MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, March 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park
155 College Street Extension
I. CALL TO ORDER
Robert McIntyre called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Five commission members were seated to vote. Robert McIntyre will be Chairman for tonight’s meeting at Charles Sohl's request.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members
Charles Sohl, Vice Chairman
Brendan McKeown
Robert McIntyre
Kimberly Gallagher
Charles Wehrly
Absent Members
Paul Smith, Chairman
William Pollock, Secretary
Mark McGuire
Attendant Staff
Kelly Volansky, EO
Joanne Rynecki, Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
Pave the entrance to the parking lot. Plant grass on state owned property between the roadway and property line. Plant 6’ white pine trees.
179 Boston Post Road, (Map 44, Lot 22)
Business B-3 District
Action: Review and Act
Robert McIntyre briefly summarized the information gathered from the last meeting noting that the wetlands are not on the property. Wetlands are on adjacent properties. The asphalt paving will be limited to the entrance apron area. Grass will be planted along either side of the apron area. All work is in the right of way for the State of CT road. Kelly asked the applicant to provide this Commission with more details of the site for tonight’s meeting. Mr. Jorgensen handed out photos from various angles on his property which included photos of the wetlands on the adjacent properties. Mr. Jorgensen explained that the wetlands are about 40 feet from the fence on his property and beyond the silt fence on the opposite side. Pictures were presented that show the entrance area as well as
the culvert that comes from RT 1 and goes to the left of the applicant’s property. Mr. Jorgensen explained that the road slopes down slightly to the driveway entrance and during rainstorm water collects and creates mud making it difficult to get in and out of the driveway safely.
MOTION to approve application #10-001 to pave the entrance to the parking lot, plant grass on either side and plant 6’ white pine trees all in the State of CT right of way. MADE by Brendan McKeown, SECONDED by Kimberly Gallagher; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
- 10-002 Old Saybrook Ambulance
Construction of an addition to the existing Ambulance Association building associated grading and relocated driveway access.
316 Main Street, (Map 30, Lot 67)
Residential A District
Action: Accept application, determine if significant activity and if Ordinance 71 fees are required. Review and act.
Stuart Fairbanks, P.E., representing the applicant, explained to the Commission the proposed addition to the existing ambulance building to allow for a third ambulance and an increase in the paved area to circle around the building to alleviate the need for backing in and out of the building in emergencies. The land is owned by the Town of Old Saybrook and is leased to the Ambulance Association. There are tidal and inland wetlands on the property. There is a proposed infiltration basin to collect the first inch of runoff, as required, when a property is within 500 feet of tidal wetlands. The infiltration basin will be 2 ft deep covering a total area of 1500 sq ft. The edge of disturbance will be the silt fence as noted on the plans. The existing generator will be moved and a 500 gallon fuel tank is
proposed. The fuel tank will be made of steel and encased in concrete. The septic tank and leaching fields will be relocated to allow for the new addition.
The Inland Wetland Enforcement officer visited the property and noted mature trees near the proposed retention basin. Mr. Fairbanks assured Ms. Volansky that the detention basin will be installed in the grassy area and no large trees are expected to be cut down for the construction of the detention basin.
Kimberly Gallagher asked Mr. Fairbanks if the ambulance vehicles are washed on site. Mr. Fairbanks said not to his knowledge. Bill Marston of 326 Main Street, a neighbor to the south of the property, commented that he has never seen vehicles being washed in the parking lot.
The Commission discussed the official date the application was received. It was received at the last meeting but the Commission could not act due to a lack of a quorum for this application. Therefore, the commission will accept the application tonight and may also act on the application tonight because the 15 day public petition period has lapsed.
Charles Wehrly asked if people will be housed in the new building. Mr. Fairbanks replied that currently there is a housing area on the 2nd floor and it will continue to function as the same and will be expanded with the addition. Mr. Wehrly also asked what type of pavement will be used for the driveway. Mr. Fairbanks responded that it will be bituminous concrete/asphalt, as recommended by Public Works, for ease of maintenance. Stockpiling will be necessary for the topsoil removed from the infiltration basin. The stockpile location will be added to the plans. Runoff from the north side of the property will continue to runoff to the NE of property as is does now. Rainwater runoff from the remaining property rain water runoff will be directed to the proposed infiltration basin.
Mr. McKeown asked if there were any reports regarding the quality of the wetlands. Mr. Fairbanks said they are transitional wetlands and have been excavated and filled over 50+years ago. The neighbor Mr. Marston commented that he has found many different items within the soil on his property over the years.
MOTION to accept application #10-002 to construct an addition to the existing Ambulance Association building and associated grading and relocated driveway access. MADE by Kimberly Gallagher, SECONDED by Charles Wehrly; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
MOTION to deem activity on application #10-002 not significant. MADE by Kimberly Gallagher, SECONDED by Charles Wehrly; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
MOTION not to collect Ordinance 71 fees for application #10-002. MADE by Kimberly Gallagher, SECONDED by Charles Wehrly; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
Kelly Volansky asked what the water table level is at the property and if it will affect the infiltration basin. Mr. Fairbanks responded that it ranges from 3.7 feet to 2 feet and that the excavation for the detention basin will not go below the water table.
MOTION to approve application #10-002 to construct an addition to the existing Ambulance Association building and associated grading and relocated driveway access. MADE by Kimberly Gallagher, SECONDED by Charles Wehrly; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Construction of a rain garden bio-retention facility, small business warehouse, parking to accommodate the same and a dumpster pad.
2 & 4 Center Road West, (Map 26, Lots 7 & 8)
Business B-4District
Action: Accept application, determine if significant activity and if Ordinance 71 fees are required.
Ralph Gometz, owner of the property, presented his proposal to construct a rain garden, dumpster pad and parking within the wetland upland review area. The property currently has a small business warehouse and an office building. The plans propose adding a new 4,400 sq ft small business warehouse building as part of this project. The building will be outside of the 100 foot review area. The plans show 2 additional buildings and another rain garden to be built in the future. The proposed rain garden for this application will be located on the rear of lot number 8 just south of a detention pond. The rain garden will cover approximately 2/10th of an acre. It will be 6 feet deep and a total of 8,000 square feet. Mr. Gometz explained that this site was filled in over the years (prior to
1974) and has soil that will not allow septic systems with the new regulations. Therefore, the proposed building will not have a restroom. This site was removed from the town’s classification as a wetland, but there is a question if wetlands have reestablished. The soil scientist has found a small area of wetlands (15’ x 15’) near the proposed rain garden. Kim Gallagher asked if the rain garden will have any standing water. Mr. Gometz replied, no, the rain garden is approximately 40 inches above the water table. The water collected will either be taken up by the vegetation planted, infiltrated into the ground or evaporated into the air. A plantings schedule is included in the plans for the rain garden.
MOTION to accept application #10-003 to construct a rain garden bio-retention facility and a dumpster pad within the 100 foot review area in connection with the construction of a small business warehouse and parking. MADE by Charles Wehrly, SECONDED by Kimberly Gallagher; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
MOTION to deem activity on application #10-003 not significant. MADE by Robert McIntyre, SECONDED by Kimberly Gallagher; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
MOTION to require Ordinance 71 fees for engineering for application #10-003. MADE by Charles Wehrly, SECONDED by Kimberly Gallagher; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Staff Report – Kelly reported that a $500.fine for past violations is being held in the general fund. The money will be used for the improvement of the Great Cedars Conservation area with this Commission’s approval. The Commission agreed unanimously to use the funds for the Great Cedar Conservation Area project. . Kelly also reported that the Regulations will be amended in the near future to reflect new Public Act 09-191.
B. Representative & Subcommittee Reports – none
C. Correspondence – Contained in packet. Mr. McKeown asked if staff would record the Public Hearing Procedure seminar on the 31st of March.
D. Approval of Minutes – February 18, 2010
MOTION to approve the minutes dated February 18, 2010 with a correction to the date in the heading to read 2010 rather than 201009. MADE by Charles Wehrly, SECONDED by Kimberly Gallagher; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Sohl, Charles Wehrly, Robert McIntyre, Brendan McKeown; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. until the next regular meeting at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park 155 College Street Extension on April 15, 2010. MADE by Kimberly Gallagher, SECONDED by Brendan McKeown; IN FAVOR: Brendan McKeown, Kimberly Gallagher, Charles Wehrly, Charles Sohl, Robert McIntyre; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Clerk
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