TOWN OF SOMERS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

P.O. BOX 308

SOMERS, CONNECTICUT 06071

 

CONSERVATION MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

7:00 p.m.

 

I.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Chairman Joan Formeister called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.  Members Joan Formeister, Dan Fraro, Sarah Moynihan, Karl Walton, and Lise Wood were present and constituted a quorum.

 

II. OLD BUSINESS  

 

a.  Wetlands Application #515, 3-Lot Subdivision within Upland Review Area, Parker and South Roads, Gessay and Ludwig

 

Representing the applicants was Tim Coon from J. R. Russo & Associates.  He reviewed with the Commission the applicants’ plan to construct a 3-lot subdivision on the westerly side of Parker Road, where it borders with South Road (Route 83).  He added that drainage improvements had been included on Parker Road so that runoff is taken care of, eventually draining into a plunge pool.   The wetlands consist of a red maple swamp.

 

Dave Askew contacted Joan Formeister prior to the meeting and asked that the construction limits be marked prior to clearing and that a pre-construction meeting be held.  Other than those items, he had no issues with the application.

 

A motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to approve Wetlands Application #515, 3-Lot Subdivision within Upland Review Area, Parker and South Roads, Gessay and Ludwig, with two conditions, that the applicants have a pre-construction meeting with David Askew and that the boundaries of the construction areas be clearly marked before clearing and construction begin.

 

b.  Other 

 

Discussion followed about the balance of the Conservation projects money from this year being used for plantings in the new courtyard area of the high school.  Joan Formeister stated that she had been told that the balance from last year was supposed to have been set aside for plantings, but had never heard any evidence of such taking place.  She will call First Selectman David Pinney or Treasurer Ed Sullivan as a follow-up and report back to the Commission at the next meeting.

 

III.  NEW BUSINESS

 

a. Wetlands Application #517, Deck within Upland Review Area, 32 Scully Road, King

 

Mr. King presented plans and stated that he had spoken with David Askew and learned about a somewhat similar plan that had been approved for an Applicant Falcone in 1999.  He brought a copy of the approval with him for the Commission’s review.  Mr. King’s application differed in that it did not include an addition to the home the way Mr. Falcone’s did.  Additionally, Mr. King’s application was for a deck that would go out 16 feet from the home towards the wetlands.  The Falcone deck application had included a 24-foot extension from the home.

 

It was noted that the house had originally been built within the 50-foot limit from the wetlands.  

 

b.   Wetlands Application #518, Septic System Line Crossing Through Intermittent Watercourse, 359 Mountain Road, Worthington Pond Farm, LLC

 

The Commission reviewed the plans which included the installation of a septic system at 359 Mountain Road.  The septic construction plans include crossing a bridge and intermittent stream with 4-inch PVC piping.   Mr. Askew’s main concern is that the laying of the pipe needs to be done in the intermittent stream crossing when the area is dry.  This requirement is to be noted as a condition of approval.  Once construction is complete, there is to be no permanent impact to the wetlands.

 

c.  Wetlands Application #519, Driveway Crossing and New House within Upland Review Area, 67 Franklin Woods Road, Boudreau 

 

Mr. Boudreau presented plans for his home and explained that they include a proposed driveway which extends across a rip rap.  The rip rap flows from a retaining pond constructed by the Town and eventually connects through to Gillette Brook.   The applicants are seeking the Commission’s approval to include the installation of a 30-inch pipe which will carry the water under the driveway and back into the waterway.

 

 

 

d.  Other

 

No other New Business was presented.

 

IV.  AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

 

There was none.

 

V.  DISCUSSION:  PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

 

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

 

VI.   STAFF/COMMISSION REPORTS 

 

None were presented.  

 

VII.   CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS 

 

None were presented.

 

VIII.  MINUTES APPROVAL

 

A motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2005 meeting as written.

 

A motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the March 17, 2005 meeting as written.

 

IX.  ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Sarah Moynihan and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                        Lise Wood, Secretary

           

Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.