TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
INLAND WETLANDS/CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes - 1 - October 5, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Warren, Barbara Kelly, John Blondin, Jack Phillips, Audrey Delnicki, Hugh Brower
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Adam Reed sitting for Timothy Appleton
Richard Muller sitting for Carol Heffler
STAFF PRESENT: Jeff Folger, Environmental Planner
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: none
ITEM: CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS: none
ITEM: BONDS: none
ITEM: MINUTES:
Motion to: accept the minutes from 9/21/2011
Was made by: Commissioner Blondin
Seconded by: Commissioner Phillips
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Folger informed the Commission that there will be a workshop on 11/15/2011 from 7 pm to 9 pm, for people with large tracts of land that would like to preserve/protect that land for the future. Among others, representatives from the Trust for Public Lands, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Preservation will be there. Warren stated that the Open Space Task Force and South Windsor Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Commission want residents to be aware that if you’re thinking of selling, you might want to consider the Town and if you are looking for farm land, they might be able to assist.
Warren stated that on Heritage Day a lot of public interest was shown in the new open space maps and book Open Space Task Force had available.
ITEM: WETLAND OFFICER’S REPORT: In general, there were no major problems created by the recent storm. Erosion controls were in good shape. The minor problems at Dzen Farms were easily repaired.
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING: none
ITEM: NEW BUSINESS:
Appl. #11-30W – Redland Brick – 1440 John Fitch Blvd – IWA/Conservation Commission modification to application 07-67P for the relocation of a haul road, removal of a settling pond, including associated improvements to the drainage. The site is located easterly of John Fitch Blvd and northerly of Strong Road. Industrial (I) Zone.
Barry Miller, Redland Brick representative, presented an overview of the modification requested in the application. Mr. Miller stated that there is a small pond on the property that is failing, water flows through there from offsite. They want to channel that water through their site, eventually to Bancroft Brook. If this modification is not done water could run into their clay pit, which could then cause the clay pit water to become “Waters of the State” which would eliminate their mining operation. If the water is channeled it will bypass the mining operation. It is cost prohibitive to do it any other way – they would not be able to mine anymore and would have to shut down.
Warren: Soil tests were done in 2008, does that make a difference? Folger: Nothing has changed – he included the report which gives an overview of the ecological state of the pond as being a settling pond from a previous operation there.
Folger: The previous application had a shallow water marsh to be built on a portion of where the pond currently exists. In discussion with the applicant, it was agreed upon that in lieu of that mitigation, a 4.82 acre conservation easement which would be placed on the easternmost boundary of the property.
Miller: There is a significant amount of wetlands within the easement area and it would act as a buffer for the Blue Heron rookery.
Folger: There are vernal pools within those wetlands and a population of endangered sedges.
Kelly: It looks like part of the driveway is in the proposed easement.
Folger: It should be determined if the survey is accurate and whether there is some encroachment.
Joe Magdol, HRP Associates, said that after verifying the accuracy of the survey, if the driveway is encroaching on the easement, the easement can be described on the land records as excluding the encroachment section.
Miller: If there is an encroachment, the area of the easement will be adjusted to compensate for the amount of the encroachment.
Folger: There is a population of turtles residing in the failing pond. As in the original management plan, he would like these turtles relocated prior to the elimination of the pond as an approval condition.
Miller: He understood that if the water was let out of the pond, the turtles would relocate themselves to another nearby water source.
Folger: As a condition of approval, he recommends that conservation easement markers be placed every 150 ft apart around the perimeter of the easement.
Ed Cunningham, plant manager Redland Brick, would like to have this project completed in early spring 2012.
Motion to: approve Appl. #11-30W – Redland Brick – 1440 John Fitch Blvd – IWA/Conservation Commission modification to application 07-67P for the relocation of a haul road, removal of a settling pond, including associated improvements to the drainage. The site is located easterly of John Fitch Blvd and northerly of Strong Road. Industrial (I) 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 October 5, 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. Conservation easement markers to be placed around perimeter of the easement every 150 feet.
7. Possible encroachment of driveway into conservation easement to be field verified and easement modified if necessary.
8. Prior to drainage of existing sediment pond, the turtles currently in residence are to be relocated as in original plan, if an alternative is used must be approved by town staff.
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Blondin
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
Appl. #11-32P – Metals Testing – 66 Kimberly Drive – IWA/Conservation Commission Erosion site plan application for the construction of an industrial building, parking, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site located easterly of northerly of Kimberly Drive. Industrial (I) Zone.
Peter DeMallie, principal with Design Professionals, introduced the application. The company has outgrown the existing building at 80 Kimberly Drive and must expand to an additional building to be constructed at 66 Kimberly Drive. Metals Testing has a client trying to get them to move to Texas. They would like to remain in South Windsor. There are no wetlands around or near this project.
Andrew Krar, professional engineer with Design Professionals, presented the application. The project is to construct a 13,000 sq ft building on 2.1 acres, mostly wooded and undeveloped. Parking lot has 13 spaces with a driveway up from Kimberly Drive. Setup of property will go from wooded to grass to parking lot. There will be a berm created at the rear of the site with a 4 to 1 slope, which can be mowed. 50% of the site drains to the east, 40% of the watershed runs off to the street. The storm sewer collection system will consist of catch basins, yar drains and high density polyethylene pipes. Eventually, the storm drainage system discharges into a storm septer, water quality separator, sized to collect at least 80% of the total suspended solids. From there the storm drainage discharges into
an existing catch basin on Kimberly Drive. During construction, there will be silt fence around the entire construction area, with hay bales around the catch basins and silt sacks within the catch basins. Also proposed is a construction entrance.
Kelly: Will the roof runoff be infiltrated? Krar: The roof runoff will go into the storm sewer collection system and into the catch basins directly. Kelly: Would you consider infiltration? Krar: Not as part of their design. Kelly: Why not? It’s well drained and has clean runoff. Krar: They did not design the site that way, but it is certainly done that way sometimes, but it’s not what they are proposing. We can reconsider. Kelly: To the extent that there should be low impact development or the guidelines for storm water, you would look to disconnect what you could where it is possible on the site. This seems to be a site with relatively low ground water table and well drained. DeMallie: We do have well drained soils. We haven’t
done anything in the nature of infiltration. Kelly: There’s no surface swales. It’s all just pipe and catch basins. In terms of a treatment train, there’s the catch basin and storm septer. Krar: As for the roof that’s correct. Kelly: Feels that the water should be put directly back into the ground. DeMallie: Suggested that they do some permeability tests early in the project and design some of the roof drainage system to go into some form of infiltration system. Folger: You might be able to just discharge to the surface. Krar: We could put some roof leaders in the front and have it overland flow through the front yard.
Motion to: to approve Appl. #11-32P – Metals Testing – 66 Kimberly Drive – IWA/Conservation Commission Erosion site plan application for the construction of an industrial building, parking, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located northerly of Kimberly Drive. Industrial (I) 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 October 5, 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. Bond shall be collected in the amount of $5,000 to ensure proper placement and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls.
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. Roof leaders to be installed to discharge run-off to splash pads at grade.
Was made by: Commissioner Phillips
Seconded by: Commissioner Kelly
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS: Warren informed the Commission that Councilor Tom Delnicki agreed to raise the open space issue regarding the property located at 765 Sullivan Avenue to the Town Council. The Commissioners unanimously agreed to have Councilor Delnicki proceed. Commissioners will attend the Town Council meeting at which this issue will be discussed. Commissioners first want to review verbatim minutes from IWA/CC meetings of 5/6/2009 and 5/20/2009. Chairperson Warren will make the request for these minutes from the Town Manager’s Office.
ITEM: APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:
Appl. #11-32P – Metals Testing – 66 Kimberly Drive – IWA/Conservation Commission Erosion site plan application for the construction of an industrial building, parking, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located northerly of Kimberly Drive. Industrial (I) Zone
Appl. #11-34P - Nomads, 100 Bidwell Road – IWA/Conservation Commission application 07-67P for the addition of a driveway and associated improvements to the drainage. The site is located westerly of John Fitch Blvd and southerly of Bidwell Road, Industrial (I) Zone. Application will be presented at the next meeting on 10/19/2011.
ITEM: ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:21 pm
Was made by: Commissioner Kelly
Seconded by: Commissioner Phillips
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Thompson
Recording Secretary
Approved: October 19, 2011
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