Tag: Batterson Park

Statement Opposing Fienemann Road Travel Center Near Batterson Park

New Britain Alderpersons Oppose Fienemann Road Travel Center on Farmington Wetlands Parcel Near Batterson Pond

New Britain Alderpersons representing neighborhoods near a proposed travel center and diesel-gas facility on wetlands near Batterson Pond are opposing the project under consideration by Farmington’s Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission.

“We oppose the application of Noble Gas Real Estate Holdings on 8261 Fienemann Road,” Ward 4 and Ward 5 alders,” said in a joint statement submitted to the Farmington commission at a June 3rd public hearing, the fourth hearing the Commission has held on the application.

“The use of a portion of 86 acres of watershed land at the New Britain-Farmington town line poses significant environmental risks in the Batterson Pond area at the same time Farmington, Hartford and New Britain have come together for the restoration of Batterson Park as a public park and recreation area.”

Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5), Council Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4), Alderwoman Luz Ortiz-Luna (D-4) and Roy Centeno (D-5) issued the statement as the Farmington wetlands commission continued the hearing to June 17 when the application could be decided. A July 27th hearing has been scheduled by the town Plan and Zoning Commission to consider a variance to allow the Noble Gas project in a wooded area that is zoned residential by the town and that is owned by the City of Hartford’s Municipal Employees Retirement Fund (MERF) and previously was held in a protected park trust by the City of Hartford.

Aerial view of site at Fienemann Road and Slater Road.

The Alderpersons’ statement continued:

“While infiltration systems have been proposed to prevent harmful run-offs from the newly created impervious surface being created by the project, they do not mitigate the risk  We agree with the intervenor’s documentation and analysis of that risk, including pollution risks to sensitive plants and animals, an insufficient buffer between the impervious surface and wetlands and the threat of hydrocarbon contamination,

The site plan requires linkage to New Britain’s sewage and water system across the town line and includes an access road on Slater Road near a densely populated residential area, elementary and middle schools and the Batterson Pond boat landing on Alexander Road.  This represents an unacceptable encroachment into a neighborhood zoned for homes and residences. Making an exception for the project on Farmington land contradicts New Britain’s policy on neighborhood preservation and conservation in an area contiguous with the project site.

The zoning variances requested in the application would set a precedent for further intrusions into parcels not appropriate for industrial uses.  Based on both Farmington’s and New Britain’s Plans of Conservation and Development the proposed travel center at Fienemann Road is an unwise development and not in the best interests of either community.”

Flooding, Batterson Park, Education Are Topics At Ward 4 Constituent Meeting

Twenty residents from the three voting districts in Ward 4 participated in the first constituent meeting of the term on February 10th organized by Alderman John McNamara.

The Saturday morning meeting held at Spottswood AME Zion Church on Crestwood Lane focused on neighborhood issues and a new municipal budget for the next fiscal year.

Planning for a new municipal budget begins this month at the Board of Finance and Taxation as city departments and the Board of Education submit their proposed plans for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The public is encouraged to weigh in on budget priorities at Common Council meetings and at a Common Council budget hearing to be held in April or May. A new budget will be adopted in June.

In door-to-door canvassing last fall Alderman McNamara said he heard residents’ concerns about flooding in the Roxbury Road area and other locations, education funding and the quality of schools, higher property tax bills and Batterson Park’s future.

NBC Connecticut

Meeting Summary:

  • Batterson Park Project: A final state study (See link below) has been submitted to the General Assembly that lists options and costs for the operation of Batterson Park.   Residents Seth Cerone and Tobias Gummersbach expressed reservations about the proposed plans which include a paved walking path around the pond. Favored by the study is a public-private partnership that involves Hartford-based RiverFront Recapture with the City of Hartford retaining ownership.  However, the Batterson Drive residents pointed to a number of concerns: Hartford has a record of neglecting Batterson (described as “benign neglect” in the study);  aeration systems need to be installed to clean out bacteria if the park is ever to be restored for swimming; there are concerns about safety and liability issues for New Britain if a path impacting 19 homes on the southern side of the park is opened. The concern is that New Britain will be responsible for emergency services and trash pick ups at the park, which will add unintended expenses for the city. Alderman McNamara believes Batterson should become a state park as envisioned by House Speaker Matt Ritter, but given the Governor’s constraints on the state budget a state park nor the public-private option likely will not happen in the immediate future. Update: On February 9th the Legislature’s Environment Committee raised a concept for the drafting of a bill for “the operation and management of Batterson Park” in response to the completed DEEP report. A legislative hearing will be scheduled to consider the proposal.
  • Flooding and Stormwater, Sewage Mains:  Citizen complaints led the city to commit $6 million in late 2023 to repair long neglected and dilapidated sewer and stormwater mains in the Allen Street and Overlook-McKinley Avenue areas. Residents Frank Chase, who organized his neighborhood, and Andrew Pope shared the conditions including possible loss of insurance and thousands of dollars in personal expenses. The Allen Street problem led to six floodings on Allen, Hampton, Newbury Eton Place, Brighton Street and Roxbury Road from last July through December.  Engineering work is supposed to be completed by fall to issue bids for improvements. At issue now is securing the necessary funding for the improvements. Gayle Sanders Connelly (Stanley Street), a former Board of Education President, also said there are issues with water from the trail construction in her neighborhood including basement flooding.
  • Education :  The Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed budget basically covers contractual obligations and results in the elimination of about 80 teacher assistant positions but will require additional local support to avoid further cuts.  One time post-pandemic funding allowed the school district to scale up supports for students but it is going away this year. Board of Education Member and Ward 4 resident Diana Reyes pointed out that New Britain is third from the bottom in terms of local aid per student and that advocacy will be needed at the state and local (Council Budget Hearing) to make support for schools more of a priority than in past years. The BOE’s proposed budget and plan can be found in the link below.

Other issues: 

  • Alderman McNamara said tax breaks for developers and businesses are necessary to spur development but that the city has not received enough community benefits for the 26-year abatements for luxury downtown housing granted in recent years.
  • Gayle Sanders Connelly and others said targeted communication (reverse 911s, alerts) is needed in neighborhoods when there is police activity and emergency public works activity is occurring.

Attendees at the meeting included former Alderman David DeFronzo and Democratic Town Committee Chair and former Alderman Chris Anderson.

Rev. Dr. Jonathon D. Counts and trustees Sam Simmons, Brian Simmons and Kemry Israel of Spottswood AME Zion Church were thanked for opening their Fellowship Hall for the meeting.    

Another constituent meeting for Ward 4 will be held in May at a time and place to be announced.

NBC Connecticut

Links and References

Link to Common Council Schedule and Meetings

Batterson Park Study January 24 2024 (CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Board of Education 2024-2025 budget plan (January 2024)

For more information:

John McNamara 860-416-0665 john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov