APPENDIX A Public Scoping Notice, Presentation, and Comments Seaside State Park Master Plan Environmental Impact Evaluation This page intentionally left blank Scoping Notice and Presentation This page intentionally left blank August 2, 2016 Scoping Notices 1. CANCELLATION OF SCOPING PROCESS AND PUBLIC MEETING! Major Rehabilitation or Replacement of Heroes Tunnel (Bridge 00773) Route 15 Through West Rock Ridge, Woodbridge, Hamden, New Haven 2. Preston River Walk Remediation, Preston 3. Evaluation for Maintenance Building at East Haven Rifle Range, East Haven 4. Additional Landings at East Haven Rifle Range, East Haven 5. NEW! New Commuter Railroad Station - Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport 6. NEW! Seaside State Park Master Plan, Waterford Post-Scoping Notices: Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) Not Required 1. Reconstruction of Old Farms Road, Avon Environmental Impact Evaluations 1. Southbury Affordable-Elderly Housing Development, Southbury State Land Transfers No Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition. The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on August 16, 2016. Subscribe to e-alerts to receive an e-mail when the Environmental Monitor is published. Notices in the Environmental Monitor are written by the sponsoring agencies and are published unedited. Questions about the content of any notice should be directed to the sponsoring agency. 6. Notice of Scoping for Seaside State Park Master Plan Municipality where proposed project might be located: Waterford Address of Possible Project Location: 36 Shore Road Project Description: The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation is proposing to implement the Seaside State Park Master Plan (July 2016), which is to further the transformation of the former Seaside Regional Center site into a 32-acre State park. The Master Plan has five main goals, which are: 1) promote and improve recreation and public access to Long Island Sound; 2) Restore, preserve, and reuse historic assets where feasible; 3) preserve and improve the site’s ecology and habitat; 4) create an implementation and operating plan that is financially feasible; and 5) engage the public in helping shape the future of Seaside State Park. The Master Plan explored and identified three potential State park concepts. The three concepts and their main elements are: 1) Destination Park: a) active beach park with serpentine boardwalk and living shoreline; b) park lodge featuring renovation of historic buildings, sun decks and restaurant, adjacent private cottage rentals; and c) living shoreline restoration of oyster reef and coastal woodland habitat. 2) Ecological Park: a) nature trail linking wildlife viewing areas; b) landscape art installations with a heliotropic theme; c) living shoreline restoration of oyster reef and coastal woodland habitat; and d) historic buildings demolished. 3) Passive Recreation Park: a) low maintenance open lawns and tree groves; b) unprogrammed park grounds and beaches; c) restoration of seawall; and d) historic buildings demolished. The Master Plan has identified a modified version of the Destination Park concept as a preferred option; however and at this point in time, the Environmental Impact Evaluation would evaluate all three concepts, along with the no-action alternative. To view the Master Plan click on this link: Master Plan Project Map(s): Click on the following links to view: x Location Map of the project area (656 kb) x Aerial Photo of Existing Site (2.2 MB) x Destination Park Concept (486 kb) x Ecological Park Concept (567 kb) x Passive Recreation Park Concept (498 kb) Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Thursday, September 1, 2016. There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at: DATE: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 TIME: 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) PLACE: Waterford Town Hall Auditorium, 15 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT Additional information about the project can be viewed online by clicking here. Written comments should be sent to: 1DPH 'DYLG$.DODID3ROLF\'HYHORSPHQW&RRUGLQDWRU $JHQF\ 'HSDUWPHQWRI(QHUJ\DQG(QYLURQPHQWDO3URWHFWLRQ $GGUHVV(OP6WUHHW +DUWIRUG&RQQHFWLFXW )D[ (0DLO '((3VHDVLGH(,(#FWJRY If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact: 1DPH -HII%ROWRQ $JHQF\ 'HSDUWPHQWRI$GPLQLVWUDWLYH6HUYLFHV'LYLVLRQRI&RQVWUXFWLRQ6HUYLFHV $GGUHVV&DSLWRO$YH5RRP+DUWIRUG&7 3KRQH )D[ (0DLO -HIIUH\EROWRQ#FWJRY The agency expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in late 2016 or early 2017. This page intentionally left blank Connecticut Environmental Policy Act Public Scoping Meeting Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection & Connecticut Department of Administrative Services August 24, 2016 Introduction Michael Lambert, Bureau Chief, Outdoor Recreation, CT DEEP • Project History Presentation Jeff Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst, CT DAS • CEPA Process Stephen Lecco, A.I.C.P., C.E.P. - GZA • Project Purpose and Need • Project Goals • Project Location • Existing Conditions • Alternatives • Preferred Alternative • Potential Impacts Comments - Public Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Seaside History • 1930: State of Connecticut acquires Seaside property • 1934-1958: Seaside Sanatorium in operation, treating child tuberculosis patients • 1959-1961: Seaside Geriatric Hospital in operation • 1961-1996: Seaside Regional Center in operation • 1993: State initiates reuse planning • 1993-1997: State of Connecticut, Town of Waterford, and neighborhood groups consider future use • 1997: Town of Waterford rejects its right of first refusal to purchase property • 1998-2014: State pursues different reuse and disposition options; one of the disposition efforts initiates a CEPA review but is discontinued; Town also rejects another right of first refusal • 2014: Governor Malloy designated Seaside a State Park • 2014-2016: Seaside State Park Master Plan Development Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Seaside History Seaside Master Planning Summary • September 2014: Gov. Malloy designated Seaside Sanatorium a State Park • Stakeholder Engagement (December 2014 – February 2015) • December 2014: Public Information Session • February 2015: Newspaper Article Published in the Associated Press • Ideas and Scenarios (January 2015 – April 2015) • February 2015: Open House # 1 • March 2015: Link Posted to DEEP Website & Interest Groups Contacted • February 2015 – June 2016 Online Survey • April 2015: Open House # 2 • April 2016: Interest Group Leaders Contacted, Televised Story Aired on WTNH News 8 • Final Plans (April 2016 – June 2016) • May 2016: Article Published in Hartford Courant • May 2016 Open House # 3 • May 2016 – June 2016 Documentation Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping CEPA Process •Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (“CEPA”) •Conn. Gen. Stat. Sections 22a-1 through 22a-1h •State Agency Actions of Certain Size or Potential Impact Require Compliance with CEPA •State Agency Involvement •Public Involvement Process Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping CEPA Process State Action Triggers CEPA Review Public Scoping Comment Period Ends Meeting Public Scoping Period (30-day public review and comment period) September 1, 2016 August 24, 2016 Review of public and agency comments identification of issues, alternatives analysis, evaluation of impacts Public Environmental Impact Evaluation (“EIE”) Hearing Published (45-day public review and comment period) Record of Decision Register With CEQ for CEPA Notices at (submitted to Office of Policy and Management for a Determination of Adequacy; posted on agency website) http://www.ct.gov/ceq Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Environmental Elements of CEPA Physical Natural Socioeconomic • Noise • Air Quality • Land Use • Light & Shadow • Geology, • State & Local Plans • Traffic, Parking & Circulation Topography & Soils • Public Health & Safety • Public Utilities • Surface Water • Economy, Employment & • Potable Water Supply • Groundwater Income • Stormwater Drainage • Floodplains • Consistency with State C&D • Aesthetics • Wetlands Plan • Historical/Archaeological • Wildlife & Fisheries • Low/Minority Income • Protected Species Populations • Cost/Benefit Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Project Purpose and Need Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Project Goals • Promote and improve recreation and public access to Long Island Sound • Restore, preserve, and reuse historic assets where feasible • Preserve and improve the site’s ecology and habitat • Create an implementation and operating plan that is financially-feasible • Engage the public in helping shape the future of Seaside State Park Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Project Location Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Project Location Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Existing Historical Structures Nurses’ Residence, a.k.a. Employees Building Sanatorium, a.k.a. Stephen P. Maher Building The Garage Building Duplex Residence Superintendent’s Residence Duplex Garage Old Pump House # 1 Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Existing Resources Seaside State Park Master Plan Implementation CEPA Scoping Existing Resources