GREENWICH — While aggravation and traffic delays have accompanied the large-scale renovation project around the Old Greenwich train station, traffic accidents have not increased.
That was the finding of a Greenwich Police Department review of the busy Sound Beach Avenue corridor since construction began in the summer.
The $14.87 million project is replacing the aged railroad bridges at Tomac and Sound View avenues, and making other improvements at the Old Greenwich station. Lane closures on Sound Beach Avenue, and the closing of some pedestrian routes, have been necessitated by the work.
“It’s caused a lot of grief to the residents and the merchants, but it hasn’t caused a spike in accidents,” said Sgt. John Slusarz of the Greenwich Police Department, who heads the Traffic Division.
Roughly the same number of accidents were logged during the relevant stretch of time last year, 37, as this year, 35. Those numbers include any type of accident that generated a police report.
The new traffic pattern caused by the renovation project has led to more conflicts between motorists and pedestrians, especially around rush-hour. Police have also been dispatched to the area at certain times to direct the flow of drivers and pedestrians. Back-ups heading into the business district on Sound Beach Avenue sometimes run for blocks.
The work is still causing concern. Sidewalks in the area are in a poor state of repair.
An Old Greenwich community leader, Meg Nolan Van Reesema, said local residents would like to see a greater sense of urgency and determination toward getting the work done.
“While I’m thrilled to learn accidents are not increasing, I do see the broken sidewalk as a legitimate hazard and am perplexed by the slow progress being currently made to both bridges,” observed Van Reesema, president of the Old Greenwich Association.
“Despite the warm temps, winter is coming, and I'd like to think there will be significant headway made before weather becomes a deterrent to further progress,” she added.
The Old Greenwich Association is having its annual meeting Nov. 9, and the organization is hoping to get representatives from Town Hall and the Connecticut Department of Transportation to attend and answer questions. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Britain public to get update on Beehive Bridge
NEW BRITAIN – The city will host a public information session tonight as its plans for the Beehive Bridge progress.
Planning officials, along with representatives from Fuss and O’Neill and Svigals & Partners, will provide an overview and answer questions related to the forthcoming streetscape improvement project.
Aesthetic and physical upgrades to the Main Street bridge over Route 72, including designs featuring the city’s iconic bee theme, serve as the fifth phase of the city’s Complete Streets Masterplan. The state bond commission in May approved $2.1 million in support of the $5.4 million project, being funded additionally through a Federal Transit Authority Bus Livability grant. Phases one through four have included upgrades and new streetscapes in much of the central business district.
The Manchester engineering firm of Fuss & O’Neill is nearing completion of a preliminary design of the project based on state Department of Transportation standards. The initial design work includes widened sidewalks, new traffic signals, crosswalks, pedestrian ramps, revised lane arrangements and two pocket parks on the north side of the bridge.
The company is also creating preliminary landscape designs that will incorporate brick pavers, tree planters, benches, grass, retaining walls and lighting.
The project has a tentative start date of next spring.
Plans for the Beehive Bridge were among Mayor Erin Stewart’s first initiatives when elected in 2013. She said the effort will reconnect downtown to Little Poland, a tie severed when Route 72 was constructed in the 1970s.
The Common Council and Mayor William McNamara in 1978 designated the span “The Lions Club Memorial Bridge” in honor of the local civic club. A bronze plaque noting the honor is located on the south end of the bridge.
The session will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Timothy Stewart Community Room at the New Britain Police Department, 10 Chestnut St. Parking on city streets and in the Szczesny Garage is free after 5 p.m.
Councilors concerned downtown developments will burden Meriden schools
MERIDEN — Some city councilors are questioning whether a potential influx of new families into proposed developments in downtown Meriden could be a drain on the school system. While city officials insisted the schools could handle increases in enrollment, Superintendent Mark Benigni said that although he does not foresee a huge impact on the school system, it will be hard to predict until the apartments begin to be occupied.
“Until we see the actual enrollment numbers from downtown redevelopment we won’t actually know how it will impact our schools, class sizes and teachers needed,” Benigni said.
Councilors at a special joint meeting of the economic development, housing and zoning committee and the finance committee last week approved tax abatement programs for proposed developments at 11 Crown St., 177 State St. and 62 Cedar St. which will give the developers 80 percent abatements for annual taxes for a 17-year period. Those programs still need approval from the full City Council.
During the meeting, several councilors expressed concern that the new developments, estimated to comprise up to 600 units of housing built in the next decade, would be a burden on the school system. The city’s economic development director, Juliet Burdelski, told councilors that would not be the case.
“We have looked at the numbers for school enrollment with the Board of Education and we looked at capacity of the schools and the ability of the schools to absorb additional students from these developments,” Burdelski said. “The Mills (Memorial Apartments) students right now will go to Sherman, Washington and Maloney, so those schools in 2015 had capacity to absorb additional students so the Board of Education is telling us there will be no added cost to the school system.”
Republican Councilor Lenny Rich disagreed. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
A developer has an extra year to build a $60 million, 268-unit apartment complex next to Union School, the town plan and zoning commission ruled Monday.
The commission granted Middletown developer Centerplan Cos. a one-year extension for the Old Mill Commons project at 19 Perry St.
The commission unanimously approved a zoning regulation amendment for the property last November.
Crews were originally slated to break ground in June, but were delayed during the developer's permitting process with state agencies, including the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Christian Hoheb, the attorney representing Centerplan, reiterated those delays to the commission Monday, and added that it's not unusual for commercial developments to hit delays.
He emphasized that the setbacks are in no way related to Centerplan's involvement with Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford."It's a detailed application that requires a lot of permits," Hoheb said. "We're still very excited about this project."
The complex's approval came with a slew of conditions set by the commission, including construction and cleanup regulations, environmental preservation stipulations and requirements that developers provide both town and school staff with biweekly progress reports and maintain a website, updated weekly, where people can learn about the project.
Commission members said before the vote that they struggled to weigh the benefits of the development against concerns raised by residents, who said the development would increase traffic in the area, disrupt the character of the town and create a safety hazard for students at Union School.
The commission ultimately agreed that the project, as presented, has more positives than negatives.Earlier this year, Town Planner William Warner said there are several benefits to the project, including the remediation of a contaminated property. Warner said the plan is consistent with the Unionville Center Zone's purpose to "facilitate the development of a compact village center." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE