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.
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.”
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 