Chesire PZC OK's site plan for outlets
CHESHIRE — A sprawling north end outlet center has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission but the plans still have to go before other local land use boards. Town Planner William S. Voelker said Tuesday that the developer, WS Development, will also have to get state and federal permits as well as approvals from the local building department and fire marshal. Construction of a 147-unit residential complex, a hotel, a health center, and recreational areas is also planned for the 111 acres off Exit 3 of Interstate 691. The Outlets at Cheshire is expected to have about 60 stores and the entire project is anticipated to cost more than $100 million. “We’re very excited to get to this point. It’s a major milestone for us,” said Andrew Manning, project manager for WS Development. “And we’re looking forward to the next steps.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
New PD clears another hurdle
OLD SAYBROOK - Officials are hoping that Old Saybrook will have a totally different look a year or so from now with both a new police station and an adjacent recreation complex sprucing up the area. Last week the Zoning Board of Appeals approved variances as one of the last steps necessary to pave the way for the new cop shop. First Selectman Carl Fortuna said the town has moved step by step over the past few years to work toward "not just having a brand new police station, but to make sure the adjacent property [the old police station] is an attractive green space area that can be used for passive recreation." Both the old and new police station sites need local and state approvals to move the project forwarded, and Fortuna said everything is on track. The town is also hopeful of receiving a $500,000 grant from the state, the first selectman said, to develop the recreation site, which Fortuna said would have a "park-like feel." The approvals will allow the old phone company site's municipal use for a police station within a residential zone and permit emergency access by police vehicles between the new police site at the 36 Lynde Street site and Main Street through town-owned land at the current, unoccupied, police station 225 Main Street. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Water repairs bring geyser of work for construction trades
Don Shubert sees a flood coming. Not the biblical kind, but one that Shubert, president of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, says will be eagerly embraced by Connecticut and other U.S. waterworks engineers, designers, contractors and subcontractors. Shubert says that following a "nice run of work'' after Washington enacted 2009's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which shunted billions nationwide to so-called shovel-ready infrastructure and other building projects, by 2012 there were no big waterworks projects. However, there was, he said, plenty of drinking water and sewage pipe laid, spearheaded by The Metropolitan District's ongoing $2.1 billion stormwater/sewage line separation project for its eight member towns — Hartford, East and West Hartford, Bloomfield, Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill and Windsor.
Now, five or six "pretty big projects'' are preparing to get out the door, he said. Manchester, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, New Haven, Norwich and Putnam are among communities with waterworks projects totaling at least $140 million underway or on drawing boards, officials said.
Recently, state lawmakers approved $997 million in funding over the next two years for sewage-plant upgrades among Connecticut communities that need them. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Revere Mass approves Mohegan Sun $1.3B plan for casino
REVERE, Mass. — Mohegan Sun's plans for a $1.3 billion casino at Suffolk Downs racetrack passed by a wide margin Tuesday, capturing 63 percent of a citywide vote. With all 21 precincts reporting, the unofficial tally was 7,169 in favor, 4,172 against. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Etess said the vote said a lot about the people of Revere. They turned out in greater numbers and offered a wider margin of support despite better organized opposition now than before a similar vote in November. "People in Revere really have spoken here. They really let their voice be heard," Etess said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
State orders subcontractors at UCONN Basketball facility site off job
The state Department of Labor has ordered two subcontractors helping build UConn's $32 million basketball practice facility off the job, alleging that they used undocumented workers and paid them in cash to avoid taxes. State investigators made a surprise visit Sunday to the construction site on the Storrs campus and interviewed more than 40 workers from Intext Building Systems Inc. of Glastonbury and J & V Construction LLC of East Hartford, authorities said. Gary Pechie, the labor department's director of wage and workplace standards, said investigators found that many of the workers were undocumented; that they were being paid in cash to avoid state taxes, insurance costs and workers' compensation; and that they were being paid less than the law allows.
The labor department does not have jurisdiction over undocumented workers but has referred the matter to federal officials, Pechie said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
DOT wants residents ideas for CT's Transportation System
What do Connecticut residents want their highways, airports, ferry lines and railroads to look like in the future? State transportation planners are visiting Bridgeport, New London and Hartford this week to get public opinion for the TransformCT long-range strategic guide.
The ambitious project is intended to create a 50-year plan to guide the Department of Transportation and other agencies as they make choices about what kinds of projects the state should build. Just as importantly, the final version will reflect — directly or indirectly — what sorts of projects that state shouldn't pursue or simply can't afford. Advocacy groups for transit commuters, bicyclists, pedestrians and others have already started putting forward their ideas, and the DOT is eager to get more from them. It's also making a pitch to hear from ordinary motorists — the bulk of state residents but a group that's mostly unorganized. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Work to spruce up West Main St in Ansonia set to begin this spring
ANSONIA >> The start of a project to improve West Main Street is just around the corner.
Mayor David S. Cassetti said Tuesday the West Main Street Streetscape Improvements Project will start sometime in April. Completion deadline is July 29. The city received 11 bids on the project, all of which were within the financing allotment from this project, grants writer Sheila O’Malley said.
The work includes 600 feet of roadway. The city awarded the project to EDO Construction Co. of Milford, which was third-lowest bidder at about $240,000. Cassetti said the bids ranged from $226,000 to $342,000, but the lowest and second-lowest bidders submitted “incomplete packages.”
Cassetti said the contracting company “is no relation” to 6th Ward Alderman Matthew Edo.O’Malley said that “Ansonia was fortunate enough to get a grant for $430,000” for the improvements during the previous administration. The grant is from the state Office of Policy and Management Main Street Investment Fund. O’Malley said city officials will hold a pre-construction meeting with the contractor to discuss a work schedule. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
CT DOT, Northern Construction join to replace heavily traveled spans
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and Northern Construction Service LLC are combining to replace two heavily traveled highway bridges that are central arteries for all state commuters in two directions. They expect to do it in less than eight months. The physical work to replace the Interstate 84 east and west bridges over Marion Avenue in the town of Southington began the first week in November. Northern Construction in Palmer, Mass. is the general contractor under the auspices of ConnDOT for the $6 million project. It was awarded to Northern on June 7 with a scheduled completion date of July 2014. The brisk November to July timetable is possible because the state is utilizing accelerated bridge construction methods that employ innovative, time saving techniques and minimize construction time and the disturbance to the traveling public. Coupled with incentive bonuses (and late penalties) to meet state highway deadlines, there is even more encouragement to stay on schedule. The department's office of construction is administering the project; District 1 Rocky Hill, Conn. It consists of the superstructure replacement of Bridge Nos. 01235 and 01236, which carry Interstate 84 through Southington. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING