Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission
40 Old Farms Road, Willington, CT 06279
June 14, 2010
Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Ken Metzler – Co-Chairman
Dave Schreiber – Co-Chairman
Tess Gutowski
Evan Brand
Mark Drobney
Greg Blessing - Alternate
Members Absent:
Also present:
Susan Yorgensen – Planner-Zoning/Inland Wetlands Agent
Public Hearing:
K. Metzler called the Public Hearing to order at 7:43.
W2010-11 Application for construction of travel stop, including store, food service, fueling station and associated construction at 3 Polster Road (Owner: Frank & Joseph Malack etal Applicant: Loves Travel Stop and Country Store Inc. (Received April 12, 2010 Public Hearing May 10, 2010 continued to June 14, 2010 ~Decision within 35 days after close of P.H.)
Attorney Leonard Jacobs, Rich Pettinelli and Josh Wilson of Fuss and O’Neil, and Rick Sheffield of Loves Travel were all present.
Atty. Jacobs said the Conservation Commission along with Mr. Pettinelli walked the site a couple days ago.
Mr. Pettinelli said he received 2 sets of comments from Joe Polulech of JEP Engineering and they have revised plans but he did not want to present them to the commission on such short notice. Mr. Pettinelli addressed each comment and gave his responses. He will also submit this to the commission in writing.
Mr. Pettinelli said they have added detail for the truck entrances and added geo-textile fencing to the upper area. He said each silt fence will contain 1 acre of run off. The detail for the stone check damn was removed. The slope comments were addressed and explained. Temporary control mats were asked for and will be put in. Mr. Pettinelli said they will do 4 inch minimum of top soil. He said the questions regarding the Storm Water Management and the clearing are being addressed. They are re-evaluating and will get revised computations in. Mr. Pettinelli explained the infiltration trenches. K. Metzler asked if the test holes were done and Mr. Pettinelli said not yet.
Mr. Pettinelli said they agree with the majority of the comments regarding the Storm Drainage Details and will address them in their written responses. He said the missing discharge will be added and the conveyance pipes will be increased from 12 to 15. They also agree with water tight joints on the pipes and 4 foot sumps. The construction specifications regarding the make up of the detention basins have been done and the plunge pools are there. He said he felt their design was a low impact design and said they looked at swales and felt this would be a huge amount of impact.
Mr. Pettinelli addressed Mr. Polulech's comments regarding permeable pavers and felt this would be more appropriate for a parking lot with small cars, not trucks. He said they have done preliminary monitoring of the subsurface system and will hand in with the revisions. They will also go out and locate the edges of the missing stone walls.
Mr. Pettinelli said Mr. Polulech’s second letter had more to do with oil spills. They have added a detailed drawing for spill containment. He said they can do covers but questioned the need as they believe their controls are adequate. A discussion was held on swirl concentrators. Mr. Pettinelli said the rest of the comments have to do with maintaining in which they will revise. He said all the revisions will be handed in with the revised plans.
G. Blessing asked about the storage area for spills and if there were catch basins there. Mr. Pettinelli said there are and showed them on the plans and said they would put spill mats over the catch basins.
A discussion was held on storm events and spills. G. Blessing asked about changing to the 3 to 1 slope modification from 2 to 1 and if it impacts the upland review area. Mr. Pettinelli said no, they’ve moved them back.
T. Gutowski asked about the septic and Mr. Pettinelli said it would be a typical septic system sized at 6000 gallons and will be deep enough to put in an ejector pump. He showed the piping on the plans.
K. Metzler asked about wetland J and, assuming it was a ground water discharge system, how would the system impact the wetland with the additional water. Mr. Pettinelli said there would be some impact but not a huge amount.
Josh O’Neil, soil scientist, addressed the comments from the Conservations Commission and will submit this in writing to the commission. In regards to comments #2, he said the hydrology won’t be affected by what happens on site and in that area, there will be minimal impact to wetland E.
D. Schreiber asked the location of the outflow to D and Mr. O’Neil said he did not fully investigate but it appears to flow toward Roaring Brook.
Mr. O’Neil said he does not think the wells will have a significant impact on site. He gave calculations of frog and egg masses and said approximately 15% of the population would be affected. Mr. O’Neil said migration will continue to occur and won’t have a significant impact on the wetlands. He said they have designed the site to meet erosion and sedimentation control guidelines and are using Best Management Practices in regards to maintaining the water quality.
T. Gutowski asked what treatment will be used for ice and snow. Mr. Sheffield said sand and Mr. Pettinelli showed the holding areas on the plans. E. Brand asked about bulk storage for the restaurants and Mr. Pettinelli said they would have freezers and cabinets for cooking oil.
Mr. O’Neil said they have engineered the site to deal with catastrophic spills. In regards to the migrations of amphibians, they will migrate up and hit a retaining wall and migrate north. He said they would not overwinter in the parking lot and explained the deterrents before they would get to the road and did not think traffic would be so great as to increase mortality.
Mr. O’Neil said they will use dark sky or low spillage lights and noise will not be significantly greater. He said there will be a forested buffer between the parking lot and the wetland. In regards to comment #23, the amount of impact to the site is 9 acres and 5 ½ acres of clearing; approximately 23% of the site. He said they did not list the wood turtle based on observation and the site is not a desired habitat of the wood turtle.
K. Metlzler asked about the brief listing of vegetation and if that was all they had. Mr. O’Neil said yes.
A discussion was held on the hydrology of wetland F and G. Mr. Pettinelli said they could put in a lever spreader or a drainage blanket and asked the commission if they had a preference. G. Blessing said the preference would be to mimic the existing conditions. K. Metzler asked about maintaining the basins. Mr. Pettinelli said they would follow the existing path with a small vehicle. He said they could also do improvements and showed this on the plans.
T. Gutowski asked about a Spill Prevention Plan and logs from other sites including a history of loss of product. Mr. Sheffield said they could provide one for an existing facility. T. Gutowski asked for this information from a newer facility.
A discussion was held on the TA Center. Mr. Pettinelli said he has read through previous minutes regarding W2003-49 and Loves has as tight of a control as they can. K. Metzler said this site is different from TA as this site is a straight shot to run into Roaring Brook. A discussion was held.
Atty. Jacobs said they will provide the commission with additional plans and the written responses to the Engineer and Conservation Commission comments.
K. Metzler opened the floor to the public.
Ralph Tulus expressed his concern on the noise and said he lived through the opening of TA and there is a difference. He said he would like to see studies on the forest being a buffer and asked about the management plan of the portion of the 40 acres that will not be developed. He also asked how many water sheds east of Polster Rd has the applicant examined.
Les Mehroff of 43 Schofield Rd asked how many times the inventory of the amphibians had been done. Mr. O’Neil said twice this past March and once in the previous season.
Rob Symonds of Lohse road expressed his concern about the trucks idling and the noise pollution as well as the 6000 gallon well and the snow removal. He said he believes they will need more than 1 well.
Mr. Pettinelli said they will take all the comments and respond at the next meeting.
T. Gutowski asked for a topography map of the area and Mr. Pettinelli said he could provide that.
Atty. Jacobs said, in regards to the excess land on site, they are interested in hearing what the town would like to do. He said Loves is willing to allow the land to go to the town if they wish.
Kathryn Malack said she would like to see the excess land on this property go the state.
D. Schreiber motioned to continue the Public Hearing to July 12, 2010. T Gutowski seconded the motion. All in favor.
Regular Meeting
K. Metzler called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:22.
W2010-20 Application to dismantle existing house & deck and construct new house, deck, garage and repair retaining wall, repair septic system, construct new drive and related and misc grading at 96 Tinkerville Road (Map 40 Lot 40 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant Carolyn Johnston & Charles Wilson (Received June 14, 2010 Public Hearing or Decision by July 12, 2010 decision within 35 days after close of P.H.)
David Smith, a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor was present for the applicant. He said the plan reflects the balance of the work to be done since they were here last June. He explained the plans and said it is a slab structure. He said all the activity is in the upland review area.
The application was received; staff will review it and put it on the agenda for the July 12, 2010 meeting.
Old Business
W2010-4 Wetland crossing at 268 River Road (Map 24 Lot 37-A Zone R 80)
Owner/Applicant: Denise Morrow (Received March 8, 2010, Decision by May 10, 2010 35 day extension given)
K. Metzler said his concern is the amount of impact that has been done to the wetlands. Steve Filip was present for the applicant. He said the culvert was sized for a 25 year storm and is a 15 inch ADS pipe and handled the recent rain storm. K. Metzler said he agreed the culver was stable but was concerned about the amount of material pushed in the wetlands.
Rick Zulick, a Soil Scientist, was also present for the applicant and did the flagging. He said the site was built in the 60’s or 70’s and a bulk of the lawn is the leeching area. He said the soil was disturbed but the majority of the disturbance was from the work that was done when the house was built. Mr. Zulick said the wood storage area was re-graded and seeded and he did not think any of the fill was pushed into the wetlands.
T. Gutowski said the on site walk showed areas of impact. Mr. Zulick said the only impact he is aware of is the slight grading and re-seeding. K. Metzler said the flags indicated there was fill in the wetlands. A discussion was held on the impacted areas of concern.
D. Schreiber motioned to approve the crossing/culvert with the following conditions:
1. Further investigation be done by the soil scientist on #1; i.e. depth of soil placed and feasibility of restoring #1.
2. Restoration plan be submitted for area 3.
T. Gutowski seconded the motion. All in favor.
W2010-9 Application for Wetlands Crossing and Garage within regulated area at 115 Mason Road (Map 11 Lot 27A-2D Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Mark Hannegan (Received April 12, 2010 Decision By June 14, 2010)
John Ianni and Ed Pelletier were present for the applicant.
Mr. Ianni conducted a site walk last month. He said the site was approved for a common drive in 1990 and Mr. Hannegan built a small drive crossing the wetland. A culvert was installed. Per the mapping, Mr. Pelletier found the driveway was partially off their property. They contacted the neighbor regarding an easement but it was not granted. Mr. Ianni said the application is to remove a 380 square foot portion of the drive and replace the pipe. He said the total amount of wetland impact is 1850 square feet.
A discussion was held on installing 2 culverts. Mr. Ianni said there will be no tree removal and the wetland soil is shallow. T. Gutowski asked about the garage. Mr. Ianni said it is going the stay where it is and commented that it was done without a permit.
A discussion was held on doing work on another owner’s property. Mr. Ianni said they could provide a letter from the owner before any work is initiated. He said they will remove fill from the area and wetlands, rake down to bare soil and put seed mixture down. K. Metzler asked if they would monitor invasive species and Mr. Ianni said yes. K. Metzler said they recommended looking at the need for a 2nd culvert and Mr. Ianni said they will add the 2nd culvert.
D. Schreiber motioned to accept the plan with the following conditions:
1. Plans be revised and submitted to the Commission to show a second culvert.
2. Plans be revised to include details on restoration.
3. Letter from the abutting owner granting permission to work on their property.
4. Two year monitoring of invasive species.
E. Brand seconded the motion.
A discussion was held on the existing driveways, taking out or blocking off the new drive and using the common drive. D. Schreiber said taking out the driveway would cause as much disturbance.
The commission voted, T. Gutowski opposed. All others in favor.
W2003-49 Notice of violation: TravelCenters of America (the Lessee) and George Giguere of Royce Properties (the Owner) of property located at 327 Ruby Road.
Tabled for this meeting.
Correspondence
1. Letter to the Inland Wetland Commission from the Conservation Commission regarding Loves Travel Stop.
Minutes
K. Metzler motioned to approve the minutes with the following change; on Page 4, Scott Wayne should read Scott Wing. T. Gutowski seconded the motion. All in favor.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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