Major changes could be coming to Westfield Avenue as the state moves forward with plans to build a northbound ramp to Route 8 at exit 18.
The Valley Council of Governments held an informational meeting at City Hall Wednesday night to discuss a new design for the project
Engineers made changes after the public complained about its effect on the neighborhood at a hearing in March of 2008.
The new, “alternative plan,” as it was called Wednesday, would divide Westfield Avenue in two parts, and install a cul-de-sac and roundabout leading to the new ramp (see map).
It is still very much in the proposal stage, officials said.
The new Westfield Avenue would be divided at Tidmarsh Bakery, 66 Westfield Ave. and before StelRay Plastic’s parking lot. The roundabout will end northbound at Stelray’s and the ramp will start directly across from Stelray.
Richard Dunne, executive director of Valley Council of Governments, told the group of 26 people who attended the informational meeting at Ansonia City Hall that the ramp would meet two goals.
“First, it will deal with traffic exiting Route 8 with Division Street to use more substantial secondary roads like Division Street, Seymour Avenue and Wakelee Avenue rather than narrow residential streets like Westfield Avenue,” Dunne said.
“Second it allows traffic generated by Griffin Hospital and other medical offices in the area to immediately access Route 8 north rather than to compel traffic to transverse the width of Ansonia along Wakelee Ave to get to Interchange 19 to Seymour,” he said.
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Westfield Avenue Route 8 North
The businesses from Stelray Plastics on would be preserved.
In the prior plan, several properties, including the Ansonia-Westfield Veterinary Hospital and KinderCare Learning Center, would have been taken by the state, along with “partial takings” of four parcels from 133 to 149 Wakelee Ave. owned by Stelray president Larry Saffran.
The two full takings and four partial takings would have been necessary, according to the 2008 plan, to make an additional one way road off Wakelee Avenue for access to medical offices on Westfield Avenue. The public — and Ansonia officials — opposed those takings.
However, in the new plan, only one property is proposed to be eliminated to make way for the construction.
The property is 71 Westfield Ave. and owned by Jacqueline and Jose Peccerillo, who are listed in town records as buying the property for for $215,000 in August 2006.
The Peccerillos were at the meeting Wednesday. Jacqueline Peccerillo asked that the project be revised so that her property can remain as is.
Steve Degen, of the state Department of Transportation, said the state will attempt to negotiate a purchase price before attempting eminent domain, as per protocol.
Dunne said the plan is still preliminary and that public comments would be taken into consideration before a final plan was approved.
The plan also calls for the installation of 1,500-foot sound barriers along Westfield Avenue to shield neighbors from noise.
The plan includes installing sidewalks on the business side of Westfield Avenue and creating a 40-foot buffer of trees between the roundabout and cul-de-sac.
Resident Reaction
Beverly Tidmarsh, of 77 Westfield Ave., was the first to speak. She was concerned with the height of the noise barriers and questioned whether they would be sufficient.
“I have to tell you that the noise from the traffic at this point is deafening. I can’t imagine the noise we will tolerate,” Tidmarsh said. “Someone should come out to our house to show how close that plan is to our house. It really will have an effect on the quality of our life.”
Dunne told Tidmarsh that they can schedule a field visit.
Tidmarsh then addressed the possible taking of 71 Westfield Ave.
“On this plan, the taking of that property is terrible,” said Tidmarsh. “I wouldn’t want it if it were my house.”
Several other residents voiced concerns about the possible taking of the Peccerillo property.
Dunne met with the Peccerillos at the end of the meeting and showed another conceptual plan that would keep the property intact.
However, that plan decreased the tree buffer between the property and the ramp from 40 feet to 10 feet.
Doran Degan, the DOT’s project manager, said that there may be some benefits if the family sells the land.
“They need to have someone sit down and explain benefits they are entitled too,” Degan said.
John Zaleski, owner of Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home at 17 Wakelee Ave., said the construction would eliminate direct access to his business from Route 8 and Westfield Avenue.
However, Zaleski said he would be willing to make concessions if there were direction signs off the highway.
The project is expected to cost $5 million dollars and would take two years to completed. Construction could start in 2011.
