P.O. BOX 308
Wednesday, January 4,
2006
7:00 p.m. Town
Hall
Chairman Joan
Formeister called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Joan Formeister, Dan Fraro, Lise
Wood and Todd Whitford were present and constituted a quorum. Wetlands Agent David Askew was also
present.
II.
OLD
BUSINESS
a.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #528, 25-lot Subdivision, Battle Street,
Leno
Sandy Aeschliman, of Aeschliman Land
Surveyors, presented revised plans on behalf of Ric Leno, KRL Builders, which
include 25 lots situated on 60 acres located north of Eleanor
Lane.
The plans showed both the old and new
flood lines. Mr. Aeschliman, at the
request of Steve Jacobs and David Askew, has located the October 2005 flood
limit lines from the site and included them on these plans. The new lines are quite different from
the flood limits designated previously, and are also different from the NRCS
Flood Study.
Mr. Askew and Mr. Jacobs wanted a soil
scientist to redelineate the wetland along the brook and it should include all
alluvial soils. The wetlands along this area are being considered primarily for
flood storage value and not for other wetland functions. There is a plus/minus factor existing on
the flood line making it impossible at this time to guarantee the accuracy of
the flood line. This factor creates
even tighter building areas along the Battle Street portion of the
application.
Mr. Aeschliman noted that because of
this, it is quite possible that there will not be enough continuous buildable
area to create 3 lots along Battle Street so the area may need to be
reconfigured into 2 building lots.
Lot 16 is still considered to be on the
tight side and may contain a vernal pool.
The location of the possible pool is somewhat isolated from the proposed
building area, but the home should be situated as close to the 50-foot street
line as possible to provide a reasonable area for a back yard and future
appurtenant structures.
Mr. Askew agreed that each of the 3
Battle Street lots are very tight and there would be no room available for extra
structures or appurtenances. He
would prefer the plans showing a 2-lot configuration along Battle
Street.
Discussion followed that if the plans
were rejected as proposed because of the designation of 3 lots along Battle
Street, another application, as well as the usual application fee, would be
requested from KRL Builders before the Commission could receive the newly
designated 2-lot plan for consideration.
It was the consensus that the requested modifications to the plans be set
as a condition of approval, and that a requirement be added that the plans be
shown to this Commission once modifications are made.
A motion was made by Todd Whitford,
seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously voted to approve Wetlands Application
#528, 25-lot subdivision, Battle Street, Leno, with the following
conditions: that the design noted
on the plan for Lot 16 showing the home situated at the front of the lot within
the 50 foot street line be kept in place; that the 3 lots shown on Battle Street
be revised to designate 2 lots and the revised plans be subject to a favorable
review of the Conservation Commission; and that there be a placement of a
hydrodynamic separator near Brookside Drive as a pre-treatment to the detention
basin.
b.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #529, New House in Upland Review Area, Manse Hill
Road (Mickelson-Dera Property) Pioneer Builders of Ellington,
Inc.
Todd Whitford
recused himself from the meeting at this time. Because there was no longer a quorum, no
votes could be taken on this matter.
The applicant expressed concern over not receiving a decision at this
meeting because her mortgage commitment is expiring January 14, 2006, and the
mortgage company is requesting a copy of the final decision. In order to accommodate her, a consensus
was made to hold a special Conservation Commission meeting to vote on this
application on January 9, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. if a quorum was
available.
For purposes of
discussion, Jay Ussery, J.R. Russo Associates, presented plans for the
applicants. He reviewed that the
property is situated at the end of a cul-de-sac included in a previously
approved subdivision. The 9-acre
lot has frontage along Durkee Road and consists of mostly wetlands affiliated
with the Scantic River. The
applicant is proposing building a 2,100 square-foot, one-story home and separate
garage. A portion of the house is
within the upland review area. Mr.
Ussery noted that there were no un-addressed issues and Mr. Askew
agreed.
David Askew
presented a letter received from Duncan Reid, 52 Manse Hill Road, which
included comments regarding the small size of the cul-de-sac and the
difficulties currently resulting from this with respect to mail deliveries,
school busses and other large vehicles and equipment as well as the issue of
snow plowing and snow removal. Mr.
Reid also included a request that the Commission consider access to the site by
way of Durkee Road as an alternative to a Manse Hill Road
driveway.
Mr. Askew noted
that the issues included in the letter really cannot be addressed by this
Commission because they are not associated with any impact to the
wetland.
Mrs. Formeister received an email from
another abutter, Judy and Bill Jamroz, 55 Manse Hill Road, which also
mentioned concern over the current size of the cul-de-sac and what impact
another driveway would have on current conditions. She responded to the email by saying
that the Conservation Commission can really only make decisions regarding
wetlands issues, but their letter would be discussed, and that driveway access
from Durkee Road has been considered and would impact wetlands a lot
more.
Todd Whitford
rejoined the meeting at this time.
c.
Other - No
other Old Business was presented.
a.
Wetlands Application #530, New House in Upland Review Area & Driveway
Crossing Wetlands, 120 Florida Road, Ferro
Stacy and Greg
Ferro and Steve Barnes presented preliminary plans for a new home proposed for
the lot at 120 Florida Road.
Because at this time they are only seeking the Commission’s input as to
the feasibility of the project, formal plans have not yet been prepared for
presentation.
The site will
take a septic system, Mr. Barnes noted, but needs wetland approval because the
driveway as proposed will need to cross the wetlands. Mr. and Mrs. Ferro commented that they
chose this site because it is very wooded and they expect to keep the site in as
natural a state as possible.
It was noted by
David Askew that this site may currently be included on a map of endangered
species because of a past sighting of a spadefoot toad. He also added that the lot includes some
very steep areas and he would definitely need to see a plan including the
topography of the area for a comprehensive review.
The site
includes wooded wetlands and vernal pools which are ecologically sensitive. A Supreme Court decision recently stated
that you need to have physical impact on the wetlands in order to deny an
application based on habitat issues, and this applicant is not proposing any
such impact, only seeking to cross a small area of wetland and
stream.
There is a small
wetland area on the site which appears to be man-made. The Commission requested that Mr. and
Mrs. Ferro seek alternatives to filling that area.
Mr. Askew asked
that both a grading plan and clearing limits be included on the
plans.
b.
2006/2007 Budget
Mr. Askew
presented copies of the proposed 2006/2007 budget for review. A motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded
by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to approve the budget as
presented.
c.
Other - No
other New Business was presented.
There was no new
information to present.
David Askew
presented the Wetland Agent’s Report for review. After brief discussion, a motion was
made by Joan Formeister, seconded by Todd Whitford and unanimously voted to
approve the Report as presented.
The following
changes were made to the December 7, 2005 minutes: Page 2, last paragraph,
first line, “Lockwood” was changed to “Loughlin”. Page 3, third paragraph, first line,
“Dan” was changed to “Dann”.
A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
approve the minutes of the December 7, 2005 meeting as
amended.
A motion was
made by Lise Wood, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to adjourn the
January 4, 2006 Conservation Commission 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.