Seaside Environmental Impact Hearing: July 31st

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is hosting a public hearing to discuss the Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) released today on the Seaside State Park Master Plan. I encourage all of those interested in attending to do so, and ask questions or raise concerns as you see fit.

The hearing will be held on Monday, July 31st at the Waterford Town Hall Auditorium, located at 15 Rope Ferry Road. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m.

If you have been following the project updates on the DEEP website, you will likely already know the specifics of the plan, but just in case here is a break-down of what you need to know:

Project Description: Implementation of a development concept from the Seaside State Park Master Plan. The Master Plan depicts four potential concepts for the 32-acre site located at 36 Shore Road in Waterford.  A summary of the four alternatives follows:

• Destination Park– This concept emphasizes passive and active recreation along with a lodging experience. Existing historic buildings would be restored for lodging and auxiliary uses, and the ground and waterfront would be modified and enhanced to support passive and active recreational uses.
• Ecological Park– This concept emphasizes maintenance and enhancement of ecological features of the site, both in the terrestrial and waterfront environments. Under this concepts, the historic buildings would be demolished.
• Passive Recreation Park– This concept most closely resembles the Park in its current condition/ use with minimal improvements to the grounds. Under this concept, the historic buildings would be demolished.
• Hybrid Park– This concept is a hybrid of the other alternatives. The historic buildings would be converted to lodging, the grounds would be enhanced, and the ecological habitats would be created or enhanced along the waterfront.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can still submit written comments until August 11, 2017 to:

Michael Lambert, Bureau Chief, Outdoor Recreation
CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106
DEEP.seasideEIE@ct.gov

A copy of the EIE (as well as other project documents) is available at the Council on Environmental Quality’s website, the Waterford Town Clerk’s Office at the Town Hall, the Town of Waterford Library (49 Rope Ferry Road), and the DEEP office (by appointment only) located at 79 Elm Street.

If you have any questions about the public hearing, please email or call Mr. Lambert at 860-424-3030. If you have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint please contact DEEP at 860-418-5910 or deep.accomodations@ct.gov. Any person needing a hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number at 711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to any hearing, program, or event.