1. Notice of EIE for Resilient Bridgeport: Rebuild By Design and National Disaster Resilience Projects

Municipality where project is proposed: Bridgeport

Address of Possible Project Location: South End of Bridgeport, CT

Project Description: The State of Connecticut’s Department of Housing (CTDOH) is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) disaster recover grant funding and is the “Responsible Entity,” as that term is defined by HUD regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 58.2(a)(7)(i). CTDOH has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) for the proposed Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and Rebuild by Design projects (Proposed Action). The disaster recovery grants are under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) National Disaster Resilience (NDR) and Rebuild by Design (RBD) programs as part of HUD’s response to the devastation following Superstorm Sandy. The Proposed Action consists of three projects located within the South End of Bridgeport, Connecticut—the RBD Pilot Project at the former Marina Village public housing site, a Flood Risk Reduction Project on the east side of the South End, and a Resilience Center—that together would provide stormwater management, dry evacuation routes (dry egress), a coastal flood defense system, and resiliency education to the community.

The Connecticut Environmental Policy Act establishes environmental policy for the State of Connecticut and requires an EIE for any state action that could affect the natural environment. In addition, the Proposed Action is considered a “major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment”; therefore, it must comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). As such, this EIE will jointly serve as an EIS and will meet NEPA requirements. CTDOH has prepared this Draft EIS/EIE in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality’s Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and HUD’s Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities (24 CFR 58).  Scoping for the Draft EIS / EIE formally began on February 27, 2018 when the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS was published in the Connecticut Environmental Monitor, which commenced a 30-day comment period to solicit public and agency input that lasted through March 28, 2018 and included a public scoping hearing on March 14, 2018.

The study area is situated within the South End neighborhood of the City of Bridgeport (see linked Figures 1 and 2), a peninsula of the Connecticut coastal region located between Cedar Creek, the Long Island Sound, and Bridgeport Harbor. Overall, the study area is a cross section of the residential, institutional, utility, and recreational uses that define the South End neighborhood, all of which are susceptible to acute and chronic flooding conditions due to a combination of inadequate stormwater infrastructure in the area and its coastal location.  

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to create a more resilient South End community, support its long-term viability, and improve health and safety for the community’s vulnerable populations. The principal targeted outcomes follow:

• Lower the risk of acute and chronic flooding.
• Provide dry egress during emergencies.
• Educate the public about flood risks and sea level rise.

The Proposed Action will deliver additional benefits to the community, potentially unlocking development or public realm opportunities, enhancing connectivity between the South End and downtown Bridgeport (located north of the railroad and I-95), improving existing open space amenities, building up the resilience of local energy systems, and leveraging public investment in ongoing resiliency efforts through coordination with local stakeholders.

Project Maps: 

Figure 1 – Project Areas Map

Figure 2 – Project Location Map

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: March 18, 2019. The comment period for the CEPA was extended to the end of the 45-day NEPA comment period, which commenced on February 1, 2019 with the publication of the notice in the Federal Register.

The public can view a copy of this EIE at:

Bridgeport City Hall
45 Lyon Terrace
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-7081

Bridgeport Public Library Main Branch
925 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-7400

Bridgeport Public Library Black Rock Branch
2705 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605
(203) 576-7025

University of Bridgeport Magnus Wahlstrom Library
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-2388                                                                                                                 

Project Document Website at the Connecticut Department of Housing:

https://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726

Project Documents Direct Links:

DEIS / EIE Document Chapters

DEIS / EIE Document Appendices

There will be a public informational workshop for this EIE on:

DATE: February 26, 2019

TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

PLACE: Schelfhaudt Gallery (84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT)

NOTES: This hearing serves as the public hearing required under NEPA. The public hearing will be followed by a design workshop where the public can provide further input into the design of the Resilient Bridgeport projects. The snow date for the public hearing and workshop is February 28, 2019.

Additional information about this project can be found online at:

https://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726 and www.resilientbridgeport.com

Send your comments about this EIE to:

If you have questions about the public hearing, or where you can review this EIE, or similar matters, please contact:

Other information: N/A

2. Project Status Clarification Post EIE - Commuter Railroad Station Project - Barnum Avenue

Municipality where project was proposed: Bridgeport

Project History:  The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) originally proposed to construct a new commuter railroad station along the New Haven Line of Metro North Railroad in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The station was proposed to be located on Barnum Avenue between Seaview Avenue and Pembroke Street.  An Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) was published and subsequently noticed in the Environmental Monitor on January 3, 2017. A public hearing for the EIE was conducted on February 7, 2017.

CTDOT has since determined that it is not currently in a financial position to undertake the project as proposed in the EIE, and has decided to defer the project in CTDOT's Capital Plan 2019-2023.  If CTDOT initiates the project in the future, an updated environmental analysis and public scoping process will take place at that time, as appropriate.  CTDOT's decision, as stated above, can be found in the Memo of Findings and Determination

Please note that the information in the attached Memo of Findings and Determination provides clarification and supersedes the notice that was posted in the January 22, 2019 edition of the Environmental Monitor.

Any questions can be directed to:

Name:	Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner II
Agency:	Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Policy and Planning
Address:	2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
E-Mail:	Kevin.Fleming@ct.gov
Phone:	(860) 594-2924

 

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State Land Transfer Notices

Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47  requires public notice of most proposed sales and transfers of state-owned lands. The public has an opportunity to comment on any such proposed transfer. Each notice includes an address where comments should be sent. Read more about the process.

 

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The Following State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for notice in this edition.

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1. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, New Haven

Complete Address of Properties:Parcel 1-Waterfront Street, Parcel 4 -Sites Street@ Albia, Parcel 5-Alabama Street, Parcel 6- Former Edgemere Street

Number of acres to be transferred: Parcel 1- 1.49 AC; Parcel 4- .293 AC; Parcel 5 - .992 AC; Parcel 6 -.111 AC

Click to view map of site 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:

The parcels described above were purchas

ed for the reconstruction of the Quinnipiac River Bridge/New Haven Harbor Crossing Improvement Program. The project has been completed and the properties are considered in excess of DOT’s needs. DOT has transferred custody and control of the properties to DECD pursuant to CGS 13-a-80 with OPM approval under CGS 4-67g. DECD will utilize its statutory authority, CGS 32-228 to transfer the property to the CT Port Authority (CPA). CPA has a need to support the maritime in the New Haven port area. The DOT purchased the properties with federal FHWA funds and it is required to reimburse FHWA for any properties it sells. As such, it is expected that the CPA will purchase the properties and DOT will deposit the proceeds in the State Transportation Fund to reimburse FHWA.

The property to be transferred contains the following:

Active agriculture

Paved areas

Ponds, streams or other water

Water Supply:

Public water supply

On-site well

Unknown

Waste Disposal:

Served by sewers

On-site septic system

Unknown

Click to view aerial view of neighborhood and lots

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

Not zoned

Residential

Industrial

Commercial

Institutional

Other:

Not known

Special features of the property, if known: None

Value of property, if known:Appraised value for all 4 properties, at time of transfer to DECD, Total $751,000.
If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information

Type of Sale or Transfer:

Sale or transfer of property in fee

Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement). Description of interest:

Proposed recipient, if known:Connecticut Port Authority.

Proposed use by property recipient, if known:CPA has a need to support the maritime and other related industries in the New Haven port area

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:
If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:The purpose of the transfer is to support maritime and other related industries in the New Haven port area

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on March 19th, 2019.

Comments may include information that you 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 :	Maya Loewenberg
Agency :	DECD
Address :	450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 5
	Hartford, CT  06103-1843
E-Mail :	Maya.loewenberg@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 publication dates.

 

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