TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-1216
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, March 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion
155 College Street Extension
Saybrook Point
I. CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairman, Paul Smith, called the regular meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Paul Smith, Vice Chairman Frank Jones, Chairman
William Pollock, Alternate Member Kevin Zawoy, Regular Member
Kimberly Gallagher, Alternate Member Brendon McKeown, Alternate Member
Judy Preston, Conservation Comm. Representative Charles Sohl, Zoning Comm. Representative
Frank Reichart, Economic Dev. Representative
Attendant Staff
Andrea DeDominicis, Recording Clerk
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. 05-004 Edward Braza, Jr.
Corner of Boston Post Road and Quarry St. (Map 29, Lot 29) 0.36 acres of
wetlands.
Application to construct single family 2-bedroom house with attached garage.
Residence A District
Accepted: 2/17/05, Open PH: 3/17/05, Close PH by: 4/21/05, Decision by:
6/27/05.
Paul Smith informed the Commission that Robert Doane, engineer for Edward
Braza, Jr. has sent a letter requesting an extension of time to continue and not hold the public hearing this evening. The Public Hearing will be opened at the next regularly scheduled meeting on 4/21/05 at 7:30 p.m.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. 05-002 Carlos Torres
250 School House Road (Map 50, Lot 49) abutting wetlands
Application to cut 4 trees to control drainage around well and add soil to area.
Residence AA-1 District
Accepted: 1/20/05, Decision by 3/25/05
ACTION: Review and act.
Commission members reviewed photographs provided by Carlos Torres of
the current site. The photos show the rear area behind the house, existing
vegetation, non-native piles of wood skids and cut wood. The property
has been flagged, showing the wetland boundary within a few feet of an above
ground swimming pool.
Carlos Torres answered a question by Paul Smiths as to why he cut
4 specific trees on his property. He said the ground water was pooling around
those trees and he thought if he cut them down it would help the water to drain.
Paul Smith informs Mr. Torres that the wooden pallets shown in the photo are
stacked in the wetland area and must be removed. Judy Preston brings up the
need for re-planting specific native plants in the area where they were removed.
She suggests that Mr. Torres speak with Richard Snarski, Conservation District to
determine the specific type and amounts of vegetation to be re-planted.
Bill Pollock reminds Mr. Torres that the remaining stumps from the cut trees must
be smoothed down to ground level by hand, no heavy equipment is allowed in the wetland area.
Paul Smith gave Carlos Torres a time line to follow while completing the
Commissions requests. Mr. Torres will meet with Chris Costa the Enforcement
Officer and show her his plans for re-planting and removing the wood piles from
the wetland area. He will complete the work and have it inspected by Chris
Costa no later that June 1, 2005. If he cannot complete the work by June 1, 2005
he must request an extension from Chris Costa.
MOTION: to instruct Carlos Torres, #05-002, 250 School House Road (Map 50, Lot 49) to 1). consult with Richard Snarski, Conservation District, for type and amount of vegetation to replant,
2). complete re-planting and inspection by June 1, 2005. 3). remove wood pallets and wood piles from the wetland area. MOVED: by Paul Smith. SECONDED: by Kim Gallagher. APPROVED: by W. Pollock, P. Smith, J. Preston, K. Gallaher. ABSTAINED: none.
OPPOSED: none
B. 05-003 Mark Dixon
56 Bokum Road (Map 57, Lot 23-1) 1.47 acres of wetlands
Application to construct a 12’ foot wide driveway across 762 sq. feet of
wetlands to access and egress to Bokum Road.
Residence AAA District
Accepted: 2/17/05, Decision by 4/25/05.
ACTION: Review Application
Mark Dixon was present at the meeting. He supplied the Commission with
revised plans which included Richard Snarskis signature. As discussed, the
gravel driveway will be constructed first to lessen the impact to the
wetland area in the section that it crosses. Paul Smith noted the applicant
and his engineer Robert Doane did a good job in keeping the construction
materials as far away from the wetland area as possible on such a small lot.
The temporary stock pile will be removed as soon as it is not needed.
Mark Dixon also supplied the Commission with a letter from Penelope
Sharpe. In her opinion the upland wetland area on the southern side of
property should remain in its natural state. Paul Smith suggests a
Conservation Easement be placed on that section of his property. This will
protect the upland area by prohibiting a lawn, fertilizer, mowing or any
type of disturbance to that designated area in the future. Mark Dixon states
that he is not opposed to a Conservation Easement and will speak with Chris
Costa for the procedure to place the Conservation Easement on the deed.
MOTION: to approve application # 05-003- Mark Dixon, 56 Bokum Road, (Map 57, Lot 23-1), to allow construction of access drive, 350’ feet long from Bokum Road passing through 762 sq. ft. of wetlands to access the development proposed beyond that area. MOVED: by Paul Smith. SECONDED: William Pollock APPROVED: by W. Pollock, P. Smith, J. Preston, K. Gallaher. ABSTAINED: none. OPPOSED: none
MOTION: to legally record Conservation Easement on area south of the upland wetland area, application # 05-003- Mark Dixon, 56 Bokum, (Map 57, Lot 23-1) MOVED: by Paul Smith. SECONDED: by Kim Gallagher. APPROVED: by W. Pollock, P. Smith, J. Preston, K. Gallaher. ABSTAINED: none. OPPOSED: none
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. 05-005 David Smith
514 Main Street, (Map 23, Lot 6-1) 0.137 acres of wetlands
Application to construct a house addition and land clearing
Residence A District
ACTION: Accept application, detemine if significant activity and if Ordinance 71
fees are required.
David Smith was present along with his attorney Bill Childress and Brian Galembrewski a soil scientist assisting him with his application. Bill Childress
talks about the activity the applicant would like to do in the wetland area. He
shows the Commission photos of a dilapitated shed previously built in the
wetlands by a former owner. The shed is filled with old carpet remnants and
other debris. The applicant has proposed to remove the shed, clean up debris,
cut and remove diseased trees which have been flagged with ribbon, remove
invasive plants and re-plant with new native vegetation. Bill Childress passed
out a proposal from Gossage Gardening showing the types of vegetation
that would be suitable for re- planting in the wetland area.
Paul Smith informs the applicant that this meeting is to accept the
application. He suggests that specific landscape plans, not general statements
and requests be presented to the Commission at the next scheduled meeting.
William Pollock asks the applicant why the septic system reserve area is not
shown on the house plans. David Smith states that a reserve area was not
required at the time the house was built. Although there is no reserve area
shown for the septic system, there will not be any additional bathrooms added.
A general consensus is reached by all Commission members that the proposed
application to construct a house addition and land clearing does not have a
significant impact and will not require Ordinance 71 fees.
MOTION: to accept application # 05-005, David Smith, 514 Main Street, (Map 23, Lot 6-1) MOVED: by Kim Gallagher. SECONDED: by Judy Preston. APPROVED: by W. Pollock, P. Smith, J. Preston, K. Gallaher. ABSTAINED: none. OPPOSED: none
VI. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Staff Report – Judy Preston passed around photos and information about
migrating salamanders in the Old Saybrook area.
B. Representative Reports – None
C. Correspondence – Included in Packets
D. Approval of Minutes
The Wetlands Commission reviewed the minutes of Thursday February 17, 2005.
The minutes were subsequently approved with no changes.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. until next regularly scheduled meeting on 4/21/05. MOVED: by Kim Gallagher. SECONDED: by Judy Preston. APPROVED: by W. Pollock, P. Smith, J. Preston, K. Gallaher. ABSTAINED: none.
OPPOSED: none
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrea DeDominicis
Andrea DeDominicis, Clerk
Next Regular Meeting
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Pasbeshauke Pavilion
155 College Street Extension
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