Farmington Commission Hears Public Opposition to Travel Center Near Batterson Park and Slater Rd. Neighborhood

A Fourth Hearing Will Be Held on June 3

By John McNamara NBpoliticus.com

FARMINGTON – The Inland Wetlands and Environment Commission heard residents from Farmington and New Britain on May 20th strongly oppose an application to build a Travel Center and a gas/diesel fueling station on the town line near Interstate 84 off ramps.

In response to concerns raised at two previous hearings Noble Gas Real Estate Holdings has pared down the project, dropping a restaurant and reducing the sizes of a parking lot and warehouse. The re-design, however, did not allay opposition. Environmental concerns and worries about encroachment into a New Britain neighborhood are growing as Farmington’s commission considers Noble Gas’ application for wetlands approval. If approved by the Inland Wetlands Commission the application would then go to the town’s zoning board for a zone change to allow a commercial use on a portion of the land at 8261 Fienneman Road.

Because the site plan includes an access road on Slater Road and public utilities that involve New Britain’s sewage system approval from the City of New Britain will also be needed, according to Farmington’s town engineer.

Noble Gas Realty proposes use of a parcel “where Fienneman Road meets the I-84 ramps.” The parcel, according to the Farmington Mercury, is surrounded by “wetland, flood zone, or wetland buffer, and most of that — a 50-plus-acre piece — sits inside a planned conservation easement of roughly 75 acres in total.” In the original application Noble Gas’ engineering report states “although the proposed site improvements result in an increase in impervious area, the stormwater management features proposed as part of this project will provide a decrease in overall peak flows for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year storm events and provide adequate water quality prior to discharging off-site to the respective areas.”

The Commission approved an April petition from Stefani Roman, a Slater Road property owner whose property abuts the project site, to intervene on the issue. At the May 20th hearing Roman cited ongoing concerns about the project’s “long-term risks to wetlands.” Her testimony, referring to earlier environmental assessments of Batterson Park watershed, pointed to a risk of pollution to sensitive plant and animal species, an insufficient buffer between the impervious surface and the connected wetlands at the site and risks from any “required remediation from hydrocarbon contaminations, including to groundwater extraction” near a vernal pool (a temporary seasonal wetlands that fill with water in the spring or fall and dry out completely by late summer). In her intervenor’s petition Roman asserted that “diesel fuel contains persistent hydrocarbons that can infiltrate soils, migrate to groundwater, and impair inland wetland systems. The application will likely cause long-term contamination, including to groundwater.”

Representatives of Noble Gas Realty responded that the project would involve less than five percent of the 86 acres in the wetlands zone and use of “jellyfish infiltration systems” and other technologies will mitigate impacts on the vernal pool and the threat of harmful run-offs from impervious surfaces created by the development.

By the close of the May 20th hearing the Inland Wetlands Commission had heard from more than 40 individuals all of whom opposed the application, including 31 letters or emails. They included a comment from Barbara Maselek, a Farmington resident and New Britain public school teacher, who wrote: “This site sits in close proximity to multiple schools serving Farmington and New Britain children. A truck stop and warehouse generating heavy diesel traffic, noise, and air pollution immediately threatens the health and safety of those students and families.” Noting the application requires an amendment to the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development and a zone change from residential to business, Maselek said “our community has invested time, energy, and hope into revitalizing Batterson Park as a place Farmington and New Britain residents can enjoy. A truck stop and industrial warehouse directly undermine that vision. The type of development being proposed is incompatible with the recreational and community character that the Batterson Park area represents and that residents have been working to restore.”

Noble Gas Realty representatives indicated more time would be needed to respond to the intervenor’s objections and public comments. The Commission continued the hearing to June 3 when further changes may be offered in the project design. A July hearing before the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission is pending.

In 2019, the 86 acres, classified as “vacant residential land”, was transferred to Hartford’s pension fund, the Municipal Retirees Retirement Fund (MERF) by the city.

Through a state appropriation of $10 million and the efforts of House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford and Farmington officials over the last two years, the Batterson Pond Park area is being restored as a regional park and recreation area by the city and is set to re-open this year.

Noble Gas is acquiring 86 acres from the owner, MERF that is administered by Hartford’s City Treasurer. Last February a MERF official confirmed Noble as the prospective buyer and supported the application to develop the travel and fueling facility. Batterson Pond has been a part of the capital city’s park system since the 1930s and was originally a reservoir for the City of Hartford.

John McNamara is a Ward 4 Alderman and the New Britain Common Council Majority Leader.