MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Elizabeth Warren, Philips Forzley, William Grace, Carol Heffler, Barbara Kelly, and Richard Muller
STAFF PRESENT: Jeffrey H. Folger, Environmental
Planner/Conservation Officer
Debbie Reid, Recording Secretary
ITEM: Correspondence and Reports
Chairperson Warren informed the Commission that two bills that Commissioner Wasik has discussed at the previous meeting have not passed through Legislation. One was regarding combining Commissions and the other was for changes to the bottle bill. There is another bill regarding Commissioners reporting income. This bill may not pass either.
ITEM: Conservation Commission
The boardwalk at the Major Michael Donnelly property is in the process of being built. The boards have been treated with a preservatives and will be cut and assembled next.
The grant application has been submitted. If all goes well, there should be a trail constructed from Sullivan Avenue to West Road by the end of the year. The trail will be approximately one mile.
Witch Hazel will be planted at Nevers Road Park on Saturday, April 3, 2004 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Chairperson Warren told Board members that she discussed the dog problem in the Wildlife Sanctuary with Councilor Aman. Councilor Aman felt an ordinance would not be necessary and suggested that a sign be erected to see how that works. Jeff said he would erect a laminated sign and also erect a wooden sign as soon as possible.
ITEM: New Business:
Appl. #04-10P KF Realty Senior Residence Development
Mr. Walter Kebalo came before the Commission. He explained that the proposal before the Commission is for a Senior Residence Development which will be known as Quarry Brook Village. It will be located on Pleasant Valley Road. Mr.
Kebalo told members that he and his brother are also the developers of Wheeler Estates. Based on studies done at Wheeler Estates, Mr. Kebalo told the Commission that the rear yards are usually only used when someone is cooking on their grill, there is usually no recreational type activities happening.
Mr. Galen Semprebon the Director of Engineering with Design Professionals came before the Commission. He explained that the property consists of 3.14 acres of land. There will be 6 units within a single building with two outbuildings being garages and some attached garages in front of the units. The wetlands on the site consists of Quarry Brook which runs through the site. The wetlands were reflagged, surveyed accurately and adjusted around slightly from the original location. There is proposed a water quality/detention basin in the rear of the building that will take all of the runoff from the paved areas. The water quality function will treat the runoff from the paved area and the detention basin will detain the runoff. The runoff is being outletted into a flatter area within the wetlands.
There will be 300 square feet of direct wetlands impact associated with the outlet. The impact to the upland review area is approximately 13,000 square feet. The site itself is about 45% wetlands.
Answering questions from the Commission, Mr. Semprebon explained that after a discussion with Jeff, there were soil amendments done within the detention basin and will be added to the plans. It is proposed in the rear of the buildings to splash the roof leaders onto the surface. In the front, because of the sidewalks, it is proposed to pipe the runoff into the storm system which would then go into the basin. The slope for the detention basin is 1 to 5 slope. The units are all under 1400 square feet with 90 square foot decks. The development is pushed as far back as 93 feet from the building line because of the SRD regulations and have tried to keep the building as forward as zoning will allow.
Chairperson Warren stated that she wondered if Planning & Zoning would consider a special exception in order to locate the building closer to the front yard setback. Even ten feet would bring the decks away from the edge of the detention basin. Chairperson Warren also suggested that the stairs to the decks be relocated to the sides of the decks.
Answering further questions from the Commission, Mr. Semprebon explained that within the basin, because of concerns regarding mosquito’s, the design is for an extended detention versus a wet bottom basin.
Jeff stated that he does not anticipate a significant impact to the wetlands because the building is being placed in the upland review. The development on this property will necessitate cleaning up the debris, which will be a plus for this area.
Mr. Semprebon told Commission members that the 300 square foot wetland impact will be for the pipe installation and will be temporary. There is also the option of pulling the culvert back and creating a vegetative channel within the wetlands area instead of a pipe. Jeff stated he does not think this would impair the existing functions of the wetlands.
Plantings are proposed along the sides of the buildings and decorative plants around the building. Jeff agreed with the Commission that it could be a benefit to place wildlife plantings on the back side of the detention basin. This would give a little more diversity to what is there already. Chairperson Warren stated she would like the applicant to get direction from Jeff as far as the species that are used.
Commission members discussed their concerns regarding the rear of the buildings being too close to the detention basin. It was decided that a memo would be written to the Planning & Zoning Commission asking their consideration of letting the buildings be moved forward.
Motion to: approve with conditions appl. #04-10P – Quarry Brook Village Senior Residence Development – 960 Pleasant Valley Road – Inland Wetland/Conservation Commission application for the construction of a 6-unit Senior Residence Development on 3.1 acres, private drive, stormwater structures, and associated improvements on property located northerly of Pleasant Valley Road. RR Rural Residential zone.
Was made by Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by Commissioner Kelly
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 March 17, 2009. 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.
A contact person shall be identified on the plans.
We recommend a bond in the amount of $5,000 be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission to ensure compliance with the erosion and sediment control measures.
We recommend a bond in the amount of $5,000 be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission to ensure the establishment of the detention basin.
Planting details should give information regarding the soil amendments within the proposed detention basin. The standard recommendation call for a minimum of 12” of topsoil amended with leaf compost, 30% by volume. This should be included in the construction details.
The rear deck steps should be relocated to the sides of the decks instead of to the rear.
A maintenance plan for the retention basin should be added to the plans.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Was made by Commissioner Forzley
Seconded by Commissioner Heffler
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Respectfully submitted
_________________________________ ___________________
Deborah W. Reid Date Approved
Recording Secretary
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