Article from the ReddingPilot.com

Super 7 land: A greenway is being proposed

Written by Susan Wolf
Monday, 24 August 2009 00:00

The development of a greenway for walkers and bikers along Route 7 from Norwalk to Danbury is a proposal that is now on the table.

With the Super 7 highway proposal shelved, the state Legislature decided earlier this year that the land designated for the controversial four-lane highway linking Norwalk to Danbury could now be used in other ways. The land includes sections of Redding, Wilton and Ridgefield.

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26), ranking member of the Senate Transportation Committee, said in a press release that this provides an opportunity to discuss how the 890 acres of state property could be used.

Representatives from Redding, Wilton and Ridgefield, along with Ms. Boucher and state Department of Environmental Protection officials, met Tuesday to begin an informal discussion about the land’s future, and the potential for state and/or federal funding to make the greenway a reality.

Robert Flanagan, the town’s conservation enforcement officer, is a member of the committee. He said the meeting is just a first step in looking at a plan for the greenway and for funding. The greenway won’t be accomplished “in one fell swoop,” he said.

“It’s constructive to have started the conversation [about the greenway] and to look for grant money and to get the planning going,” Mr. Flanagan said. He added that two planning agencies, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials and South Western Regional Planning Agency, are also involved in the planning effort.

Positive

“I think it was a very positive meeting,” said Ms. Boucher. The idea of a greenway is worth pursing, she said. It would provide a safe, protected and user-friendly pathway for all ages, she added.

“We need to strike a balance of protecting the natural environment while still allowing pedestrians to use the land,” Ms. Boucher said. For the communities, the greenway would be a tourist attraction, she added.

Besides looking for alternate funding sources, Ms. Boucher said the committee will be looking at the future maintenance options for the greenway.

“This is a long-term endeavor,” she said, “but I think there is generally tremendous support for this type of endeavor... We hope we can move this along. It’s nice to have the towns pick this up and move forward instead of someone in political office. We can work together on this.”

Vic DeMasi, a Conservation Commission member and longtime proponent of a Norwalk to Danbury greenway, was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting. He is one of Redding’s representatives.

Long history

He recalled Tuesday the history of the Super 7 proposal, which drew opposition from its inception in the 1970s. At that time, CBET (Citizens for A Balanced Environment and Transportation) of Wilton was formed, and Mr. DeMasi was a member.

“They battled the road to a standstill,” he said. One of the agreements that resulted from the opposition was the provision for a linear park to run parallel to the proposed Super 7 highway. The state did not provide any funding for this project, but rather the group raised private money to hire a landscape designer.

Mr. DeMasi described the resulting plan as “charming.” It included lean-tos and overlooks, among other things. “The only problem with it was that the highway was still there,” he said.

Ultimately there was not enough money raised privately to implement the plan.

Over the years the state’s interest in the Super 7 highway plan continued to run hot and cold. When the road plan emerged again in the mid-1980s, another opposition group, Citizens for A Sensible 7, headed by Mr. DeMasi, was organized.

By 1986, he said, the state had acquired 70% of the parcels it needed for Super 7. In 1992, his group started the Route 7 Natural History Inventory, bringing in 12 biologists to survey these parcels.

At that time, the state Department of Transportation wanted to mitigate (replace) wetlands with new ones, Mr. DeMasi said.

“We found 17 rare species,” he said, adding this became a strong legal challenge to the mitigation proposal.

There are now 10,000 specimens resulting from the survey at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.

When the state ran out of money in 1992, said Mr. DeMasi, the Route 7 plan was once again put on the back burner. In 1994, under Gov. Lowell Weicker’s administration, a task force was organized to see if greenways in the state could be connected.

Mr. DeMasi organized a turnout at a public meeting on the issue that was led by Russell Brenneman, a well-known open space advocate.

“He wasn’t enthused about Super 7 (greenway), but I wanted the greenway — once called a linear park — without the road,” Mr. DeMasi said.

Eventually Mr. Brenneman was convinced to put the area from Norwalk to Danbury into the state’s greenway plan.

Newstimes Article DOT selling route 7 property

Connecticut DOT suggests selling Route 7 property State owns 14 homes along stalled Super 7 path By Brian Lockhart Staff Writer Updated: 08/29/2009 11:40:50 PM EDT Want to buy a home along a never-built expressway? The state Department of Transportation has informed the governor about the benefits of selling off 14 residences purchased years ago by the state for the expansion of the old Route 7 connecting Norwalk and Danbury. On July 14, Gov. M. Jodi Rell wrote her commissioners and agency heads asking them for lists of saleable assets to help raise revenue during Connecticut's budget crisis. Those lists were due July 27, but her office was not releasing the details last week, saying it was still awaiting information. But the DOT, atHearst Newspapers' request, supplied a copy of a letter Commissioner Joseph Marie sent to Rell outlining properties identified by his department. Marie said the DOT's Excess Property Inventory Unit identified 2,840 potential parcels divided among 87 municipalities "The majority of the parcels identified are uneconomic remnants that remain from properties acquired for transportation projects and only have value to an abutting property owner," Marie wrote. But Marie said the state has valuable land holdings for two dormant expressway projects: Route 6, which was intended to provide quicker passage through Andover, Bolton and Coventry; and Route 7. In total, the DOT controls more than 890 acres of vacant land in the right of way for the Route 7 expressway, or Super 7, with an estimated value of $80 million to $150 million, Marie wrote Rell. The

Greenway Project for Route 7 in Wilton

WILTON -- A new plan is in the works for the land originally designated for the much-disputed "Super 7" highway from Norwalk to Danbury.

A greenway for pedestrians and bike riders was proposed last Tuesday, when state Department of Environmental Protection officials and representatives from Wilton, Redding and Ridgefield met to discuss different approaches to use the land, said Pat Sesto, head of Wilton's Inland Wetland Department.

This greenway idea was made possible after legislators overrode Gov. M. Jodi Rell's transportation bill in July, lifting restrictions on property set aside for Super 7. Now the 890 acres of land is open for other possible uses.

Sesto said she is in charge of coordinating the application, which is mainly focusing on continuing a recreational trail northward from Norwalk.

"At this point, we are figuring out where this trail should go," said Sesto. "We are in the design phase right now and we want to make sure we look at every option."

Sesto said representatives are also looking into different train stations that can connect with the greenway.

"Ideally, we would like people to be able to ride a bike and pick up a train along the same direction," said Sesto.

This is a plan that has been studied for a couple of decades, said state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-26, who also attended the Aug. 18 meeting. According to Boucher, the greenway is a well-supported and highly popular concept.

"This greenway involves the corridor from Norwalk to Danbury," said Sen. Boucher. "We are looking at alternative, environmentally friendly ways to get from point a to point b. It gained a lot of support because it doesn't prelude any other use. In other words, it doesn't take the place of any other use, it simply compliments it."

Not everyone is in support of the greenway, however. State Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, does not agree it is the best use for this land.

"I am very supportive of greenways and maximizing mass transit but I strongly believe that the best use for this land is the Super 7 highway," said Duff. "I think that a lot of people are also behind that."

Duff said he believes you can have the best of both worlds, even if the Super 7 highway is built.

"I think that if the Super 7 highway is built you can stil hae the greenway people want," said Duff. "The land there could be used just as they do with the Merrit Parkway and they can make room for bikeway and areas where people can walk, you can do both."

Sesto said she is also looking for public input on what different user groups would like to use the trail.

"Public opinion is most definitely included, and is information that has to be addressed carefully," she said. "We take into consideration (that bikers) and pedestrians are two obvious groups, but we also want to know if maybe access is suitable for equestrian groups, or maybe there are a bunch of people who would want a stroller section. The input is very important."

This is a long-term project that is currently in the organizational phase, said Boucher. She said there are a lot of obstacles to conside, such as safety and funding.

"This has been a thread of conversation for decades and now it is being acted on," said Sesto. "All good trails need time to simmer and grow, and this idea has a great deal of potential for the future."

Sen. Boucher Calls For Allowing Disposal Of Land Acquired For Super 7

Applauds Overwhelming Show Of Local Support For Proposed Legislation

Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) expressed her appreciation for the testimony submitted in support of her proposal to permit the state to sell or transfer land acquired for the long dormant Super 7 highway project.

The General Assembly’s Transportation Committee recently conducted a public hearing on SB 434, An Act Concerning The Disposition By The Department Of Transportation Of Land Originally Acquired For The "Super 7" Highway. Senator Boucher is the leading Republican Senator, or Ranking Member, on the Transportation Committee.

“As so many of those who testified pointed out, necessary upgrades to the existing Route 7 is underway and so it is unlikely that we will ever need the land acquired so long ago to build the Super 7 highway. For one thing, priorities have changed. Building Super 7 highway now would require the state to acquire a great deal more land, much of it environmentally fragile and unaffordable. Permitting the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to sell or transfer the land it has acquired for this long defunct project makes sense. Our resources must be directed to feasible projects that the public supports, notably our mass transit and smart growth initiatives,” said Senator Boucher.

Those expressing agreement with Senator Boucher include Representative John Frey (R-111). In his testimony, Representative Frey wrote: “Since the language includes “may sell or transfer” it is not the intention of this bill to mandate what the State of Connecticut should do, but to allow for greater flexibility. It makes sense in these troubled times for the State of Connecticut and the Department of Transportation to have as much leeway as possible.”

Others who submitted testimony or travelled to Hartford to address the Transportation Committee in person had the following to say about the proposed legislation:

“Towns in the Route 7 corridor are in need of land for community recreational purposes – playing fields, hiking and bike trails, gardens and nature preserves – in brief, “green ways” that will expand recreational and quality of life activity. I urge the Transportation Committee and the Legislature to allow the Commission of Transportation the option to sell of transfer the title of the existing right-of-way acquired for the potential use as a Route 7 highway to local communities for recreational and passive conservational purposes,” said Wilton First Selectman William F. Brennan.

“The Town of Redding has long opposed the construction of the proposed Super 7 Highway because of its significant and detrimental impact on one of the largest wetlands in our state. We believe that the project would never receive the required affirmative federal environmental impact statement . . . Therefore, particularly in these troubled economic times, it makes perfect sense to untie the DOT’s hands with respect to the property it acquired for Super 7. If it is not going to be used for the project, the DOT should have the ability to sell the land for some productive purpose. It is not in the state’s best interest to have the unusable land on its books, nor is it in any municipality’s best interest to keep it there,” said Redding First Selectman Natalie Ketcham.

“There is only one shovel that is ready for use in connection with the Route 7 limited access highway, a.k.a. “Super 7”, and that is the shovel that should finally be used to dig a deep grave for this ill-begotten project so as to put it to rest permanently,” said Michael J. Autuori of Ridgefield, adding that he favors transferring property acquired for Super 7 for the Sugar Hollow Greenway.

“Such legislation appears to be a better option and gives our state Department of Transportation (DOT) more flexibility in the use and disposition of this land which has been restricted so many years ago. Accordingly, DOT may or may not sell or use this land according to the times or needs of the state at some future date. Let’s move on with resolving this long-standing irritant,” said Joseph A. Equale of Wilton.

“When one considers that there is an existing underutilized railroad line that parallels the existing Route 7, that there are prudent and feasible alternatives to building the new highway, and the huge price for Super 7, one can only conclude that supporting this bill is the only way to proceed,” said James P. Snedeker of Wilton.

“The construction of this highway would require building across one of the largest wetlands in our state. This will not only have huge financial implications, but it id truly an environmental risk I am unwilling to take with my downstate neighbors . . . It would therefore make sense to give our state DOT more flexibility in the use or disposition of this land . . . ,” said John T. Markey IV of Wilton.

“As a Wilton resident for 33 years, an elected official there for nine, and a realtor for 14, I can attest to the upset that the uncertainty of the Super 7 issue has caused this town . . . and I’m confident that I speak for the vast majority of Wiltonians. The project is neither politically viable nor financially feasible. The concept for all practical purposes is “dead,” said Howard A. Sherman of Wilton.

“Providing the DOT with options as to the use of this land will liberate the state. In fact, with the present economic situation, if the land were to be sold, the monies generated could be applied to assist funding in appropriate needed areas. As a concerned citizen, I urge the committee to lift the restriction and possible raise funds for well needed state financing,” said Michael Perrella of Wilton.

“The cost of building a 20 mile long and 100 foot high fly over highway would be unaffordable given the new national roadway engineering requirements. Environment group and local town opposition, including Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and parts of many surrounding towns would keep in the courts for decades,” said Dianne and Tom Gorman of Wilton.

“There are some who have proposed that any land or buildings that the state has held for over 20 or 30 years should be sold, transferred or disposed of for the public good – and reinvestments made in present urgent needs,” said Senator Boucher.

Route 7 Super 7 Greenway Norwalk to Danbury

Boucher hopes idea for greenway grows

Written by Susan Wolf
Thursday, 20 August 2009 08:30

The development of a greenway for walkers and bikers along Route 7 from Norwalk to Danbury is a proposal that is now on the table.

With the Super 7 highway proposal shelved, the state legislature decided earlier this year that the land designated for the controversial four-lane highway linking Norwalk to Danbury could now be used in other ways. The land includes sections of Wilton, Redding and Ridgefield.

State Senator Toni Boucher of Wilton (R-26), ranking member of the Senate Transportation Committee, said in a recent statement that this provides an opportunity to discuss how the 890 acres of state property could be used.

Representatives from Wilton, Redding and Ridgefield, along with Ms. Boucher and state Department of Environmental Protection officials, met Tuesday to begin an informal discussion about the land’s future, and the potential for state and/or federal funding to make the greenway a reality. Two planning agencies, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials and South Western Regional Planning Agency, are also involved in the planning effort.

Positive

“I think it was a very positive meeting,” said Ms. Boucher. The idea of a greenway is worth pursing, she said. It would provide a safe, protected and user-friendly pathway for all ages, she added.

“We need to strike a balance of protecting the natural environment while still allowing pedestrians to use the land,” Ms. Boucher said. For the communities, the greenway would be a tourist attraction, she added.

Besides looking for alternate funding sources, Ms. Boucher said the committee will be looking at the future maintenance options for the greenway.

“This is a long-term endeavor,” she said, “but I think there is generally tremendous support for this type of endeavor... We hope we can move this along. It’s nice to have the towns pick this up and move forward instead of someone in political office. We can work together on this.”

Long history

Participants in the early discussions recalled the history of the Super 7 proposal, which drew opposition from its inception in the 1970s. At that time, CBET (Citizens for A Balanced Environment and Transportation) of Wilton was formed, and Victor DeMasi of Redding, who has held outdoor presentations, including those on butterflies, to Wilton students over the years, was a member.

“They battled the road to a standstill,” he said. One of the agreements that resulted from the opposition was the provision for a linear park to run parallel to the proposed Super 7 highway. The state did not provide any funding for this project, but rather the group raised private money to hire a landscape designer.

Mr. DeMasi described the resulting plan as “charming.” It included lean-tos and overlooks, among other things. “The only problem with it was that the highway was still there,” he said.

Ultimately there was not enough money raised privately to implement the plan.

Over the years the state’s interest in the Super 7 highway plan continued to run hot and cold. When the road plan emerged again in the mid-1980s, another opposition group, Citizens for A Sensible 7, headed by Mr. DeMasi, was organized.

By 1986, he said, the state had acquired 70% of the parcels it needed for Super 7. In 1992, his group started the Route 7 Natural History Inventory, bringing in 12 biologists to survey these parcels.

At that time, the state Department of Transportation wanted to mitigate (replace) wetlands with new ones, Mr. DeMasi said.

“We found 17 rare species,” he said, adding this became a strong legal challenge to the mitigation proposal.

There are now 10,000 specimens resulting from the survey at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.

When the state ran out of money in 1992, said Mr. DeMasi, the Route 7 plan was once again put on the back burner. In 1994, under Gov. Lowell Weicker’s administration, a task force was organized to see if greenways in the state could be connected. Mr. DeMasi organized a turnout at a public meeting on the issue that was led by Russell Brenneman, a well-known open space advocate.

“He wasn’t enthused about Super 7 (greenway), but I wanted the greenway — once called a linear park — without the road,” Mr. DeMasi said. Mr. Brenneman eventually came around to the idea.

On maps

That greenway is now on a state map and on a New York Times’ greenway map for the state of Connecticut, said Mr. DeMasi. He explained that this is significant because even if the political landscape changed, it was a precedent to have this greenway on a map.

Ms. Boucher “was very instrumental in repurposing the Route 7 land,” said Mr. DeMasi. “There are some very considerable parcels to be preserved in this project.”

He pointed to old forest in northern Wilton, deep ravines, and a huge wetland in Danbury along Route 7 behind the former Indian Trading Post. In Redding, he said, there are parcels with ravines along Old Olmstead Road and a butterfly meadow near his Simpaug Turnpike home. It is here that one of only three sedge moths have been found in the Northeast, he said.

Mr. DeMasi estimates the proposed greenway is about 20 miles long with three miles of it in Redding and another 12 or so in Wilton.

“I’m gratified the idea of a greenway is now in play,” Mr. DeMasi said. “It would be a wonderful thing for the communities to see this happen, and for me especially because of the people who said it couldn’t be done.”