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Public HearingDraft 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
UConnRichard Miller, Esq.
• Key Issues and FindingsBaystate Environmental Consultants, Inc.
James E. Walsh, Ph.D., P.E.Paul G. Davis, Ph.D., P.W.S., CPSScSteve Lecco, C.E.P.
EarthTechJeff 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
Project Scoping
Identification of Issues
Analysis of Impacts
Draft EIE
Final EIE
Record of Decision Submitted to OPM
Public Scoping Meeting
August 15, 2001
Public and Agency Review and Comment
July 31-August 31, 2001
Public Hearing
November 21, 2002
Public and Agency Review and Comment
October 22-December 5, 2002
Public Hearing on Draft EIE• 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 may1. Sign in to speak tonight
2. Use the printed comment forms
3. 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
• Potable Water Supply
• Stormwater Drainage• Solid & Hazardous Waste• Aesthetics• Cultural Resources
Natural
• Geology, Topography & Soils
• Surface Water• Groundwater• Floodplains
• Wetlands• Fisheries
• State Listed Species
Socioeconomic
• Land Use & Zoning• State, Local & Campus
Master Planning
• Public Health & Safety
• Economy, Employment & Income
• Environmental Justice
Key issues in bold
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
• The Village Green
• University Housing
• Mixed Use Block
• Residential Block
DMMP Generalized Uses
Use Area (Square Feet)
Residential 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 Storrs Center Site
B.
D.
C.
A.
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.
D.Use Residential Buildings to create "Gateway" @ 275 / 195 intersection.
The Miniutti Group
The Miniutti Group
N
ROUTE 195 (STORRS ROAD)
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 WaterAverage Daily Demand
1.61
1.23 1.22 1.29 1.29
0.42
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
1989 1999 2000 2001 2006
Average Daily Demand (mgd)
1.71
*
* 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• 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
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.
Potential Effects on Wetlands
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
Mitigation» 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 - 33%
• Route 195 North - 22%
• Route 195 South - 15%
• South Eagleville Road - 14%
• Local/Campus - 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
• 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