MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Elizabeth Warren, Audrey Delnicki, Philip Forzley, Carol Heffler, and Richard Muller
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Donald Gates sitting for Barbara Kelly
STAFF PRESENT: Jeffrey H. Folger, Environmental Planner/Conservation Officer
Debbie Reid, Recording Secretary
ITEM: Correspondence and Reports
Appl. #04-38P LA Fitness
The application for LA Fitness will be heard at the next scheduled meeting.
ITEM: Minutes
The minutes of June 2, 2004 were approved by general consensus.
ITEM: Conservation Commission
Presentations regarding the Michael Donnelly trail have been given to the Town Council and the Leadership Roundtable. The trail is scheduled to be complete by September and an open house is planned for October 24, 2004. A series of 6 foot teak benches will be placed along the trail. The benches will be placed on 4’ x 8’ pressure treated platforms. There have been suggestions of using the trail and structures within the trail to honor individuals who have done a lot for the Town.
An Eagle Scout will be constructing a 6’ x 12’ fishing dock. It will be located adjacent to the pond and the gazebo.
ITEM: Wetland Officer’s Report
Evergreen Walk
Street sweeping is usually done, if not every day, every other day and prior to rain events.
ITEM: Public Hearing
Appl. #04-37P Visions Salon & Spa
Mr. Peter DeMallie from Design Professionals came before the Commission to represent this application. He explained that the site is just under an acre in size. Due to the widening of Buckland Road, this site has lost some additional frontage. The site will be accessed through the west-side of Buckland Road and will be shared with The Shops at Evergreen Walk. The Shops at Evergreen Walk will be giving this site rights to the sanitary sewer and to discharge storm drainage also. The house presently used for the business will be knocked down because there is a requirement to have 65’ frontage to Buckland Road. The newly constructed building will consist of two stories with 4,500 square feet on each floor and will have forty-six parking spaces to the rear of the building. A patio will be in the
front of the building with Plane Trees for a boulevard type effect along Buckland Road. There will be three islands on site and Douglas Fir in the vicinity of the dumpsters in order to screen that area.
Ms. Karen Isherwood from Design Professionals came before the Commission. She explained that the construction process will consist of two phases. The first phase will provide a temporary entrance and parking during the permitting and construction process, removal of the septic system, construction of the rear parking lot and construction of the house. Phase II will allow for rework of the parking area to the east along Buckland Road and to implement a small infiltration basin. All of the paved area from the building forward will sheet flow into the infiltration basin. Two catch basins will be constructed to help during periods of the higher storm events that the infiltration basin will not be able to accommodate. Roof leaders will be directed to the two catch basins, so splash pads will not be on this
site. There will be some yard drains to the rear to accommodate runoff. The newly constructed building will be approximately 22 feet from the wetland and the handicap ramp will be 11 feet to the closest wetland flag. Erosion control measures being taken are silt fencing down gradient of all disturbed areas, anti track pads and silt sacks will be located at each catch basin.
Mr. Ed Powlak, a Principal with Connecticut EcoSystems came before the Commission. He explained that the site is located in a heavily developed and developing landscape. The upland cover type on the property consists of a grassed lawn which is primarily in the rear of the existing property. There are two wetlands on the property. The wetland at the north end of the site is a deciduous wooded swamp that is contained within a narrow channalized ditch. At the east end of the ditch there is a very heavy accumulation of sandy
sediments. There are three principle functions associated with this wetland. They are ground water recharge and discharge and pollutant removal. The other wetland is located at the southeast corner of the property and extends off of the property. This is a small depressional area where drainage has been blocked and water ponds after storm events. This area supports invasive species and the two principal functions associated with this wetland are ground water recharge and pollutant removal. There will be no direct impact to the wetlands, however there is activity proposed within the upland review area. The activities associated with the disturbance are building, existing building, existing paving and existing lawn. There is a plan to collect drainage in a rain garden, which is the best
management practice. In Mr. Powlak’s professional option, the proposed project will not significantly alter the few functions that are associated with these disturbed wetlands.
Answering questions from the Commission, Mr. DeMallie explained that the building coverage is 11.2% and the impervious coverage is 58.1%. The number of parking spaces meet zoning requirements and are necessary for the business. The drainage from the parking lot will go to the infiltration basin. Runoff from the building back will go with the contours. All overflow from the infiltration basin will go to the two catch basins.
Ms. Isherwood stated that the applicant would explore the possibility of directing the roof leaders into the infiltration basin. Four-foot sumps could be provided for the catch basins and Jeff will work with Ms. Isherwood to determine which basins should require trap hoods.
Jeff stated that the maintenance and operation plan needs to include removal of sediments in the catch basin. Mr. Folger would also like added to the narrative that the Environmental Planner may request changes to the E & S plan. The stock piles should be moved as far away from the watercourse as possible. A better detail should be shown on the grading in order to get the water into the basin.
Attorney John King of Updike, Kelley and Spellacy came before the Commission representing Pavilions at Buckland Hills.
Chairperson Warren informed Attorney King that the Commission has received the verified petition to intervene from Pavilions at Buckland Hills. There will be a vote on whether to accept the petition at the next schedule meeting after the Town Attorney has had time to review it and give his opinion to the Commission.
Commission members discussed if they would like to hear some presentation by Attorney King. It was the unanimous decision to wait for the Town Attorney’s opinion regarding the verified petition.
The public hearing was continued until the July 21, 2004 meeting.
ITEM: New Business
Berry Patch Senior Housing
Ms. Karen Isherwood from Design Professionals came before the Commission to represent this application. She explained that she has submitted a change order to increase the size of the approved community building. The originally approved project would serve 102 apartments. The number of units have since increased and therefore the community building needs to be increased to serve 196 apartments. The original plan was approved for a building with approximately 1,300 square feet. The new building will be 2,100 square feet. Ms. Isherwood described how she would like to propose the orientation of the building, but after a short discussion she felt the building should face the wetland as orignally approved. This request is for a larger footprint then what was originally approved. Disturbance was
originally at 1,000 square feet, but with the larger footprint, it will be approximately 2,900 square feet.
Jeff stated he would like additional habitat plantings provided on the slope that can be reviewed in the future.
Motion to: approve with conditions – Berry Patch Senior Housing – Change order application to increase the size of the community building to accommodate the increased housing units of Berry Patch II.
Was made by Commissioner Forzley
Seconded by Commissioner Heffler
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 July 7, 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.
The newly constructed building will be orientated to face the wetland.
A planting plan for the slope will be reviewed and approved by the Environmental Planner.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m.
Was made by Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by Commissioner Muller
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Respectfully submitted
_________________________________
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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