Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

Comparative Project Evaluation - North Hillside Road Extension

1. Notice for Comparative Evaluation,

North Campus Master Plan EIE, University of Connecticut, North Hillside Road Extension

Municipality where project is proposed: University of Connecticut – Storrs Campus, Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: North Hillside Road Extension

Project Description: The University of Connecticut proposes to construct a 3,400-foot extension of North Hillside Road on the UConn Storrs campus. The proposed extension of North Hillside Road is from its current terminus northward to U.S. Route 44 in the town of Mansfield, Connecticut. The proposed project will construct a road to provide an alternate entrance to the University and to relieve traffic on U.S. Route 44, Route 195, and Hunting Lodge Road. The new road is also intended to facilitate the development of UConn-related academic and research buildings, student housing, and recreational facilities on parcels of land adjacent to the Storrs campus, also known as the “North Campus.”  

The potential environmental consequences of the proposed extension of North Hillside Road and the associated development of the North Campus were evaluated in CEPA EIEs prepared in 1994 and 2001. The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) had originally determined that the project would not require additional CEPA review provided that the road alignment is generally the same as the alignment approved in the 2001 North Campus Master Plan EIE.

However, OPM has since raised concerns regarding potential differences in background traffic growth anticipated by the previous EIEs and current traffic projections. OPM has determined that a new CEPA EIE will not be required for the project but has requested the comparative evaluation in order to compare the traffic impacts of the proposed project against those originally identified in the 2001 EIE.

Project Document:   Project Locus Map

Project Document:   Comparative Evaluation

Comments on this comparative evaluation will be accepted until the close of business on: January 30, 2007

Send your comments about this comparative evaluation to:

Name:

Richard A. Miller, Esq., Director of Environmental Policy

Agency:

University of Connecticut

Address:

31 LeDoyt Road U-3055

Storrs CT 06269-3055

E-Mail:

Rich.Miller@uconn.edu

If you have questions about the comparative evaluation, or similar matters, please contact:

Name:

Same as above

Agency:

Address:

E-Mail:

Phone:

 860-486-8741

Other information: Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Richard Miller at 860-486-5477