MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Elizabeth Warren, William Grace, Carol Heffler, Barbara Kelly, Richard Muller, and Audrey Wasik
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Donald Gates sitting for Philip Forzley
STAFF PRESENT: Jeffrey H. Folger, Environmental Planner/Conservation Officer
Debbie Reid, Recording Secretary
ITEM: Correspondence & Reports
Holiday Social
There will be a Chamber of Commerce and The Town of South Windsor Holiday Social held on December 11, 2003 at the Mill on the River Restaurant at 5:00 p.m. Individuals interested should respond to Judy Hall at 644-2511 ext. 201 by December 5, 2003.
Leadership Roundtable
There will be a Strategic Planning Leadership Roundtable held on December 10, 2003.
ITEM: Minutes
The November 5, 2003 minutes were approved by general consensus of the Commission.
ITEM: Conservation Commission
Major Michael Donnelly property
The trailhead should be complete soon. There was a problem with water on the property. Because of this problem, the Town has gone over budget on this project and has been tapping into all resources from all departments. The Town will be looking for donations to construct the gazebo and a fishing platform. In the springtime, the area will be re-vegetated and witch hazel will be planted. The area has been stabilized. The Boy Scouts will be doing projects along the trail. A bridge and boardwalks will need to be constructed.
Witch Hazel
There was an 80% to 90% survival rate for Witch Hazel planted at Nevers Road/and Abbe Road Extension. The year of the drought there was a 30% survival rate.
ITEM: Wetland Offices Report
Jeff stated that there has been no problems with material getting into the wetlands or watercourses as a result of the storm.
Strong Road
ITEM: Public Hearing
Show Cause Hearing – Mill on the River – Ellington Road
Jeff explained that the Contractor did 90% of the necessary erosion control work. There is road runoff onto this site from Ellington Road. Jeff stated that he would notify the applicants Engineering firm.
Ms. Karen Isherwood from Design Professionals came before the Commission. She explained that there is a need for additional parking and the applicant will be re-applying. There is a desire to keep the work going in order to stabilize the site. The applicant would like to put stone down for the bio-filtration system.
Jeff stated that some areas would benefit if work were continued. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the Contractor could further stabilize the site with direction from Jeff.
Motion to: remove the cease and desist order on appl. #03-67P – Mill on the River – 989 Ellington Road – Inland Wetland/Conservation Commission application to create an auxiliary parking lot across the street from the restaurant. RR, Residential zone.
Was made by Commissioner Wasik
Seconded by Commissioner Muller
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
ITEM: New Business
Appl. #03-70P – Keen Subdivision
Ms. Karen Isherwood from Design Professionals came before the Commission to represent this application. She explained that the application is to allow a lot to be subdivided into two lots. There are wetlands on the eastern boundary of the site and a small triangle on the northerly portion o the site. There will be no wetland disturbance, but there is proposed to be 7,700 square feet of disturbance to the upland review area due to the foundation. Grading will be done for the underground utilities.
Ms. Isherwood stated the e & s measures being taken on the site and changes being made are as follows:
Anti-tracking apron.
Silt fence along the down slope grading.
Foundation drain relocated to the front.
Underground utilities have been changed.
A conservation easement will be placed along the brook.
A maintenance easement to be granted to the Town by the property owner along the culvert area.
Commission members discussed at length the 24” pipe that is clogged and whether or not it should be the responsibility of the property owner. Ms. Isherwood stated that runoff is coming from other sites also. The Town will be granted a right of way in order to be able to clean that pipe out. It was the general consensus of the Commission that one property owner should not have the responsibility of cleaning out a culvert.
Commission Kelly felt that when a house is constructed on the site, a reasonable footprint should be used. Commissioner Heffler added that she is concerned with the protection along the brook. A conservation easement should be placed along that area.
Mr. Matthew Keen stated that his concern is that if you have a conservation easement next to the culvert, it will not be able to be maintained and will have an undesirable appeal to the neighborhood. That area has always been mowed.
Jeff stated that individuals that have land adjacent to a watercourse, try to make the area look like a park. A conservation easement will protect that side of the brook. Ornamental plantings could be placed in that area to supplement it.
Public
Mr. Louis Ventitozzi of 176 Pleasant Valley Road came before the Commission. He voiced his concern saying that water has never gone through the upper culvert. The lower culvert is blocked and should be cleaned out.
Motion to: approve with conditions appl. #03-70P – Keen Subdivision – 140 Pleasant Valley Road – Inland Wetland/Conservation Commission application to create a two-lot residential subdivision. A-40, Residential zone.
Was made by Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by Commissioner Kelly
Commissioner Gates felt that the Town should be responsible for correcting the situation with this pipe.
Jeff explained that if an easement is granted and there is enough concerns voiced by the residents, this will be put on a list to do maintenance by Public Works.
Mrs. Eleanor Ventitozzi of 176 Pleasant Valley Road stated that the water build up has eroded her driveway. Her concern with more construction is that more water will go to her property.
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Conditions:
1. One blueprint copy of the entire set of plans and this letter reproduced thereon, must be submitted to this Commission. This must be completed within 65 days of approval prior to any construction activity on the site. Plans submitted to Planning & Zoning Commission shall be considered having met this requirement.
2. The application shall indemnify and hold harmless the Town of South Windsor against any liability, which might result from the proposed operation or use.
3. The permit is valid for five years and shall expire on November 19, 2008. It is the landowner(s)/applicant(s) responsibility to track expiration dates and notify the Commission of a renewal request at least 65 days prior to expiration.
4. All approvals required must be obtained and submitted prior to any activity on the site.
5. A contact person shall be identified on the plans.
A conservation easement to be granted to the Town. The easement will be 25 feet from the wetland boundary along the West Side of the brook, East Side of the property.
7. A maintenance easement to be granted to the Town by the property owner along the culvert area.
ITEM: Other Business
Holiday Party
The IWA/CC annual holiday party will be held on January 14, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at Calamari’s.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Was made by Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by Commissioner Kelly
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Respectfully submitted
_________________________________ ___________________
Deborah W. Reid Date Approved
Recording Secretary
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