TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
INLAND WETLANDS/CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes - 1 - October 19, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Warren, Barbara Kelly, John Blondin, Audrey Delnicki, Hugh Brower, Adam Reed, Carol Heffler
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Richard Muller sitting for Art Jennings
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: Warren advised the Commission that Adam Reed has been made a full regular member of IWA/CC and that Tim Appleton is now an alternate.
ITEM: BONDS: none
ITEM: MINUTES:
Motion to: accept the minutes from 10/5/2011
Was made by: Commissioner Blondin
Seconded by: Commissioner Kelly
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
ITEM: CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Folger said the notices for the November 15th landowners meeting should be ready to go early next week. South Windsor has 189 property owners that may be eligible for the 490 program but have not registered with the State. These residents are being invited to the 11/15 meeting and could get valuable information about the program.
ITEM: WETLAND OFFICER’S REPORT: Nothing much going on – still raining every week.
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING: none
ITEM: NEW BUSINESS:
Appl. #11-26P – Tuscan Hills (Carter Mario) site plan – 218 Buckland Road – IWA/CC application for the construction of an office building, grading, parking, stormwater utilities and associated improvements on property located east of Buckland Road. Buckland Gateway Development Zone (GD).
Karen Isherwood from Isherwood Civil Engineering presented the application. The proposed building has been changed to a single story 4,750 sq ft professional office building for Carter Mario Law Offices. Fewer parking spaces are being proposed - 21, with 14 in the front, 7 in the rear (for employee parking). By eliminating one bay of parking in the front and still maintaining the drive aisle (for compliance with access management requirements), the building could be moved forward, taking it further from the wetlands. There is an existing 18” pipe at the center headwall, a 10” pipe coming from the northerly property abutter and an existing drainage ditch in the wetlands. Drainage is picked up in the 18” pipe and enters the storm system within Buckland Road. Isherwood proposes to reroute a
portion of the 18” pipe around the building. There will be a water quality basin in the front along Buckland Road – providing 2 areas for water quality within the property, which is 1 ½ times what is required. The basin will receive less of a drainage area – from .6 acres to .4 acres of run-off into the basin, and the actual impervious area that is running into the basin is also reduced. Water quality for the pavement in the rear will be handled with grading out to a shallow depressed area of grass and vegetation, spilling over to the existing drainage ditch. Impervious coverage: allowed 65% - plans show 39.8%, but when the .36 acres of wetlands on the site are taken away (basically 32% of the site), the impervious coverage is 58.5%. Erosion and sedimentation controls: stone entrance pad, temporary top soil stockpile where a berm is planned, hay bales around the catch basins, silt fence, use of the water quality basin as a
sedimentation basin during construction, and restoration of the impacted wetland areas once construction is complete. Landscaping/Restoration Plan: 2500 sq ft of lawn area will be restored to wet meadow; preservation of six (6) existing Weeping Willows within the wetlands area; culling of Multifloral Rose; planting of a variety of native species to help provide screening around parking area and for use within the wetlands themselves.
Folger: This application has a bit of an increase in the direct impact on the wetlands than the 2007 application, but the construction sequence should cause just a temporary disturbance due to the proposed restoration of the area. The area involved was a residential backyard, so there isn’t any disturbance of high quality wetland areas that won’t be restored. Erosion controls are adequate. The planting plan shows a good group of habitat plants that will help add wildlife value.
Kelly: Is the runoff from all the impervious surface going to the stormwater basins on the site? Isherwood: The front parking lot and half the roof is directed to them. The rear parking lot and the other half of the roof will go through the swale and rerouted into the existing 18” pipe.
Motion to: approve Appl. #11-26P – Tuscan Hills (Carter Mario) site plan – 218 Buckland Road – IWA/CC application for the construction of an office building, grading, parking, stormwater utilities and associated improvements on property located east of Buckland Road. Buckland Gateway Development Zone (GD), 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 19, 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. Bonds shall be collected in the amount of $5,000 to ensure proper placement and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls, and $5,000 for construction of stormwater system.
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.
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Kelly
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
Appl. #11-34P – Nomads – 100 Bidwell – IWA/Conservation Commission application 07-67P for the addition of a driveway and associated improvements to the drainage. The site located westerly of John Fitch Blvd and southerly of Bidwell Road. Industrial (I) Zone.
Andrew Krar from Design Professionals presented the application. Doug Nation from Nomads Adventure Quest was also present. Mr. Krar stated that the new driveway will be from southbound RT 5 to the front part of the property. The driveway is proposed to be constructed between two wetland areas affecting 5,900 sq ft in the upland review area. Mr. Krar stated that they intend to follow the recommendation of Jeff Folger to remove the invasive species in the area – Phragmites, Multifloral Rose and Autumn Olive.
Commissioner Heffler asked the reasoning behind adding another driveway. Mr. Nation said that it is to make the business more accessible, easier to find, will allow the placement of a sign at the front of the property and will help financially.
Heffler: Would like more screening to reduce the amount of light showing through when vehicles enter the parking lot. Mr. Nation said they plan to fill in with more pine trees, with additional landscaping planned to make the area more attractive.
Commissioner Kelly stated that the proposed driveway area looked like it might have been set up sometime in the past with the anticipation of this type of use. Mr. Krar agreed that this area seemed made to order.
Folger: Recommends that every Spring, the 2 basins on the property be treated with a larvacide for mosquito control on a monthly basis through August.
Motion to: to approve Appl. #11-34P – Nomads – 100 Bidwell – IWA/Conservation Commission application 07-67P for the addition of a driveway and associated improvements to the drainage. The site located westerly of John Fitch Blvd and southerly of Bidwell 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 19, 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 $1,000 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. The proposed sign with an approximate 20 sq ft base may be placed within the upland review area, such location to be approved by town staff.
8. The invasive species of Phragmites, Multifloral Rose and Autumn Olive to be removed from the property for two (2) successive years.
9. Larvacidal mosquito control to be applied monthly from May through August.
Was made by: Commissioner Kelly
Seconded by: Commissioner Blondin
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous, with Commissioner Heffler abstaining.
ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS:
Warren asked that copies of the verbatim minutes from 5/20/2009 be given to each Commissioner. After reviewing these minutes it was decided that Chair Warren and Vice-Chair Kelly would meet with the Town Manager to further discuss the disposition of the remaining land at 765 Sullivan Avenue.
Warren suggested that Heffler present these minutes to the Open Space Task Force as this issue concerns them as well.
ITEM: APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:
11-37P – AA Landscaping, Nutmeg Road – Conservation Plan only. Application will be presented at next meeting on 11/2/2011.
ITEM: ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:07 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: November 16, 2011
| 
