OLD LYME INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 10, 2008
PRESENT WERE: Chairperson Bechtel, Vice Chair Robb Linde, Skip DiCamillo, Dave McCulloch, Don Willis, Mike Moran, Sabine O’Donnell and Evan Griswold.
Chair Bechtel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
The commission members introduced themselves.
08-05 CONTINUATION PUBLIC HEARING – REGIONONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #18 – RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TRACK AND REVISED DRAINAGE
Bechtel stated this public hearing will be continued until Tuesday, June 24, 2008 and therefore the public will have a chance to ask questions tonight and again on the 24th.
Robb Linde asked why the commission was holding a Special Meeting tonight if this application was going to be discussed again on the 24th. Brown explained their was a notification error, therefore to comply with the requirements of notification counsel has suggested the hearing be held opened and continued until the next regular meeting.
Bechtel distributed copies provided to her by commission member O”Donnell to both the applicant and commission members which provide information specific to the chemical composition of the track. Bechtel stated O’Donnell retained the information on line and included the email links for anyone who would like to do further research on this product.
Bechtel stated she has been advised by, Ann Brown, ZEO that emails are best to be avoided when an application is under public hearing as to prevent any discussion going on that is not brought before the public. Bechtel stated in her opinion discussion did not ensue and suggested the applicant review all the information provided preventing any future problems.
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Dick Webb, Clough Harbor and Associates provided MSDS sheets of the products that are proposed to be specified for the track as requested at the last meeting.
Bechtel noted for the public that might not have been present at the last meeting that questions were raised about the track surface at the last meeting. Bechtels stated a lot of questions and concerns have been discussed as to what the exact material would be that will be used on the synthetic track and was it indeed a rubber tire surface. She further noted there was also concern as to whether the surface was safe for children, what vapors it gave off during extreme heat and does rain cause leaching of heavy metals into the drainage system that will ultimately drain out into the Duck River.
Sabine O’Donnell stated at the last hearing Mr. Webb provided two samples to the commission that were be considered for use on the track. She asked Webb if he had made a decision on the surface that will be used. Webb indicated it is the material that has been submitted to the commission. Webb stated both samples were the same material treated with different types of surfacing on the top.
Webb presented a brief overview of the project. He stated they are proposing a 400 meter track with six distance lanes and an eight lane straight away track. He noted the new track will remain in the same location as the existing track with a slight expansion. He noted the expansion would be to the east upslope away from residences to the south and properties along Lyme Street. He stated this proposal provide amore multi-purpose dimension of play on the natural grass field that is also proposed to be constructed as part of the project. He stated the field will be irrigated and no lighting is proposed. He stated maintenance access and emergency access to the track will be from the existing gravel drive that currently bisects the campus from behind the Middle
and Center School. He stated the throwing events are located to the west and south of the track in the “D” areas. These areas will be completely synthetically surfaced and will accommodate the long jump, high jump and triple jump. He stated there will be a natural grass irrigated field that will have amended top soil and will have drainage improvements. Webb stated the drainage from the field and the track which currently drains in the south westerly direction out to a system which extends along Library Lane into culverts at the outlet where Library Lane crosses the Duck River/Appleby Pond. Webb stated the proposed drainage for the track now will not work to the southwest but be directed to the east and that piping system will extend through the knoll (which will require the removal of approximately 400 yards of rock) to accomplish this gravity drainage system. He stated the drainage system will outlet into a detention basin. He stated the detention basin will receive and
treat the runoff. He stated the detention basin will be planted with environmental plantings per the recommendation of their environmental consultant. Webb stated the outlet for the detention basin will extend further to the east and the limit of the rip-rap for that outlet is approximately 25 feet away from
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the edge of the wetland. Webb stated the construction of the detention basin is within the 100’ regulated area.
Webb stated the hydraulic design of this basin is intended to accept and accommodate the volume of a 10 year storm. Webb stated the proposal is lowering the watershed which was recommended by Mr. Metcalf (engineering consultant for the town) and the water is released before any surge of any peak event. He stated since the proposal is designed for a 10 year storm there is no increase in peak runoff from this project as it enters and passes through the Appleby Pond system. Webb stated if there is an event larger or more significant than a 10 year event the water will exit the project before any upstream surge and before any other portions of the watershed work themselves down to this culvert. Webb stated the plantings in the basin will further improve water quality. He stated there is
vortechnic storm ceptor unit proposed for the project so that all the water that is collected in the track and from the field is cleaned initially and re-cleaned again with the function of the detention basin.
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION MEMBERS:
McCulloch asked if the applicant proposed to take more drainage out through this system in the future. Webb stated in the future if the district approaches some of the other existing drainage conditions related to the Center, Middle School and/or high school the possibility is that the detention basin could expand in size. He further stated the intent of its location and design could allow for future expansion. Webb stated the outlet will not change so that the peak runoff will never chang. He noted that the volume of temporary storage could change, but any expansion would be occurring away from the wetland.
Moran stated at the last public hearing there were two samples. He asked if the sample tonight was the sample that was proposed for the track because the other sample left a bunch of little particles on the desks therefore, he expressed concern if those particles would run down to the water and be floating on the top and going into the Duck River. Webb stated the sample here tonight is the sample that will be used.
Bechtel asked what the life expectancy was of the track. Webb stated the life expectancy is between 20 and 25 years depending on the use. He noted that approximately every 6 to 8 years the red coating on top will wear down and a new coat of structural spray will need to be applied.
O’Donnell asked how long these types of systems have been installed. Webb stated they have been installed in New England for at least 40 years. John Rhodes, Director of Facilities, Regional District 18, stated that the surface chosen is a more
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expensive. He further stated the committee toured a lot of athletic facilities prior to making their chose and noted this surface was the most widely used. He also noted he spoke with the Athletic Diretor, Track Coach, and School Nurse at the East Lyme High School, whom have had this track at their school for over 20 years and they indicated they had not seen any health issues from the track during that period of time.
Webb added the fact that this product is an epidium rubber that is binded with a polyurethane binder with a lose sort of resin that pulls it together that is actually paved very similar to bituminous paving. He stated this is not ground up rubber, it is new rubber mixed with a polyurethane binder and then paved down and sprayed with a coating.
Griswold asked when they toured the fields if there had been any base line testing of the outlet of the drainage water. Rhodes stated the committee looked at configurations and reliability but he was not aware of any studies done on the effluent that comes off of the track.
Moran asked if there was any consideration of installing large tanks for the storage of the water and reusing it back onto the field. Rhodes stated the water used for one field is approximately 50,000 gallons a week and therefore enormous tanks would be needed.
Janet……I need help with this paragraph…..to hard to hear
Linde stated one of the questions he asked last time was what effect the increase water into the wetlands might affect downstream. Linde asked roughly what is the size of the watershed …….. Webb stated the increase represents about 4 percent of the overall watershed. Linde stated it was his understanding that the design of the detention pond is to delay the water. Webb stated this proposal reduces the watershed as it relates to its current condition at the culvert crossing.
Bechtel asked the applicant to review the information pertaining to the epidium rubber that was submitted by the commission this evening. She further stated that Nancy Alderman, President of Environmental and Human Health out of North Haven, stated in the email that epidium granual that one of the components is nothing other than ground up rubber tires in the sense that it is not a tire that been ground but it is very much made of some of the same components before they become tires so the terminology becomes very tricky. Bechtel stated there are concerns about its leaching of heavy metals into the water system, and the temperature that they reach and suggested that further research was needed
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beyond the school nurse in terms of overall health. Bechtel stated she felt it was important for the public to know as we go forward what the use of some of these products will ultimately end up doing for the health and the environment as we dispose of them 20 years later and as the children continue to run on them. She further stated it was not that projects need to be stopped but she felt people should be informed and the information outlined in the websites provide a wealth of information for the public to review.
Linde noted that the comments with regard to the track and this commission should be limited to the effect on wetlands.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC:
Dave Winer – 20 Library Lane
Mr. Winer asked if Ms. Alderman expressed in her email any chemical relation to ground up tire. Bechtel provided Mr. Winer a copy of the information. O’Donnell stated she reviewed the product list provided on the surface company’s website which listed the materials used for these surfaces. O”Donnell stated that Alderman’s opinion was very strong that toxic materials leach out of these type of materials and give off toxic vapors into the environment.
Evan Griswold suggested that since this surface was being installed into and educational institution it would be a perfect opportunity to conduct a study on the effects on the out flow of water . Nan Salvino, BOE Member agreed that would be a great opportunity and would suggest that to the high school science department.
JANE FOLLAND – DUNNS LANE -
Folland asked for clarification that the only water that will go into the holding pond will be from the track. Webb indicated that was correct. Folland asked how long the water will be detained in the pond and at what rate it would flow to the pond.. Webb stated he did not have the exact volume storage capacity of the detntion basin She said she would just like to know that on a day to day basis how much water will be in the pond and will it just be standing there. Webb stated there is a pinch to the basin and it will allow the water to flow slowly through the bottom of the basin to the outlet point and then it discharges to the rip-rap level spreader which is located outside of the wetland itself. Webb stated it is not a holding pond with a flat bottom so the water will flow
and move out.
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DAVE WINER 20 LIBRARY LANE
Mr. Winer stated at the last meeting there was a little discussion about the salinity. Winer asked for clarification on the fact that even though fresh water will be added and ultimately released the salinity in Appleby Pond will not change. Webb stated that is correct. He further stated that Ben Reiger, Environmentalist for the project, will be present at the next meeting to address any further concerns in more detail.
The hearing was continued until the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 24th, 2008.
John Rhodes asked the commission members if it would be acceptable to advertise for the construction of the track with the intention of not accepting bids until all the commissions of Old Lyme are satisfied. He reported that by being allowed to proceed with this portion of the project it would allow them to keep the same timeline for the project. He further stated if for whatever reason they are not able to satisfy all the commission the bids will never be received.
The commission indicated they had no objection to advertising for bids.
FMTM SHOW CAUSE HEARING
Bechtel thanked Mr. Martone for attending the meeting. She reported that the commission did indeed walk the site this evening and noted quite a bit of progress had been made on Phase I. Bechtel stated the commission agreed that at this point in time that best way to proceed would be to ask Mr. Martone to submit an as-built on the road which would be verified by Mr. Metcalf. She indicated that would complete Phase I.
Brown asked Mr. Martone if he felt Phase I was complete short of the paving.
Martone stated he had been on site for the last eight or nine days and felt the only thing that might need to be done is the installation of guard rails.
Evan Griswold expressed concern of soil erosion on the site from a significant rain event because of the lack of stabilization. Griswold noted that this was not the best time of year to establish grass but he would like something put down to protect the soil.
Martone stated he has seeded and mulched on the outside of the rip-rap ditches. Griswold stated he felt those ditches have made a significant difference on how the water flows on the site.
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Martone stated his plan was to pave and then topsoil, seed and hay the area adjacent to the 16 foot drive. Willis concurred that it would not make sense to seed the area prior to pavement.
Brown stated the suggestion is that Mr. Martone have an as-built done to show the location of the improvements of the roadway, all the drainage structures, spot elevations which will prove out that the site is ready for pavement. Brown stated Metcalf will review the as-built and then the commission could allow Mr. Martone to do the paving work and possibly move onto Phase II.
McCulloch suggested that we allow the applicant to pave now in an effort to stabilized the site. Brown stated Metcalf would like to review the as-built which will guarantee the grades are correct and everything is installed properly prior to paving. Bechtel stated she supported having the as-built verified prior to paving to avoid any further problems at the site.
Mr. Martone agreed to have his engineer do the as-built. Bechtel stated she would contact Mr. Metcalf to review the as-built prior to the next meeting if at all possible.
Bechtel stated the commission walked Phase II and kept coming to the point as to why when you enter Phase II is it cleared so far down into the wetland on the right hand side. Martone and Bechtel reviewed the plan. Bechtel suggested the possibility that the plan was perhaps read incorrectly by the construction staff and cleared in the wrong area. Martone stated his engineer outlined the limits of clearing. He further stated the site was then cleared according to that outlined area. Martone stated he would certainly look into the situation tomorrow. Martone added that he was not happy with the clearing limits in general because he felt the entire site was cleared too much.
Linde stated if the limits of clearing are what your original engineer laid out and they don’t follow the map, then he suggested the site be re-flagged by a different engineer.
Becthel suggested that Mr. Martone try to submit his as-built as soon as possible so the plan can be reviewed prior to the next meeting on June 24, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Groves
Land Use Administrator
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