TOWN OF WILLINGTON
INLAND WETLAND AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2002 MEETING
A. Call to Order
Metzler called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Members Present: K. Metzler, Chairman
D. Schreiber, Vice-Chairman
G. Blessing
F. Dirrigl
T. Gutowski, alt. (arrived 7:46 p.m.)
Members Excused: J. Csiki, alt.
L. Kouyoumjian
Also Present: S. Yorgensen, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agent
S. Nimerowski, Recording Clerk
C. Seat Alternates
No alternates were seated.
D. New Business
Metzler called for a re-ordering of the agenda.
1. Pre-Application #2002-45 – Application for (1) lot re-subdivision of property located at 75 Ruby Road (Map 28, Lots 15 & 48A, 4.57 acres), Owner Edward Blasco, Applicant Andrew Szewczyk
David Smith spoke for the applicant. He said they are proposing the creation of a building lot on 4 l/2 acres of land. This piece of property was left over from a former subdivision and is vacant. Mr. Smith referred to a letter dated 1998 from John Ianni. He said the original proposal was for two houses, but this proposal is for one. He said no wetlands were found. He said he has provided a septic design approved by the Eastern Highlands District.
Blessings asked if there was a storm water system, and Mr. Smith replied no, not on this part of the property. Blessing asked Metzler if we have any jurisdiction if there are no wetlands, and Metzler replied that this is just procedural.
MOTION: That there is no jurisdiction on Pre-Application #2002-45.
By: Blessing Seconded: Schreiber
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
2. Informal discussion concerning proposed development of site located at Exit 71 off I-84 and on Lohse Road.
Mike Miller of Flying J spoke. He said he has had discussions with the DEP and other agencies and has met with Agent Yorgensen and Assistant Agent Jones. He said the site is composed of two parcels, one consisting of 10 acres and one consisting of 20. He said the surveyor recommended that a soil scientist flag the wetlands, and the surveyor has put them on the plan. He said they were surprised to find so much wetlands. He said that Ed Pollack, Registered Soil Scientist and Certified Wetlands Scientist, identified vernal pools. Mr. Miller pointed them out on the plan.
Mr. Pollack said he delineated wetland boundaries on this property this summer and has reinspected these wetlands to try to get at least a pre-assessment of the function of the wetlands. He said there were four hydro wetland pockets, kettle hole depressions. He said step esker ridges run across the property, with small kettle hole depressions in between. They had begun to fill with water when we looked at them today, with 12” or less in them. Kettle holes #1, 2, and 3 may be vernal pools. Mr. Pollack said they are isolated basic depressions that flood seasonally; in springtime they are likely to contain water. Mixed hardwood and conifer forests surround the areas. He said there was no evidence of life at this time.
Dirrigl asked if there was any evidence of the marbled salamander, and Mr. Pollack replied that there was not. Most of the southerly section is part of a large hemlock swamp, which was holding water today. He said this southerly swamp could contain wood frogs and spotted salamanders. The northerly swamp contains small, isolated pockets of water and has a hummocky micro-topography. He said he didn’t see strong evidence of it being a breeding site. Mr. Pollack said Roaring Brook contained clear-flowing water today; stream salamanders and trout may be using it. He said that the small isolated wetland would be limited in productivity. The town map doesn’t show the large wetland system.
Mr. Miller said that Flying J has been able to mitigate the wetlands quite often in other states. Metzler asked about proposed development on this site. Mr. Miller replied that there would be a main building with car and RV islands and a truck parking lot. There will be two sit-down fast food restaurants, open 24 hours. The professional driver’s side will have various facilities. He said that Flying J could cut the plans down if necessary.
Blessing asked how many acres were wetlands, and Yorgensen replied 8+ acres out of the total 18 acres. Blessing noted that the lot will be graded and will need a lot of fill, and asked how much will be required. Mr. Miller replied 400,000 cubic yards. Blessing asked if there would be an on-site septic, and Mr. Miller replied yes. Metzler said that basically this is a full site development. Blessing asked how many underground fuel storage tanks are proposed, and Mr. Miller replied 90.
Metzler asked about the soil characteristics of the wetland soil in the hemlock swamps, and Mr. Pollack answered that they are very poorly drained, organic soils to a depth of 4 ft. or more, all of which would have to be removed. He said that hinckley sand and gravel is in the other areas. Metzler asked if they had looked at alternate sites, and Mr. Miller replied that they are very difficult to find. He said that Flying J has an environmental department, and Blessing said he would like to contact them concerning any possibility of groundwater contamination at their other 60 sites.
Gutowski asked if the upland review area was on the map, and Metzler replied that it was not, that this was not a formal application. Gutowski commented there was not much buildable area. She said that Roaring Brook is a high-quality body of water, and she is concerned about loss of habitat in the brook and vernal pools. Blessing said we’ve taken extraordinary steps to protect vernal pools. Commission member Frank Dirrigl, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Teikyo Post University, said he had done numerous studies of vernal pools, and you can’t re-create a vernal pool or mitigate against it. He said different pools have different types of characteristics. He said studies would have to be done in the spring and the fall.
Blessing said that without pre-judging, the Commission has never seen a pre-application like this. Metzler said there were storm water issues as well as issues of vernal pools and wetlands. He asked about the ecological condition of the upper hemlock wetland, and Mr. Pollack replied that the condition is very high, with sphagnum carpet and gold thread present. He said there are no invasives.
Agent Yorgensen thanked Mr. Miller for his honesty with the Commission.
3. Restoration of the Village Hill Road Bridge
Schreiber said he thought the Conservation Commission would be interested in the area around the bridge. There are two acres of property for sale for $15,000, and purchase of the property would allow people access to trails. Metzler said we should wait to see what the Selectman’s office says. Yorgensen said we have all the old minutes and plans to copy so the Commission will have background information. She said she contacted the Selectman’s office to say we are waiting for a restoration plan. Blessing said he felt the project has not been staged property. Yorgensen said John Patton has suggested that we do a site walk. Yorgensen said that Karl Acimov would be present at the site walk. Blessing said that this is a very disturbed area, and asked what we could do to stop
the erosion. He noted that the work on the bridge is being done by only three people The site walk was set for Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 p.m. Blessing said the restoration of the Village Hill Road Bridge should be put on the agenda indefinitely until the matter is settled.
E. Old Business
None.
F. Correspondence
1. Letter dated October 30, 2002 from the Land Use Dept. to Mr. George Giguere,
Royce Properties LLC
re: Tree Cutting
2. Cover letter dated November 1, 2002 and enclosed report, Statewide Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Activity Reporting Program Status and Trends Report for
the Year 2000, from the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
to CT Municipal Inland Wetlands Agencies
3. Memo dated October 28, 2002 from Peter Andersen, Chairman, Willington
Conservation Commission to Members of Willington Boards and Commissions
re: Developing a Natural Resources Inventory for Willington
4. Cover letter dated November 19, 2002 and attached 2002 Annual Habitat
Management Report from Valerie Ferro, TPA Design Group to Stephen DiLorenzo,
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (cc Susan Yorgensen)
5. The Habitat from the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands
Commission, Inc.
Correspondence was reviewed.
G. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: To approve minutes of September 23, 2002.
By: Schreiber Seconded: Dirrigl
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
H. Staff Report and Discussion
Several items were discussed. Gutowski announced that she is resigning from the Commission and the POCD effective January 1, 2003.
MOTION: To adjourn at 9:06 p.m.
By: Dirrigl Seconded: Blessing
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
Respectfully Yours,
Susan S. Nimerowski
Recording Clerk
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