TOWN OF SOMERS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

6/12/02; 7:00 p.m.

Town Hall

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Chairman Simon Lipton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Members present were:  Simon Lipton; Karl Walton; George Grant; Maurice Rondeau; Lise Wood and Joan Formeister (7:05).  Also present was David Askew, Wetlands Agent.

 

II.            AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:    There was none.

 

III.       OLD BUSINESS:

 

            Item (a) was deferred until the applicant or his engineer arrives.

 

            (b)            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Wetlands Application #448, Inground Pool

            In Upland Review Area, 42 Parson Road, Seagrave

 

            This application was reviewed at the last meeting.  The location of the pool backs up to a wetland line about 25' away.  The grade will not be changed.  Sediment and erosion control measures will be in place.  David should be notified when construction begins.

 

Lise Wood made a motion to approve Wetlands Application #448 with the requirement that David Askew is notified prior to construction so he can be sure that proper erosion control measures have been taken.  This motion was seconded by Maurice Rondeau and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

            (c)            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Wetlands Application #449, 13-Lot

            Resubdivision in Upland Review Area, 325 Billings Road, Gingras Builders

 

            This resubdivision plan was reviewed during the last Conservation Commission meeting.  David Askew said his main concern is to protect the wetland area and a trout-bearing stream on the property.  There is also an existing trail system somewhere in this area which should be located.   Possibly, a conservation easement would be in order.  David Askew would like to postpone his recommendation until he is able to research some of these items.

 

Karl Walton said there should be no rush because the Planning Commission needs to investigate Billings Road being a connector road with the existing Subdivision Regulation requirement of 800' between intersections.

 

David Askew suggested that a clearing limit line be designated on the final subdivision plan.

 

A future homeowner would be required to contact the Conservation Commission if they wanted to clear any property towards the wetland areas.  This might be better than having a conservation easement - which is very restrictive.

 

It was the consensus of the Commission to postpone a decision on this application until the next Conservation Commission meeting on July 3, 2002.

 

The Commission returned to Item (a) under Old Business.

 

            (a)            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Wetlands Application #447 (After the Fact)

            Wetland Filling for Parking Lot & Outdoor Growing Area, 164 Hampden Road,

            Grower Direct Farms, Inc.

 

            Lise Wood recused herself from discussion of this agenda item only.

 

            Mike Mocko, Environmental Consultant for the applicant, reviewed the original plan presented to the Commission last month.

 

However, Mr. VanWingerden has come up with an alternate plan.  He said the stream created (5) or (6) years ago was from accumulated roof run-off water.  It is about (3) to (4) feet wide and one foot deep.  He wants to call it an agricultural ditch - and would like to take this ditch and relocate it.  This would be about 100' to 200' of relocation.  The current wetlands would remain.  Some mitigation would occur with the relocation of this stream.  The outer banks would be lined with stone or rip-rap for stabilization.  There would be a wet meadow replacement area adjacent to the new pond that is being proposed.

 

David Askew said the last application that we considered was for a violation whereby a pond was filled in as well as a wet meadow wetland.  These areas were supposed to be mitigated.

 

Maurice Rondeau said he would like to see where the new pond is going to be located.  This is an ongoing change every time we meet.

 

Mike Mocko gave the Commission a breakdown of what has been going on as far as changes on the property.  He said Len VanWingerden feels that the man-made wetland he filled should not be a Conservation infraction.  The wet meadow wetland will be replaced when the pond is constructed.  Mike said that within a month, he would have the final remediation and future construction plans ready for review by the Commission.

 

David Askew said it would be inappropriate to make a decision on this application until we have a entire comprehensive plan.  He asked Mike Mocko to try to break the activity down into what would be a permitted use of right and what would not be a farming operation.  David  said it appears that Mr. VanWingerden is developing to the south where there is nothing but wetlands.

 

Mike Mocko said he will put the plan together and present it at the next Conservation Commission meeting on July 3, 2002.

 

Lise Wood returned to her Commission seat.

 

IV.       NEW BUSINESS:

            a.            Wetlands Application #450, Garage in Upland Review Area, 47 Avery

            Road, Lee

 

            David Askew said Avery Road is impacted by a flat wooded wetland system that runs in back of Manse Hill Road.  The wetland line has been delineated.  The applicant would like to build a garage and has presented a grading plan.  He will be required to put in a foundation wall to prevent construction material from going into the wetland.  It is a pretty steep elevation of about 35% for a short area; but the frost wall will protect the wetland area.  A silt fence will be required and other erosion control measures as well during the construction period.

 

            b.            Wetlands Application #451, Driveway/Bridge Crossing of Stream, ll2

            Wrights Brook Drive, Vamos

 

            David Askew stated that this is an "after-the-fact" permit.  The applicant put in an accessory driveway that crosses the brook over to a shed on his property.  He has about one-half to three-quarters of an acre on the other side of the stream.

 

The applicant brought in pictures which show (2) 30" culverts lined with stone.  An engineer verified that these culverts could easily handle the water flow and the  36" culvert on Therese Drive.

 

David Askew said it is a straight flow downstream and he has no issues with this application.  The applicant was able to access some useable land in the back of his property.  David does not see a need to modify the existing crossing.  However, Mr. Vamos was advised that any future activity involving wetlands must be reviewed by the Wetland Agent and possibly the Conservation Commission.

 

c.            Wetlands Application $452, Construct Swale in Upland Review Area,

            120 Pond Circle, Alpha Builders, Inc.

 

            This is the last lot at the end of Pond Circle.  The Commission approved the application for the house.  The wetlands come almost up to the house.  After the house was built, the applicant sloped the entire front of his property and filled in a wetland area.

 

The plan is to construct a berm in a location to collect the drainage and swale this out.  David Askew has to look at this site now that he has the plan before he makes a recommendation.  The applicant has to take care of any water they are displacing.

 

George Grant said the Commission needs something that shows the contours of what they have done and are proposing to do.

 

This is a very large lot - about (21) acres.  There is a conservation easement that covers almost half of the property.

 

            d.            Wetlands Application #453, Install Culvert for Driveway for New House,

            202 Root Road, Patsun Construction

 

            This is an existing large lot.  The culvert would be 170' off Wood Road.  The wetland line was delineated and approved as part of the subdivision approval.  The lot is very steep with a lot of water run-off going into the swale.  The applicant plans to install a 24" culvert with rip-rap on both sides.  The water will pass through the culvert and not onto the existing road.

 

This property is on the east side of Root Road.  There will be no loss of wetlands and no grade changes on the gravel road with this application.  The 100' buffer zone is in place.  There will be erosion control to catch any sediment coming off during the new driveway construction.

 

            e.            Wetlands Application #454, Construct Small Pond & Rip Rap Spill Way

            in Existing Stream, 534 Billings Road, Gale

 

            The house on this property was approved a few months ago.  There is a large wetland across the street.  There is a 18" pipe that goes into a drainage ditch that flows down into the golf course.  The applicant would like to hold some of the water back - but will have to come up with a more detailed construction plan.  David has no other issues with this application.

 

V.            STAFF/COMMISSION REPORT:

 

            David Askew reported that DOT and DEP have given notification that they will be issuing a permit to correct the curve on South Road at the Parker Road intersection.

 

A telephone vote was taken of Conservation Commissioners on 6/4/02.  They voted unanimously to donate the $700.00 in the Conservation Project budget, line item 90-36-652.1. to the Eagle Scout project of constructing a 10' x 24' handicapped accessible fishing platform at Somersville Pond on School Street.

 

David Askew reviewed his Wetland Agent's Report with the Commission.  The following are the highlights:

 

424 Hall Hill, Williams:  A plan for restoration of the wetland was received and must be implemented by 6/30/02.

 

Four Town Fairgrounds:            A restoration plan that was prepared by a wetland consultant was received.  David asked for two revisions, which the consultant will respond to in writing.

 

Crapser, Stafford Road:            Although there has been no logging on this site for several months, David found a skidder crossing one of the wetlands that is currently rutted and diverts a significant amount of flow away from the wetland.  David will write a letter to the owner, requiring that this area be restored.

 

Trappe, Scully Road:            Additional logging will be done on two sites.  David will be meeting with the forester to map out a cutting plan that will not endanger the wetlands.

 

David completed reviews/inspections of (15) new permits and (10) Certificates of Occupancy or return of lawn bonds.

 

Maurice Rondeau made a motion to accept David Askew's Wetland Agent's Report; seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

Simon Lipton introduced Dan Fraro to the Commission.  He will be an alternate on the Conservation Commission from the Water Pollution Control Authority.

 

VI.            CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS:

 

            There were two bills from the Journal Inquirer:  one for $47.22 and the other for $78.70.

 

Lise Wood made a motion to approve payment of these bills; seconded by Maurice Rondeau and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

Karl Walton made a motion to approve Simon Lipton to sign bills that might come in by the end of the fiscal year and before our next meeting.  This motion was seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

VII.            MINUTES APPROVAL:            May 8, 2002

 

            Maurice Rondeau made a motion to approve the 5/8/02 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Lise Wood.  The vote was:  (3) in favor; (0) opposed;  (2) abstentions (Walton and Grant).  The motion passed.

 

VIII.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn was made by George Grant; seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously approved by the Commission.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Joan Formeister, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary