TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
INLAND WETLANDS/CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes - 1 - November 16, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Warren, Barbara Kelly, John Blondin, Audrey Delnicki, Hugh Brower, Adam Reed, Carol Heffler, Art Jennings
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Richard Muller sitting for John Phillips
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: none
ITEM: CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS: Eight copies of the Fall 2011 Habitat were distributed.
ITEM: BONDS: none
ITEM: MINUTES: Minutes from 10/19/2011 were approved by consensus
ITEM: CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Folger stated that the three speakers at the landowners workshop on 11/15 were very good. Seven people attended the workshop, learning about town funding possibilities, estate planning and options for retaining ownership.
ITEM: WETLAND OFFICER’S REPORT: Folger advised the Commissioner that “Trails Closed” signs have been placed at the Town’s parks due to storm damage such as trees and tree limbs blocking the trails and broken limbs hanging above the trails. Donnelly has approximately 20 trees across trails that will need chainsaw attention.
Folger reviewed the violation letter sent to Mr. Martin regarding his commercial property on Sullivan Avenue due to a complaint made by a Steep Road resident. Mr. Martin had cleared an upper portion of the property and threw the debris over the hill onto the bank that leads to the watercourse that borders the northern portion of this property. He cut down all the trees that provided a visual buffer for the Steep Road residents to the rooftops on Sullivan Avenue. By visiting the site, Folger confirmed that there was a violation. Folger discussed with Mr. Martin the removal of all the material from the area. Mr. Martin was advised by his attorney to comply. Though Mr. Martin indicated that he would voluntarily comply, due to past issues with zoning issues from Mr. Martin, Folger felt a violation letter was
suitable. Some of the cleanup has already been done – brush pulled out of the stream and up the bank where it will be chipped in a location outside of the 80 foot upland review area. Mr. Martin ultimately wants to plant Christmas trees in the cleared area.
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING: none
ITEM: NEW BUSINESS:
Appl. #11-37P – AA Landscaping – 223 Nutmeg Rd – Conservation Commission application for the construction of a building, equipment storage area, parking, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located northerly of Nutmeg Road. Industrial (I) Zone.
Karen Isherwood P.E., Isherwood Civil Engineering LLC, presented the application. The site is approximately 1.36 acres, with no regulated wetlands on-site. Approximatley 90% or 1.23 acres will be disturbed. A 4,000 sq ft building is proposed, being used as a base of operations for equipment and material storage, such as woodmulch for landscaping, tree services and snow plowing. There will not be any customer traffic. There will be gated access. Runoff will be to a catch basin on Nutmeg Road South, with a vegetative swale in a shallow recessed area about 6” deep. Two test pits were done per Folger’s request which showed that the water table is not within 40”. There will be a berm, stone anti-track pad and splash pads for roof runoff. As the stormwater will flow to
the detention basin across the street, no water treatment is needed. The detention basin was originally designed to accommodate all the runoff from this parcel.
Motion to: to approve Appl. #11-37P – AA Landscaping – 223 Nutmeg Rd – Conservation Commission application for the construction of a building, equipment storage area, parking, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located northerly of Nutmeg 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 November 16, 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 $2,000 to ensure proper placement and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls, and 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.
ITEM: OLD BUSINESS: Chairperson Warren reviewed her meeting with the Town Manager regarding the open space issue involving 765 Sullivan Avenue. The Town Manager was not receptive to the idea of an easement, as he felt it would impede the sale of the property. The Town Manager said the property is not being actively marketed at this time. The Town Manager suggested that at the time of sale, he would introduce a resolution to the Town Council stipulating the open space parcel. Commissioners are not comfortable with this decision. Warren stated that Jeff Folger and Commissioner Kelly have come up with a workable option for addressing this issue. Folger stated that the map depicting the proposed firehouse, etc. indicated that the potential buildable area outside of the firehouse
property itself is approximately 6.6 acres – that includes the field at the corner of West Road and Sullivan Avenue, and the middle upland portion where the old farmhouse was, and then more east, there is the Podunk River and the portion of the property between the Podunk River and where the batting cages are. The area adjacent to the firehouse and the area in the middle of the property were the ones designated as future development portions of the property. One of the reasons the Town Manager was reticent to do anything with the property is: the presence of a conservation easement on the property can taint it as far as banks are concerned for getting mortgages, one of the things they wanted to do was insure that the upland portion of the property would be available for building. Folger stated that Planning and Zoning requirements in the commercial zone allow 65% impervious coverage on a piece of property. They wanted to maximize that 65% on the
upland portions of the existing property. Folger worked with the GIS to look at potential property lines that would ensure that the buildable portion of the property would be at least 65% of the total acreage or less. By including the flood plain and the surrounding wetlands on there, how much square footage would be needed in order to insure that the 6.6 acres would be 100% buildable. Folger determined a potential property line that could be drawn and actually still is just west of the Podunk River. It would make the entire remaining parcel about 11 acres. So that anything left that’s upland could potentially be paved/have buildings on it. Obviously stormwater structures would have to go in there, so it might not be 100%, but it could be marketed as maximizing whatever is there. Folger discussed this with the Town Manager as an option – that the Town could go through, take whatever line would be workable there, subdivide that
part out, and the remainder, essentially the area east of the Podunk, could then remain with the Town as open space and dissolve the property boundary to the south where it abuts the Donnelly property and just incorporate that as part of Donnelly. There would be access to the parking lot there and the existing trails. Commissioner Kelly stated that there should also be some protection at some point on the West Road side of the Podunk. We saw what happened with the Podunk getting put into a pipe on another industrial parcel. Folger stated that from the edge of the upland area to where the Podunk starts is actually still quite a bit of 100 year flood plain and then quite a spread of wetlands before you actually get to the channel itself. So there may some opportunities there. There would be for stormwater structures on the outer perimeter. That’s all regulated anyway, so obviously this Commission would certainly have a say over and
above the upland areas and even including obviously the upland review areas. When questioned by Commissioner Heffler as to the Town Manager being receptive to this idea, Folger said yes, we came up with an option that may satisfy everyone with maintaining the open space and also being able to market that and recoup some of the costs. Folger will work with GIS Technician Dawn Mulholland to put on some proposed property boundaries that can be considered for a subdivision of the property by the Town, which would cut this piece out so that it would be a stand alone parcel to be marketed however they want.
Warren said that when she mentioned the easement to the Town Manager he asked if it could be guaranteed that a 300-400 foot setback from the Podunk (an amount far more than normal) would not be requested. Warren said she did not foresee that, but of course could not guarantee it. Warren felt the Town Manager asked that because of Evergreen Walk, where a 100 meter true buffer was established. Warren understands that the Town wants the most marketable piece of property possible, but promises were made at the time the firehouse application was received and approved. Though it might have happened anyway, Warren feels the approval went more smoothly because of the Conservation Commission’s understanding of having the open space parcel to join with Donnelly. Warren feels that Folger’s proposal should be
acceptable to everybody.
Brower was concerned that sometimes the Town quietly negotiates with a buyer, it’s then presented to the Council as fiat accompli – “this is what’s going to happen or the buyer is going to walk off”. Brower suggested that now would be a good time to do this, before a buyer comes along.
Warren feels that having Tom Delnicki as a liaison with the Town Council is beneficial in keeping the Commission aware of what is going on.
ITEM: OTHER BUSINESS: Chairperson Warren congratulated former IWA/CC Commissioner Tom Delnicki on becoming Mayor of South Windsor.
ITEM: APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:
Appl. #11-38P – Buckland Commons, 350 Buckland Road – Determination of Public Hearing – IWA/Conservation Commission application for the construction of two commercial buildings, parking lots, access drives, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located southerly of Deming Street and easterly of Buckland Road. Buckland Gateway Development Zone.
Motion to: Hold a public hearing on December 7, 2011 for Appl. #11-38P – Buckland Commons, 350 Buckland Road – IWA/Conservation Commission application for the construction of two commercial buildings, parking lots, access drives, stormwater structures and associated improvements. The site is located southerly of Deming Street and easterly of Buckland Road. Buckland Gateway Development Zone, due to the potential for public interest and potential significant impact to wetlands.
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Blondin
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous
ITEM: ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:00 pm
Was made by: Commissioner Heffler
Seconded by: Commissioner Delnicki
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Thompson
Recording Secretary
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