Minutes

Present: P. Barry, T. Callahan, J. Jevitts, R. Miller, AJ Pappanikou, E. Paterson, G. Zimmer

Staff: M. Berliner, M. Hart, G. Krauss (UConn), G. Padick, C. van Zelm (MDP)

Visitors: R. Adams (Chamber of Commerce)

1. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee

Mayor Paterson introduced new committee member Gary Zimmer. Gary is the new representative from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

2. December 14, 2004 Meeting Minutes

Staff will distribute the minutes for review at the February 2005 meeting.

3. Update re: Mansfield Downtown Partnership

Cynthia van Zelm reported that the Partnership has sent the municipal development plan (MDP) for Storrs Center to the Department of Economic and Community Development, for a 30-day review by various state agencies. Once the state has completed its review, the MDP will return for local review by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Town Council and other agencies.

In other news, representatives from the Partnership recently met with US Representative Simmons to discuss the Storrs Center project. Congressman Simmons appears very supportive. Related to this meeting, Rich Miller asked if federal funding had been restored for the parking garage. Cynthia responded that while the funding has not yet been officially approved, it is on the way.

4. Community-Campus Partnership on Substance Abuse

Mayor Paterson, one of the co-chairs of the community-campus partnership, reported that the partnership met most recently on January 3, 2005. There were a couple of students in attendance at that meeting, and their participation was extremely valuable and appreciated. The committee had a long discussion about police tactics, and a HEART participant reviewed the benefits of that program.

John Jevitts stated that he has heard that police are “patting down” all non-residents trying to enter Carriage House property. The Mayor said that she was not aware of this practice, but that it may have been part of Carriage House management’s “no trespassing” policy.

AJ Pappanikou asked how the students in attendance at the partnership meeting were selected? Tom Callahan explained that the Dean of Students had asked the students to attend.

5. Community Quality of Life Issues/Spring Weekend

Matt Hart reported the Town Council’s special committee last met in late November 2004. Staff is in the process of finalizing its draft report to the committee. The committee plans to review the report and to make any necessary changes, and then to send it on to the Town Council for review. The committee would also like to hold a few public presentations regarding the report, including one on campus. Tom Callahan suggested that we be cognizant of spring break when scheduling that presentation.

6. North Hillside Road Extension Wetlands Permit Application

Rich Miller and George Krause from UConn led a discussion on this item. The permit is administered by the US Corps of Engineers, and is needed for the UConn landfill closure project. The Corps and the other regulatory agencies plan to conduct an open house regarding the project at 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 2005, and a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. that evening. These meetings will be held in the Bishop Center on campus.

Under the plan, the university intends to remove the contaminated sediment and soil, and to replace it with clean fill from the Burton Family Football Complex. Also, since a minor wetland area will be lost, the university proposes to create a new larger 60-acre wetlands area that can be used for research.

Martin Berliner asked how the new wetlands area would constitute a mitigation effort. Rich explained that the Corps likes to see the construction of new wetland areas and other environmentally friendly practices as “enhancements” to an application.

Rich and George than reviewed in more detail as to how the new wetlands area and the existing vernal pool would help to support healthy populations of wildlife, including amphibians.

Gary Zimmer asked if any existing farmland would be lost. Rich said that the project would indeed take a small portion of existing farmland.

Phil Barry asked if the project would eliminate this location as a potential side for the hazardous materials storage facility? Rich explained that it would not, and that the advisory committee has proposed that the storage facility be located roughly 1000’ away. This proposal is still under consideration.

George discussed further the planned constriction of the North Hillside Road extension. Staff is presently 50-percent through the design development stage. The project should require one year to obtain the necessary permits and two years for construction.

AJ Pappanikou asked if the road would have a sidewalk. George responded that it would.

7. Other

None.

The committee meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew Hart

Minutes

Assistant Town Manager