Public Hearing Draft Environmental Impact Evaluation Graduate Student Housing and Downtown Mansfield Concept Master Plan Storrs, Connecticut November 21,

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

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

• 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 Northwood Site

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

Stormwater

• Existing Conditions

• Post Construction Changes

• 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

Adult Wood FrogSeasonal Pooling of Water

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

Public Comments

B.

D.

C.

A.

N

ROUTE 195 (STORRS ROAD)