SOMERS,
CT 06071
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 4, 2007
TOWN
HALL – 7:00 P.M.
Chairman
Joan Formeister called the regular meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Members Candace Aleks, Henry Broer, Joan
Formeister, Dan Fraro, Louis Lipton, Karl Walton, Todd Whitford and Alternate
member Lise Wood were present and constituted a quorum. Wetland Agent David Askew was also
present.
The
Commission welcomed new member Louis Lipton.
II. OLD
BUSINESS
a.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #568, Demolition of House & Foundation in Upland
Review Area, 27 South Road, Shady Lake LLC
Mr.
Askew explained that the applicant proposes demolishing the small house and
foundation on the South Road site.
The structure is located about 10 feet away from the brook, but work will
not impact the wetlands. Removal
and refilling of the foundation should not take more than a day. Mr. Askew does not have any issues with
the application.
A
motion was made by Dan Fraro, seconded by Karl Walton and unanimously voted to
approve Shady Lake LLC’s Wetlands Application #568 for demolition of a house and
foundation in an upland review area at 27 South Road.
b.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #569, New House in Upland Review Area, 70 Scully
Road, Barnes
Mr.
Askew explained that this is a resubdivision of a lot brought before the
Commission about a year ago. The
site includes a few small, low-value wetlands based upon the soil-type. There is a drainage issue on the
remaining lot and a curtain drain will be installed without making any
alterations to the wetlands. There
is a 24-inch RCP across Turnpike Road that carries and intermittent
watercourse. The watercourse is not
connected to the wetland on the parcel.
The
applicant will be placing a number of restrictions on the property as shown in a
letter written by Attorney Bonnie Kumiega.
A copy of the letter is being submitted along with the
application.
The
Town Sanitarian has verified that there are adequate soils for
septic.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
approve Barnes’ Wetlands Application #569 for a new house in an upland review
area at 70 Scully Road with the conditions that 1) a pre-construction meeting be
held, 2) that boundary markers be
placed along the wetland boundary, and
3) that the applicant include the restrictions as stated in the letter
dated March 28, 2007, from Attorney Bonnie Kumiega.
c.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #570, NRCS Stream Restoration, 56, 62 and 96 Gulf
Road (Property of Haun, Williams & Whitney), Town of Somers
Mr.
Askew reviewed the plans with the Commissioners, explaining the federal stream
restoration project designed to repair flood damage from October 2005. A large segment of the stream jumped out
of the stream-bed and eroded a new stream bed. This resulted in the loss of a septic
system and a large portion of a backyard for one of the
homeowners.
The
NRCS is going to restore the original streambed by installing riprap along the
centerline of the channel for grade control so that the bed will not erode
again. They will also line the
stream banks with riprap. They will
put topsoil over the riprap along the banks and install grass and shrubs to give
it a natural look. It is a 75% to
25% split for the funding with the town and the town’s portion is funded by the
DEP.
The
plans have been reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Army Corp of
Engineers and DEP Fisheries Biologists.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Candy Aleks, and unanimously voted
to approve the Town of Somers’ Wetlands Application #570 for NRCS stream
restoration at 56, 62 and 96 Gulf Road (property of Haun, Williams &
Whitney) with the suggestion that the fee to the Town of Somers be waived.
d.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Wetlands Application #571, NRCS Stream Restoration, 58 Schneider Road,
741 and 749 Springfield Road (Property of Mehl, Thibault, Bierman), Town of
Somers
Mr.
Askew explained that this is another NRCS flood repair project from the October
2005 storm. It will involve
installing fence enclosures filled with rock along the top of the bank and
riprap. Work will also be done
downstream along Springfield Road where sediments will be removed and the
riverbed will be re-shaped. The
particulars in terms of the funding will be the same as in the Gulf Road
project.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
approve the Town of Somers’ Wetlands Application #571 for NRCS stream
restoration at 58 Schneider Road, 741 and 749 Springfield Road (property of
Mehl, Thibault & Bierman) with the suggestion that the fee to the Town of
Somers be waived.
e.
Other
– There was no other New Business
III. NEW
BUSINESS
a.
Wetlands Application #572, Installation of Inground Pool and Grading in Upland Review Area, 43
Hickory Hill Drive (Property of Cass), Vernon Poolman
Walter
Kaczmarcyk from, Vernon Poolman and Debbie Kass presented plans for the proposed
inground pool at the bottom of the driveway. There is a small intermittent stream
situated approximately 75 feet from corner of the deep end of the pool. The stream originates on another parcel
at the end of a culvert. Mr. Askew
noted that it looks as if the stream picks up some of the foundation
drainage.
The
applicant would like to do some light grading at the bottom end of the pool to
clean up an area where some old trees have fallen. Silt fence will be installed while the
work is being done and there will be no impact to the wetland area. Grass seed will be installed to prevent
any future erosion.
Mr.
Askew will be going back to verify that there are no wetlands within 100 feet of
the area because when he originally visited the site there was too much frost to
check.
b.
Wetlands Application #573, Expansion of Gravel Excavation Operation, 516
Somers Road, Charter
Peter
Charter is requesting to extend his gravel pit off of Route 83 to make the
remaining 3-1/2 acre-area tillable.
Sediment basins are proposed to catch and store
sediment.
The
Commissioners reviewed the plans, noting where the access road is in
Ellington. Mr. Askew explained that
the area is currently hayfield with a narrow vegetated buffer along the
northernmost stream. The
southernmost stream has a more substantial vegetated corridor, which will not be
disturbed. The main issue is to
keep the sediment out of the brook.
In
the past, Mr. Askew noted there have been problems with the gravel pit operator
maintaining erosion controls.
However, no sediment discharges have been observed due to lack of runoff
from the site. Discussion followed
that it ultimately is the landowner’s responsibility to be sure that the erosion
controls are kept in place.
Merv
Strauss has recommended a berm, but Mr. Askew noted that ponding sometimes
occurs behind them. Instead, he
suggested that haybales and silt fences be used so water can flow through if
necessary.
c.
Wetlands Application #574, New House in Upland Review Area, 54 Horseshoe
Lane, Granger Homes
Mr.
Askew explained that this site is at the end of Horseshoe Lane and the Partridge
Run subdivision and the Commission approved a previous grading operation last
year. The wetland is approximately
100 feet away from the end of the house.
There are no issues with the application and it is a flat lot with sands
and gravel.
d.
Other
– There was no other Old Business.
Dan
Fraro added that Tolland County Farm Bureau will present a dinner program at
5:00 p.m. on April 12, 2007, at the Tolland Agricultural Center on Route 30 in
Tolland.
The
Commissioners reviewed the monthly Wetland Agent Report. Much of Mr. Askew’s time was spent
working on the flood projects. The
Jalbert Subdivision Project on Mountain Road has also presented erosion control
challenges.
Other projects include the
Leno Battle Street Subdivision and the 8-lot subdivision on Stafford
Road.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Henry Broer and unanimously voted to
approve the Wetland Agent’s Report as presented.
A
motion was made by Karl Walton, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously voted to
adjourn the April 4, 2007 Conservation Commission meeting at 8:15
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Candace
Aleks, Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT
MEETING.