UNAPPROVED
OLD LYME INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2012
PRESENT WERE: Robb Linde, Janet Bechtel, Evan Griswold, and Dave McCulloch.
NEW BUSINESS
12-10 QUESTA BUILDERS, INC. – BGP DEVELOPERS, LLC – 5-1 DAVIS ROAD – TO CONSTRUCT A DRIVEWAY WITHIN 100 FT REVIEW AREA TO A PROPOSED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
Bob Doane, was present on behalf of Questa Builders to present the application. He stated the proposal was to divide off the residential portion (11.5 acres) from the developed commercial site. He stated they are proposing to construct a single family house, carriage house/garage, and a driveway which is approximately 830 ft. long of which 200 ft of it are located in the review area. Doane stated the proposed paved driveway including underground utilities would follow the existing cart path. He stated the driveway is sloped to the wetland area. He also pointed out the proposed conservation area.
Linde asked Mr. Doane to show the location of the fire access road. Doane pointed out the right of way for the emergency access to the Talcott Farm Subdivision. Linde asked if there was a reason to not use this existing access rather than construct a new driveway. Doane stated because of the steep grade.
Brown asked about the ownership of the Conservation Easement. Doane stated that would be determined by the Planning Commission. Brown asked Doane to provide the commission with a copy of the easement.
Griswold asked about the surface of the proposed driveway. Doane stated he was a proponent of paved driveways. He stated the compaction of gravel driveways is basically the same and the pot holes are still full of water. He also noted that when they are plowed they side cast gravel. Griswold asked if swales would be necessary. Doane stated it is currently a fairly uniform contour and he would not want to create a point of discharge and does not feel it is necessary.
The commission agreed to set a Site Walk for Monday, July 9th at 5:30 p.m.
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12-11 TOWN OF OLD LYME/CONSERVATION COMMISSION – 166 BOSTON POST ROAD – REQUEST TO LANDSCAPE/BUFFER INSTALLATION AND FRED HOLTH MEMORIAL BENCH
Maureen Plumleigh and Linda Clough (members of the Conservation Commission) were present to explain the proposed project. She further noted that the Rogers Lake Authority is also in support of the proposed project. They also submitted photographs for the commission to review delineating the area.
The explained the three primary purposes of this activity.
1. Provide site for Rogers Lake Memorial Bench honoring Fred Holth.
2. Provide erosion and control and beneficial plantings to shoreline of Rogers Lake.
3. Provide a teaching example to lake residents of buffer or barrier planting to be
used on their own property to discourage large expanses of turf grass down to the
water’s edge of their property. The plantings shall be native shrubs and
perennials suitable to the environment. Phragmites will be eliminated through
repeated layering of mats.
Soil will be piled in the area of trees and shoveled into the ground as worked by Public Works Equipment. Volunteer residents as well as interns of the master gardener program will perform most of the manual labor. Soil, gravel, and compost will come from the town. Residents and grants from the master gardener program will provide the plants and seeds. As long as the beach area remains intact, the geese will not be deterred from entering the sanded area.
Evan Griswold asked how many square feet the project encompasses. Clough stated they did not have an engineering report done but estimated it would be approximately 3 ft wide x 100 feet long plus the area around the bench. She further stated the goal is to keep the cost as minimal as possible. She also noted that most of the plantings have been donated and the work will be completed by volunteers. She further stated the excavation work would be done by Public Works. She stated the area would require very little maintenance. Linde stated that the proposed project is for a 3 ft. buffer but noted the commission generally requires a 10 ft buffer and suggested if they have any additional resources to widen the buffer that would be great. Brown asked where the dirt would be
stockpiled. A location was drawn on the plan between the playground and the peninsula. Brown asked what Public Works would do with the material removed. Plumleigh stated the low areas could be filled in.
Linde asked Ann Brown to invite Ed Adanti to the site walk.
The commission scheduled a Site Walk for Monday, June 9th, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
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MINUTES
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING DATED MAY 22, 2012
Janet Bechtel made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Evan Griswold seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES OF SITE WALK MEETING DATED MAY 26, 2012.
Janet Bechtel made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Dave McCulloch seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
12-7 MARY C. BERRY – WILLIAM H. OGLE PROPERTY – 235 BOSTON POST ROAD – PROPOSAL FOR AN 8 X 24 ADDITION AND A FREE STANDING SHED SURROUNDED BY A CHAIN LINK FENCE
Brown asked if the location of the shed shown on the plan was correct. The commission reviewed the revised plan which delineated the proper location for the shed after the commission walked the site.
Linde made the commission and the applicant aware that he had an interest in association property that is an abutter to the property at 235 Boston Post Road. Brown asked the applicant if she was comfortable with Mr. Linde acting on the application when he has an interest in a property across the pond. The applicant, Mary Berry stated she has no objection.
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the application with revisions as presented, with the condition that any animal waste shall be stored as far from the wetlands as possible and not any closer to the wetlands than the shed is and preferably farther from the wetlands, and that Best Management Practices must be followed for handling animal waste. Janet Bechtel seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Groves
Land Use Administrator
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