MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Elizabeth Warren, Audrey Delnicki, William Grace, Barbara Kelly, and Audrey Wasik
STAFF PRESENT: Jeffrey H. Folger, Environmental
Planner/Conservation Officer
Debbie Reid, Recording Secretary
ITEM: Correspondence and Reports
There will be a seminar on Thursday, May 6, 2004 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It will be held at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon. The seminar is regarding trails, greenways and open spaces in the Scantic and Hockanum River Towns. They are asking participants to bring maps that show trails, land and types of land use. They are going to try to do regional mapping that may give town cooperation for parcels that cross town lines.
Chairperson Warren informed members that the DEP will no longer review the regulations, but they would like the Commission to submit a copy of the regulations to them.
ITEM: Minutes
The minutes of February 4, 2004, March 3, 2004 and March 17, 2004 were all approved by general consensus of the Commission.
ITEM: Conservation Commission
On April 3, 2004 one thousand Witch Hazel seedlings were planted at Nevers Road Park.
Major Michael Donnelly property
Brush clearing was complete as part of the Wild Life Incentive grant that the Town received for habitat improvements.
ITEM: Wetland Officers Report
During the rainfall last week, Evergreen Walk had a few problems but were not serious. They are in the process of seeding the slopes.
ITEM: New Business:
Major Michael Donnelly property
Jeff stated that Tom Agostino who is an Eagle Scout candidate will be presenting a trail project he would like to do at the Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve. The Commission will be asked to give a jurisdictional ruling.
Tom Agostino who is part of the Boy Scout Troop 62 came before the Commission. He explained that he is requesting to clear a 200 foot trail system which will be six feet wide. There is 75 feet of water that will need to be crossed with a boardwalk. There will be 1,200 square feet of disturbance to the upland review area and 300 square feet of disturbance to the wetlands. The boardwalk will be placed on top of the soil and water will be able to flow through the bottom of the boardwalk extension. The boardwalk is free floating and will be connected to each other in order to not float away.
Jeff added that the project will be done in two steps. The first step will be to clear brush in order to create the walking trail in the upland review area. The next step is the construction phase which will include a boardwalk 75 feet long along the swampy area.
Motion to: find that the Major Michael Donnelly trail project is a non-regulated activity and meets the criteria of section 4.2 in that the project will not disturb the natural and indigenous character of the wetlands and involves a conservation activity.
Was made by Commissioner Grace
Seconded by Commissioner Wasik
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Appl. #04-23P Post Road Stages
Mr. Galen Semprebon from Design Professionals came before the Commission to represent this application. He explained the applicant is requesting to construct an enclosed wash bay for the buses. There will be additional pavement to allow circulation into the building and also expand towards the rear area where the buses are presently stored. This request also would involve removal of an existing building and the construction of additional bays in order to store buses. As part of the construction process, a water quality basin is proposed to collect
runoff from most of the paved area. The basin will function as a detention basin. There will be approximately 2,000 square feet of direct impact to the wetlands and 3,800 square feet of impact to the regulated area. After comments from Town staff, rip rap has been added along the spillway out to the basin, a planting plan for the basin has been provided and the wetlands have been staked out in the field. Additional plantings have been added to the buffer and will provide additional buffering between the impacts and the wetlands.
Answering questions from the Commission, Mr. Semprebon explained that the applicant is willing to propose a conservation easement. They could provide excavation to mimic wetland creation or could provide an area to protect the wetlands. Jeff felt a conservation easement would give the area diversity and would be a significant wildlife benefit.
Commissioner Kelly stated that the existing fill on this site is not good, especially next to the wetlands.
Answering more questions from the Commission, Mr. Semprebon told Commission members that the intention of the applicant is to expand the parking in order to park all of the buses on the same side of the road. There are no catch basins in the parking lot. There is an outside wash bay and lav dump for the buses and both are connected to the sanitary sewer system. The site presently drains to the rip rap stone spillway. The site will continue with the same drainage, but curbing will be installed to direct runoff and will bring the runoff through a water quality basin first.
Jeff commented that the existing wetland area that is proposed to be filled is currently mowed. It does appear, looking at the soils, the area has been disturbed. Therefore, what is being proposed will not cause any reputable harm to the wetland system. The plantings in the basins should provide good pollution renovations. The basin is designed with a deep sump right at the inlet area. An operations plan for an annual cleaning of the sump area in the water quality basin should be used as a condition of approval. The outflow structure of the basin may need to be altered. There may be an opportunity to provide sheet flow straight into the wetland, that can be discussed later with the Town Engineer and the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Mr. Semprebon explained that the basin is designed to handle the proposed and existing pavement. If there were any other expansions proposed at this site, another small basin would be required. If the gravel area across the street were ever paved, a small basin would also need to be constructed in that area. The applicant is anticipating on using the area for any overflow from the Post Road Stages site.
Motion to: Approve with conditions appl. #04-23P – Post Road Stages – 1105 Strong Road - Inland Wetland/Conservation Commission application for the construction of a building addition, parking lot and access drive on 3.5 acres, stormwater structure, and associated improvements on property located southerly of Strong Road. RR Rural Residential zone.
Was made by Commissioner Kelly
Seconded by Commissioner Wasik
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 April 21, 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 $2,000 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 stormwater treatment structure. The bond is to be held for three growing seasons following construction.
A conservation easement to the south of the water treatment basin and proposed driveway for the parking lot addition.
Incorporate on the plan the planting plan and the revision of the maintenance plan which includes the clean up of spills on the site.
Any existing fill or fill that is brought onto the site that does not conform to section 2.1d of the regulations will need to be removed.
Commissioner Wasik stated for the record that it is the applicants intention that buses will not be parked across the street. Although Post Road Stages is not the owner of the property, there is an agreement that allows vehicles to park in this area.
ITEM: Old Business
Bylaws
This will be discussed at the next schedule meeting.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m.
Was made by Commissioner Delnicki
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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