MINUTES
OLD LYME INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018
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Rachel Gaudio called the Inland Wetlands Meeting to order at 6:59 P.M.
MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting dated March 27, 2018
Tom Machnik made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Bob DePianta seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
18-04 – GRAYBILL PROPERTIES – 16 NECK ROAD ( LOT 1) – CONSTRUCT 26 DWELLING UNITS WITHIN 8 BUILDINGS. APPLICANT: HOPE HOUSING, LLC.
Joe Wren, P.E. with Indigo Land Design was present on behalf of the applicant Hope Housing, LLC. Mr. Wren reviewed the proposed plan with the commission. He stated there is a small pocket of wetlands upfront by Route 156. He stated the majority of the development is west of the wetland and outside of the 100’ review area. The activities within the 100’ are limited to the reconstruction and widening of the driveway, replacement of the culvert, grading associated with the roadway and the storm water quality basin.
Evan Griswold asked if that was the location of the existing cistern or concrete structure. Wren stated there is an existing well in that area for the house on the property and the concrete square is the pump house to get the water up to the home.
Wren reviewed the changes that had been made to the plan since the first meeting with the commission. He said the project is two lots one of which has no wetland review activity. He said on Lot 1 the initial application had 8 buildings and that has been reduced to 7 residential buildings containing 23 units. Mr. Wren stated they are currently still working out some potential building
and fire code changes coming up in July. If the proposed code does pass July 1st, 2018 any residential building with more than two units together has to have sprinklers. He further stated with sprinklers a separate fire main is required which means more utilities and pump house activity. He said currently the pump house is proposed outside the regulated area but if the code passes the site could potentially need a third well and possibly another pump house. He said they will be ironing out these items in the next few weeks prior to the May 22, 2018 meeting.
Wren stated the proposed bill is about fire safety and the separation between the units. He said they would rather include all of this on the plan and should the proposed bill/code not pass they would remove the items rather than have to come back to the commission for additional changes.
Mr. Wren stated soil testing was done last week with Richard Snarski, Certified Professional Soil Scientist with New England Environmental, at the site within the drainage basin. He said they because of evidence of high water and ledge they want to raise the bottom of the basin a foot or two and to make up the volume that is loss the berm will be raised a foot or two also which might add to grading a little bit closer to the wetlands. Mr. Rosenfeld asked if the width and length of the basin would remain the same but the elevation will change. Mr. Wren stated that was correct. Mr. Rosenfeld asked if there was a final design or cross section on that area. Mr. Wren stated there are cross section details shown on the plan with specifications. He also noted that
Mr. Snarski would be submitting a seeding plan for the bottom of the basin that would also be noted on the plan once it is finalized. He further stated he would also be creating a planting plan for the slop itself as well as the upper review area.
Mr. DePianta asked if the pipe would be left that goes underneath the old driveway. Mr. Wren stated that is correct the plan is to leave it in place and not disturb the area. He noted the old driveway location prior to the new bridge being constructed and then it was moved to its current position further away from the ramp. Mr. DePianta expressed concern about the drainage coming down. Mr. Wren stated there is a swale that comes down into a catch basin and reviewed the contours and swales which demonstrate how the flow will be dispersed. He said part of the flow goes one way with the ditch and other side goes to the existing culvert. He further stated the upper development has low profile Cape Cod curbs with a series of catch basins with storm water quality prior to
existing the basin. He said at the 100 ft. review area the curbing is stopped and it sheet flows and he noted there is a crushed stone apron along both edges of the pavement.
Mr. McNeil asked how wide the driveway is proposed. Wren indicated it was approximately 12 feet and would be expanded to 24 feet.
Mr. Snarski reviewed his proposal for the wetlands basin and reviewed the native shrubs to be used in the area. He also noted he would design a customized seed mix specific for this area. He stated the planting plan would be submitted for review to the commission. He also discussed the plantings along the buffer. He also noted the plan would provide for a 2 year monitoring report. Therefore if any of the plantings did not work out they would be replaced.
Evan Griswold asked Mr. Wren if he had any thoughts about replacing the culvert that was put in by the Department of Transportation during the construction of the Baldwin Bridge. Mr. Wren stated it is a very small drainage area that a portion drains to the DOT ditch and the remainder drains to the pipe which is a small area. He further stated that the DOT oversized the pipe at that time and is suitable for a driveway culvert.
Mr. Wren further stated they are trying to minimize the amount of fill needed to raise the roadway but some will be required because the units need to be handicapped accessible so a certain elevation will be required.
Mr. McNeil asked about the access to the rear lots. Mr. Wren explained when the subdivision was approved by the Planning Commission each lot has a 25’ wide access strips. It was noted that the access to the rear lots was not part of this application.
Evan Griswold asked if there was Open Space set aside. Mr. Wren stated the Planning Commission in its decision determined if this site was to be used as Affordable Housing they would waive the open space requirement, however if it reverted back to single family residential lots the open space would be revisited. Kim Groves also noted the plan was referred to the Open Space Chair at the time of application.
Attorney David Royston, for the applicant stated under the regulations there is a waiver of open space for multi-family housing and there is a condition on the subdivision that if Lots 1 and 2 are not used for multi-family housing then the open space requirement will be revisited prior to developing the rear lots.
Rachel Gaudio stated it was mentioned that there may be new rules in place for the sprinkler system. Gaudio asked if there would be alternatives listed if there is something that will be located within the 100’ review area. Mr. Wren stated he thinks the applicant will overdesign and if necessary remove things rather than add things. Mr. Wren stated all of this information is brand new and they are currently working on the best approach and options.
18-05 – LARRY NEUREITHER – 13 EDGE LEA ROAD – CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING WITH ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS.
Joe Wren, P.E. Indigo Land Design presented the application. Mr. Wren stated the property is an existing vacant lot. He said the proposal is two construct a 2 story, 3-bedroom, year-round dwelling with an attached 2 car garage. He noted the wetlands were also flagged by Richard Snarski last December. He further stated there are no wetlands on the property but noted there are wetlands to the east of Edge Lea Road. He stated the house is located outside of the review area. He stated a paved driveway is proposed that will require minor grading within the review area but noted the area is flat.
A property owner, Raymond Thompson, 8 Dennis Road of the Edge Lea Association stated that when the utility company put the power lines underground messed up the existing swale so he wondered if the grading could be improved as part of this project. Mr. Wren stated that no work is proposed in the area and may also be a concern to this commission because the area would be disturbed. Wren also noted that the area belongs to the association and not the applicant.
The commission agreed to set a site walk for Wednesday, May 9th at 5:30 P.M.
AMEND THE AGENDA
Evan Griswold made a motion to amend the agenda to include the Approval of the Site Walk Meeting Minutes dated April 10th, 2018. Tom Machnik seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF THE SITE WALK MINUTES DATED APRIL 10, 2018
Tom Machnik made a motion to approve the Site Walk Minutes dated April 10, 2018 as submitted. Bob DePianta seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Respectfully submitted,
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