UCONN Athletic District Improvements Scoping Meeting Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional, UCONN Scott Bighinatti, Lead Environmental Scientist, Milone & MacBroom, Inc. CEPA Scoping Meeting | October 10, 2017
Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting • Provide background information • Present the project scope and objectives • Provide information relative to the overall schedule and future efforts • Provide a forum for gathering input • Understand the topics of public interest / concern • Identify questions to be answered
What is CEPA? • A State Act that applies to certain State ‐ funded projects in Connecticut. • A mechanism for planning and coordination among interested parties, including the public at large. • A process of identifying and evaluating environmental impacts such that they can be avoided, minimized and mitigated.
Why Third Brook? CEPA Process Identification of State Action Public and Agency Project Scoping Public Scoping Review and Meeting Comment No EIE Determination Yes Memorandum of Findings Alternatives Analysis & Determination Analysis of Impacts Publication of EIE Public and Agency Review and Public Hearing Comment Record of Decision Submitted to OPM
Environmental Review UConn Lead: Review Status: • Scoping ongoing, ends October 20, 2017 • Determination of need for EIE in November Assisted By: Review and Determination:
Project Designers Project Lead: Project Status: • Conceptual Design completed • Construction in Spring of 2018 through Fall 2020 Project Designers:
2015 Master Plan • Identified many athletics facilities in need of upgrades • Identified need to layout new facilities with careful consideration of sunlight and wind (e. g. baseball) • Keep similar sports facilities together whenever possible • Improvements to baseball, softball, soccer, and hammer/discus identified in five ‐ year plan (by 2020)
Project Purpose and Need • Upgrade playing surfaces and facilities to NCAA Division I Standards • Provide attendant facilities adjacent to playing surfaces • Relocate appropriate Athletics personnel to provide additional space for other Athletics staff
Anticipated Project Outcomes • New playing surfaces with field drainage – less postponed / relocated games • New Performance Center to house locker rooms, athletic department offices, rest rooms • Increased interest from prospective student athletes • Improving spectator experience • Defined entries to sporting events (security)
Proposed Project Elements • Redevelop soccer field: New synthetic turf field with field drainage Full ‐ cutoff lighting New seating • 50,000 +/ ‐ square foot Performance Center to house related: • Performance Center will Locker rooms be designed to be certified Athletic Department offices a Leadership in Energy and Public restrooms, concessions Environmental Design Weight training (LEED) Gold rating Sports medicine
Proposed Project Elements • Proposed relocated baseball field: New synthetic turf field with field drainage Full ‐ cutoff lighting NE/SW axis (sun alignment) Improved pedestrian connection to Y ‐ Lot Maintenance may relocate to batting / pitching facility New bleachers, press facility
Proposed Project Elements • Redevelop softball field: New synthetic turf field with field drainage Full ‐ cutoff lighting New bleachers • Possibility of slight adjustment of axis / position • New central utility corridor beneath roadway
Proposed Project Elements • Minor improvements to throwing area to meet NCAA Division I standards • Move practice soccer field to present location of baseball field • Sound barrier for ice forum chillers
Alternatives Considered To Date • No Action • Other Locations • Full Redesign (included Road Closure or Relocation) • Redevelop in ‐ situ to extent possible
Other Locations • Creation of new Athletic District off ‐ campus too expensive • Off ‐ campus facilities not viable for these programs • Does not encourage on ‐ campus student participation • Baseball / softball practice and play on same field • May not address desire to consolidate certain Athletics personnel
Full Redesign Goal was to centralize Performance Center for access • Prohibitively expensive • Closure of Jim Calhoun Way expected to create • significant traffic impacts Relocation of Jim Calhoun Way may not work due to • grading and layout of other roads
Redevelop In ‐ Situ No change in district land use • Nominal expansion of district • footprint to support baseball field Performance Center proximal to • stadia Pedestrian / parking accessible • Meets project purpose and need • Upgrades to NCAA Division 1 Standards Relocates certain Athletics Staff Amenities for Student Athletes Public Facilities / Concessions
Proposed Project Location / Concept
Impact Analysis Physical Natural Socioeconomic • Air Quality Air Quality • Geolo Geology, Topo Topograph aphy & & • Land Land Use & Zonin Use & Zoning Soils Soils • Noise & Light Noise & Li ght • State State, Local & Local & Campus Campus • Surface W Surface Water Resour ter Resources ces Master Planning Master Plannin • Traffic, Parkin Traffic Parking & g & Circulation Cir ulation • Ground Gr oundwater Resour r Resources ces • Open Open Space & F Space & Farmland land • Public Utilities Public Utilities • Floodplains oodplains • Public Health & Saf Public Health & Safety ty • Potable Water Suppl Potable W ter Supply • Wetlands We • Economy, Emplo Econom Employment ment & & Income Income • Stormw Stor mwat ater Drai Draina nage • Fisheries Fi • En Envi vironme nment ntal al Justice Justice • Solid & Hazar Solid & Hazardous ous • Plants & Plants & Wildlif ildlife/ State / State Wa Waste Listed Species Listed Species • Community Facilities & Community F cilities & Services Ser ices • Aesthetic Resour Aesthetic Resources ces • Specimen Trees Specimen Tr ees • Cultural Resources Cultural Resour ces Source: UConn
Affected Environment • Proposal is compatible with State Plan designation (PFA) • Use is consistent with existing land use • Pedestrian access and transportation infrastructure is adequate • Adequate utilities and services are available • No apparent cultural resources within the project footprint • Natural resources are limited within the project footprint; minimal expansion of footprint • Topography, geology, and site conditions are suitable • Opportunity to improve stormwater management controls
Affected Environment – Watershed Divides
Affected Environment – Water Quality
Affected Environment – Geology
Affected Environment – Wetlands
Affected Environment – Listed Species
Affected Environment Eagleville Brook Water Quality (Total Maximum Daily • Load [TMDL] for Aquatic Life criteria) DEEP requires that proposed projects demonstrate no net increase in 100 ‐ year storm event runoff until Campus Master Drainage Plan approved CMDP expected to be completed by end of 2017 The site is adjacent to the Hillside Circle • Neighborhood (private residences) and baseball stadium lighting could potentially present concerns Full cut ‐ off lighting proposed to avoid spillover and to limit uplight affecting dark sky conditions Detailed specifications not yet available
Next Steps • Review public and State agency comments • Determine one of the following: o Proceed to EIE per CEPA o EIE not necessary per CEPA
Comments & Questions Until October 20, 2017, written comments and questions regarding the project and/or the CEPA process may be directed to: Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional University of Connecticut Office of Environmental Policy 31 LeDoyt Road; U ‐ Box 3055 Storrs, Connecticut 06269 ‐ 3055 f: 860 ‐ 486 ‐ 5477 paul.ferri@uconn.edu
Public Opportunity to Provide Input Comments & questions are welcome!
Recommend
More recommend
