Thanks go out to QRWA and the Boy Scouts who treated everyone to a cookout at the end of the day. If you would be interested in future cleanups either call Ed Albrecht 203-271-1103 or e-mail me @[email protected] or any officers of the club listed in the newsletter.
UPDATE ON WATKINS FROM THE WATERBURY REPUBLICAN
Trucking terminal rejected by committee
By Liz Acas � 2001 Republican-American
CHESHIRE - A 289-bay trucking terminal proposal was turned down Tuesday by the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, which said the project's environmental impact was too uncertain. Watkins Motor Lines proposed to build the facility on 55 acres of land on East Johnson Avenue and Interstate 691 alongside the Quinnipiac River, land that sits atop an aquifer that provides some of the town's drinking water.
The project came under fire by some residents for that reason. Inlisting reasons for the decision, commission chairman Jack Pasquale cited impact on the Quinnipiac River and Riverbound Farm, a wildlife preserved owned by the Quinnipiac Valley Audubon Society. Watkins hadn't provided enough information about how the project would impact the river, which is one of regional importance, Pasquale said.
The company also failed to provide information about certain aspects of its runoff treatment system, as well as impact on area plants and wildlife. Making a decision without that information would be "highly speculative," Pasquale said. Watkins' attorney, Andrew Coleman, declined to comment on the vote. Specifically, Watkins did not address how a stormwater management system would work in freezing weather, which is when critics said such a system would be most likely to fail. Also the system would allow a significant amount of contaminants to flow into the river, Pasquale said.
The commission also found Watkins' alternatives unacceptable. The only alternative presented by Watkins would have more parking than in the plan that was rejected. In addition, Watkins provided no convincing reason why a maintenance facility was necessary, Pasquale said. The company also did not address whether it could expand its present 100-bay operation on West Johnson Avenue.
The ruling came as a surprise to opponents of the project, who had been bracing for an approval. "I'm shaking," said Tom Scannell, a member of Citizens for the Environment, a group that formed to fight the application. Key members of the group did not attend the meeting because they held their own strategy-making session. Those present, however, were thrilled. "We're so glad," said Audubon Society president Loretta Victor. "Thank God."
Sam Waldo, who is on the board of directors of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association and now a member of the Quinnipiac Chapter of TU, said he was particularly pleased that information provided by the association played a part in the decision. But, he added cautiously, "It's not over yet." It was not clear Tuesday night if Inland Wetlands' decision would effectively cancel the application that sits before the Planning and Zoning Commission. Environmental Planner Mark Kasinskas said that state law requires Inland Wetlands to report to Planning and Zoning before that commission renders a decision. However, without first consulting with the planning staff, Kasinskas said, he could not say what the status of that application would be.
February 20, 2001
Lisa Murphy
Assistant Town Planner
Town of Cheshire
84 South Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
Re: Freight Terminals, Inc., Watkins Motors Lines, East Johnson Avenue
Dear Ms. Murphy,
I have reviewed the above proposed development project information as requested in your January 30, 2001 letter. Based on this review, the Department's Bureau of Water Management would not recommend the location of this new facility in such a sensitive groundwater supply area. This recommendation is made based on the following reasoning:
I hope this information assists you and Cheshire's land use commissions in your consideration of this development proposal. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call me at (860) 424-3718. Sincerely,
Robert Hust
Senior Environmental Analyst
Bureau of Water Management
Planning and Standards Division
Connecticut State Department of Environmental Protection
Ed Albrecht wrote this report (featured in the February newsletter):
by Ed Albrecht
There has been a lot of interest in the Watkins application, a request to build this mammoth thirty-eight acre trucking terminal on top of the aquifer and within the sight of the Quinnipiac. I could fill this entire newsletter with articles from all the local papers, letters to the editor and guest editorials. If I were to hazard a guess, most of the interest would be focused on the aquifer, since Cheshire still has a lot of folks who have wells.
The public hearings for the Wetlands are now officially closed. The last meeting closed the hearing at 1:30AM on the 16th of January. I can't remember any public meeting going on that long and I have lived in Cheshire since 1985. Our own Peter Hallemeier-Treasurer went to the meeting to pitch hit for Ed Albrecht who could not make the meeting. Thanks Pete!! Sam Waldo who is now a member of TU and sits on the board of the QRWA also asked some very good questions at the meeting. Like many of the other good questions that were technical in nature, they went unanswered by the applicant and the Commission. The next step is for the Wetlands Commission to make their recommendation to the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission in February. If the Wetlands Commission approves the application, then it is up to the P&Z to rule on the application since they own the aquifer issue. There is a grassroots movement-lead by our own TU member Laura Lytton in Cheshire- that is gaining momentum. Laura has been responsible for getting all of the interested parties together to form a coalition to block the proposed egregious land use. She has managed to get all of the local and state politicians involved and engaged. Kudos to you, Laura!!
There seems to be no end to the abuse the Quinnipiac has to endure. Peter Hallemeier raised a new issue at our last meeting on January 21st. Cytec in Wallingford is requesting a modification of their permit to dump even more wastewater than they presently are allowed into the Quinnipiac. Cytec uses water to clean our the giant kettles it uses to manufacture resins at the plant. Up to 3 million gallons per dau pass through the plant's water treatment plant. The plant has a 5 million gallon capacity.
"Testimony of Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) Regarding the Application by Freight Terminals Inc./Watkins Motor Lines for a Facility at East Johnson Avenue"
Before the Cheshire Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission Public hearing
Tuesday, December 5, 2000. Town Hall-Room 207/209, 7:30p.m.
By: Mary Mushinsky, executive director
"The QRWA has several concerns about this application because of the nature of the proposed business, the proximity to the Quinnipiac River, and the current use of the river at that location for education and recreation. First, a truck terminal of this size will require the applicant to create large expanses of impervious surface on a previously porous terrain. The applicant plans 431 parking spaces for vehicles and 794 oversized spaces for tractor/trailers as was as loading dock areas. This amount of paving is vast compared to a manufacturing facility or office park.
The runoff from the large paved area will be collected by an extensive system of 11 infiltration/detention basins. QRWA is concerned that the large amount of runoff that this impervious surface will produce relies on vegetated basins to collect greases and oils, heavy metals and bacteria that may not be capable of treating such runoff in the winter conditions. The eventual discharge after passage through the basin system is to the Quinnipiac, which flows along the eastern boundary of the site.
We are also concerned about the inevitability of spills at a site that is visited by so many vehicles per day. We are aware of the history of spills at an existing truck stop on Route 22 in Southington that reached local tributaries before the material could be recaptured. We opposed the Pilot Truck Stop proposed for a brookside location in Shouthington. For the same reason, we expressed our concerns about a proposed auto auction in Wallingford that serviced a large number of vehicles per day. Cheshire has already experienced a winter conditions diesel fuel spill about two years ago on West Johnson Avenue that contaminated Judd Brook. A spill a this site would jeopardized the functioning of the Quinnipiac and its associated wetlands.
The Regional Water Authority (RWA) produces public water from the aquifer. While the RWA is pleased that the applicant will buy out and remove historic pollution sources from other parcels on the aquifer, QRWA is not convinced that the removal of historic sources somewhere else justifies this newly introduced risk of untreated runoff and potential spills from this proposed facility to the river, wetlands and aquifer.
Finally, this area of the Quinnipiac RIver is known for education and recreation at Quinnipiac Audubon Society's Riverbound Farm, and adjacent owner, and through QRWA's seasonal canoe trips through with stretch of waterway. The river corridor here is heavily wooded and the river is aerated by one of the few selections of riffle outside the Meriden Gorge. Conditions are favorable for wildlife. We hope that any applicant who plans development of this former sand and gravel quarry will check for listed species and attempt to design to safeguard them. We have observed box turtles on the site and would not be surprised if the site also supports sand plain species.
In conclusion, QRWA believes that when an industrial site is located over an aquifer and alongside a river of importance to the community, we must choose the development for that parcel wisely. A truck terminal is not the best choice for this parcel because of the large amount of impervious surface, potential of spills from high traffic volume, questionable treatment value of the detention basins in winter, and likely reduction in educational and recreational value of this section of river.
We submit resourse documents for the commission separately. Thank you for your attention and concerns."