Minutes of Meeting
January 31, 2013
To: Town Clerk
cc: Members
File
Present: R. Ballantyne, A. Tolland, J. Livingstone, M. DePoto, R. Willis, M. Allen, Michele Grenier, Conservation Agent
Absent: J. Fournier, P.Stolfa, Associate Member, A. Riordan, Associate Member
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the December 20th meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the January 10th, 2013 meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
Ms. Michele Grenier’s Agent’s Report has been appended to the minutes.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Discussion: 105 Brook Street
Mr. & Mrs. John White, the homeowners, appeared before the Commission to answer to an anonymous complaint regarding some tree cutting. The Commission had conducted a site walk of this property and was requested to reappear at the meeting. The Commission reviewed their findings from this site walk with the homeowners.
The Commission stated that the applicant is allowed to have the stumps ground from the trees taken down. Mr. White stated that he will plant 5 American arborvitaes for remediation. The Commission members informed Mr. White that he should plant something that is resistant to deer at least 7 gallon in size. Mr. White will conduct this mitigation planting in the Spring. Summersweet will be planted to straddle the property line for erosion control. The stumps should not be pulled.
Public Hearing – Amendment Request to Orders of Conditions – 96 Populatic Street –CE159-991
Mr. Rick Goodreau, Engineer of United Consultants, and Mr. Tom O’Connor, the homeowner, both appeared before the Commission for alteration of the flood zone.
Mr. Goodreau submitted revised plans for the Commission’s review along with a cover letter describing the proposed work for the site. Mr. Goodreau stated that the patio had been constructed larger than was originally proposed and the area to the south of the driveway will be regraded for the flood plain compensation. They are proposing to remove the trees and relocate them after the grading takes place. The turf lawn will be removed and replaced with mulch for compensation of the area of the small section of the stairs and patio.
Mr. Goodreau gave the Commission a detailed overview of these plans which is also detailed in the cover letter.
The Commission questioned Mr. Goodreau as to why did he reduce the lawn in the front of the property rather than in the back to the increase in the impervious paved area in the back. The lawn to be removed from the rear area was requested by the Commission at the previous meeting.
The Commission requested less lawn in the rear of the site and a more robust planting schedule.
There was a motion to continue 96 Populatic Street until the next meeting on February 14th. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Public Meeting – Request for Determination - Lot 229, Parcel 003 Daniels Street – Nick Hoffmann
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Hoffmann, the applicant, appeared before the Commission for land clearing at his property on Daniels Street. Mr. Hoffmann gave the Commission a summary of the work taking place on his property. It is a farming operation and the land has been in active forest management since the late 1980’s.
The land is to remain farm land forever. Mr. Hoffmann stated that this land will be used to farm produce and the remaining land is under a forest management plan and the timber will be harvested for cash value. Mr. Hoffmann submitted a forest management plan for the Commission’s review and this has been added to the Conservation file.
Michele Grenier, Conservation Agent, informed the Commission that the applicant is only present at tonight’s meeting for the cutting and Mr. Hoffmann agreed to keep a 50 ft. buffer zone from the edge of the forest when he cut up to. Mr. Hoffmann stated that the State Forester informed him that under the forest management plan not to agree to this as it would be in violation of his forest management plan.
A Commission member stated that the applicant can conduct this harvesting within wetlands under the forest management plan.
There was a motion to issue a Negative Determination with 1 condition that the applicant adhere to the Forest Management Plan. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Continued - Public Hearing – Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation – Cook’s Farm - 636 & 664 East Central Street – CE159-1039
Mr.Donald Nielsen, Engineer of Guerriere & Halnon, Mr. Ron Roux, the applicant, Mr. Art Allen of Eco-Tec, the Commission’s consultant, and Ms. Judy Schmitz, the applicant’s consultant, all appeared before the Commission for confirmation of delineated areas, the riverfront area and bordering vegetated wetlands.
Mr. Nielsen gave a review of the history of the project to date. The riverfront is not pertinent to this project as was determined at the December 20th meeting.
Mr. Nielsen submitted revised plans for the Commission’s review and gave an overview of the revisions.
Ms. Judy Schmitz informed the Commission that she has been working with Art Allen to resolve the pond/river issue. Some additional tests were done at the site and the conclusions supported her original observations.
Mr. Allen stated that he has reviewed Ms. Schmitz report and is in agreement with Ms. Schmitz’s observations and report that the finding that it is a pond on that section of Uncas Brook and is in agreement with the findings and revised plan submitted at tonight’s meeting.
Michele Grenier stated that there is no dispute with the wetland flags placed by Judy Schmitz.
She requested that the applicant submit a new plan with the FEMA line
There was a motion to close the hearing. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
There was a motion to affirm the wetland resource delineation on the plan dated January 30th, 2013. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Certificate of Compliance: 22 Garnet Drive - CE159-1014
Mr. Mark Staniscia, the applicant, appeared before the Commission for a Certificate of Compliance for this site. Michele Grenier, Conservation Agent, stated that the site is in compliance and recommended that the Certificate of Compliance be issued.
There was a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance subject to the 2 perpetual conditions regarding the non-phosphorous fertilizer and to maintain the fence. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Certificate of Compliance: 14 Glenwood Road - CE159-1031
Michele Grenier, Conservation Agent, informed the Commission that she has inspected the site and it is in compliance with the approved plan. She recommended the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance.
There was a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 14 Glenwood Road. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Signed Certificates of Compliance & Determination of Applicability
Certificate of Compliance – 14 Glenwood Drive – King Construction - CE159-1031
Certificate of Compliance – 22 Garnet Drive – Creek Hollow – CE159-1014
Determination of Applicability – Negative – Map 229, Lot 003 Daniels Street – Hoffmann
There was a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Celorier
Conservation Secretary
| 
