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
SPECIAL MEETING – “THE PRESERVE”
Thursday, March 9, 2006 at 7:30 P.M.
OLD SAYBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL
60 SHEFFIELD STREET
I. CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of the Chairman, Vice Chairman Charles Sohl called the meeting to order at 7:48 p.m., acting as Chairman for the special meeting of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) for the purpose of deliberating Application #05-016. Six of seven members were present to consider the potential impacts from constructing roadways.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Charles Sohl, Vice Chairman, Zoning Rep. Paul Smith, Chairman
William Pollock, Secretary
Kevin Zawoy, Regular Member
Frank Reichart, Economic Development Rep.
Robert McIntyre, Planning Rep.
Judy Preston, Conservation Rep.
Town Staff and Consultants
Damon Hearne, Wetlands Enforcement Officer
Whitney McKendree Moore, Recording Clerk
Michael Cronin, Esq., Consulting Legal Counsel
Kati Drzewianowski, Consulting Civil Engineer
Geoffrey Jacobsen, Consulting Civil Engineer
Penelope Sharp, Consulting Biologist and Wetlands Scientist
III. DELIBERATION
05-016 “The Preserve” – River Sound Development, LLC
Application to construct an open-space subdivision country club, golf course community (934 acres total) and open space (542.2 acres) within 100 feet of wetlands (114.5 acres total wetlands).
Residence Conservation C District, Aquifer Protection District
Applicant: River Sound Development, LLC Agent: Attorney David Royston
Roadway A
The entire evening was devoted to this roadway, which is one of four (except for bridges and culverts, which will be discussed at a later hearing). The Town consultants summarized their over-arching concerns, which were focused mainly on the effects of excavation on water quality, traps for and drainage of that water, amphibian barriers, sedimentation, and erosion. Conditions were suggested, such as vegetation in sediment detention traps and the installation of hydrodynamic separators wherever the IWWC might deem advisable. The primary challenge facing this roadway is that it cannot be relocated, having been through many iterations between the applicant and the Town consultants. The Commission noted there are portions of this roadway that come within two and three feet of the wetlands, and portions of it fall
within the 25-foot area that is regulated by the IWWC. According to Kati Drzewianowski, the applicant’s commitment to keep completely outside the 25-foot regulated area applied to the golf course, but was not accomplished here. Two Commissioners, Judith Preston and Kevin Zawoy, expressed concern about this, with Mr. Zawoy stating that he felt it could be the most significant activity the Commission has considered to date.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
At 11:25 p.m., Acting Chairman Sohl requested a motion for adjournment until the next special meeting, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2006 in the library of the Old Saybrook Middle School, 60 Sheffield Street, Old Saybrook, Connecticut. There is a strong possibility that additional meetings will be necessary in order to arrive at a decision by March 20th, so Commissioners are attempting to clear their calendars also for Tuesday through Saturday of next week (2/14-2/18/06).
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 11:25 p.m. MADE by F. Reichart. SECONDED by
R. McIntyre. VOTED IN FAVOR: W. Pollock, J. Preston, F. Reichart, R. McIntyre,
C. Sohl; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Whitney McKendree Moore, Recording Clerk
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