TOWN OF SOMERS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

12/03/03 - 7:00 p.m.

Town Hall

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Karl Walton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Members present were:  Karl Walton; Lise Wood; Dan Fraro and Alternates August Helberg and Todd Whitford.  August Helberg was seated for Joan Formeister and Todd Whitford was seated for Maurice Rondeau.  Also present was:  David Askew, Wetlands Agent.

 

II.        OLD BUSINESS:

            a.            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Wetlands Application #486, Dock, Pond Dredging &

            Structures Within Upland Review Area, 359 Mountain Road, Roulier

 

            This item was deferred until after New Business because the applicant's Environmental Consultant was not present.

 

III.       NEW BUSINESS:

            a.            Wetlands Application #488, Logging & Fire Road in Wetlands, 459 Pinney Road,

            Wysocki

 

            Applicant Jim Wysocki stated that this is basically a logging operation and pointed out the wetland areas on the drawing. 

 

David Askew stated that basically this operation is a permitted use of right.  However, the applicant needs to put in a gravel road so a permit was required.  David requested that the wetland corridor be marked on the map.  There is one area on the west side that gets the majority of flow and (2) small culverts should handle this flow.  David suggested that the gravel through the wetland be compacted so it will not erode into the wetlands. 

 

Jim Wysocki would like this permit as soon as possible and was told that the earliest approval - per State Statute - would be two weeks and a Special Meeting would have to be scheduled. 

 

David Askew suggested putting in a corduroy road in order to get some of the logging done right away.  He asked to be notified before a corduroy road was put in and the applicant said they would put this road in on Monday, December 8th.

 

            b.            Wetlands Application #489, New House in Upland Review Area, 5 Partridge Run

            Horseshoe Lane Associates

 

            This was approved five years ago and the permit ran out last week.  The house location and the septic system are consistent with what was originally approved.  The house is 50' away from the wetland.  However, a permit renewal is required.  David Askew has no issues with this application.

 

Conservation Minutes

12/3/03

Page 2

 

            c.            Wetlands Application #490, New House in Upland Review Area, 112 Highland View

            Drive, Madsen

 

            Sandy Aeschliman, engineer for the applicant, said this application also was approved and

the term of the wetlands approval ran out.  The wetlands have been located.  This lot is part of the

Lomangino subdivision, A Somers Place, is quite large and includes the detention pond.

 

David Askew said a substantial 8' retaining wall is proposed.  Approval should be conditional on

a pre-construction meeting with the excavation contractor to make sure it is done correctly.  The

house will be 61' from the detention pond and the proposed inground pool is 36' away from the

pond.  The proposed septic system has been approved by the Sanitarian.

 

            d.            Wetlands Application #491, New House in Upland Review Area, 27 Suncrest Drive,

            Slomski

 

            Nat Sreenath, engineer for the applicant, stated the driveway will have to cross the wetlands in order to locate the house and septic system far enough away from the wetlands.  The proposed septic system is more than 50' from the wetland.  This parcel encompasses two lots of record. 

Each individual lot did not have enough room to satisfy the setback requirements.  There is

an intermittent watercourse running through the property that stays dry most of the time.

 

David Askew asked what would happen during a flood over the 50-year design storm of the culvert.

The project engineer, Nat Sreenath, said he would provide additional information regarding flooding.

 

David Askew asked for a pre-construction meeting to be sure that all erosion control measures are in place.

 

II.        OLD BUSINESS:

            a.            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Wetlands Application #486, Dock, Pond Dredging &

            Structures Within Upland Review Area, 359 Mountain Road, Roulier

 

            Mike Mocko, Environmental Analyst for the applicant, said application for the proposed dock has been made and he has drawn up detailed plans of the proposed activity.  He showed the

Commission a picture of a covered dock which will give access to canoes and row boats.  Minor

dredging is planned to make the water deep enough for canoes and row boats to move around.  An adjacent area in the pond will have an educational garden which could be of interest to YWCA and

YMCA youth groups.  There are (3) main stages:

1.            dredging of the pond and disposal of the sludge

2.         driving of piers to support the dock

3.            planting of native shrubs and flowers - which will give some structure to the bottom of

            the pond.

A shallow marsh area will be left undisturbed.  Maximum of 3' water depth at the edge of the dock,

going out to 8' depth on a gradual slope.  This area has high quality wildlife value. 

 

Mike showed the Commission a proposed site remediation  plan as well as the proposed erosion

 

Conservation Minutes

12/3/03

Page 3

 

control plan.  The planting plan is listed with the cross section of the wetland and includes shrubs, grasses and aquatic plants.  It is better to plant the bottom rather than let weeds come in.  There will be a handicapped access path with grasses and plants on both sides of the path.  This should provide a habitat for wildlife and a feeding ground for birds.

 

David Askew noted that the application includes construction of a number of out buildings.  A permit is needed for the proposed dredging.  The plan is to dredge, dry and truck up to the disposal area.  David said a turbidity curtain might be a good way to prevent movement during excavation.  Mike feels this is not necessary because there is no current and movement of soils should not occur during dredging.  David still wants to review this situation.

 

A silt fence and haybales will be used for erosion control.  Beaver activity was discussed which occurred last spring.  Some fill was placed in the beaver area which has since washed away.  This pond flows into Gillette Brook.

 

Lise Wood made a motion to approve Wetlands Application #4896 with the following conditions:

1.         A pre-construction meeting will be held.

2.         An inspector will be on-site during the dredging.

3.         Update on cubic yards within the dumping area.

4.         Staff will further evaluate the need for a sediment curtain and if it is required, it will

            be installed.

Gus Helberg seconded the motion which was unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

IV.            AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

 

            Ken Pryor, 364 Mountain Road  asked if dumping of fill into the pond was a violation. David Askew said there was no permanent filling of the pond.  If the fine ordinance

was in place, then a fine  may have been given to the owner when the filling occurred. 

 

            Blaine Buck of Juniper Hill Drive asked if the drawings prepared by Mike Mocko were signed and stamped.  David Askew said the plan has not been signed by the soil scientist which is required under the Wetlands Regulations.  He will require a signed map prior to the project start.

 

V.            STAFF/COMMISSION REPORT:

 

            David Askew reviewed his Wetland Agent's Report with the Commission.  A large portion of David's time has been spent at the Trappe logging operation on Scully Road.  He has walked the entire site with the forester.  Because of the amount of rainfall, additional erosion controls have been necessary.  Also, the forester voluntarily stopped work for several days because of the extremely wet conditions on the site.

 

David discussed a newspaper article with the Commission which states, in part, that Conservation Commissions can not stop development of property in order to protect wetlands wildlife.

 

Lise Wood made a motion to accept David Askew's report, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

Conservation Minutes

12/3/03

Page 4

 

VI.            CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS:

 

            There was one bill from the Journal Inquirer for $86.57.  Lise Wood made a motion to approve payment of this bill; seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

There was a brief discussion of (3) properties in town owned by Northeast Utilities that may be for sale and might be of interest to the Town as either Open Space or part of the Land Trust. 

 

VII.            MINUTES APPROVAL:            10/1/03; 11/5/03 and 11/19/03

 

            Lise Wood made a motion to approve all three sets of minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by the Commission.

 

VIII.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by Lise Wood; seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by the Commission.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Lise Wood, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.