TOWN OF WILLINGTON
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
OCTOBER 22, 2001
Minutes
K. METZLER CALLED A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION TO ORDER AT 7:36 P.M. OCTOBER 22, 2001 AT THE TOWN OFFICE BUILDING, 40 OLD FARMS ROAD, WILLINGTON.
PRESENT: ABSENT:
K. Metzler, chair T. Gutowski, alt. (exc.)
D. Schreiber, vice-chair
G. Blessing
L. Kouyoumjian
F. Dirrigl
J. Csiki, alt.
S. Yorgensen, wetlands agent
L. Decker, recording clerk
NEW BUSINESS:
1. File # W2001-53-Application for a wetlands permit for the realignment of a section of Mason Road located between Parker Road and Daleville School Road. Town of Willington owners/applicants. (Received on 09/24/01, no decision before 10/08/01, hearing or decision by 11/26/01).
Karl Acimovic asked if a site visit was done. Commission members said they looked at it individually.
K. Acimovic said a meeting was held Oct. 10 with area residents and it went very well.
G. Blessing asked what kind of feedback was received. K. Acimovic said the people’s concerns were not wetlands issues. They agreed to reduce the travel width of the road but leave the full cut width. The shoulders will have the same sub-base material for the whole 24-foot width.
G. Blessing asked what the end result was. K. Acimovic replied a 9-foot travel way with a 3-foot shoulder. This will help so snow does not need to be pushed up onto the embankments.
K. Metzler asked what the wetlands issues were.
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G. Blessing said there is a drainage structure. K. Acimovic said there is an existing 15” pipe, which is too short, and there is a steep drop off on the westerly side of the road. The new road will require a longer pipe and they will be installing headwalls at each end.
K. Metzler asked if he intended the drainage to remain the same coming from the road. K. Acimovic said yes. The pipe will be changing from what is on the plan to a 24” pipe.
G. Blessing asked when construction would begin. K. Acimovic said they hope to do it early next year. They would like to do it at the end of this year but would likely run into more erosion control issues if that were the case.
J. Csiki asked what cutting would be done. K. Acimovic said the deepest cut would be about 10 feet at the very rest of the hill.
G. Blessing asked if it would go out to bid or if it is a town project. K. Acimovic said the town would do it.
G. BLESSING MOVED TO APPROVE FILE #W2001-53-APPLICATION FOR A WETLANDS PERMIT FOR THE REALIGNMENT OF A SECTION OF MASON ROAD LOCATED BETWEEN PARKER ROAD AND DALEVILLE SCHOOL ROAD. TOWN OF WILLINGTON OWNERS/APPLICANTS. (RECEIVED ON 09/24/01, NO DECISION BEFORE 10/08/01, HEARING OR DECISION BY 11/26/01), WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1) The plans to be revised including a cross section detail to show the proposed changes from 10-foot travel ways to 9-foot travel ways & 2-foot shoulders to 3-foot shoulders
2) The plan shall be revised to show the proposed change of pipe diameter to 24” HDPE
SECONDED BY D. SCHREIBER. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
2. File # W2001-52-Application for the construction of a single-family home with driveway, deck, grading within the buffer and a proposed dock to access the pond located off Old Farms Road (Map 17, Lot 33, 35.68 acres). Renee & Richard Smith owners/applicants. (Received on 09/24/01, no decision by 10/08/01, hearing or decision by 11/26/01).
Dave Smith spoke on behalf of the applicants.
D. Smith said corrections have been made after issues that came up at the sitewalk and also from issues raised by the health department. The wetlands issues are virtually
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unchanged. Johnny Ianni flagged the wetlands and they follow closely to the edge of the pond. The house itself is outside the 100-foot buffer. The applicants would like access to the pond via a floating dock. He reviewed topographical and contour info on the maps. It is a large piece of property but it functions as a private house lot. Intent is for a gravel drive with a pool proposed to collect water. The house elevation is determined by the septic. They are hoping to avoid a pump system. He showed the areas to be impacted.
G. Blessing asked where the underground utility trenches would be. D. Smith said they would be on the uphill side of the drive.
K. Metzler asked if the pond was completely contained. D. Smith said it is completely owned by the applicants. No one else has access.
S. Yorgensen asked if this is the same pond that overflowed onto the Town road. D. Smith said the beavers were the main cause of that problem. Renee Smith said the water level has been pretty constant since work was done by the town and a student from EO Smith worked to deter beaver activity.
The commission reviewed grading.
K. Metzler asked the extent of clearing. D. Smith said it is at the proposed contours and the silt fence. The applicants have no desire for a big lawn.
G. Blessing asked if the septic was approved. D. Smith said the revisions have been done and it appears all comments from the memo were addressed.
G. Blessing reviewed the newest memo from Gary.
D. Smith said other comments were regarding typos, which will be addressed. Janet from EHHD said the plan is fundamentally OK as it is laid out. The commission reviewed the septic info. D. Smith noted the soils were found to be much better than he anticipated. The primary and reserve are all outside the 100-foot buffer.
G. Blessing asked if the deck was to be on piers. D. Smith said yes. The wetlands issues summed up are the entrance, deck & grading, a little of the driveway and dock at the pond. Those are the issues inside the buffer.
The commission discussed the plans.
D. Schreiber said not much could have been done differently.
J. Csiki asked how much fill there would be over the pipe. D. Smith said about 1.5 feet.
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G. BLESSING MOVED TO APPROVE FILE #W2001-52-APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME WITH DRIVEWAY, DECK, GRADING WITHIN THE BUFFER AND A PROPOSED DOCK TO ACCESS THE POND LOCATED OFF OLD FARMS ROAD (MAP 17, LOT 33, 35.68 ACRES). RENEE & RICHARD SMITH OWNERS/APPLICANTS. (RECEIVED ON 09/24/01, NO DECISION BY 10/08/01, HEARING OR DECISION BY 11/26/01), WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1) Limits of clearing shall be placed on the plan
2) The fire department turnoff shall be placed on the plan
3) Permit contingent on approval from the Eastern Highlands Health District
SECONDED BY D. SCHREIBER. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
3. Request for release of a bond for Lohse Road gravel project. Estate of Joseph Mihaliak.
G. Blessing asked if staff had a chance to look at this. S. Yorgensen said there are no apparent wetlands issues. The hay bales are still up. The road to the access is not sealed, and there is growth everywhere else except for the center access road area.
G. Blessing said in a heavy rain there is a lot of runoff coming down from the property onto the road toward Roaring Brook. S. Yorgensen reviewed flow issues on the property.
G. Blessing said there was a lot of brown material running after the heavy rains during the summer. The consensus of the commission was that staff should look at it during a rainfall.
The commission tabled further discussion.
4. File #W2001-56-Application for forest products harvest south of Spak Road and west of Lohse Road. Estate of Anna Kovacik, owner/Anthony J. Grossi, d.b.a Grossi Forest Products, applicants. (Received on 10/17/01).
J. Vobril (Jr. Forester) spoke on behalf of the applicants. J. Vobril said he was asked to represent this since he is closer to the area and Grossi is from Massachusetts.
The commission reviewed the file. J. Vobril described the area.
G. Blessing said part of this area is a cornfield now. He asked the acreage. J. Vobril said the entire parcel is about 80 acres, including the corn.
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J. Csiki asked how much they were logging. J. Vobril said about 70 acres & reviewed the info on the soils map. In the wetlands area, there is nothing that is harvestable. He said that there are no real steep slopes except in the southerly corner. He showed an outcropping on the plan. There will be 2 road cuts.
K. Metzler asked about access to the lower piece. J. Vobril showed the area on the map.
K. Metzler said there is a steep drop off there. J. Vobril said it is a narrow area, maybe about 50-60 feet wide through the little neck. There is one crossing proposed, about 15 feet in width & 50 feet in length. He suggested a sitewalk.
S. Yorgensen said the map looks like there is a proposed stream crossing but the application says there is not one. J. Vobril said it is not a flowing stream. It is intermittent.
F. Dirrigl said there are also inconsistencies with the plan. Page 2 of the checklist talks about the stream buffers as being within 100 feet, but that is not referenced in the other part of the plan. S. Yorgensen said if they want to stay 100 feet away that is fine.
J. Vobril described the markings on the trees. G. Blessing said if the crossing can be avoided, it should be.
S. Yorgensen asked if they would be using a skidder or a forwarder. J. Vobril said the applicants had not planned that yet because they do not know what operator will do the work. It will be subcontracted but Grossi will be in charge.
The commission scheduled a sitewalk for 9 a.m. Saturday November 3rd.
5. File # W2001-57-Application for the construction of a single-family home and associated septic and private well located on adjacent/rear lot (Lot 26-1) of 174 Willington Hill Road (Map 13, Lot 26-1). Ed Carroll owner/applicant. (Received on 10/17/01).
The commission reviewed the history of the property.
S. Yorgensen said changes were made to the lot line and a pump system was added.
The commission discussed differences between this plan and the original permit. Work is proposed in the upland area but there is nothing in the wetlands area. Ken Metzler said that Gary should look at what was approved previously.
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D. Schreiber moved to remand to staff for decision File #W2001-57-Application for the construction of a single-family home and associated septic and private well located on adjacent/rear lot (Lot 26-1) of 174 Willington Hill Road (Map 13, Lot 26-1). Ed Carroll owner/applicant. (Received on 10/17/01).
Seconded by F. Dirrigl. Unanimously approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. File #W2001-39-Application for a wetlands permit to install a pond with a dry hydrant located on the east side of Battye Road & north of South Willington Brook crossing Battye Road. Joseph Vobril owner/applicant. (Received on 06/25/01, no decision before 07/09/01, hearing or decision by 07/23/01, 65-day extension requested and approved, hearing or decision by 10/22/01).
J. Vobril said he wishes to withdraw this application and submit a new one and asked that the commission consider waiving the fees. There are concerns with the septic and the brook. The only way to determine what is really there is by auguring. He is attempting to contact Roy Shook to do the work and to provide a written evaluation.
Stuart Cobb of the Willington Fire Dept. #1 stated that this area of town is not very well supplied in water sources, and the fire department will support this pond application.
K. Metzler said the commission would discuss that when the time comes.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Proposed meeting schedule for next year
2. Connecticut Federation of Lakes conference announcement
3. UCONN College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Journal July/August/September 2001
4. The Nature Conservancy, Saving Our Last Great
5. Connecticut Wildlife September/October 2001
MINUTES:
G. BLESSING MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2001.
SECONDED BY L. KOUYOUMJIAN. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
D. SCHREIBER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:09 P.M.
SECONDED BY L. KOUYOUMJIAN. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
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