Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission
40 Old Farms Road, Willington, CT ~06279
May 12, 2014
Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Dave Schreiber – Co-Chairman
Tess Gutowski – Co-chairman
Mark Drobney
Members Absent:
Heather Dionne - excused
Evan Brand - excused
Greg Blessing – Alternate - excused
Regular Meeting
New Business
W2014-16 Application for Timber Harvest at Willington Hill Road (Map 13 Lot 66 Zone R80) Owner: Stavens Properties LLC Applicant: Riendeau & Sons Logging LLC Received May 12, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by July 14, 2014)
Application was received. The Commission would like to conduct a site walk and more clarification on the application.
W2014-17 Application for Timber Harvest at 61 & 72 Eldredge Road (Map 13 Lot 59 & Map 13 Lot 48 Zone R80) Owner: Judy Marco Applicant: Riendeau & Sons Logging LLC (Received May 12, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by July 14, 2014)
Application was received. The Commission would like to conduct a site walk and more clarification on the application.
Old Business
W2014-9 Application for Maintenance (restoration) of a vegetated swale at 350 Ruby Road (Map 42 Lot 48-1 Zone DC) Owner/Applicant: FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (Received April 28, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by June 23, 2014) Site walk May 10, 2014
Josh Wilson of Fuss & O’Neill was present and gave the details of the how the swale currently functions and a summary of the work to be done. A site walk was previously conducted by the Commission on May 10, 2014.
Mr. Wilson said they are going to put in a semi-permanent access road to allow for future maintenance as specified in the operation and maintenance plan (attachment C). He said the goal is to maintain water quality coming off the FedEx site into the pond.
A discussion was held on the invasive species in the area. T. Gutowski questioned the road access and said it is not yet defined. Mr. Wilson said they are leaving it up to the contractor to find the best and easiest route and a discussion was held. D. Schreiber asked the material to be used for the road access and Mr. Wilson said they would use gravel. Mr. Wilson said the work would be done in the dry season; July, August, September.
T. Gutowski motioned to approve W2014-9 Application for Maintenance (restoration) of a vegetated swale at 350 Ruby Road (Map 42 Lot 48-1 Zone DC) Owner/Applicant: FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. with the following modification: Invasive plants will be removed from the swale area and the removal shall be included in the maintenance document. M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
W2014-10 Application for replacement of cracked spill way at 112 Old Farms Road
(Map 17 Lot 33 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Gary Egnasko (Received April 28, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by June 23, 2014)
The Commission reviewed the application and the additional information that was provided by the applicant.
T. Gutowski asked if the work was completed and Mr. Egnasko said yes, and the water levels are back up to the floor of the spillway. He said the original design was done by Karl Acimovic and Putnam Welding. T. Gutowski would like who designed the work on the record. K. Acimovic said it was a combined effort between him and Putnam Welding. He said in terms of the design, the configuration of the spillway did not change; it was only the wall that was replaced on the side. T. Gutowski asked how long the design will last and K. Acimovic said 50 to 100 years.
T. Gutowski asked about maintenance and upkeep and K. Acimovic the maintenance would be to keep the spillway clean and open up the spillway valve twice a year.
T. Gutowski motioned to approve W2014-10 Application for replacement of cracked spill way at 112 Old Farms Road with the following addition; a narrative for maintenance and upkeep is to be submitted. M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
W2014-11 Application for Timber Harvest west of 476 Tolland Tpk (Map 21 Lot 22 and Map 16 Lots 40, 41) Zone R80) Owner: Wilford Farms LLC Applicant: Hull Forest Products, Inc (Received April 28, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by June 23, 2014) Site walk May 3, 2014
Chris Casadei was present and provided an updated map. T. Gutowski said she has concerns on the northwest portion, the conservation easement, and how uneven and rocky the area was. She said she was concerned about the type of equipment used and disturbance. Mr. Casadei said they would work in the dry season and would operate very cautiously. He said it would be a forwarder operation that tends to have much less ground pressure and would not work the site if in the condition they saw on the site walk. M. Drobney asked what they expect to get out of the area and Mr. Casadei said it will be a very conservative cut and estimates 5 hundred feet to the acre, maybe 15 to 20 trees per acre.
A discussion was held on stabilization and the areas to be logged. Mr. Casadei said the harvest will take approximately 3 weeks. T. Gutowski asked how long they will work in the easement area and Mr. Casadei said weeks.
T. Gutowski motioned to approve W2014-11 Application for Timber Harvest west of 476 Tolland Tpke with the following conditions.
- In the area where equipment is used, the crossing stream will be stabilized before, during and after.
- Hay bales to be placed in the Kidder Brook area prior to logging.
- During construction the Commission is to be notified of start and finish so they can monitor the work.
- Work to be done in the conservation easement during the driest time of year.
- Maximize the day to reduce the amount of ins and outs in the area.
- Stabilization plan at the completion of logging.
M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
W2014-12 Application for Declaratory Ruling of no impact at Lustig Road (36 Lot 12 Zone R80) Owner: Meredith Fuentes Applicant: Mansour Developers (Received April 28, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by June 23, 2014)
Doug Ellis, the site engineer for the project, was present and said they are proposing a 5 lot subdivision and presented plans. He said all activity is outside the upland review area. The Commission voiced their concern regarding how the manipulation of the land would affect the hydrology especially of the wetlands. A discussion was held on the topography and Mr. Ellis said they are trying to lessen the earthworks.
T. Gutowski said she would like to wait for their engineer’s comments and would like to conduct a site walk prior to the next meeting after the comments from the engineer are received. D. Schreiber said another concern he has are the deep cuts that will be done in the hillside. Application was tabled to the next meeting.
W2014-13 Regulated activity including wetlands crossing at Luchon Road (Map18 Lot 8B Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Pamela J Mallory et al (Received April 28, 2014 Public Hearing or Decision by June 23, 2014) Site walk May 10, 2014
Stephen Filip was present and presented plans and a discussion was held. S. Yorgensen asked if the application is a subdivision or re-subdivision and Mr. Filip said that it is a piece that was cut off from a 50 acre parcel. S. Yorgensen said she is going to be looking for an affidavit from an attorney. A discussion was held on whether or not the application has to go before P&Z.
T. Gutowski asked if the applicant explored alternative places for the houses. A discussion was held on the location of the house and the driveway. T. Gutowski said she would like to wait until they have received responses from their engineer.
W2014-05 Application for Timber Harvest at Hancock Road (Map 38 Lots 026, 26B, 26A, 16, 19 Zone R80) Owner: Margaret Harrison Applicant: Federation Forest Products (Received February 10, 2014) Site walk April 26, 2014.
The applicant supplied additional information and a narrative in which the Commission reviewed.
T. Gutowski motioned to approve W2014-05 Application for Timber Harvest at Hancock Road with the following conditions.
- Harvest to be done in the dry season; June (if dry), July, August and September.
- The applicant is to notify the Commission of the start and finish time.
M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
D. Schreiber said he would like to see the condition of notifying the Commission of the start and finish time on all future applications.
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.
Application was tabled
Discussion
Discussion was held on application 2014-11. The Commission would like a letter written to PZC regarding the conservation easement, informing them of the wetlands and vernal pools and stating their concerns.
Minutes
T. Gutowski motioned to approve the minutes of April 28, 2014. M. Drobney seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
Correspondence
- Winter 2014 Habitat
- Connecticut Federation of Lakes brochure.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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