TOWN OF WILLINGTON
INLAND WETLAND AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF APRIL 22, 2002 REGULAR MEETING
A. Call to Order
D. Schreiber called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Members Present: G. Blessing
J. Csiki, alt.
F. Dirrigl
T. Gutowski, alt.
L. Kouyoumjian
D. Schreiber
Members Excused: K. Metzler, Chairman
Members Absent: None
Also Present: G. Jones, Asst. IW&W Agent
S. Nimerowski, Recording Clerk
C. Seat Alternates
MOTION: To seat T. Gutowski for K. Metzler
By: F. Dirrigl Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
D. New Business
None.
E. Old Business
1. File #W2002-16 – Application for a Wetlands Permit for activity within the Regulated Area including culvert crossing and driveway construction for a Single Family Home located off of Clint Eldredge Road (Map 17, Lot 44B, 5.547 acres). Jessie Dubois/applicant, Richard & Carol Evans owners. (Received on 03/11/02, No Decision before 03/25/02, Hearing or Decision by 05/13/02.)
Jones noted that all members have a memo on this application.
Schreiber said he looked at the property from his car tonight. The site lines have been re-measured and the driveway moved 10 feet north of the original location. Gutowski asked if there was spray paint on the new location of the driveway, and Schreiber said yes. Schreiber said that he wanted to set the riprap as far back as possible. Blessing asked if the right to drain had been discussed, and Mr. Dubois replied no. Schreiber said some of the things we’ve been asking people to do with drainage like this is to give the town the right to drain. The applicant said he had no problem with this. Blessing said the applicant’s engineer would have to provide a small easement to the town that the town has the right to drain, and Schreiber added that that would be a condition of
approval. Jones said that Acimovic was concerned about the size of stone (#6 on 04/22/02 memo to Yorgensen and Jones). The applicant said that he would have no problem with changing the size of the stone and that a retaining wall would be expensive for him. Scheiber said the important thing is that the bank be stabilized.
MOTION: To approve Application #W2002-16 with two conditions:
1. Formal right to drain be put on plans and approved by applicant.
2. Energy dissipater size of stone be changed from modified to
intermediate riprap.
By: Blessing Seconded: Gutowski
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
2. File #W2002-12 – Application for an activity within the Regulated Area for a driveway for a single family home located off Latham Road (Map 9, Lot 32, 7.93 acres). Michael Nogas owner/applicant. (Received on 02/11/02, No Decision before 02/25/02, Hearing or Decision by 04/08/02, 30-day extension requested and approved, Decision by 05/13/02.)
Ed Pelitier, representing Michael Nogas, said that George Knoeckline of Northeast Aquatic Research prepared a report on vernal pool habitats; Schreiber said everyone present had a copy.
Dirrigl asked that the records show information he is providing is based on his professional knowledge as an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science. He said there is a bit of confusion as to how the memo is worded. He said there are three different groupings – 5 & 8 have wood frog eggs, 4 & 6 would be functional, and 7, 2, 3 are in another grouping (minor). Dirrigl said 2 & 3 have only minor functional value as breeding pools.
Gutowski referred to page 1, 3rd paragraph. She said she wanted to clarify that all have the potential to be productive pools, but right now with the drought only three are good.
Blessing asked if all would have high functional value as breeding ponds if we were not in a drought situation, and Dirrigl said they would still rank differently. Blessing asked if 5 & 8 would rank the highest, then 6 & 4, then 7, 2, 3. With site 8, would wood frogs go west when dispersing? Dirrigl answered that they disperse in any and all directions.
Dirrigl showed a map with all 8 locations on it. He said he didn’t feel the proposed road and driveway would affect the wood frog’s ability to breed. He said most wetland ponds have a 100 ft. buffer and this is within that 100 ft. Dirrigl said the proposed time of driveway construction will be fine; barriers won’t bother the wood frogs when dispersing as they would salamanders. He said the placement of the house would not be impacted. He said dispersal may occur between June 10-20, and activities should be curtailed during that time.
Schreiber asked Dirrigl to confirm that a driveway may be built before June 10, and Dirrigl replied yes. Dirrigl said the frogs are done with breeding now and have dispersed back into the woods.
Blessing noted there is no fall migration because no salamanders are present.
Gutowski asked the applicant is there was any reason the house couldn’t be brought back to the SW corner, and the applicant replied that someone is going to buy the lot. Gutowski asked why the house was put on the line, and the applicant replied that it was put at the high point on the property, on top of a knoll.
Schreiber asked when the lot was sold, how would vernal pool life be protected? Pelitier replied that now 4-wheel vehicles use the property; it will be much better ecologically for the area after a house is built.
Gutowski asked if vernal pools could be put on the plans, and Blessing agreed it would be good to have a record of the vernal pools. Jones added that 100 ft. setbacks should also be included. The applicant said he would be coming in with a sub-division application soon.
MOTION: To accept File #W2002-12 with the following stipulations:
1. No road construction between June 1 and July 1.
2. Applicant provides revised map to show vernal pools indicated
on the survey with 100 ft. setbacks.
By: Kouyoumjian Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
F. Correspondence
1. Letter to Todd Messier, 132 Tolland Turnpike Road, from Willington IW&W
dated 04/11/02.
2. The Nature Conservancy Land Trust Service Bureau News, dated March 2002.
Schreiber read aloud and discussed the above-noted letter to Todd Messier concerning his landscaping project.
G. Approval of Minutes
Blessing asked that the February 25, 2002 minutes be amended. On page 2, 6th paragraph, first sentence, change “cross-sole” to “knee-wall;” 7th paragraph, first sentence, change “wood” to “useable area;” on page 3, 2nd full paragraph, change “swell” to “swale.”
MOTION: To approve the February 25, 2002 minutes as amended.
By: Kouyoumjian Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
Gutowski asked that the March 25, 2002 minutes be amended. On page 1, last paragraph, first sentence, delete “and Gutowski replied that they had.” Delete “She said there are no real wetlands there.” On page 2, last full paragraph, last sentence, delete “asked Metzler
to send Blessing some information” and add “requested that the Agent contact Mr. Blessing regarding this application. Specifically, that in the event that Mr. Blessing is unable to attend the next scheduled meeting, that he would provide written comments to the Commission.”
MOTION: To accept the March 25, 2002 minutes as amended.
By: Kouyoumjian Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes 4-0-1 (Blessing abstains—not present at
03/25/02 meeting)
Several changes to the April 8, 2002 minutes were requested by Blessing: on page 2, 7th paragraph, add “to the North” at the end of the sentence; page 3, 1st paragraph, add “to the North” after “10 ft.”; page 3, 4th paragraph, add “to the North” twice after “10 ft.”; 6th paragraph, second to the last sentence, add “to the North” after “10 ft.”; page 5, last paragraph, first sentence, change “Kohler” to “Kollar.”
MOTION: To accept the April 8, 2002 minutes as amended.
By: Kouyoumjian Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
H. Staff Report and Discussion
Jones brought the Commission up to date on several cases.
Gutowski passed out information regarding the 7:30 p.m., April 30, Willimantic River Midwaters Natural Resource Conservation Forum. She said she would like to represent the Commission at the forum.
I. Adjournment
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:55 p.m.
By: Koumouymjian Seconded: Gutowski
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan S. Nimerowski
Recording Clerk
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