Zoning Permit for Storrs Center Parking Garage/Intermodal Center in Final Stages

Design of the Storrs Center parking garage and Intermodal Transportation Center is underway, and Wednesday night, the Mansfield Downtown Partnership gave residents the opportunity to comment on the project’s preliminary plans. 

While a number of residents have raised concerns throughout the Storrs Center project’s process to date, only one resident voiced his opinion Wednesday night, saying that Mansfield needs more parking than it currently has.

Storrs Center officials said that the parking garage and intermodal center will provide much-needed parking for residents as well as retail and commercial businesses. A $10 million grant from the State of Connecticut for construction of the parking garage and a $4.9 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the intermodal center, awarded in 2008 and 2010 respectively, will aid in the construction of the project. 

In a PowerPoint presentation, Samuel Gardner of Gregg Wies & Gardner Architects, LLC (GWG), the New Haven firm selected to design the intermodal center, showed some early schematic designs for the project and said the goal is for the intermodal center to serve as a "state-of-the-art transportation facility” for bicycles, buses, cars and pedestrians. “The notion is to commit seamless connection with all of these transit users,” he said. 

Gardner said that plans include:

• a waiting area for commuters;
• an information/help desk;
• vending;
• travel information displays (i.e. TVs, kiosks);
• elevators and stairs connecting to the parking and mezzanine levels;
• bike storage areas and a retail operator for bike repairs;
• commuter showers and changing rooms at the mezzanine level;
• car and bike sharing programs; and a
• parking garage pay station for entry and exit.

Gardner said that all of the project's amenities have “sustainable designs and approaches.”

For those who were unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting, the Mansfield Downtown Partnership will accept written testimony from residents until Monday, May 9.

Residents may send their questions and comments to PO Box 513, Storrs, CT 06268 or via e-mail to mdp@mansfieldct.org

After reviewing residents’ submissions, Mansfield Director of Planning will be left to determine whether the zoning permit application meets the approval criteria for the Storrs Center Special Design District, which has established guidelines for the Market Square, Residential areas, Town Square and Village Street.