MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Warren, Barb Kelly, Audrey Delnicki, John Blondin, Hugh Brower, John Phillips, Carol Heffler, Anthony Duarte, Tim Appleton
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Richard Muller
STAFF PRESENT: Jeff Folger, Environmental Planner/Conservation Officer
Donna Thompson, Recording Secretary
THE FOLLOWING ARE MOTIONS MADE DURING THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY/ CONSERVATION COMMISSION – MADDEN ROOM
Chairperson Warren called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm
ITEM: CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS
The Commissioners received a copy of the State of CT DEP memo dated 3/3/2010, re: a 2009 Legislation and Regulations Advisory. Mr. Folger will review the advisory and advise the Commissioner how this affects the Town’s Inland Wetlands Regulations. Of note in the DEP memo was the extension of permits to six years.
Mr. Folger advised the Commission that he received a Notification of Timber Harvest form from the CT Forest and Park Association, which will be available to anyone intending to do timber harvesting in South Windsor. The completed form must be turned into the Town for review of the site and the operation proposed. Mr. Folger stated that there is not much commercial timber harvesting in town, not a lot of mature forest, but there is some. The form will be available at Town Hall. The Commissioners discussed incorporating the Notification of Timber Harvest into the Wetlands Regulations as a Request for Jurisdictional Ruling.
ITEM: MINUTES: 3/3/2010
Motion to: approve the minutes from 3/3/2010
Was made by: Commissioner Blondin
Seconded by: Commissioner Kelly
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Mr. Folger updated the Commissioners on Earth Day activities planned for April 24. White Spruce seedlings from the local conservation district will be distributed at the fishing derby and at Nevers Road Park.
Mr. Folger stated that 2 Eagle Scouts have volunteered to rehab the parking lot on the east side of the Podunk in Donnelly, and another scout will being working on signage at Wapping Park or boardwalk replacement at Donnelly.
Commissioner Brower asked if the pond at Donnelly was going to be stocked with fish. Mr. Folger responded that it had been, but the fish died off due to lack of oxygen in the water. Two solar powered aerators and one wind powered aerator have been installed to help replenish the oxygen level.
ITEM: WETLAND OFFICER’S REPORT
Mr. Folger reported the rain and high winds from the recent weekend storm did not have much effect. Mr. Folger stated that the open construction sites were attended to prior to the storm with erosion control measures reinforced sufficiently.
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING – Chairperson Warren called the Public Hearing to order at 7:15 pm, Secretary Heffler read the Legal Notice.
Appl. #10-15P – CT Studios – John Fitch Blvd –- IWA/Conservation Commission application for the construction of a film studio complex including associated improvements to the drainage and storm water structures, on property located easterly of Rt. 5, southerly of Chapel Road, and westerly of Ellington Road. I-291 Corridor Development Zone.
Ralph Alexander, Attorney for CT Studios, introduced Dean Gustafson, VHB Soil Scientist; Chris Beaulieu-Shea, VHB Soil Scientist; Aaron Capone, dck worldwide, LLC – Coordinator/Project Manager; John Kearny, South Windsor Chamber of Commerce Chairman; Craig Stevenson, South Windsor’s Economic Developer, and Anthony DelVicario, CT Studios partner. Mr. Gustafson and Ms. Beaulieu-Shea presented the relevant data for the application. Mr. Kearny expressed the Chamber’s support for the project, noting the potential economic benefits for the Town. Mr. Stevenson presented a letter to the Commission in support of the project and stated that town staff had gone above and beyond in working diligently with CT Studios every step of the way.
Mr. Gustafson stated that the activity being proposed for the site occurs on 4/10 acres within the 80 foot upland review area. There is a man made pond on the property with limited wildlife habitat value – bull frogs, tadpoles, blue gills and pumpkin seeds in residence, with little supportive vegetation. The invasive plant species of Japanese Knotweed, Autumn Olive and Asiatic Bittersweet will be controlled by multiple cuttings and herbicide treatments. Appropriate plantings, as determined by town staff, will be used to create and maintain a buffer zone between the pond and the construction area. Mr. Gustafson referred to an aerial graphic presented to the commissioners for their reference. Mr. Gustafson summarized as follows: there is no direct impact to wetlands in this area;
there is some limited activity within the 80 ft upland review area; appropriately compensating for this activity with a comprehensive mitigation plan consisting of enhancement plantings along the west edge of the pond and then a comprehensive invasive species management plan in the areas not proposed for development at this time. Thus, the project will not likely have an adverse impact on wetlands resources in the interest of the Wetlands Protection Act and the Town’s regulations.
Ms. Beaulieu-Shea was responsible for the site plan and the storm water management system proposed for this project. Ms. Beaulieu-Shea stated that the storm water management system design was developed after numerous meetings with town staff, advice by Jeff Folger, Environmental Officer and Jeff Doolittle, Town Engineer, and review of the guidelines in the Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual. The proposed design exceeds the guidelines in the Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual. Incorporated in the design are a number of low impact development techniques such as: porous pavement for the parking lots to encourage infiltration, bio-retention gardens, water quality swales and vegetative swales. The majority of the discharge will be collected by a closed drainage system consisting of a series
of deep sump catch basins that are off-line from the main line. The catch basins are fitted with traps to keep floatables in the catch basins and deep sumps to promote suspended solids removal. The catch basins are all connected and discharge to a series of surface and subsurface infiltrators sufficient to accommodate a 100 year storm event. To address Jeff Doolittle’s concern about an emergency overflow, a new manhole will be placed on-site with an outlet control structure that will prevent any discharge from the 48” culvert under RT 5 to the Podunk River, up to and including a 100 year storm event. There would be emergency overflow only into that culvert.
Commissioner Kelly questioned the condition of the outflow end of the 48” pipe. Since the stability of that end of the pipe is not known at this time, a condition of approval of the application is that the outlet of the culvert under RT 5 is to be inspected by town staff with recommendations to State of CT if necessary.
Concerns were expressed by Commissioners regarding the proposed plantings for the property and the Red Cedar trees currently on the property. Mr. Gustafson stated that he would work with Jeff Folger to determine suitable plantings for the area. Mr. Gustafson indicated that some of the Red Cedars could be relocated to another area on the property rather than be removed but this might be difficult to do successfully. A condition of approval for this application is the attempted relocation of the Red Cedars to another area on the property.
Commissioner Blondin asked about location of stockpiles. Mr. Gustafson stated that has not been determined yet. He will consult with town staff, but the stockpiles will not be located in the upland review area.
The Commissioners as well as Mr. Folger were favorably impressed by the extent of and innovation of the plans submitted for storm water management. Upon Commissioner Kelly’s suggestion that this type of management should be documented, Mr. Gustafson stated that it will be well documented photographically.
Site walks were done by Mr. Folger and Commissioners Warren, Kelly, Phillips, Brower, Appleton and Blondin.
Motion to: close the public hearing at 7:59 pm
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Phillips
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
Based on the record on the whole and no direct impact on wetlands on or off the property,
Motion to: move a finding of no prudent or feasible alternatives
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Blondin
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
Motion to: approve application #10-15P – CT Studios – John Fitch Blvd – IWA/Conservation Commission application for the construction of a film studio complex including associated improvements to the drainage and storm water structures, on property located easterly of Rt. 5, southerly of Chapel Road, and westerly of Ellington Road. I-291 Corridor Development Zone, with the following conditions:
1. The final approved copy of the entire set of plans and this letter reproduced thereon must be submitted to the Planning Department. 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 18, 2015. 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. A bond shall be collected in the amount of $25,000 to ensure proper placement and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls, and $50,000 for installation of storm water systems.
5. All approvals required must be obtained and submitted prior to any activity on the site.
6. A contact person shall be identified on the plans.
7. Relocation of existing Red Cedar trees on the property shall be included in the areas to be landscaped.
8. Mitigation planting supplements on the west end of wetland area to be approved by town staff.
9. The location of soil stockpile areas with appropriate erosion controls must be shown on final plans.
10. The invasive plant control plan submitted must be implemented.
11. Installation of isolation valve at DMH 9.
12. The outlet of the culvert under RT 5 is to be inspected by town staff with recommendations to State of CT if necessary.
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Appleton
Additional comments were made by Commissioners Phillips, Kelly, Heffler and Blondin stating that they were impressed and pleased with the extent of the storm water treatment plan and the use of rain gardens in a project this large, that an excellent job was done incorporating best practices, and that they hoped this plan would be an example for and set a standard for others to follow.
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: ADJOURNMENT
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:05 pm
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Delnicki
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna Thompson
Recording Secretary Approved: June 2, 2010
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