Conservation Commission/ Inland Wetlands
And Watercourses Agency
Regular Meeting- Tuesday October 17, 2006
Town Offices- 7:30PM- Main Meeting Room
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at timeHour19Minute307:30pm in the Main Meeting room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following Commissioners were present: Commissioner Winters, Commissioner Sharpless, Commissioner Yocom, Commissioner Mihalic, Commissioner Bucknam, and Commissioner Sexton. placePlaceNameConservation Officer PlaceTypeBeach was not present.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
None
PRESENTATION(s), DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
Application of Mike and Jennifer Curran, Owners, Robert Howard, Applicant, for an Inland Wetlands Permit to construct an addition within the regulated area on property located at addressStreet227 Stratton Brook Road.
Mr. Mike Curran, owner, and Mr. Robert Howard, applicant, were present to speak on behalf of the application.
Mr. Howard stated that the 28x16-foot addition is 78 feet, at its closest point, to the creek. It is 48 feet to the wetland line. The creek is located in front of the house, and runs between the house and the road. Mr. Howard stated that a silt fence will be located from the furthest point of the wetlands to the driveway. He stated that in order that the trucks can enter the site, a roadway must be constructed. He stated that he understands the aspects of putting in silt fences and how siltation damages the aquifer. He stated that the work will begin as soon as possible.
Commissioner Bucknam asked questions about the wetland area. Mr. Howard expressed that currently there is no water on the site, and does not expect there to be any at the time of construction, therefore there is little chance of siltation. He assured the Commission that there will be hay bales, and that any excess fill will be removed from the site.
Mr. Howard stated that the addition will have a full basement and the foundation will be dug 6 feet below the current level. He answered that after construction the soil will be stabilized with hay, and that he will be monitoring the site. He expressed that he could put in some rye after haying it, but that it is getting a bit late in the season.
Commissioner Winters asked about vegetation down by the creek. Mr. Curran said that there was poison ivy, but it was mowed out and wood chips added. Commissioner Winters said native plants such as blueberry plants, or silky dogwoods should be brought into this area.
Commissioner Mihalic asked how the trucks will enter the site. Mr. Howard said that the trucks will enter the site up the front of the house and across the lawn.
Commissioner Bucknam asked if there will be a silt fence from the driveway across the property on the wetland boundary. Mr. Howard answered yes, adding that placePlaceNameConservation Officer PlaceTypeBeach suggested they wrap the silt fence above the driveway. They will also be watching to see that trucks don’t track dirt onto the road, adding that if it does happen the trucks will be washed off before going out into the street.
Mr. Howard expressed that he has no issues with the suggestions and recommendations offered by Mr. Beach as noted in the staff report.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bucknam that this is a regulated activity by reason of work and construction activity within the upland review area including excavation for a foundation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mihalic, and carried unanimously.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bucknam that this is not a significant activity due to the distance between the nearest point of construction and the wetland boundary, and also because the watercourse itself appears to be seasonal in nature and will most likely not contain water in it during the construction process, thereby minimizing any siltation that might occur.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Yocom, and carried unanimously.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bucknam to grant the application with the recommendations set forth in the staff report, primarily being sure the silt fence is in place, maintained, and checked for one full growing season, and also that hay mulch be put down and checked for any erosion that might occur.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mihalic, and carried unanimously.
Discussion- Proposed banquet facility to be constructed on property located on the east side of addressStreetWinslow Place.
Mr. Philip Doyle, LADA, P.C., Landscape Architect for the project was present.
Mr. Doyle stated that an application went in for the proposed banquet facility on Friday 13, 2006, and Mr. Beach had noted that the Commission might want to schedule a site walk for this application, which is the reason he has come to the meeting. The application will come before the Commission at the first meeting in November.
The Commission debated whether it was possible to have a site walk before the application comes before them and has not been put on the agenda. Commissioner Mihalic voiced concern about scheduling a site walk, and spoke on the regulations, which deal with this issue. It was noted that Mr. Beach spoke with Chairman Miller and said that the application has come before the town.
Mr. Doyle said construction begins after the approval process ends. He stated that they have applications filed with Zoning Commission, adding that the Wetlands Commission has to act before Zoning does.
Commissioner Bucknam motioned to amend the agenda to include a discussion and potentially vote on a site walk date for the 6 and addressStreet10 Winslow Place application, which will come before the Commission at a future meeting.
Commissioner Winters, seconded with all in favor excepting, Commissioner Mihalic who opposed.
Commissioner Bucknam motioned to schedule a site walk at 6 and addressStreet10 Winslow Place at timeHour9Minute09am on dateMonth11Day11Year2006November 11, 2006 at the commuter parking lot. Commissioner Winters seconded with all in favor, excepting Commissioner Mihalic who opposed.
Commissioner Mihalic asked about the project. Mr. Doyle stated that for upland review purposes there are 6-7 parking spots in the 100-foot review area. He also stated that at the bottom of the hill there are wetlands associated with the river and there will be discharge points for the storm drains.
Commissioner Winters asked about the amount of impervious surface. Mr. Doyle said impervious surface will be 23% of the site. He expressed that all of the pertinent information will be brought forth during the actual presentation.
Commissioner Mihalic said that the Commission should have a copy of the application as well as other pertinent information before the site walk. Other Commissioners agreed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of dateMonth6Day20Year2006June 20, 2006, dateMonth9Day5Year2006September 5, 2006, dateMonth9Day19Year2006September 19, 2006 and dateMonth10Day3Year2006October 3, 2006.
Commissioner Mihalic moved to approve the minutes of June 20, 2006.
Commissioner Yocom seconded with all in favor.
Commissioner Mihalic moved to approve the minutes of September 5, 2006.
Commissioner Yocom seconded with all in favor.
Commissioner Bucknam moved to approve the minutes of September 19, 2006.
Commissioner Winters seconded with all in favor.
Commissioner Mihalic moved to approve the minutes of October 3, 2006.
Commissioner Bucknam seconded with all in favor.
STAFF REPORT(s)
None
DISCUSSION
addressStreet31 Riverside Road Application.
Commissioner Mihalic stated that dateMonth4Day19Year2005April 19, 2005 was the first meeting on this application, and that the Commission approved this application on dateMonth5Day3Year2005May 3, 2005. Since that time issues have come up. The first issue involves the location of stockpiled materials that was not approved by the Commission. The second issue involves the foundation. The applicants said they would be building build on the existing footprint, but when they discovered the second, which was deemed unstable, they ripped it out and poured a new foundation within the existing footprint. The third issue involves the two piers anchoring the floating dock on the river. In the application, and as stated in the letter from the deck restorer, it was indicated that the piers would not be removed, but, it is
believed that the piers have been replaced. Commissioner Mihalic stated that Mr. Beach was to have been at this meeting to discuss his findings, and have shown pictures of the site to the Commission. The Commission then reread a section of the dateMonth4Day19Year2005April 19, 2005 minutes, which describe the applicant’s intention with respect to these three issues. Commissioner Mihalic stated the Commission needs to decide what the next step should be.
Commissioner Bucknam expressed that he asked Mr. Beach if there was any problem with them replacing the piers if there was no disturbance. Mr. Beach said that he did not know.
Commissioner Mihalic said that the Commission is waiting to hear from Mr. Beach who has a report and pictures to show. The Commission noted that they cannot make any decisions on the issues until they hear from Mr. Beach.
Commissioner Bucknam asked whether Mr. Beach has the authority to stop a project if there are issues such as this. Chairman Miller answered that Mr. Beach does have this authority.
placeCityReading from the regulations, Commissioner Mihalic read, “The Commission, or its designated agent, may make regular inspections at reasonable hours of all regulated activities for which permits have been issued under these regulations.”
Chairman Miller expressed that Mr. Beach report back to the Commission on his findings. Mr. Beach will be contacted to ask him to mail the Commission the addressStreet6-10 Winslow Place application and his report on addressStreet31 Riverside Road before the dateMonth11Day11Year2006November 11, 2006 site walk.
HopBrook
Commissioners discussed whether the issues with Hopbrook have been resolved.
placePlaceNamePowder PlaceTypeForest
The placePlaceNamePowder PlaceTypeForest issue has been resolved.
CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS
CACIWC (CT Association of Conservation/Inland Wetland Commissions)
Commissioner Winters stated there will be a CACIWC meeting and urged the Commissioners to attend. There will also be sessions on wetland training end of October and beginning of November.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Bucknam made a motion to adjourn the meeting at timeHour20Minute558:55 PM.
Commissioner Winters seconded with all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________________
Commissioner Ryan Mihalic, Secretary
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