MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, November 20, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Judith Preston called the regular meeting to order at 7:01pm.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Judith Preston
Janis Esty
J. Colin Heffernan
Walter Smith
Paul Carver
Seated: Charles Wehrly, Elizabeth Steffen
Members Absent: Brendan McKeown
Staff: Sandy Prisloe, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer; Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
14-005 “Jon Lorensen (Westbrook Honda)”
Restoration of stormwater detention basin
275 & 295 Middlesex Turnpike (Map 52 / Lots 63-1 & 63-2)
Applicant: Jon Lorensen (Westbrook Honda) Agent: Matthew White, P.E. L.S.
Matthew White, P.E. with Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe and Associates reviewed the findings and recommendations of Geoff Jacobson, P.E., referring to a review letter from Jacobson & Associates dated September 12, 2014 and a response letter dated November 18, 2014. He reminded the Commission that this application is to restore the stormwater detention basin to its originally designed function for stormwater storage capacity. He reviewed the comments by Geoff Jacobsen from the September 12, 2014 letter:
- proposal of a smaller emergency spillway than what was originally proposed
- original work was proposed for the fall, and will now take place in the spring
- eastern end of the property will be planted with types of plants that are already there, using plugs; seed mix will be used on basin slope, a New England erosion control mix, with turf reinforcing matting to help stop erosion. Judith Preston inquired as to what material the matting is made.
M. White recommended the soil be tested for hydrocarbons and disposed of according to DEEP procedures. Given that the stormwater basin is man-made and not a naturally occurring wetlands, he did not believe a permit is needed from the Army Corps of Engineers.
J. Preston asked that a diversity of plant species, four to five varieties, be planted. M White stated that could likely be accommodated and he or S. Prisloe would consult with Rich Snarsky.
S. Prisloe explained that any permitting the applicant might do with the Army Corps of Engineers would take place independent of any permitting done by this Commission.
E. Steffen moved to approve the application 14-005 “Restoration of stormwater detention basin” 275 & 295 Middlesex Turnpike (Map 52 / Lots 63-1 & 63-2 with the following caveats: that Rich Snarsky be consulted to increase the diversity of plant species, and that a biodegradable mat be used rather than the one in the plan.
C. Wherly moved to modify the motion to include reference to the revised drawing titled “Drainage Basin D Maintenance Plan, Old Saybrook Auto Mall, Middlesex Turnpike, Old Saybrook, CT, dated August , 2014, last revised November 10, 2014, prepared by Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe & Associates, Inc. and the November 18 letter from Geoff Jacobson to Sandy Prisloe. The motion was further modified to state “accepted” instead of “approved”.
MOTION to ACCEPT Application 14-005 “Jon Lorensen (Westbrook Honda)” Restoration of stormwater detention basin, 275 & 295 Middlesex Turnpike (Map 52/Lots 63-1 & 63-2); with the caveats that Rich Snarsky be consulted to increase the diversity of plant species, that a biodegradable mat be used rather than the one in the plan, and that reference be made to
the revised drawing titled “Drainage Basin D Maintenance Plan, Old Saybrook Auto Mall, Middlesex Turnpike, Old Saybrook, CT, dated August , 2014, last revised November 10, 2014, prepared by Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe & Associates, Inc. and to the November 18, 2014 letter from Geoff Jacobson to Sandy Prisloe. MADE: by E. Steffen; SECONDED: by C.Heffernan; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, C. Heffernan, J. Esty, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen, W. Smith OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: P.
Carver; APPROVED: 6-0-1.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Application 14-007 “Campanaro & Infante” was withdrawn.
MOTION to ACCEPT the 2015 Meeting Schedule of the IWWC; MADE: by E. Steffen; SECONDED: by J. Preston; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen, P. Carver; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes – August 21, 2014 Regular Meeting
MOTION to APPROVE the Minutes of the regular meeting of August 21, 2014; MADE: by C. Heffernan SECONDED: by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: P. Carver; APPROVED: 6-0-1.
B. Correspondence & Announcements
J. Preston asked members to contribute to the quarterly “Events” magazine. She will write an article for March, and C. Heffernan offered to write for the June issue.
- C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
C. Wehrly stated that the WPCA is now assessing soft costs.
J. Preston asked that long-serving and now retired Commission member, William Pollock be recognized for his many years of service at the December 18 meeting.
S. Prisloe updated the Commission on 11 Azalea Way. He had sent a letter to the property owner to inform him the Commission had received complaints about excessive erosion on the property. The site has since been hydro seeded and the lawn has established itself. After some discussion, it was decided that S. Prisloe would ask Rich Snarsky to evaluate if it can be determined how much new sediment has entered the pond and if it came from 11 Azalea Way, and what the cost would be to determine this.
S. Prisloe also reported on two storm water detention basins at the condominiums at Blue Heron Way, behind Bennys. They have standing water in them and woody vegetation growing around the detention basins, as well as invasive plants growing into them. He noted that the town has many storm water detention basins and no management plan for them. A property owner cannot take any action without a permit, and asked that Commission consider this dilemma.
J. Preston reminded the Commission that there is a special meeting on Thursday December 4, from 4 - 5:30pm to review IWWC regulations.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 P.M. until the next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission scheduled for, Thursday, December 18, 2014, Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE by C. Wehrly; SECONDED by E. Steffen; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Preston, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen, P. Carver; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
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