HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplication Files_82693_pg0437 Project Summary
The Connecticut Studios Project(hereinafter referred to as"the Site")is located on a
' 40.1±-acre assemblage of parcels within the"I-291 Gateway Zone"in South Windsor,
Connecticut.The Site is generally bounded by Chapel Road to the north,1-291 to the
south,Ellington Road(Route 30)to the east,and John Fitch Boulevard(Route 5)/
Connecticut Railroad(CONRAIL)tracks to the west(see Figure 1). The Site is
' currently zoned I-291 Corridor Development(CD).
' The Site is presently occupied by the remains of a drive-in movie theater complex,
including several buildings,a steel frame for the movie screen,paved parking areas,
and unpaved access drives. Undeveloped land surrounds the drive-in movie theater
complex and a 225-ft wide,overhead easement for Connecticut Light&Power
occupies the central portion of the Site. There are no regulated wetland resource
areas directly on the Site,but the buffer zone associated with a wetland/detention
pond encroaches into the Site along its eastern boundary.
Under existing conditions,the majority of Site stormwater runoff flows from east to
west,to low points adjacent to the CONRAIL tracks,where stormwater infiltrates
into the highly permeable soils. Near the northwestern border,an un-used,stubbed
48-inch diameter culvert extends from a manhole on-site,under the CONRAIL
' tracks,where it intercepts a 24-inch line from Chapel Road,then continues under
John Fitch Boulevard,to the Podunk River on the west side of John Fitch Boulevard.
VHB surmises that the culvert may have been installed by CorMDOT to provide a
' stormwater connection from the east side to the west side of the CONRAIL tracks
and John Fitch Boulevard prior to development of the rail corridor. The remainder of
' Site stormwater runoff flows to several other small depressions in or near the Site,
with runoff overflow potential to the Interstate Highway I-291 drainage system
owned by ConnDOT. There are two existing developments to the north of the Site
' fronting on Chapel Road that discharge stormwater runoff onto the Site. Because
these areas are not part of the Studio project,VHB could not access the abutting
properties to determine if the runoff from these properties is managed or.treated
' prior to discharging onto the Site.
The proposed development of the Site will include the demolition of the former
drive-in movie theater complex and the construction of four production studio/office
buildings,one mill building,and associated parking,landscaping,and utilities.
Additionally,a site access road will be constructed,connecting from Ellington Road
' 72189 TDArIptoajged R"Od J*201 1.dac inageV '1 Project Summary