TOWN OF WILLINGTON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 5, 2002
MINUTES
A. St. Louis called a regularly scheduled meeting of the Willington planning and zoning commission to order at 7:30 p.m. at the town office building, 40 old farms road, Willington.
PRESENT: ABSENT:
A. St. Louis, Chairman D. Lytwynn, alt., exc.
R. Tulis, Vice-Chairman
S. Trueb, Secretary
P. Nevers
A. Radell
W. Goodale, alt.
S. Yorgensen, agent
L. Decker, recording clerk
NEW BUSINESS:
1. File #2002-8-Application for a commercial logging permit located at 82 Marsh Road (Map 6, Lot 9 & 9a). John & Catherine Postemski, owners/Trowbridge Forest Products, applicants. (Received on 02/05/02, hearing or decision by 04/02/02).
Joe Vobril, Jr. Forester, spoke on behalf of the applicants.
J. Vobril said regarding Gary’s memo about no boundary survey, they are using the abutting surveys from the assessor’s office. He did not walk the boundaries with the abutters but the letters were sent out and the receipts returned. The original green cards were submitted with the application. He reviewed the abutters. There is no long-term forestry management plan for this parcel, so any future harvests will bring the applicants back before the PZC. This is a 22-acre parcel near Natural Park apartments. It is two parcels according to the assessor. He showed the Postemski residence on the plans and noted they sell Christmas trees there.
It is a very simple harvest on an 11-acre area. They are taking about 45,000 board feet. A sitewalk was done with the IWWC. Their only condition was that there be no activity south of Old Route 44. The dark lines on the map show the wetlands borders. He reviewed the boundaries on the soils maps.
A. St. Louis asked if the area had been flagged. J. Vobril said Yes, and the trees are marked. There is a landing on the backside of the field. It should be less than a dozen truckloads. They will use the existing drive that is used to get back to the field.
J. Vobril said this is only about two weeks of work. There are no wetlands crossings. Trowbridge is the certified forester, and the company is a family operation.
A. St. Louis asked about the hours of operation. J. Vobril said they expect nothing unusual, about 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Seven – seven would be better and would agree with state guidelines, but there will be no cutting after dark, just hauling.
A. St. Louis said the commission has had complaints from area neighbors before due to logging operations. He asked when they plan to start. J. Vobril said they plan to start as soon as possible while the ground is still hard.
S. Trueb asked about the driving and landing areas. J. Vobril reviewed the routes and said they will be on the Postemski property at all times. They will stay on the backside of the field.
2. File #2002-10-Application for a commercial logging permit located at 48 River Road (Map 10, Lot 21, 92.72 acres). Gerald Levasseur, applicant/Willington River Corp., owner. (Received on 02/05/02, hearing or decision by 04/02/02).
Don Worth, landscape architect and management consultant spoke on behalf of the applicants.
D. Worth said this is a 90-acre parcel near Baxter Road and Route 32. It is the former Benton property. They are planning a timber and firewood harvest with a goal of cleaning up and improving the appearance of the lot. There is an extensive road system and the property is suited for recreational use. They are not only trying to provide income, but also to promote the best growth possible. The Benton created several lanes over the property which will be used. There are no stream crossings and no culverts but they will construct water bars. The wetlands commission ruled they had no jurisdiction. The schedule is about one year of work, beginning in February or March. There will be no work in the spring or wet periods. Mr. Levasseur wants a good clean job and got professional help to plan the operation. Mike Bartlett
from Hull Forest Products did the original stewardship plan and it is expected Charles Leigus will supervise the field operation.
The commission reviewed the map.
D. Worth said there is a hillside with a lot of maple. Rain falls from the top and percolates out of the seep lines. Johnny Ianni flagged the wetlands, finding a series of alternating dry islands through the seeps. They have plotted the perimeter wetlands and the surveyor pulled a 100-foot setback, which ultimately eradicated the hill. He reviewed the procedure on the map and stated most of the road network is driveable with a 2-wheel drive pickup truck.
The commission reviewed the existing roads and access routes. D. Worth said they will need an anti-tracking pad as part of the driveway permit.
The commission reviewed the memo from Gary.
A. St. Louis asked about the buffer area. D. Worth said he was asked by the IWWC if they would be pulling trees up hill from the area by Route 32, and the answer is no, there will be no work along Baxter Road.
A. St. Louis asked the size of the trees they will be taking. D. Worth said he is not sure of the exact width, but it is about 70, 000 board feet total. They will take out trees that are damaged from a previous moth infestation.
R. Tulis asked if there was a boundary survey. D. Worth said it is in the file and it was done by Al Shindler.
The commission reviewed the maps.
A. St. Louis asked when they will start. D. Worth said it will be a summer & fall job.
The commission discussed possible necessary conditions.
R. Tulis asked the hours of the operation. D. Worth said 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. is OK if that is standard. R. Tulis said the hours can be later in the summer, usually till 7 p.m.
3. File #2002-6-Reqeust for a zone change at 61 Turnpike Road from Designed Industrial to Residential 80 and a preliminary site development plan (Map 45, Lot 6, 12.5 acres). Richard Dezso, applicant/Mary Drew, owner. (Received on 02/05/02, hearing by 04/02/02, decision by 06/04/02).
A. St. Louis said the commission has had a pre-application conference with the applicant. This parcel was part of a zone change and the applicant wants to reverse that change in order to build a home on the property. A public hearing date must be set.
The commission reviewed general procedures with the applicant.
R. TULIS MOVED TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF MARCH 19, 2002 FOR FILE #2002-6.
SECONDED BY W. GOODALE. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
4. File #2002-1-Application for a 2-lot subdivision located off Potter School Road (Map 49, Lot 1A, 31.52 acres). Leo A. Passardi Jr. & Roberta S. Passardi, owners/Jeffrey R. Passardi applicant. (Received on 01/15/02, hearing on 02/19/02, decision by 04/16/02).
A sitewalk is scheduled for February 16 at 10 a.m. for this file.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. R. TULIS MOVED TO APPROVE FILE #2002-8-APPLICATION FOR A COMMERCIAL LOGGING PERMIT LOCATED AT 82 MARSH ROAD (MAP 6, LOT 9 & 9A). JOHN & CATHERINE POSTEMSKI, OWNERS/TROWBRIDGE FOREST PRODUCTS, APPLICANTS. (RECEIVED ON 02/05/02, HEARING OR DECISION BY 04/02/02), WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION:
a) the hours of operation shall be 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SECONDED BY S. TRUEB. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
2. R. TULIS MOVED TO APPROVE FILE #2002-10-APPLICATION FOR A COMMERCIAL LOGGING PERMIT LOCATED AT 48 RIVER ROAD (MAP 10, LOT 21, 92.72 ACRES). GERALD LEVASSEUR, APPLICANT/WILLINGTON RIVER CORP., OWNER. (RECEIVED ON 02/05/02, HEARING OR DECISION BY 04/02/02), WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
a) the hours of operation shall be 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
b) trees within 100 feet of Route 32 shall be marked and walked by the agent prior to the commencement of any work
c) the agent shall be notified of the start and end dates of logging periods throughout the course of the operation
SECONDED BY W. GOODALE. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
MINUTES:
R. TULIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 01/15/02.
SECONDED BY P. NEVERS. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. CT Federation of Planning & Zoning Agencies annual meeting notice
2. Notification of Zoning Matters, Town of Coventry
3. 1/14/02 letter from Tarbell, Heintz & Associates, re: special permit for gravel excavation at Route 32 & Trask Road
4. 1/23/02 Capitol Region Council of Governments report on zoning referral 2001/133
5. 1/23/02 Capitol Region Council of Governments report on zoning referral 2001/135
6. 1/23/02 Capitol Region Council of Governments report on zoning referral 2001/136
7. 1/14/02 subdivision review memo from Eastern Highlands Health District, re: Passardi subdivision
8. December 2001 EnvirSource pamphlet
9. Geospatial Data Specs brochure from SNET
10. Brochure from ConVault United Concrete Products, re: underground fuel storage
DISCUSSION & STAFF REPORT:
A. St. Louis noted that Matt Ellis and Dom Palumbo were present. They are considering being alternate members of the PZC.
A letter will be sent to the Board of Selectmen recommending the appointments.
The commission discussed upcoming free seminars being offered by UCONN’s Cooperative Extension Program.
Sue will check on dates that the speakers are available.
R. Tulis gave an update on the Plan of Conservation & Development study circles and stated a wrap-up is scheduled for March 13th.
R. TULIS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:07 P.M.
SECONDED BY S. TRUEB. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
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