Town of
NORTH STONINGTON, CT
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 – 7:00 P.M.
New Town Hall
Conference Room
40 Main Street
North Stonington, CT 06359
Minutes Approved ~ August 10, 2016
1.
CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-Chair Mark Grigg called the Regular Meeting of the Inland Wetlands Commission to order on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 7:11 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Mark Grigg, Vice-Chair, Ron Lewis, Cody Bill, Marvin Chase, Jr., Kevin Geary and Candy Palmer
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Robert Miner
STAFF PRESENT:
Wayne Berardi, Wetlands Enforcement Officer
2.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None
MOTION by C. Palmer, SECOND by M. Chase to approve the draft minutes of 05/11/16 as written. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
5.
OLD BUSINESS:
A.
#16-038
Application of Lee Winakor, 217 Ledgen Wood Rd., North Stonington, CT for a restoration plan for exceeding the clearing limits within the 100 foot upland review area.
The extended building envelope that was not permitted includes portions of a terraced lawn, stone retaining walls and a beach area along the shoreline of Billings Lake in an R-80 Zone. Tax Map #45, Parcel #8000
Lee Winaker presented the remediation site plan that had been requested by the IWWC.
Wayne Berardi asked questions regarding the sediment and erosion controls. He explained the reason for more
grass was to protect the water quality of the lake from pesticides, herbicides and nitrates. He felt that the plans needed a detention or retention area.
Mark Griggs asked about the scale of the site plan. And stated that he thought there would be more grass
with a stone path going towards the beach.
Ron Lewis suggested that the grass be allowed to grow and only be cut once a year. He is concerned about pesticides and herbicides
leaking into the lake.
Candy Palmer suggested reducing the access to the lake from 20’ to 10’.
Lee Winaker thought that a different plan had been agreed upon by the Commission, He stated that he has never seen rain water
wash into the lake and that Ian Cole, soil scientist did not have any concerns with the access area.
The Commission requested that Mr. Winaker come to the next meeting with plans provided by a soil scientist addressing the contaminants
entering into the water.
6.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. #16-047
Application of Farm to Gold Properties, LLC, c/o Kim Welch, 73 Pinewoods Rd., North Stonington, CT to construct activities within an upland review area for proposed
multi-use commercial building with associated site improvements. No activity is proposed within wetlands or watercourses on property located at 81 Norwich-Westerly Rd., N. Stonington, CT 06359 in an ED Zone. Tax Map #122, Parcel #0956
Demian Sorrentino from Boundaries LLC presented the application. He explained the proposed business was
to turn butter into Ghee, a shelf stable cooking product.
He indicated the three areas of wetlands on the site. The applicant was proposing that the construction
would be implemented in two phases. Phase I would construct the 3,500 SF building, 10 gravel parking spaces including an ADA compliant paved parking space, dumpster area and underground propane tank, on-site septic system and storm drainage.
Phase II would consist of additional storage area, relocation of the dumpster, eleven additional gravel
parking spaces, an outside café and a farmers porch.
David C. McKay, P.E., also from Boundaries LLC. explained that with Phase II, the vegetated filter grass strip would be eliminated and replaced with a pea stone diaphragm.
The building will be serviced by a 1,000 gallon grease trap as well as an internal AGRU unit before the effluent goes into the septic system. He went over the construction of the storm water system.
Ron Lewis asked about the permitting of the construction phases.
Demian Sorrentino explained that the request was for all approvals on one permit, the construction would
take place in phases. Multiple plans had been discussed prior to the final proposal. The application would still require approval from P/Z including the Protection Overlay District.
The Applicant will be back at the next Regular Wetlands meeting for further discussion.
B. #16-050
Application of Van Brown, Firefly Farms, LLC, Wintechog Hill Farms, LLC, 96 Button Rd., N. Stonington, CT 06359 for clearing, deepening & expanding pond(s) for animal
water & possible irrigation to keep grass available for grazing at property located at 135 Wintechog Hill Rd., N. Stonington, CT 06359 Tax Map #93, Parcel #9490
C.
#16-051
Application of Van Brown, Firefly Farms, LLC, Wintechog Hill Farms, LLC, 96 Button Rd., N. Stonington, CT 06359 for clearing, deepening & expanding pond(s) for animal
water & possible irrigation to keep grass available for grazing at property located at 118 Wintechog Hill Rd., N. Stonington, CT 06359 Tax Map #93, Parcel #2135
Both applications were discussed by the Applicant and the Commission simultaneously.
Mr. Van Brown would like to develop four ponds at 135 Wintechog Hill and one pond at 118 Wintechog Hill.
There was discussion from Staff and the Commission as to the need for the Army Corp over site at #135 due to the number of
ponds and subsequent total acreage. Mr. Van Brown was advised to contact the Army Corp for jurisdictional determination.
Mr. Van Brown was asked to prepare plans indicating the wetland flags, slopes, perimeter, and location of pond spoils for consideration
at the next Wetlands meeting.
8.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT:
