Commuter lot changes underway
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Work began on the Kennedy Drive commuter lot revamp last week with Advance Resources putting in catch basins, piping and more to handle storm water. Currently the entrance closest to the former Eversource property is closed.
According to the plans approved by the town’s Inland-Wetlands Commission in August 2023:
The commission approved a plan to improve storm water quality. Currently the lot is curbed and the runoff is directed to a 1,250-gallon oil/water separator tank that, until recently, the town was unaware of. It had not been pumped or cleaned since it was installed more than 20 years ago, sending the water into the Quinebaug River, according to J&D Civil Engineers of Thompson.
The 2-acre lot is about 65 percent impervious, according to J&D.
The commission approved J&D’s plan to remove the curbing in the redesign which will allow parking lot runoff to “sheet flow” into a crushed stone infiltration swale and trench parallel to Kennedy Drive. J&D said: “In addition a new catch basin will be installed at the end of the existing River Trail municipal lot north of the infiltration basin. It will intercept runoff and direct it to the infiltration basin instead of the runoff flowing into Kennedy Drive. Therefore, this runoff will also be fully treated prior to entering the (Quinebaug” river.”
The improvement of storm water quality going into the river will meet the requirements of the 2004 CT DEEP Storm water Quality Manual, J&D said.
J&D’s report said: “Also, in warm weather when water levels in the river are low, the temperature of the runoff will be cooler than the existing condition which sends water straight from the hot asphalt to the river. This is better for the fish and river ecosystem.”
The old storm water tank has been removed and now work is continuing on building the new storm water system.
The lot was constructed after the Flood of 1955, Mayor Barney Seney said last year. The town bought the land from the American Legion.
Currently the lot has 112 spaces and plans call for, with all phases completed, 191 and that will include 15 electric vehicle charging stations. Seney said he hoped that two of those could be fast-charging stations, he said.
“I think this lot will address any parking needs for now and in the future,” Seney added.
The lot will be redesigned with the entrance nearest the busy Rt. 44/Kennedy Drive intersection being closed. The official entrance will go in further down Kennedy Drive, near the commuter lot/Eversource parcel “border.” Plans call for landscaping, EV charging stations and more.
.