Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission
40 Old Farms Road, Willington, CT 06279
June 13, 2011
Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Dave Schreiber – Co-Chairman
Tess Gutowski
Evan Brand
Mark Drobney
Members Absent:
Ken Metzler – Co-Chairman
Greg Blessing – Alternate
Abby Kelly - Alternate
Also present:
Susan Yorgensen – Planner/Zoning Agent
Regular Meeting
D. Schreiber called the meeting to order at 7:36.
New Business
W2011-22 Application for installation of yard drains and piping at 11 Meadow Lane (Map 16 Lot 32 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Robert & Elena Testa (Received May 9, 2011 Public Hearing by July 11, 2011 Decision within 35 days after close of P.H.)
Robert Testa was present and submitted drawings. He said he read the memorandum submitted by Lynn Nicholls and said there is a notion that the amount of water going into the town piping will increase but that is not the case. Mr. Testa said he has water going through the 3rd bay of his garage and in the winter, it freezes and becomes a dangerous skating rink. He said he would like to divert the existing amount of water to go through piping, across the existing swale and down to the catch basin. Mr. Testa said he has lived there since 2002 and the water problems began in 2005. He said the house and garage were built in 1975. T. Gutowski asked why the conditions changed and Mr. Testa said he always had water running through the driveway and he thought it just worsened over time and now goes
through the garage.
D. Schreiber said they do not like concentrating water to one place and sheet flow is their friend. Rob Lodge, of Lodge Earthworks, was also present for the applicant and said the existing pipe goes under the driveway. He showed this on the plan, explained the flow and the proposed work to be done. D. Schreiber said the applicant may have more of a water problem on his lawn with the proposed work and the applicant said he did not think so. D. Schreiber asked if a berm would do the same thing as piping and a catch basin. Mr. Lodge said it would interfere with the yard and landscaping.
T. Gutowski said she is concerned about redirecting water to the neighbors’ property. D. Schreiber asked if the applicant had talked to the neighbor about this project and he had not. M. Drobney said they will pull water from the pooling area which will increase the water. The applicant said he did not believe so. He said the volume may not change but the speed of the water will change which may cause an increase in water over time. D. Schreiber said he would like to know the distances and elevations.
The Commission said they cannot legally tell an applicant it is alright to put water on another’s property. Mr. Lodge proposed putting in a curtain drain with 2 inch stone. S. Yorgensen said it is something to consider. A discussion was held on the location of the well and septic. D. Schreiber asked the applicant to talk to the neighbor, locate the septic and then come back before them. M. Drobney suggested the applicant not do a pipe from the wetlands. The Commission scheduled a site walk for Monday, June 20th at 7:30.
W2011- 24 Applicant to replace culvert liner at Potter School Road Owner/Applicant: Town of Willington (Received May 9, 2011 Public Hearing by July 11, 2011 Decision
within 35 days after close of P.H.)
T. Gutowski said, at the last meeting, they were looking at the direction of the water and how it would impact the fisheries. She said they were concerned about low flow conditions. K. Acimovic was going to meet with the fisheries. S. Yorgensen will have the applicant provide information for the next meeting. Ralph Tulis said the town went out to bid on the project and it came in over budget. Application was tabled until the next meeting.
W2011-27 Application for construction of travel stop, including store, food service, fueling station and associated construction at 3 Polster Road (Owner: Frank & Joseph Malack et al Application: LovesTravel Stop and Country Store Inc. (Received June 13, 2011 Public Hearing July 11, 2011 Decision within 35 days after close of P.H.)
D. Schreiber said he would like Ken Metzler and Greg Blessing to be a part of this process. S. Yorgensen said they would not be available July 11th. T. Gutowski recommended holding a public hearing due to public interest. A date of August 15th was tentatively set for a special meeting.
A discussion was held on getting the information to the engineer prior to the public hearing. S. Yorgensen said the new engineering firm is Nate, Jacobson & Associates. She said she brought this up to the applicant’s attorney and they did not feel they should pay for a new engineer to review this because they paid before and now have to pay a new engineer to review the application. A discussion was held on possibly splitting the cost. T. Gutowski said she would like a cost estimate. S. Yorgensen said she will get the estimate and email it to the commission prior to the end of June. T. Gutowski suggested they move the public hearing to the old senior center or the library.
Old Business
W2011-23 Application to construct paved apron on existing entrance at Ruby Road between house #168 and #190 (Map 33 Lot 19 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Ruby Road Associates LLC c/o Stanley Sadlak (Received May 9, 2011 Public Hearing by July 11, 2011 Decision within 35 days after close of P.H.)
D. Schreiber said they currently do not have enough information to make a decision. E. Brand said this application is very similar to the first one.
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.
T. Gutowski said she followed up with the person in charge at DEP and they have not gotten to this, as of yet.
Correspondence
1. State of Connecticut Siting Council letter regarding a new Cingular Wireless telecommunications facility.
A discussion was held on the meeting. R. Tulis said the public hearing is scheduled for July 12th at 3:00; they will break for the balloons and then come back at 7:00.
Minutes
T. Gutowski motioned to approve the minutes with the following correction; remove the additional 1 from the correspondence line. M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor.
Staff Report
S. Yorgensen said she received an application for a garage/shed and the closest point is 35 feet away from the wetlands. The Commission said this location has a previous violation and were concerned that all conditions were not addressed. A discussion was held on the previous permit. S. Yorgensen said she is going to let the applicant know they have not met their conditions.
Guidelines for Logging Application
S. Yorgensen will provide hard copies at the next meeting and the commission will discuss.
Discussion
A discussion was held on the appointment process. T. Gutowski said she would speak to Christina Mailhos regarding this.
S. Yorgensen said she needs updated resumes from the commission members.
Meeting adjourned at 9:38.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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