This year flooding hit New Britain hard. Flooding has been experienced in Roxbury Rd, Newberry Street, Allen Street, Overlook Ave, and McKinley Drive causing residents to speak in front of the common council demanding solutions. But flooding is by no means new in New Britain. The most susceptible area for flooding in New Britain is Willow Brook Park where flooding could affect 60-80 properties and the New Britain Stadium. In 1992 a strong storm caused extensive flooding in Willow Brook totaling $660,000 worth of widespread damage. Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (CCRPA) predicts a 1% chance (once in 100 years) New Britain will face a major flooding which will result in 1,000 displaced households, 2500 people needing shelter, $29 million loss of residential building and content, and total economic losses of $94 million. Note that given climate change, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has now modified the 100-year flooding predictions to once in 8 years!
One major factor that contributes to flooding is the increasing impermeable surfaces in cities in Connecticut according to Mike Dietz, a UConn specialist on stormwater management (cited by October 8th CT Mirror article). As a result, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection of Connecticut issued new regulations to make sure more storm water is absorbed into the ground instead of flooding the streets. For example, the state now requires cities to remove every year 1% of its impervious surfaces such as paved driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks. While New Britain is trying to reduce impervious spaces by raising taxes on commercial properties’ impermeable surfaces, impermeable spaces throughout the city are increasing.
Here is a list of some major New Britain spaces that have turned from permeable to impermeable in the past 8 years:
- Costco – 5 acres of previously undeveloped with large trees on Route 71 (2015)
- Pinnacle Business park – undeveloped land sold to Polamer Precision Inc. (20 acres) (2022), and undeveloped land for New Britain Public Works Yard (2 acres) (2024)
- Two Football fields – artificial turf football fields (1.3 acre each) – Chesley park (2015) and Osgood Park (2023)
- Fast Track bus station – built on previous undeveloped tree area near Route 9 (1-2 acres) (2015)
- 2 asphalt tails – AW Stanely Park (1.2 miles – 4 acres) (2018) and Stanley quarter park trail (1.6 miles – 5 acres) (2023)
As the city of New Britain is facing more dangerous flooding in the future it might be advised to plan its developments with flood prevention in mind before it’s too late.
