TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
INLAND WETLANDS/CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes - 1 - May 4, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Warren, Barbara Kelly, Carol Heffler, John Phillips, Hugh Brower, Audrey Delnicki, Arthur Jennings
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Adam Reed, sitting for John Blondin, Richard Muller
STAFF PRESENT: Jeff Folger, Sr. Environmental 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: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: none
ITEM: PERMIT EXTENSIONS: Appl. 06-03P Tiger Lily Ventures Corp., LLC – Burnham Street – Inland Wetland/Conservation Commission application for the construction of three single family homes, stormwater structures, and associated improvements on property located on the northerly side of Burnham Street, and easterly of Long Hill Road. RR Zone.
Folger: Work on the subdivision has never begun. No changes have been made to the property since the original application.
Motion to: approve Appl. 06-03P Tiger Lily Ventures Corp., LLC, 5 year permit extension with following 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 May 4, 2016. 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.
6. A positive flow from east to west shall be maintained during and after construction.
7. The limits of clearing to remain as shown on the plans and should not be disturbed unless an approval is received by IWA/CC.
Was made by: Commissioner Kelly
Seconded by: Commissioner Delnicki
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS: Letter received by Chairperson Warren appointing Adam Reed as an Alternate on IWA/CC.
ITEM: BONDS: none
ITEM: MINUTES: Minutes from 4/6/2011 were approved by consensus.
ITEM: CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Folger: Walk at Donnelly will be 1-4 pm on June 5 – Open Space and Walk and Wheelways sponsoring it. Will Conservation Commission participate? Kelly: Signage still needs to be completed in some areas, birdhouses have fallen down and need to be replaced, and some of the planking of the boardwalk is in need of repair/replacement. Folger: will be replacing 80 ft of boardwalk by June 5th and is looking for volunteers.
Folger reviewed resident, Wayne McKinney's proposal for Habitat Community Certification Program. McKinney will have table at Donnelly on June 5. Homeowners review their property and indicate what they have on it that will qualify their's as wildlife habitat – costs $20 to become certified, register online, will need 220 households for town to become certified. McKinney will be applying for grants as well. Would be good for the Town if the program “takes off”.
Warren: Open Space Task Force has indicated they want to pursue action regarding the open space violation by the Cornerstone Development homeowner that cut down trees in the adjacent open space field to improve their view of the resident wildlife. Does the Conservation Commission want to become involved also? Commissioners unanimously agreed to do so. Folger: Explained the situation – When the Cornerstone Development was built approximately 10 years ago, an old pasture area was set aside as open space. An abutting neighbor has since cleared trees on that parcel to have a better view of the field. The homeowner has been notified of the violation. It has been determined how many trees were cut and the next step is for the Town to seek reparations from homeowner for the cost of the trees. Commissioners want to take a stand against further violations and encroachments to open space so that it will not continue to happen. Commissioners agree that a letter should be sent to the
Town Council and the Town Manager.
Motion to: Chairperson Warren to direct a letter to the Town Council and the Town Manager expressing concern for continued violations and encroachments on open space and requesting that this issue be appropriately addressed to prohibit such occurrences.
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Jennings
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: WETLAND OFFICER’S REPORT: Folger: Since the thaw, couple of sites needed some maintenance. Working with a homeowner to stabilize area that needed grading and seeding. The large sites, such as Dzen Farms, are in good shape.
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING: none
ITEM: NEW BUSINESS:
Appl. 11-10P - Raymond Mack, Jehovah’s Witness Site Improvement – 640 Burnham Street – IWA/CC application for the construction of a photocell array and geothermal heat exchange system, grading, parking and associated improvements on property located north of Burnham Street and west of Long Hill Road. Rural Residential Overlay Zone (RRO). Received 04-20-11.
Eric Jacobsen, architect and Tony Ferraro, engineer, represented the applicant. Adding road and additional parking - gravel, 5000 cu yd of fill up to buffer area, build up area and create geothermal and solar area to defray cost of heating and cooling, plastic pipe looped below ground with glycol in them to keep from freezing. Photovoltaic cells – need to remove some trees to receive optimal sun. Seeking approval to remove trees in buffer area and wetland area.
Warren: Has Folger's conditions been addressed:
- Anti tracking pad must be shown and installed prior to entering the existing parking lot.
- Perimeter erosion controls to include fabric silt fence and haybales
- Perimeter erosion control shown on the southern portion of the site is located within the woodline, relocate the proposed line to the edge of the clearing
Folger and Jacobsen: Yes.
Jacobsen: After the fill is brought in, the trench will be dug in the fill. Trees will be cut by hand – no heavy equipment – just the trees, no undergrowth, brush.
Jennings: Will some foreign plants grow in after trees are cut down? Jacobsen suggested planting saplings that would take many years to grow into the way of the sun. Tony suggested that the congregation would maintain the area.
Folger: The wetland area has an established Red Maple overstory that has repressed the understory. Did not detect any invasive species, except possibly Asiatic Bittersweet. Fells will increase birds, deer, saplings – beneficial management practice – encourage a more diverse habitat. More concerned about disturbance of wetland area at this time.
Kelly: The cut is a selected cut – just the big trees – this is a regulated activity
Folger: There will have to be a maintenance program going forward. Applicant agreeable. Needs to provide proper sediment controls to maintain integrity of the wetlands.
Motion to: approve Appl. #11-10P, with the following condition: $2,000 bond to maintain erosion and sediment control measures
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Kelly
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:
Appl. 11-11W – Town Square at Evergreen Walk – 151 Buckland Road – Determination of Public Hearing, IWA/CC application for the construction of a multi-family residential and commercial complex, grading, parking, stormwater utilities and associated improvements on property located west of Buckland Road and north of Smith Street. Buckland Gateway Development Zone (GD).
Folger: This project will require a zoning regulation change by Planning & Zoning to allow a residential component to the area. Applicant wants 3 levels of residential – 200 units, commercial to be on the ends. Want to remove 1 detention basin. The swale to the north does an excellent job it is not going to be touched.
Kelly: The state of the art retention area to the south has failed, it must be fixed.
Folger: Part of the project is to fix it.
Motion to: Hold a public hearing on May 18, 2011 on Appl. #11-11W - Town Square at Evergreen Walk – 151 Buckland Road due to the potential for public interest and potential impact to wetlands from significant additional stormwater flow.
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Heffler
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
Appl. #11-15W – Town of South Windsor – Kelly Road Reconstruction project – Determination of Public Hearing, IWA/Conservation Commission application for the reconstruction of Kelly Road including associated improvements to the drainage and stormwater structures. The site is located easterly of Avery Street.
Motion to: Hold a public hearing on May 18, 2011 for Appl. #11-15W – Town of South Windsor – Kelly Road Reconstruction project due to it being a Town funded project and the potential for public interest.
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Heffler
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
ITEM: ADJOURNMENT
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 7:47 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: May 18, 2011
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