CONSERVATION COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 308
Wednesday, November 2,
2005
7:00 p.m.
Chairman Joan
Formeister called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Joan
Formeister, Dan Fraro, Karl Walton, Lise Wood and Todd Whitford (arrived at
7:10 p.m.) were present and constituted a quorum. Also present: Wetlands
Agent David Askew.
A motion was
made by Karl Walton, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved to take the
agenda out of order.
II.
OLD BUSINESS
b.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #527, Commercial Addition in Upland Review Area, 59
Field Road, Ulitsch
The
applicant is proposing to add on to his building at 59 Field Road known as
Protek Auto Works. The commercial
expansion would consist of slab construction at the rear of the building. Once completed, the new area would serve as
indoor storage for motorcycles.
Mr.
Askew noted that the wetland, all of which has been flagged, will not be
impacted by the construction. Mr. Askew
contacted Connecticut Water Company to inform them of the proposal.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to
approve the wetlands application.
c. Discussion/Possible Decision: Wetlands Application #528, 25-lot
Subdivision, Battle Street, Leno
Ric
Leno was not in attendance. Mr. Askew
stated that he has walked the property and additional information is needed. In order to protect water quality in
Gilletes Brook, the detention basin should be designed as a water quality basin
to conform to CT Guidelines for Stormwater Quality Other stormwater discharges should also be
treated. In addition, a few lots that
contain wetlands may have insufficient room for typical residential
appurtenances. Mr. Askew also noted
that there is one lot which is very close to a vernal pool. Mr. Askew will send a letter requesting
additional information.
The
item was tabled for further discussion at a future meeting. There is still time pending on the
application.
a. Discussion/Possible Decision: Wetlands Application #524, Grading in Upland
Review Area, Pond Dredging and Filling of Wetland, 164 Hampden Road, Grower
Direct
Environmental
Consultant Mike Mocko summarized his second monthly site report regarding the
activities on the site and noted that he will be delivering a written report in
the near future. Work has been
continuing to maintain erosion control at the site. With all the recent flooding, there were no large erosion
problems, except for some sedimentation in the pond, and sediment deposition in
Thrashers Brook resulting from upstream erosion.
Mr. Mocko
presented revised plans for the three terraces to be used as outdoor growing
areas. The terraces, are currently under construction and stone
walkways have been laid between them.
Irrigation systems are being set up.
Runoff will be
moved through filtration swales and end up in containment basins. The length of the swale is designed to
infiltrate much of the water runoff.
The flow of the water through the system is meant to be kept at a slow
velocity in order to prevent damage from the water movement. Rock rip is proposed so that once the basins
fill, they will overflow and water will be dropped 6 feet down through the rip
rap to the next berm. It was noted that
the rip-rap will need to be installed prior to channeling the water through the
area.
Because the pond
is still receiving sediment at this time, David Askew asked about the proposed
construction time-table. He was
concerned because work in the area appears hap-hazard. Since the dredging is still 9 months into
the future, the situation, particularly with respect to the sediment, needs to
be improved substantially prior to that time.
Discussion as to
how to make these improvements followed and Mr. Mocko and Mr. VanWingerden agreed
to enlarge the existing sediment basin by at least one cell
The applicant
would like to square up the growing area and have a curtain shade retaining
wall along the outside of what has already been built.
Mr. Askew stated
that construction work has been occurring over the last 3 or 4 months while the
permit process is still pending.
Permits are to be obtained before construction is done so that all plans
can be reviewed, which may be helpful to the applicant as well as to the town. Mrs. Formeister added that permits are required by law and, even though proposed
activities may be approved, it is necessary to comply with the rules and
regulations of the Town by going through the permit process.
Mr. Askew also
noted that much of the remaining land on the parcel available for expansion,
particularly to the south of the existing growing area, is predominantly
wetland. If the wetlands continue to be
chipped away in this manner, they will slowly disappear. Mr. Walton added that the property is quite
large and contains land that is not wetland, which could have been used for the
construction.
Mr. VanWingerden
said that he has replaced much of the wetlands and improved the area from the
way it was when he purchased it. He
has added to the amount of wetlands on the site so that now there are more than
when he purchased the site originally.
Discussion
followed as to where the materials from the dredging will be taken. They will be removed from the site or used
as fill in non-wetland areas.
Mr. VanWingerden
stated that he would also like to extend the shipping and receiving and parking
area. This would require extending the
pipes in order to allow for better drainage.
He would also like to shift the road further into the wetlands and
construct a rock rip rap slope.
Mr. Askew noted
that this would involve more wetland filling and he would need specific
information as to the amount of square footage of the wetland area which would
be impacted. The applicant was asked to
provide this information prior to the next meeting.
A letter of
extension is necessary for the application to continue to the next
meeting. Mike Mocko will take care of
this letter and submit it, along with his written monthly activity report.
d.
Other -- No other Old Business was presented.
a. Other – No New Business was presented.
The next POCD
meeting will be held on November 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. and the Economic
Development Commission has been invited to attend.
A motion was
made by Todd Whitford, seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to approve
the Wetland Agent’s Report as written.
At 8:10 p.m. Chairman Formeister left the meeting and Karl Walton was seated as Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.
Approval of the minutes was tabled because not everyone had received copies of them.
A motion was
made by Lise Wood, seconded by Todd Whitford and unanimously
approved to
adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lise Wood, Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.