Transcript No Slide Title

Public Hearing
Draft Environmental Impact Evaluation
Graduate Student Housing
and
Downtown Mansfield Concept Master Plan
Storrs, Connecticut
November 21, 2002
Presentation Outline
• Introductions and Overview
• Project History and Purpose & Need
UConn
Richard Miller, Esq.
• Key Issues and Findings
Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc.
James E. Walsh, Ph.D., P.E.
Paul G. Davis, Ph.D., P.W.S., CPSSc
Steve Lecco, C.E.P.
EarthTech
Jeff Maxtutis, AICP
• Public Comment Period
Project History
•
Original plan consisted of 500-1,000
graduate student beds without
Downtown Mansfield Master Plan
(DMMP) Projects
•
Several sites considered:
– Moss Sanctuary Site
– North Campus
– Depot Campus
– Northwood Site
– Storrs Center Site
•
Analysis of Alternative Sites indicated
only Northwood and Storrs Center
Sites merited additional consideration
•
Plans revised to integrate graduate
housing and DMMP at Storrs Center
Site in order to consider cumulative
effects
Purpose and Need
• Sharp rise in student enrollment
• Demonstrated demand for additional graduate student
housing (633 estimate)
• Town of Mansfield and UConn shared interest in
developing a formal town center
Graduate Student Housing and DMMP
Projects EIE
Identification of State Action
Public Scoping
Meeting
August 15, 2001
Project Scoping
Identification of Issues
Public and Agency
Review and
Comment
July 31-August 31,
2001
Analysis of Impacts
Draft EIE
Public Hearing
November 21, 2002
Final EIE
Record of Decision
Submitted to OPM
Public and Agency
Review and
Comment
October 22December 5, 2002
Public Hearing on Draft EIE
•
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Opportunity for the Public to Present Comments on the Draft
EIE
All Oral and Written Comments will be Responded to and the
Comments and Responses will become Part of the Final EIE
To Submit your Comments you may
1.
2.
3.
Sign in to speak tonight
Use the printed comment forms
Submit your written comments to:
Mr. Larry Schilling
Architectural and Engineering Services
University of Connecticut
31 LeDoyt Road, Unit 3038
Storrs, CT 06269-3038
or
Email To: [email protected]
•
Comments will be accepted until December 5, 2002
Impact Analysis
Physical
•
•
Air Quality
Noise & Light
•
Traffic, Parking &
Circulation
•
Public Utilities
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Potable Water Supply
Stormwater Drainage
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Solid & Hazardous Waste
Aesthetics
Cultural Resources
Key issues in bold
Natural
•
Socioeconomic
Geology,
Topography &
Soils
•
Land Use & Zoning
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Surface Water
Groundwater
Floodplains
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Wetlands
•
State, Local & Campus
Master Planning
Public Health & Safety
Economy, Employment &
Income
Environmental Justice
•
Fisheries
•
State Listed
Species
Northwood Site
Storrs Center Site
Graduate Student Housing Program
• 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments—400 Beds
• Clustered Buildings not to Exceed 3 Stories Above
Grade
• Development Footprint Estimated to be 58,000± SF
• Parking Spaces Planned at a Ratio of 0.75 spaces per
Bed
Downtown Mansfield Concept Master Plan Program
DMMP Generalized Uses
•
The Village Green
Use
Residential
•
•
•
University Housing
Mixed Use Block
Residential Block
Area (Square Feet)
219,000*
Retail
68,000
Service/Educational
33,000
Office
31,000
Food
10,000
Total
361,000
* Corresponds to 146 Dwelling Units, and does not include the
proposed graduate housing complex.
Proposed Layout for the Northwood Site
Proposed Layout for the Storrs Center Site
A.Create Village Green / Mixed Use
Buildings by re-configuring Dog Lane.
B.Provide a Loop Road / UConn
Grad Housing connecting Dog Lane to
Post Office.
C.Develop Mixed Use Block
to east of existing development.
B.
D.Use Residential Buildings
to create "Gateway" @ 275 / 195
intersection.
C.
The
Miniutti
Group
A.
ROUTE 195 (STORRS ROAD)
D.
Selection of Storrs Center as Preferred Site
for Graduate Student Apartments
• Located Adjacent to Campus and Existing Commercial
Area
• Pedestrian Oriented Design
• Availability of Utilities; Especially University
Telecommunications and Internet Access
• Significant Distance from Closest Private Residences
• Opportunity to Stimulate and Reinforce Joint
Town/UConn Efforts to create a Vibrant
Retail/Commercial Village Center and Town Green to
Meet the Needs of Mansfield and University
Communities
Potable Water Supply
Existing UConn Water Supply System
• Willimantic River (2.31 MGD) and Fenton River (0.84
MGD) Wellfields Yield Maximum Permitted
Withdrawal of 3.15 MGD
• Treatment includes Chlorination, Fluoridation and pH
Adjustment
• 90% University Users 10% Other
Potable Water
Average Daily Demand
Average Daily Demand (mgd)
1.71
1.8
0.42*
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
1.61
1.23
0.6
1.22
1.29
1.29
0.4
0.2
0
1989
1999
2000
2001
2006
* Projected demand from new construction, additions and remodeling planned from 2002 to 2006
Other Water Supply Considerations
• Town of Mansfield and University are Assessing Long
Term Water Supply Needs and Potential Sources
• Long Term Impact Analysis of UConn’s Fenton River
Wellfield on the Habitat of the Fenton River
Topography and Geology
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Undeveloped portion of site is high in center and drops to north and south
at intermittent stream channels
Site is underlain by till with shallow bedrock
The final site plan should be designed to work as much as possible with the
existing grades to minimize cuts and fills
Stormwater
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Existing Conditions
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Post Construction Changes
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Mitigation Measures
Wetland Types
• Small Wetland and Intermittent Watercourse, Highly
Impacted by Stormwater. Sedimentation and erosion evident.
• Intermittent Watercourse and Wooded Riparian Inland
Wetland - Stable wetland, with good habitat. Some
stormwater impacts in upper reaches.
• Vernal Pool. Only wood frog observed, but good habitat
structure.
Wetlands at Storrs Center Site
Vernal Pool at Storrs Center Site
Seasonal Pooling of Water
Adult Wood Frog
Potential Effects on Wetlands
Mitigation
»
Potential Impacts
• Direct filling of 1000± SF of watercourse
• Stormwater runoff/discharge - Quantity and
quality
• Alteration of watershed and hydrology to
vernal pool
• Alteration of important habitat supporting
vernal pool
»
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Minimization of direct
impacts
Enhancement of degraded
wetland and watercourse
Stormwater management
BMPs
100 ft minimum setback to
vernal pool
Preservation of water
quality and hydrology to
vernal pool
Slope stabilization
Erosion and sedimentation
controls
State Listed Species at Storrs Center Site
Potential Resources
• Historic Report of Siting of
Cooper’s Hawk in 1975
• Not observed in 2001 & 2002
field investigations
Transportation Evaluation Approach
• Evaluate Existing Conditions
• Evaluate Future Conditions
(2010) with and without Project
• Evaluate Incremental Impacts
of Project
• Identify Mitigation Measures
Traffic Evaluation
• Used UCONN Traffic Model
• Assumed UCONN 2000 and North
Campus Developments
• Assumed Proposed Roadway
Improvements, Hillside Road
Extension
• Performed Intersection Level of
Service Analysis at Study
Intersections
Intersection Level of Service Grades
• A through F – (Similar to
Report Card)
• LOS A through D
Considered Acceptable
• LOS E and F have
Delays/Deficiencies
Existing Traffic Conditions
• Route 195/Gurleyville Road is LOS F in PM Peak
Hour
• Delays at Individual Approaches at Other Intersections
– Route 195/N. Eagleville Road
• Safety Issues – Accidents and Pedestrian Crossings on
Route 195
Site Trip Generation
AM Peak
PM Peak
UCONN
Student Housing
83
152
Storrs Center
252
554
TOTAL
336
706
Trip Distribution
• North Eagleville Road
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33%
• Route 195 North
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22%
• Route 195 South
-
15%
• South Eagleville Road
-
14%
• Local/Campus
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16%
TOTAL
100%
Trip Characteristics
• Different Patterns for Various Users
• Student Housing Trips Tend to be Local, Many Walk
Trips
• Office Trips can be Generated from Outside of
Immediate Area
• Many Retail Trips are NOT NEW, but Passing-By Site
Traffic Impacts
• Largest Traffic Increases on Route 195, N. Eagleville Road, and
Hillside Road in PM Peak Hour
• Traffic Increases to Dog Lane at Willow Brook Road (+75 in PM Peak
Hour – Non-Traffic Calmed)
• Worsens LOS at:
– Route 195/Mansfield Road
– S. Eagleville Road/Separatist Road (Minor Left Turn)
• Improves LOS at Route 195/Dog Lane/Bolton Road
• Left Turns Exiting Site Experience delay during PM Peak Hour
• Construction Traffic
Site Issues
• Left Turns In/Out of Central and South Driveways May
be Difficult
• UCONN Student Housing Requires 300 Parking
Spaces
Mitigation
• Prohibit Left-Turns In/Out of the Site at Central and South Driveways on Route
195
• Willowbrook Road and Dog Lane: Traffic Calming Program
• Route 195/Mansfield Road: Upgrade Signal Timing and Phasing
• S. Eagleville/Separatist Road: Monitor Traffic Volumes and Signalize
Intersection When warrants are Met
• Route 195/Bolton Road/Dog Lane: Incorporate Pedestrian Signals and
Crosswalks
• Traffic Management Plan for Construction Phase
• Bus Stop at Site
State Local and Campus Master Planning
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University Planning
Downtown Mansfield Master Plan
Mansfield Plan of Development
Local Zoning
Draft Windham Region Land Use Plan
State Plan of Conservation and Development
Positive Impacts
• Satisfies University’s Need for Additional Graduate
Student Housing
• Satisfies Town of Mansfield and UConn Interest in a
formal Town Center with Expanded Retail, Office, and
Residential Opportunities
• Stormwater/Wetlands
• Aesthetics
• Economy, Employment and Income
Public Comments
B.
C.
A.
ROUTE 195 (STORRS ROAD)
D.