new land uses in the MDP project area includes upgrades to the existing utility systems including storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water, natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications. These systems would be relocated, upgraded, or abandoned in several key areas to accommodate new, reconstructed, and deconstructed streets.
The Hill-to-Downtown MDP is the outgrowth of the Hill-to-Downtown Community Plan that was prepared using the U.S. HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant. The community plan is the result of a 12-month collaborative effort between community stakeholders and the City to understand the challenges and opportunities facing this key city district located between Downtown New Haven, Union Station, the historic Hill neighborhood, and the medical district (which is comprised of the campuses of Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital). The Hill-to-Downtown Community Plan is an extension of the City’s Downtown Crossing initiative which is healing the scars of urban renewal-era land clearance and replacing the divisive Route 34/Oak Street Connector with vibrant, transit-oriented development.
Project Maps: Click here to view a Location Map of the project area. Click here to view the Project Boundary.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Thursday, April 17, 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 Friday, March 28, 2014.
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
|
Name:
|
Binu Chandy
|
| Agency: | Department of Economic and Community Development |
| Address: | 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT |
| Fax: | 860.706.5740 |
| E-Mail: | binu.chandy@ct.gov |
If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
| Name: |
Binu Chandy
|
| Agency: | Department of Economic and Community Development |
| Address: | 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT |
| Phone: | 860.270.8154 |
| Fax: | 860.706.5740 |
| E-Mail: | binu.chandy@ct.gov |
2. Notice of Scoping for the Greater Waterbury Bus Storage and Maintenance Facility Project
Municipality where proposed project might be located:Watertown, CT
Address of Possible Project Location: Route 262 (Frost Bridge Road) between Route 8 and the Naugatuck River
Project Description: The proposed Greater Waterbury Bus Storage and Maintenance project will consist of a new, approximately 276,000 SF building, plus associated sitework. The project will be located on a parcel of property of roughly 20 acres in the Town of Watertown, adjacent to Frost Bridge Road (SR 262) and the Naugatuck River. This will replace the current bus storage and maintenance facility, located in leased space in a former foundry in the Waterville area of Waterbury, CT. The purpose of the project is to provide a facility which will contain the support functions and services necessary for operation of a daily transit service, while meeting the current and future needs of the transit staff and travelling public. The layout and size of the existing facility is not adequate, and the condition of the building is poor. The new facility will accommodate the storage and maintenance of a mixed fleet of 98 vehicles, including 40' and 35' buses, plus smaller, 28' paratransit body-on-chassis (BOC) vehicles. The facility will be owned by the State of Connecticut and operated as part of the CTTransit statewide bus system. The new facility will provide interior parking for the entire fleet, a service lane with an automatic bus wash, indoor fueling, farebox retrieval, a vehicle maintenance area with lifts and component repair areas, an administrative office area, and employee welfare facilities for the drivers and maintainers.
Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.
Click here to view a site plan.
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 March 28, 2014.
A scoping meeting has not been requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, therefore a Public Scoping Meeting will not be held. However, a Public Information Meeting has been scheduled at the following location and time:
DATE: April 16, 2014
TIME: 7:00 pm
PLACE: Watertown High School Auditorium, 324 French Street, Watertown, CT
NOTES: An open forum for individual discussions with Department officials will begin at 6:30 pm followed by a formal presentation at 7:00 pm. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Deaf and hearing impaired persons wishing to attend this meeting and requiring an interpreter may make arrangements by contacting the Department's Office of Communication at 860-594-3062 (voice only) at least five days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Friday April 25, 2014
Written comments should be sent to:
| Name: | Mr. Mark W. Alexander, Transportation Assistant Planning Director |
| Agency: | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Address: | 2800 Berlin Turnpike |
| Newington, CT 06131 | |
| Fax: | 860-594-3028 |
| E-Mail: | dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov |
If you have questions about the public information meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
| Name: | Mr. John D. Hanifin, Project Manager |
| Agency: | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Address: | 2800 Berlin Turnpike |
| Newington, CT 06131 | |
| Phone: | 860-594-2899 |
| E-Mail: | John.Hanifin@ct.gov |
This project was previously reviewed under CEPA and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued in 1999. A hardopy of the FONSI can be viewed in person at the Connecticut Department of Transportation Office of Environmental Planning.
3. Notice of Scoping for Springborn Dam Removal
Municipality where proposed project is located: Enfield
Address of Project Location: Dam is on Scantic River in Scitico section of Enfield, adjacent to 504 Hazard Avenue
Project Description: The Springborn dam, owned by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, is located on the Scantic River in Enfield. It is a run-of-river dam built in 1890 to provide power for an adjacent mill. The structure has deteriorated over time and is considered to be in very poor condition. The dam currently consists of the failed remains of timber crib over stone masonry.
It is the goal of the Department to remove the dam in order to eliminate a public safety risk and reconnect habitat by restoring a stretch of free-flowing river. Contaminated sediments in the impoundment will be identified and excavated prior to dam removal.
Project objectives include:
· Eliminate a public safety risk
· Eliminate a migratory barrier to diadromous fish and eastern brook trout
· Promote the restoration of runs of American shad, river herring, sea lamprey, and American eel
· Remove contaminated sediment from the river to eliminate exposure hazard to reacreationalists and downstream residents (in the event of dam failure) and strengthen the long-term resiliency of the aquatic organisms
· Restore natural riverine functions (e.g. sediment transport, restoration of floodplain functions and values, maintenance of normal thermal regimes, re-establishment of natural riverine vegetative communities)
Project Maps: Click here to view a map of the project location.
Click here to view an aerial photograph of the dam.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: May 9, 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 Department of Energy & Environmental Protection will schedule a Public Scoping Meeting. Such requests must be made by April 18, 2014.
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
| Name: | Jennifer L. Perry, P.E. |
| Agency: | Department of Energy & Environmental Protection |
| Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse | |
| Address: | 79 Elm Street |
| Hartford, CT 06106-5127 | |
| Phone: | 860-424-3802 |
| Fax: | 860-424-4075 |
| E-Mail: | jennifer.perry@ct.gov |
If you have questions about a public meeting, or other questions about the project or scoping, contact Ms. Perry as directed above.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person with a disability who may need a communication aid or service may contact the agency's ADA Coordinator at 860-424-3194 or at deep.hrmed@ct.gov. Any person with limited proficiency in English, who may need information in another language, may contact the agency's Title VI Coordinator at 860-424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov. ADA or Title VI discrimination complaints may be filed with DEEP’s EEO Manager at (860) 424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov.
4. Notice of Scoping for Marlborough Center Water Main
Municipality where proposed project might be located: Marlborough
Address of Possible Project Location: East Hampton Road (Route 66), North Main Street, South Main Street and School Drive
Project Description: The Town of Marlborough proposes to construct a water system to provide public water supply to an area currently supplied by individual wells and non-community public water systems. The existing wells in the area suffer from various water quality issues and the water system is intended to address the need for an adequate and safe water supply. The Town has been awarded a grant through the 2013 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) to fund a portion of this project.
Project Map: 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: Thursday, May 8, 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 April 18, 2014.
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
| Name: | Mr. Eric McPhee |
| Agency: | Department of Public Health |
| Drinking Water Section | |
| Address: | 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT |
| PO Box 340308 | |
| Hartford, |
|
| Fax: | 860-509-7359 |
| E-Mail: | DPH.SourceProtection@ct.gov |
If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
| Name: | Ms. Patricia Bisacky |
| Agency: | Department of Public Health |
| Drinking Water Section | |
| Address: | 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT |
| PO Box 340308 | |
| Hartford, |
|
| Phone: | 860-509-7333 |
| Fax: | 860-509-7359 |
| E-Mail: | Patricia.Bisacky@ct.gov |
This category is required by the October 2010 revision of the Generic Environmental Classification Document for State Agencies. A notice is published here if the sponsoring agency, after publication of a scoping notice and consideration of comments received, has determined that an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) does not need to be prepared for the proposed project.
1. Post-Scoping Notice for New Haven Rail Yard Maintenance of Way Building and Parking Lot
Municipality where project will be located: New Haven
CEPA Determination: On January 7, 2014 the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor. The CTDOT has received comments from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and from the Department of Public Health. The CTDOT has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.
The agency's conclusion is documented in a an Environmental Assessment Checklist and a Memo of Findings and Determination.
If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:
|
Name: |
Mr. Mark W. Alexander, Transportation Assistant Planning Director |
|
Agency: |
Bureau of Policy and Planning |
| Connecticut Department of Transportation | |
|
Address: |
2800 Berlin Turnpike |
| Newington,, CT 06131 | |
|
Phone: |
|
|
Fax: |
860-594-3028 |
|
E-Mail: |
dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov |
What happens next: The CTDOT expects the project to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.
2. Post-Scoping Notice for East Haven Industrial/Business Park
Municipality where project will be located: East Haven
CEPA Determination: On February 18, 2014 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor. The DECD received comments from the Office of Policy and Management, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Department of Public Health. The DECD has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.
The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination and an Environmental Assessment Checklist.
If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:
|
Name: |
Mark Hood |
|
Agency: |
Department of Economic and Community Development |
|
Address: |
505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106 |
|
Phone: |
860-270-8089 |
|
Fax: |
860-270-8157 |
|
E-Mail: |
mark.hood@ct.gov |
What happens next: The DECD expects the project may move forward with state financial assistance which is subject to DECD, OPM, and Bond Commission Approval. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.
3. Post-Scoping Notice for Meriden Transit Oriented Development
Project Title: Meriden Transit Oriented Development
CEPA Determination: On December 17, 2013 the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor. The CTDOT has received comments from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Department of Public Health, and the CT State Historic Preservation Office. The CTDOT has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.
The CTDOT's conclusion is documented in a an Environmental Assessment Checklist and a Memo of Findings and Determination.
If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:
|
Name: |
Mr. Mark W. Alexander, Transportation Assistant Planning Director |
|
Agency: |
CT Department of Transportation |
|
Address: |
2800 Berlin Turnpike Newington, CT 06131 |
|
Phone: |
860-594-2931 |
|
|
|
|
E-Mail: |
dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov |
What happens next: The Connecticut Department of Transportation expects the project to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.
The following State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Final Recommendation of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection Regarding a Proposed Land Transfer in Newington
Complete Address of Property: 525 Russell Road, Newington
Commonly used name of property or other identifying information: former Cedarcrest Hospital
Number of acres to be transferred: 88.5 acres
Click here to view map of property location
Previous editions of the Environmental Monitor have included notices pertaining to this proposed transfer:
Click here to view the notice of intent to transfer the property (Step I).
Click here to view the draft recommendations of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection (Step III).
Click here to read the comments received during Step III and the Commissioner's responses.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Following receipt of the final recommendation of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall make the final determination as to the ultimate disposition of the land or interest. That decision will be published in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor as a Step V Notice.
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