MINUTES
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015
PRESENT WERE: Janet Bechtel (Acting Chair), Tim Rollins, Mike Moran, Christian Tompkins, and Evan Griswold.
MINUTES
Minutes of Regular Meeting dated February 24, 2015
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes dated February 24, 2015. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Minutes of Site Walk Meeting dated February 21, 2015
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the Site Walk Meeting Minutes dated February 21, 2015 with the correction that the year be changed from 2014 to 2015. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Minutes of Site Walk Meeting dated March 21, 2015
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the Site Walk Meeting Minutes dated March 21, 2015 with the correction that the year be changed from 2014 to 2015. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
This item was tabled until the next Regular Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
AYARS RESIDENCE – AERATOR – 107 BOSTON POST ROAD
Michael Harkin, Principal in Harkin Engineering was present to discuss the letter he submitted on behalf of Ms. Constance Ayars requesting that Item #1 be removed as a Condition of Approval from Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Permit 14-26. The condition stated in the
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permit was the aerator installed was not to be lit. Harkin stated that Ms. Ayars would like to light the aerator a couple of hours in the evening.
Bechtel stated the commission had not received a formal application but referenced two items “The Dark Society” and “The Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting” which is a very informed publication on the effects of night lighting on mammals, amphibians, breeding birds and bats. Bechtel stated that this would not be something that this commission would favor and does not feel a letter from a soil scientist would change the commission’s decision because a soil scientist is not qualified to make that determination. Bechtel stated if the commission needs to bring in experts to indicate that there would indeed be a consequence than the commission would be prepared to do that but noted it would be at the expense of the applicant.
OLD BUSINESS
14-31 Town of Old Lyme – 166 Boston Post Road – Improve and enlarge existing docks
on Rogers Lake.
Bechtel stated that Skip DiCamillo and Evan Griswold visited the site on Saturday, March 21, 2015.
Paul Gianquinto – Co Chair of the Boat House Committee and Bonnie Reemsnyder, First Selectwomen were present on behalf of the application by the Town of Old Lyme. Griswold stated he and Skip DiCamillo did actually walk out onto the lake were the docks would be installed. He further stated it did not appear to him that the proposal would have any impact on the lake and further stated there would be no excavation involved in the project.
Gianquinto stated there are two docks one which is the west dock which is located closer to Town Woods Road and that is the dock that will be attached to the existing concrete bulkhead. He stated the east dock is currently secured with pipes and is larger and will be anchored exactly the way the existing dock is and the ramp will just rest on the soil.
Gianquinto stated in the future they may be back before the commission to request an additional concrete bulkhead on the east dock.
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the application as submitted with the condition that any further changes would require the applicant to come back before the commission for additional approvals. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
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14-29 – Peter and Constance Ross – 37 Browns Lane – Proposal to add breezeway mud room, garage and breakfast area. The garage and breezeway is within the regulated area.
The commission reviewed the sketch submitted with the application. Bechtel stated the sketch indicates the addition would be within 27’ of the wetlands. She said she did not have a problem with the proposed breakfast area to the rear of the lot but she felt the proposed garage and breezeway was rather extensive. She further stated she would like to see the size modified from what is currently proposed. Griswold stated at the site walk they asked about the proposed three car garage and suggested the breezeway possibly be eliminated or cut it back to a two car garage. Griswold also noted there was some mitigation to the wetland by a stonewall on the site. Griswold stated there is a slope and noted the proposal would also require a fair amount of excavation in addition to the cut and
fill. Griswold stated it would be his preference to see the proposal be kept some additional feet from the wetlands. Griswold also noted that the revised site plan has no other dimensions on it besides the 27 feet. Griswold further stated it would be very helpful if the site plans that accompany the application had some dimensions and a scale included. Bechtel stated in this case that would include the house as well as the proposed addition. Bechtel stated this site plan is not adequate for the commission to make a decision.
Rosenfeld suggested the applicant hire a soil scientist to evaluate the soils that are located between the garage and the brook to determine if they are highly erodible or if they are stable.
He stated this information would be helpful in assisting the commission in their decision as to the distance to the wetlands. The commission also reviewed the site plan that was submitted with their prior application. Bechtel suggested a soil scientist visit the site and the site plan be updated to have all the information on one plan that incorporates the 2009 approvals and dimensions of the structure on the plan. She further stated what the commission is seeing is a continuous encroachment on the property that was sloped and fairly narrow to begin with.
The commission tabled any action until next month with the recommendation that the applicant reduce his proposal because of the setback issues and suggested the soils be included as part of the application as well.
Griswold stated the amount of impervious surface being added to this property in terms of roof will also create additional runoff.
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14-30 – Richard Battalino – 240-1 Shore Road – Proposed addition to existing self-storage building 100 x 25 located inside of fence within review zone.
Tony Hendriks and Rick Battalino were present to discuss the application. Hendriks noted at the last meeting the commission suggested the site plan be formalized. Hendriks stated the proposed addition, as well as a silt fence and stockpile location. Hendriks stated that all of the activity will be within the existing fence line location. He also noted that the dumpster has been removed. Hendriks submitted a drawing illustrating the four proposed door locations. He noted all the other access to the building will be via an interior hallway located inside the building.
The commission discussed with the applicant the access to the units as well as the excavation required to construct the new units.
Bechtel asked if the proposed addition could be shortened from its 100’ so it can be pulled back from the corner of the wetland. Battalino stated it would prevent access to some of the units.
Bechtel stated the previous approval granted was for temporary units. Battalino indicated that was correct. Bechtel stated with the temporary structures there was a pervious surface and with the current proposal there is a lot more impervious surface. She further stated it was tight to the wetlands.
Bechtel asked if the applicant still needed a setback variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Battalino indicated that was correct but wanted to know if this commission was in favor of the project before he invested more time and money with another board.
Bechtel stated it is a tough site and she is not comfortable with the additional expansion. Griswold stated he felt the same way. The applicant asked if the commission would approve an application if the building was pulled back away from the wetlands. Griswold stated he felt it was a poor site and was uncomfortable with additional expansions.
The applicant decided to withdraw his application at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
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