Town of East Windsor
Conservation Commission/
Inland Wetland Watercourse Agency
Town Hall, 11 Rye Street, P.O. Box 389, Broad Brook, CT 06016 Tel: (860) 623-2302 Fax: (860) 623-4798
JANUARY 4, 2006
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER - 7:30 p.m.
II. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Present: Linda Kehoe, Vice Chairman, Michael Ceppetelli, John Sawka, John Malin, Michael Koczera, and alternates Richard Osborn and Janice Warren.
Unable to Attend: Rene Thibodeau
Also Present: Nancy Rudek, Assistant Town Planner, Zoning Enforcement Officer
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – (12/7/05)
MOTION: To approve the minutes of December 7, 2005, as corrected: the following motion should read, please note correction to #5
MOTION: To approve the application for South Water Street (River Place) with the following conditions:
1. Following completion of construction of the level spreader and sewer connection the pathways will be removed and the area will be replanted with native vegetation;
2. If there is significant field change of sewer connection by the WPCA the applicant needs to return to this Commission to modify the application;
3. Following the construction, a conservation easement will be put in place to contain everything from the top of the slope west. The owner retains the right of access to maintain the level spreader and sewer connections.
4. The top of the hill will be planted with native vegetation and plans submitted for approval by staff.
5. The applicant will have a structural engineer look at a cross section of the level spreader and the findings are to be submitted for review and approval by the Town Engineer for overall integrity.
6. All sediment and erosion controls are to be inspected by Town Staff prior to commencement of construction.
7. The applicant agreed to a double row of silt fence at the top of the escarpment as referenced in David Askew’s report.
Made by Mr. Koczera, seconded by Mr. Ceppetelli
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
IV. AGENDA ADDITIONS - None
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS (on Inland Wetland applications) - NONE
VI. CONTINUED APPLICATIONS OR BUSINESS
* Inland Wetland Permit to Conduct Regulated Uses
A. Old Ellington Road (Scantic Glen Condominium) – Continued application of Fortunato
Construction Group to conduct regulated activities associated with the construction of 16
residential units previously approved. Total parcel is 94.89 acres, served by public water and
sewer. Property is located on the south side of Old Ellington Road, approximately 300 feet
from Norton Road. (30-day extended application period ends 1/8/06)
Mr. Fortunato came before the Commission with responses to the questions presented previously, and Megson & Heagle were retained as well to provide additional input. Revised plans, with three new drawings were submitted. He outlined the location of the units, the wetland buffer line, silt fence at the top of the slope and stock pile locations. A key point is the area is at grade, there will be excavation for the building foundation and utilities at the street. There is no impact on the wetland and no reason to enter the wetland. The design was shifted toward the road more while accomplishing the parking requirement. The plans were reviewed in detail, as were the Town Engineer comments. The question was raised if there was a
conservation easement on the terrace escarpments from the former application. It was felt this would be a good idea to protect the area. The Condo Association would have to grant the easement, Mr. Fortunato only has the right to build. It was determined there is no easement across the glen, on the Norton Glen side. The condo association has restrictions in place through the association and the management company contracts out the services.
MOTION: To approve the application for Old Ellington Road (Scantic Glen Condominium)
Made by Mr. Ceppetelli, seconded by Mr. Malin
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
B. 22 Wagner Lane (Wagner Terrace) – Continued application of White Pine, LLC to conduct
regulated activities associated with the development of 12 single family detached condo-
miniums. Total parcel is 20.34 acres, served by public water and sewer.
(30-day extended application period ends 1/8/06)
Attorney Mark Barbieri and David Erlandson came before the Commission to present plans and discuss this application. Attorney Barbieri apologized for the delay in presentation, but the application was put in due to the moratorium before it was complete. It took time for the applicant to address the drainage discharge issues and to come up with a solution for the issues. The solution is still in the works and the facts and figures are not quite done yet, but they are before the Commission to present the application as it stands currently with the intent to tweak it with specific calculations at a future meeting and potential public hearing.
The wetland is a man made detention basin, and the pond created wetlands, and there is also ground water out of the hill toward the Connecticut River. The proposal is to subdivide off the main detention basin, thereby leaving 16.9 acres to develop in two phases, the first phase 12 units, the second phase 46 units. This will have a private drainage system, with catch basins, perforated pipe into the ground and then into an infiltration basin and then ultimately discharge into the Connecticut River, with a plunge pool at the River.
The applicant is currently coordinating with a neighbor and negotiating easements, but these have not been finalized. The final numbers for the plunge pool were not available for this meeting and will be provided in the future. The various methods that were considered for this drainage, as well as easement possibilities, all of which were not feasible.
There does not appear to be a significant impact with this project. The piping will be covered. The wetlands will be the way they are now, similar activity has taken place up and down the river with no problems, and the area has been disturbed in the past to accommodate the sewer. Within the wetlands 3200 square feet will be disturbed.
Review by the Army Corp was discussed – as this is within the channel encroachment, review will take place – but it will not be done until the Town approval process is complete.
Ms. Kehoe inquired if it was thought to use the current detention basin as part of the project, or expanding the basin as part of the project. The primary reason this was not done is the existing drainage is not deep enough, also the discharge is only a 12” corrugated metal and it is not within the easement. The units will have basements and the houses will be slightly above grade. The Commission was interested in answers regarding soil types and concerns that the water ponds in the area due to soil infiltration. The applicant was to provide more answers with regard to the soil.
The final design will show detail and elevations for work within the channel. A concern was expressed about the current system that failed in the area, the problems with the current system and the engineering at the time that system was designed was discussed. The applicant would be providing the current calculations in a timely fashion providing the Town Engineer an opportunity to review them. The project has two fail safes, the Army Corp and DEP approval.
The Commission asked for detail as to how the equipment was to get down to the site. It was outlined that the flattest part of the property will be used and getting the equipment there will not be a problem. It was thought within the wetland area work could be done without moving trees. The Commission outlined that tree removal needed to be coordinated and that information provided to the Commission. This property will be maintained by a Condo Association. The easement language and documentation was discussed. The Commission wanted to see a maintenance schedule, as well as language for the proposed easement. The application was also to be forwarded to Dave Askew for review and comment.
The significant activity and public concern with this application was discussed. It was felt a public hearing was going to be necessary. Time frames for the application were discussed.
MOTION: To grant a thirty-five (35) day extension of this application.
Made by Mr. Osborn, seconded by Mr. Koczera
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION: To schedule a public hearing on this application for the next scheduled meeting
Made by Mr. Koczera, seconded by Mr. Osborn
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
VII. RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS
* Amendment/Extension of Existing Permit
A. 94 South Main Street – Application of M&L Mason’s Brook, LLC to modify existing Inland
Wetland Permit #1372, for relocation of drainage outlet.
Dana Steele from JR Russo and Associates came before the Commission with the modification for this application. He outlined the location of the project and the drainage as approved and the alternate design option which was used, an option that was not viable at the time of the application. Originally it was a subsurface detention, underground storage – this was highlighted on the plan. The water is still being sent to the same place, the difference is the applicant received an easement from an abutting owner, allowing sending the water by gravity to the state system. The changes were outlined on the plan. The subsurface chamber had been eliminated and the pipe changes were detailed. The information has been submitted to the Town Engineer and the comments received have been
addressed. The State system had additional capacity, that is why the applicant could use the system. The applicant will have to go to the State for approval as well.
Mr. Koczera stepped down from voting on this application.
MOTION: To approve the modification as presented for 94 South Main Street, Wetland Permit 1372.
Made by Mr. Osborn, seconded by Ms. Warren
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.
* Permitted Use As Of Right
* Jurisdictional Ruling (determination of permit needed)
A. 47 Gardner Street & 100 Bridge Street – Application of NNRC, LLC for a ruling of
No Jurisdiction for the construction of a 3,800 s.f. two story office building and parking
lot improvements. Total parcel is 6.5 acres served by public water and sewer.
Dana Steele of JR Russo and Associates came before the Commission and detailed the pavement reduction and parking lot improvements to this location. As the pavement is being removed close to a wetland a ruling is required. The avenue of a variance was discussed, but it was stated that it is easier to cut the pavement out, there is no tree disturbance involved. A variance is more complicated and this is being done for reduction in impervious coverage as it relates to zoning requirements.
MOTION: To make a ruling of no jurisdiction as the proposal shall have no negative impact on wetlands/watercourses on the property and, therefore the Commission has no objection to the issuance of a Zoning/Building permit for this project.
Made by Mr. Malin, seconded Mr. Koczera
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
* Inland Wetland Permit to Conduct Regulated Uses
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Ms Rudek will follow up regarding the Trolley Museum individuals with the carving operation.
IX. AGENT DECISIONS
X. VIOLATIONS (for action or show-cause hearing)
XI. STATUS REPORTS
XII. BUDGET
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:55 p.m.
Made by Mr. Sawka, seconded by Mr. Osborn.
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
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