SOMERS,
CT 06071
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 7, 2007
TOWN
HALL – 7:00 P.M.
Chairman
Joan Formeister called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Henry Broer, Joan Formeister,
Dan Fraro and Todd Whitford and Alternate member Lise Wood (seated for Karl
Walton) were present and constituted a quorum. Wetland Agent David Askew was also
present.
A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Todd Whitford and unanimously voted to
add Wetlands Application #571, 58 Schneider Road (Bierman Property), Town of Somers to the agenda under
New Business, d.
Other.
A
motion was made by Dan Fraro, seconded by Todd Whitford and unanimously voted to
address the New Business Items prior to the Old Business
Items.
III. NEW
BUSINESS
a.
Wetlands Application #568, Demolition of House & Foundation in Upland
Review Area, 27 South Road, Shady Lake LLC
Mr.
Askew reviewed the plan with the Commissioners, noting that development of the
site for age-restricted housing is anticipated. At this time, the applicant is seeking
to remove a small house and foundation.
The house is situated next to the access way that goes into Shady Lake at
27 South Road. The structure is
located approximately 15 feet away from the brook but there is enough bank
between the excavation and the stream so that the bank is not likely to
collapse. It is also a shallow
foundation so the work can be completed in a single day. The foundation hole will be backfilled
with clean fill. Mr. Askew does not have any issues with the
application.
b.
Wetlands Application #569, New House in Upland Review Area, 70 Scully
Road, Barnes
The
applicant, Mr. Barnes, purchased the property last year and now is seeking to
re-subdivide so as to add an extra lot.
The proposed house, driveway and septic are within the upland review
area. No direct impacts to wetlands
are proposed. Mr. Askew explained
that the wetlands on the parcel where the home is to be located do not have much
habitat value and serve primarily to collect surface and groundwater. Wetlands on the parcel are small
isolated features and they are not vernal pools. The previously approved house on the
adjacent lot is downslope from this parcel. Curtain drains were required on the
adjacent lot for construction of the septic. There is also a stream on the property
farther away from the proposed development to the south. There is currently a culvert across
Turnpike Road.
Mr.
Askew noted that his one concern with this type of lot is that it is very tight
and future proposals for typical residential improvements like shed and pools
will be difficult to construct without altering wetlands. The limited lot area also increases the
likelihood of violations by future homeowners. Mr. Barnes noted that he is going to put
a notation on the deeds when he sells the lots restricting what will be built or
placed on the lots. He will present
this information at a future meeting.
c.
Wetlands Application #570, NRCS Stream Restoration, 56, 62 and 96 Gulf
Road (Property of Haun, Williams & Whitney), Town of
Somers
Mr.
Askew explained the project, which involves stream restoration on three
properties that were damaged by flooding in October 2005. The NRCS is going to access through
Whitney’s property at 96 Gulf Road.
They will be working within the stream through the entire course of the
project area. The plan is to
dewater and pipe everything around, go into the stream and install rip rap along
the sides. They will also put rip
rap into the center of the stream so as to re-establish the bottom of the stream
and prevent it from being scoured out again.
The
project is being done under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service is doing the engineering and providing 75% of the
cost of construction and the DEP will take care of the other 25%, through a
reimbursement to the town. NRCS
will have construction inspectors on the site the entire time that the project
is being completed.
Mr.
Askew noted that projects like this could be considered as a significant
activity. However, Mr. Askew
explained that the project has been reviewed by the state DEP and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services and improvements have been made in the project to enhance
fisheries.
Temporary
easements are needed from the homeowners, and Mr. Askew is in the process of
negotiating with them at this time.
d.
Other – Wetlands Application #571, 58 Schneider Road (Bierman Property),
Town of Somers
This
application was received yesterday, in time to put onto the agenda. Mr. Askew presented the plans, noting
that this is another flood repair project.
The project is just downstream from the northern most crossing of the
Scantic River as it crosses Springfield Road. During the October 2005 flood there was
substantial bank erosion and the new top of bank is within 20 feet of a home on
Schneider Road. This project will
involve a lot of rip rapping and bank protection. In addition, sediment deposits left from
the flood will be removed and portions of the bank will be reshaped. This project is also being done under
the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. It has received the same level of
environmental review at the state and federal level.
II. OLD
BUSINESS
a.
Review and Adopt Bylaws
Everyone
has received a copy of the Bylaws and no revisions were
suggested.
b.
Other
– There was
no other Old Business.
There was no discussion on
this item.
Mr.
Askew presented his report and reviewed it with the Commissioners, noting that
he has spent a lot of time working on the flood projects. He has also written a letter to Mr.
Jalbert about the erosion control at his subdivision on Mountain View Road. He noted that erosion controls were put
in place just prior to the recent rainstorm and they appear to be holding up
well at this time. Mr. Askew also
took care of a violation involving an approved pond excavation on Partridge Run
Drive. The problem, involving
discharge of water into a stream, has been resolved.
A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
approve the Wetland Agent’s Report as written.
A
letter was received from the State Department of Transportation notifying the
Commission that a renewal for the inland wetland watercourses permit has been
submitted for the project at the intersection of Route 83 and Parker
Road.
A
new Best Management Practices Guidebook for Forestry was received from the
DEP.
Notice was received of the
DEP 2007 Municipal Inland Wetland Training Session to be held on March 24,
2007.
The
word “for” was added on Page 2 in Section VI, on the first line just prior to
the word “review”. A motion was
made by Dan Fraro, seconded by Henry Broer and unanimously voted to approve the
February 7, 2007 minutes as amended.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
adjourn the March 7, 2007 Conservation Commission meeting at 7:50
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Candace
Aleks, Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT
MEETING.