Traffic Calming Survey

Mayor Jackson agreed to work with the residents of Hamden on a town wide "Traffic Calming" initiative during his term.  The first step the Mayor proposed, in the Town budget, was to initiate a traffic study to determine traffic speed, volume and safety criteria in the Town of Hamden. The results of this study coupled with the input of Hamden's residents on Traffic Calming Measures can contribute to the "Smart Growth" neighborhood environments including the Spring Glen Village District.

Traffic Calming changes street scape design to give greater emphasis to pedestrians, cyclists and residents. It often involves reallocating road space to increase the portion of right-of-way devoted to bicycle lanes, sidewalks and green space. Some features, such as wider sidewalks and improved crosswalks, roundabouts and speed humps are common traffic calming measures. As "street reclaiming" emphasizes action by neighborhood residents to change the way their streets are perceived and used to better accommodate non-motorized activities, this process is seen as increasing the social, cultural, recreational and economic activity in neighborhood streets. It is intended to change the way that people think about and use public streets to encourage interaction and increase residents’ involvement in their community.

Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Project

Are you aware of the Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Project and the potential (but not likely) impact to the Spring Glen area?  To find out more information, go to http://www.newhallinfo.org/

You may also be interested in the truck route proposal.  At this time it does not appear to affect Spring Glen.  Trucks will be travelling down Putnam Avenue to Whitney Avenue to Davis Street to Ridge Road to State Street.  The entire path is south of the Spring Glen neighborhood.


Letter from SGCA President to
Adam Zonas, Hamden Planning & Zoning

Dear Adam,

Thank you for your time this morning.  I got another complaint today that you may or may not be aware of.  It is 45 Park Ave. There are two unregistered vehicles in the driveway and a 3rd parked permanently on the street.   I believe that the inoperable vehicles in the driveway constitute a junk yard. In addition, there are overgrown tress or bushes that interfere with power lines.

Just to summarize, we have properties that we are concerned about at these addresses and we are looking forward to a reply regarding followup:

40 Waite St (corner of Coram and Waite)
45 Park Ave.
43 Swarthmore St.
XX Russell St. (dumpster at foreclosed home)

Sincerely,
Elaine M. Dove
President, Spring Glen Civic Association

Letter from SGCA President to
Spring Glen Residents

Dear Spring Glen Residents,

The State DOT is putting new traffic lights in along Whitney Ave. from New Haven to Skiff St.  In their zeal to complete this project, the contractor is putting new poles in the MIDDLE of the existing sidewalks. They are not just replacing the poles in the same configuration as the current poles, but actually moving them to other locations nearby.  You may have noticed the painted markings on your walks. I believe the traffic lights will remain in the same locations along Whitney. If the poles are placed in their designated locations, the sidewalks will become impossible to navigate. Since this section of Whitney Ave is heavily traveled by people, it will become difficult and dangerous to travel safely along the sidewalk in some places.  Additionally, if the sidewalk is to be ADA approved, the sidewalk will need to be expanded, which means that homeowners will be losing a lot more of their front yards.

As your representative, I have contacted State Senator Marty Looney letting him know that the members of the Spring Glen Civic Association are concerned that this project has not been reviewed adequately.  I also told him that the neighborhood has not been notified, nor have the adjacent neighbors been notified that their property will be affected if sidewalks are expanded. I also wondered if there has been a mistake made in this project. I requested that he help us get this project stopped until adequate review by the neighborhood and Town has been made.

What can you do?  Please contact the following representatives and ask for their help in getting this project stopped until more review has been completed.  Contact the following representatives:

Senator Martin Looney: Looney@senatedems.ct.gov
Joe Crisco: Crisco@senatedems.ct.gov
Rep. Cam Staples: Cam9123@hotmail.com
Brendan Sharkey: Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov

Letter from Hamden Mayor, Scott Jackson, to Spring Glen Residents

Dear Neighbor:

As a civic leader in Hamden , I am sure that you are aware how important traffic safety issues are to each of our neighborhoods.  During the campaign, while knocking on doors, traffic speed and volume emerged as the issue of concern mentioned most frequently by Town residents.

For this reason, Representative Peter Villano and I have scheduled a community workshop to discuss traffic calming on January 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm in Thornton Wilder Auditorium at the Miller Library Complex.

The goal of the meeting is not only to discuss traffic calming, but to offer our community stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the “traffic calming toolbox”, get together in their own neighborhoods or commercial districts, and return to the Town before the passage of the final 2010-2011 budget concrete and specific recommendations for what you would like to see implemented.

We will be joined by several guest speakers experienced in this field who will describe a sound traffic management program as well as the costs and benefits of traffic calming options.  We will distribute to each attendee, and make available on our Town website at www.hamden.com, a Traffic Calming Resource Guide to assist you in subsequent neighborhood-based planning sessions.

We look forward to seeing you at this workshop and encourage you to share this information with others in your community.  Please notify Gerry Tobin in my office at (203) 287-7100 to RSVP for this important event.

Sincerely,
Scott D. Jackson
Mayor

Updated Zoning Documents Available

The Proposed Amendments to the Zoning Regulations and Zoning Map have been formally submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Both are available in one document, by going to the Town of Hamden's website, scroll down to the section containing the new text and map, as well as at the Planning and Zoning Office and the Town Clerk's Office.

New SGCA President

We are pleased to announce that Elaine Dove has taken on the role of SGCA President as of September 10, 2009.  David Hennigan has stepped down from the position in order to run for Legislative Council in the 4th District.  Welcome Elaine and good luck David!

Spring Glen Village District Overlay

The Spring Glen Village District Overlay was passed by a vote of 4-1 by the Zoning Section of the Planning & Zoning Commission at 9:20 pm on June 23, 2009.  It will go into effect on July 15, 2009.

The SGCA is very pleased with the outcome, and appreciates the efforts of those who worked on this project, signed petitions, sent in letters and emails, attended meetings and came out to speak in favor of the overlay at the public hearing.   It is through the continued support of Spring Glen residents, for the SGCA's mission, that makes our neighborhood and wonderful place to live.  Thank you and congratulations!


New Haven Register Articles on SmartCode in Hamden

October 23, 2008
Q&A Set on Hamden Zoning Changes

October 16, 2008
Hamden Zoning Session Spurs Debate

September 29, 2008
Growth plan fails to impress Spring Glen residents

September 23, 2008
Hamden to Unveil New Zoning Rules at Meeting

May 14, 2008
Architectural Event Looks at Layout of City

October 30, 2007
Hamden Residents Say, ‘What if ...’


Haverford Street & Ridge Road Intersection

Media coverage regarding the intersection at Haverford Street and Ridge Road in Spring Glen can be found through the links below.



September 8, 2008 - WTNH, Channel 8
September 11, 2008 - WTNH, Channel 8