OLD LYME INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
MEZZANINE CONFERENCE ROOM
MEMORIAL TOWN HALL, 52 LYME STREET,
OLD LYME, CT
PRESENT WERE: Skip DiCamillo, Dave McCulloch, Tim Rollins, Christian Tompkins, and Evan Griswold.
MINUTES
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING DATED AUGUST 27, 2013
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the August 27th Regular Meeting Minutes as submitted. Dave McCulloch seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES OF SITE WALK MEETING DATED AUGUST 7, 2013
Tim Rollins made a motion to approve the August 7, 2013 Site Walk Meeting Minutes as submitted. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES OF SITE WALK MEETING DATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2013.
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the September 18, 2013 Site Walk Meeting Minutes as submitted. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
ROBERT & TONI JUDGE – 27 & 31 ROGERS LAKE TRAIL – MODIFY EXISTING PERMIT TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF ADDITIONAL TREES.
Paul Coady, Contractor, was present to discuss the modification with the commission. Mr. Coady read a letter into the record from Michael Harkin, P.E. dated September 24, 2013. He noted the following modifications are proposed “removal of two (2) additional
trees at the proposed site. Upon further review by a Licensed Tree Removal Company, one of the trees appears to be split and in very poor condition. It is believed that due to the proposed construction activities at the site, the second tree won’t survive after the projects completion. Mr. Coady presented a site plan of the property showing the location of the proposed trees to be removed.” The commission also reviewed photographs that were provided as part of their previous application. Coady also noted that root systems will be impacted by the proposed construction.
DiCamillo asked if the tree was split prior. Coady stated it is potentially harmful to the house and the root system will be further impacted by the construction. He noted it would be very difficult to deal with the trees after the construction is complete. DiCamillo asked if the stumps would be removed as well. Coady stated that is correct. Evan Griswold stated he thought grinding the stump would be better than trying to remove a stump that close to the wall and the lakes edge. Griswold asked if there was any proposal to replace the trees. Coady noted that has not been discussed. McCulloch expressed concern about burying the stumps on the lot because eventually the stumps rot out and then the ground collapses. Coady stated they could drive the sheeting and then pull
the stumps out so there would be no impact on the lake. Coady stated most likely the wall will be constructed after the house but the stumps can be left in until after the sheeting is in.
Evan Griswold made a motion to approve the removal of the two trees and that the sheeting for the wall is to be driven prior to the removal of the stumps and the holes are to be back filled with clean fill and gravel to maintain the drainage. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
13-25 KENNETH STONE – 17 SILL LANE – CONSTRUCTION OF A 10 X 16 SHED
Kenneth Stone stated he would like to place a small shed on his property. The commission reviewed the site plan delineating the location. Mr. Stone explained he enjoyed gardening and little projects and would like a place to store some of his equipment. He noted he purchased the property almost a year ago and noted he has done a lot of work to the property to repair the damage from the ATV’s that used to travel the property.
The commission agreed to set a site walk for Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 5:45 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
13-22 LAWRENCE GALBO – 27 CHAMPLAIN DRIVE – ADD PROPANE GENERATORS TO CONCRETE PAD
DiCamillo noted the commission walked the site and at that time the applicant was told he did not need to attend the meeting.
Dave McCulloch made a motion to approve the application as submitted including the tree removal. Tim Rollins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
13-23 LAURIE WILLIS – 50 & 52 SHORE ROAD – TRIM TREES, PUT CRUSHED STONE ON EXISTING DRIVEWAY, REMOVE STUMP FROM SWAMP, REMOVE DAMAGE TREES, SPRAY FOR PHRAGMITIES.
DiCamillo noted the commission visited the site. He noted the application included tree trimming, placement of crushed stone on the existing driveway (he noted it had already been placed). DiCamillo asked the applicant if she planned on adding any additional stone. Willis stated there was no plan to add any down at the end but she would like to add stone to the first house where two cars are parked. The commission viewed maps of the property. DiCamillo asked if the crushed stone would be extended into the driveway shown on the map. Willis stated there is already some stone down. DiCamillo asked if stone would be added to any areas where there is not presently stone. Willis stated it would only be added up in front of her house. DiCamillo stated also part of the proposal was
the removal of some stumps from the swamp and the property. Willis stated the removal would be done by hand and no heavy equipment would be brought into the site. Willis stated the stumps in the yard would be cut down to the ground by the tree contractor.
DiCamillo also noted that the application included the spraying of phragmities. DiCamillo also noted that there is a currently a boat stored next to the wetlands He noted the crushed stone has not been permitted so he stated when discussing this application the commission members have to consider whether this would have been allowed. He further stated the boat also needs to be addressed. DiCamillo asked if the boat was part of this application. Brown stated it was not.
Brown also noted for the record Janet Bechtel sent an email with her comments with respect to the application. DiCamillo read the comments into the record. “Tree trimming, tree removal and stumping is all acceptable but she also needs to pick up the numerous brush piles as instructed and make sure all chips are taken off site. I do not want the phragmities removal included in this permit. She needs to come back when the work is to be done with a detailed plan and contractor. I am NOT in favor of any additional crushed stone in the location of the large boat or between the trees. I wish to pursue with the commission the issue of the activity of the driveway expansion into the wetland being a VIOLATION and would we have allowed this had we been presented with a proper application
beforehand. If we would not have allowed the expansion into the wetland and the storage of a boat so near the wetlands, what is the action to be taken now. I would recommend we not allow boat/car/camper/van/equipment storage in such a location and recommend that the current crushed stone be pulled 15 feet away from the wetland and leave that area a mow zone”.
DiCamillo stated he felt Janet Bechtel’s suggestions are appropriate. He noted the boat can be moved and there are other locations on the property where it isn’t in the wetlands.
Griswold asked if the removal of the crushed stone would cause more disturbance than just leaving it alone. Griswold stated he felt the stone should be left alone because the removal would require machinery. DiCamillo stated he felt it could possibly be removed without the use of heavy equipment. McCulloch stated he felt it was beneficial because the gravel is much larger and will impede the flow down the driveway and will trap a lot of stuff. DiCamillo asked if the area should be left has a no mow zone. The commission agreed that it should be mowed once a year. Willis asked if a car could be parked there. DiCamillo stated a car cannot be parked where the boat is currently positioned. He further stated it could be used as a turnaround if needed. DiCamillo stated he
would like to see the boat moved. Willis asked if the boat location was a problem because of its proximity to the wetlands. DiCamillo stated the boat is either in the wetlands or a buffer zone and those items are not allowed to be stored in the wetlands.
Dave McCulloch made a motion to remove the brush piles that have been placed in the wetlands/watercourse. Tree trimming and stump grinding is permitted: wood to be used as firewood and stored outside of the wetlands/watercourse; all slash and chips to be removed from the site. Phragmites removal is not part of this approval; a new application is required at the time that the applicant is ready to commence the removal. The boat should not be stored in the area where it is currently stored. Christian Tompkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION – GRAYBILL PROPERTIES – 151 BOSTON POST ROAD
No application was submitted at this time.
OLD LYME COUNTRY CLUB – REQUEST FOR BOND RELEASE.
Brown read into the record a letter from Richard Snarski dated July 11, 2013. (Copy attached) Brown also read a letter into the record from David Lane, Facilities Manager, dated September 24, 2013. (Copy attached)
Both David Lane, Facilities Manager and Mark Pierce, President of the Old Lyme Country Club were present to discuss the issues.
Evan Griswold recused himself from the discussion.
DiCamillo also noted for the record that the commission has received a letter from Sarah McCracken dated September 17, 2013.
Dave McCulloch raised the point that there were a lot of substantial changes to the plan which may satisfy the general direction but do not meet the exact specifications.
Brown stated there were changes in the design and construction of the parking lot that were noted in Tom Metcalf’s letter after the as-built plan was received. She noted there were suppose to be grass aisles, a lamppost on the islands, etc. She noted that Mr. Lane explained that those details became impractical in the gravel parking lot because people ran into the posts.
Brown noted that Sarah McCracken’s letter points out some of the landscaping that was not completed as per plan and suggests that it be completed. Brown stated that Stanley Kolber was concerned about the wood chips in the wetlands. DiCamillo stated he was also concerned. Brown stated she spoke with Snarski today and asked him about the wood chips specifically. She said he stated that when he examined it he was very pleased with the plants that had come in and did not think the chips should be removed and noted there were many native wetland plants starting to grow. Therefore, he would not recommend having that area disturbed in any way but he did recommend that the phragmittie eradication continue to prevent it from smothering out the native growth.
Brown said she spoke with Kolber, Lane, and Snarksi about the demarcation between the parking area and the meadow. Brown stated on the original plan that was approved by the IWWC and the Army Corp did not allow the country club to go through with had a wooden guardrail between the wet meadow and the parking area. She also noted that on the plan that was actually approved there is a guardrail detail but is shown on the plan as a silt fence. Brown stated if the guardrail was installed along the obvious edge of the parking lot it would protect the wet meadow from people driving into it as well as post a sign to be only mowed once a year in November.
Brown suggested that the Country Club discuss the installation of the guard rail, and complete the landscape as suggested to compensate for the changes in the plan.
DiCamillo stated that McCracken also mentioned that there were some dead plantings that should be removed. Lane stated they have not yet been removed. DiCamillo stated McCracken also suggested that the two islands be removed. Lane stated all the plantings were planted as specified on the plan with only one change. DiCamillo stated McCracken indicated some replacements had been done. Lane stated that was correct. He further noted that during Hurricane Sandy the area flooded and killed a lot of the plants. Lane stated that McCracken requested that they be replanted as well as extract the living plants along the south side of the ditch and reset them.
DiCamillo asked the commission members for their input on the removal of the wood chips. Lane stated that McCracken suggested in her December 8, 2009 letter indicates that the fresh wood chips may help keep down the invasive. McCulloch stated she also agreed with Snarski. DiCamillo stated the removal may make the situation worse. The commission determined it was better to leave the woodchips.
McCulloch asked if the commission would like to see the guardrail installed prior to release of the bond. Brown stated she felt the guardrail would be helpful. Brown stated the bond money might be able to pay for the guardrail. Lane noted the guardrail was shown on a plan that was originally approved but was not shown on the plan that was approved later by both the commission and the Army Corp.
Brown noted that the formality of the edge of the parking lot has been lost. DiCamillo stated he agreed and noted he has seen cars parked beyond the designated parking area.
Lane asked if the project was completed as approved isn’t that sufficient. Brown stated it was not completed as approved. Discussion ensued as to the location of the guardrail on the site and the possibility of using railroad ties.
The commission agreed to set a site walk for Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
CORRESPONDENCE
Dave McCulloch distributed a Brief Summary of Pesticides Listed by the Applicator for use on Town Woods Playing Fields.
ADJACENT PROPERTY TO 27 CHAMPLAIN
DiCamillo expressed concern about an adjacent property to 27 Champlain that was storing boats, cars and other materials within the regulated zone. DiCamillo requested a notice be sent requesting the applicant to remove the items from the wetlands.
SEMINARS
Brown distributed flyers for upcoming seminars if commission members were interested in attending.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Groves
Land Use Administrator
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