MINUTES
CONSERVA=
TION
COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR
MEETING
JOHN TRU=
MBULL
PRIMARY SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 12, 2006 - 7:30 PM
PRESENT: =
; &n=
bsp; =
; Bernard
Beauchamp
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; Glenn
Duplissie
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; Ron
Jones, Secretary
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; Joseph
Polletta
=
; &n=
bsp; =
&nb=
sp; Edwin
Undercuffler, Vice Chairman
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; James
Zawadzki, Chairman
ABSENT: =
; &n=
bsp; =
; =
Charles
Thermer
ALTERNATES PRESENT: =
; Denise
Russ
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; Martha
Sturgis
ALTERNATES ABSENT: =
; <=
/span>Peter Peluso
OTHERS PRESENT: &n=
bsp; =
; Moosa Rafey, Assistant
Zoning Enforcement Officer
1. =
Call
Meeting To Order
Mr.
Zawadzki, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:45 p.m.
2. &nb=
sp; Roll
Call
Mr.
Jones, Secretary, executed the Roll Call.
Mr.
Zawadzki, Chairman, asked Ms. Russ to sit in for Mr. Thermer, in his absenc=
e.
3. =
Public
Participation
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I was expecting someone from Herit=
age
Development to be here tonight under this Item to add an Item on the Agenda=
for
Preliminary Discussion for Heritage Development. Do you want to add it now or later=
? I told them to come around 8:00 p.=
m.
Mr. Zawadzki: We can add it later.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 2
4. =
Action
on Minutes
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>A. =
Continuation of Public Hearing October 13, 2005, App. #531, Nelson =
Lynn
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>B. =
Public Hearing October13, 2005, App. #533, Concetta Guerrera
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>C. =
Regular Meeting, October 13, 2005
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>D. =
Continuation of Public Hearing November 10, 2005, App. #531, Nelson
Lynn
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>E. =
Continuation of Pubic Hearing November 10, 2005, App. #533, Concetta
Guerrera
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>F. =
Public Hearing November 10, 2005, App.. #536, Angelo Tedesco
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>G. =
Regular Meeting November 10, 2005
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>H. =
Continuation of Public Hearing, December 15, 2005, App. #536, Angelo
Tedesco
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>I. =
&nb=
sp;
Public Hearing, December 15, 2005, App. #540, Arthur Howland
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>J. =
Public Hearing, December 15, 2005, App. #542, William Davidson
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>K. =
Regular Meeting. December 15, 2005
&=
nbsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Polletta, sec. Mr. Jones) to Approve Items 4A through 4G and Table Items 4H
through 4K as presented.
&= nbsp; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
5. =
Pending
Applications
A. Application #540 of Ar= thur Howland of 11-lot residential subdivision, Old Baird Road and Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT.
If the Public Hearing =
is
Closed on January 12, 2006, then a decision is required by March 17, 2006
unless applicant grants a time extension.
Mr. Zawadzki: I just need a Motion =
to
Table this since the Public Hearing is still Open.
MOTION: (Mr. Duplissie, sec. Ms. Russ) to Table Application #540 of Arthur Howland of 11= -lot residential subdivision, Old Baird Road and Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT.
Discussi= on: None<= o:p>
MOTION P=
ASSED
UNANIMOUSLY
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 3
=
B. =
Application #542 of William Davidson for construction of 18-lot
residential subdivision and associated roadway, Morris Town Line Highway,
Watertown, CT.
If a Public Hearing is
Closed on January 12, 2006, then a decision is required by March 17, 2006
unless applicant grants an extension of time.
Mr. Zawadzki: I need a Motion to Table since no one is here to
represent the applicant.
MOTION: (Mr. Beauchamp, sec. Ms. Russ) to Table Application #542 of William Davidson for construction of 18-lot residential subdivision and associated roadway, Morr= is Town Line Highway, Watertown, CT.
Discussi= on: None<= o:p>
MOTION P=
ASSED
UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Rafey: =
I’d like to request a 10 minu=
te recess,
giving the applicant an opportunity to be here. I’m sure they thought the pu=
blic
hearings would take longer than they did.
Mr. Zawadzki, Chairman,
called a Recess at 7:47 p.m.
Mr. Zawadzki, Chairman,
Reconvened the Regular Meeting at 8:03 p.m.
&=
nbsp; C. Application
#544 of Donald Curtiss for construction of 13-lot Bassett Hollow Subdivision
located on the north side of Hollow Road, Watertown, CT. &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; If
a Public Hearing is not held, then a decision is required by February 17, 2=
006
unless applicant grants a time extension. &=
nbsp; Mr.
Jones Recused himself from this Application and left the table. &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rafey: The applicant is still =
not
here. You should schedule a p=
ublic
hearing for next month. This =
is
another application that the Commission at the last meeting decided to have=
a
third party review on. I talk=
ed to
the engineer today and she will bring me a full set of plans with all the
appropriate documents and send it to Land Tech Consultants. We had a site walk that was cancel=
led
due to snow, so you might want to reschedule that site walk as well. &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, we’ll resch=
edule
the site walk. We can do it t=
he
Saturday before the next meeting, which would be February 4th.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 4
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: Would you consider taking me for a walk out there on an alternate
date? I’ll be gone from=
the 2nd
to the 5th, so we can go before or after, whichever is convenient
for you.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rafey: Yes. Let me go first to see the propert=
y.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION: (Mr.
Polletta, sec. Mr. Duplissie) to Schedule a Site Walk for Application #5
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION: (Mr. Duplissie, sec. Mr. Polletta) to Schedule a Public Hearing for Application = #544 of Donald Curtiss for construction of 13-lot Bassett Hollow Subdivision located on the north side of Hollow Road, Watertown, CT.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION: (Mr. Duplissie, sec. Mr. Beauchamp) to Table Application #544 of Donald Curtiss for construction of 13-lot Bassett Hollow Subdivision located on the north side of Hollow Road, Watertown, CT.=
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
&= nbsp; D. Application #545 of Big Sky Enterprises to conduct regulated activities in the construc= tion of a drainage swale as part of Butternut Views Subdivision located on Butte= rnut Lane and Linkfield Road, Watertown, CT.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; If a Public Hearing is not held, then a decision is required by February 17, 2= 006.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rafey: We received a petition =
signed
by 26 people that want a public hearing held on this application; that̵=
7;s
in your packet.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 5
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Zawadzki, Chairman, read aloud the following for the record:
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; “Re: Application #545
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Petition
to the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetland Agency
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; We,
the undersigned, respectfully request that the Conservation Commission/Inla=
nd
Wetland Agency of the Town of Watertown hold a Public Hearing on application
#545 Big Sky Enterprises, impacting Butternut Lane, Watertown, CT.”
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki: And there are 26 signat=
ures.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION: (Mr. Polletta, sec. Mr. Duplissie) to Schedule a Public Hearing for Application = #545 of Big Sky Enterprises to conduct regulated activities in the construction = of a drainage swale as part of Butternut Views Subdivision located on Butternut = Lane and Linkfield Road, Watertown, CT.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION: (Mr. Beauchamp, sec. Mr. Polletta) to Table Application #545 of Big Sky Enterpri= ses to conduct regulated activities in the construction of a drainage swale as = part of Butternut Views Subdivision located on Butternut Lane and Linkfield Road, Watertown, CT.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr.
Zawadzki: I noticed that a representative fr=
om
App. #542, William Davison is here.
This had already been covered and tabled, but . . . . .
Mr.
Rafey: Just sign this and=
give
an extension.
Mr.
Zawadzki: We’re bas=
ically
looking for a 35 day extension and then we’ll keep the Public Hearing
open until next meeting.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 6
Ron
George, Representing Applicant
Mr.
George: Okay.
Mr.
Zawadzki: Let the record =
show
that the applicant for Application #542 has granted the Commission a 35 day
extension for the Public Hearing.
Thank you.
6. &n=
bsp; Old
Business
None
7. =
Old
Business
&=
nbsp; A. Request
to revise the CCIWA Permit #514 to permit the relocation of trailers needed
during construction of additions an d renovations to the Gordon Swift Middle
School located on Colonial Street, Oakville, CT.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Joe Vetro, Project Manager, O & G Industries=
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
We’re overseeing the project.=
(Inaudible) K.B.A. and they’re much more familiar with this ty=
pe
of (inaudible) so I apologize for the irregularity there. We’d like to relocate the
trailers. What was proposed by
K.B.A. when they initially presented this plan to you was the trailer locat=
ion
was going to be back here.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie:
When you say back here, (inaudible)?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
(Inaudible) it’s an auxiliary parking lot, right behind all the
ball fields. The school is up=
here.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Duplissie:
That’s off of Morro Street?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Correct. The problem w=
ith
locating the trailers all the way back here is that this road, this one that
they’re showing, it isn’t constructed yet, it won’t be
constructed until sometime in the Summer or Fall. With that being said we’d li=
ke to
locate the trailers where we can access them. The only real location, this whole
(inaudible) not locate anything along here except in this little nook.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie:
That’s the dirt parking lot behind the 3 large trees?
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 7
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
There are two large trees up here, existing. It’s like a grassy knoll rig=
ht now
(inaudible). You can tell by =
the
grades here that we’re at a high elevation and it drops right down to
that low marshy area at the bottom.
We’re encroaching about 10 feet on that buffer line for
approximately a distance of about 100 feet.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: I
can’t remember, and I can’t tell from the drawings from here, do
you have any type of silt fence behind the trailers?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: There is silt fence running current=
ly basically
the way it’s drawn is to run through the trailers, and have the silt
fence brought in behind the trailers.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: So you’ll have silt fence and=
hay
bales, as long as it’s adequate I think if you put adequate protection
there, actually it looks like a fill there to the back.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: The grading on the site, the water =
will
shed this way, not that way.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Polletta:
How do you access the trailers from where they are, from which stree=
t?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: From the existing drive.
&=
nbsp; =
; Mr.
Duplissie: Of=
f of
Davis Street. I’m only
concerned with you are sloping down into the dry area and I know that’=
;s a
filled area, they dumped the sweepings there for years, so if you have a lo=
t of
traffic in there, I’m just concerned that you’re going to have =
all
of that stuff now being tracked out onto the street, that’s all.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: Well we’re planning on going =
ahead
and actually what we’re supposed to do during construction is create a
parking lot here, we’re going to put that in and put down a gravel ba=
se
for a temporary parking lot.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: And then put your trailers in?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Yes.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki:
Well that part in front is paved now, isn’t it?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Yes, it is.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki:
That’s the existing driveway and parking?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Correct. The timing, b=
y the
way, I have a trailer for our own site, we’ll be bringing it out prob=
ably
before this actually gets gravel, but it will be about the same time
(inaudible) use the trailer.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 8
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Duplissie: I=
just
want to make sure it’s covered, that’s all.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Okay.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: Especially at this tim=
e of
year. The snow is melting and=
that
ground will get awful soggy over there.&nb=
sp;
And you start moving around with equipment, people driving in and out
and parking, you’ll have a real mess.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
(Inaudible) wouldn’t want to do that.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rafey:
These trailers are temporary, right? Once the construction is completed
you’ll remove them and stabilize that area for whatever disturbance
you’ve caused.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Yes.
&=
nbsp; =
; Mr.
Duplissie: I
noticed that there are, given the trees they’re excavating on the nor=
th
side of the school, I looked quickly, now I don’t know if there was
supposed to be any or not, was there supposed to be any silt fence at some
point because I know it runs right down to the school and then it runs down
into the small wetlands down below.
Has a silt fence been installed?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Vetro: No, they’re establishing a berm of some sort and creating that, in which = case in fact we’re presenting to K.B.A., or the contractor is presenting to K.B.A. as we speak a mulch (inaudible) and they use a hydro seeder type of machine and it literally builds up the material and with an axel on top you’ll establish that berm. It actually acts better, from what I understand, than a silt fence.<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie:
Okay, so it will be filtered through the mulch pile.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: Through that material, correct. And what’s nice about that
material is that it’s biodegradable.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: I
don’t know if it’s in tact now or not but we had rain today and=
we
have another rainstorm coming so before that all washes down the hill into =
the
bank, I just hope that something is installed and in place. I understand that they’re go=
ing to
do it, but if they haven’t done it yet, we should get some silt and s=
ome
hay bales as soon as possible, especially as it comes down around the back =
of
that school, it’s going to dump onto the asphalt real quick in the ba=
ck
of the school.
&=
nbsp; =
; Mr.
Vetro: I’ll
get it confirmed with K.B.A. that it’s accessible and we’ll get
that done right away.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 9
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, they’re saying we could =
get as
much as 2 inches of rain on Saturday.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Duplissie: As long as we get cover= ed for that hillside, I know there’s a lot of digging going on that hillside= , I know there’s a lot of stumping and I know there’s a lot of water there, and with this rain we’re expecting, it’s going to wash.<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Right. We haven’t
really dug up any stumps or should not have dug up any.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Duplissie: W=
ell
they’ve got equipment on the hillside, so whether they’re diggi=
ng
it or they’re not digging it, they’re making a mess and it̵=
7;s
going to start (inaudible).
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: W=
ell
these trailers are basically on tires, right, and they just park there, and
you’re not doing any excavation, but you’re going to put some g=
ravel
in?
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Vetro:
We’ll put gravel in right in the parking lot area and some gra=
vel
right around where the trailers are for walking around. The trailers are (inaudible) putti=
ng them
up on blocks, just to get them (inaudible).
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: O=
therwise
they rock.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: Yes.
Do you need to see the drawing closer?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki:
No, I don’t think so.
Any other questions?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: They do have Morro Street marked up=
, I
noticed that today, they’ve got pink paint in that back parking lot, =
are
they planning on going up in that area?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro: This drawing continues on to that M=
orro
Street. They’re going to
create a temporary construction entrance for entry and egress for excavating
the waste material and for bringing in new material where we have to fill in
for this drive and for the rest of the road.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: And you’ve received permissio=
n to
be able to access onto Morro Street with the trucks? Because that’s a blind corne=
r down
there, where Morro goes to Davis Street?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Vetro:
Yes. This is a side
street. That’s why
they’re letting us do that, so we don’t go through the school a=
rea. K.B.A. ironed all that out.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 10
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Duplissie: That was all approved?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rafey:
They probably talked to the Public Works Department.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Vetro:
They’ll establish a construction with a rock base, that sort of
thing, with anti-tracking pads. But
the problem with having our trailers here, is we would be going through the=
re
and it would create a lot more traffic there than is necessary. (Tape #1, Side A ended – may=
have
missed some.)
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Zawadzki:
Is this a request to revise Permit #542, why we can vote on it now.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Any other discussion?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
8. =
New
Business
9. =
Communications
and Bills
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: I
suggest you read this article, it summarizes what a lot of commissions like
ours are facing these days with no bullets and no jail.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; M.
Duplissie: Th=
ey
haven’t adopted this yet though, they’re just writing this and =
it
hasn’t been accepted, but they’re trying to put some teeth into
their cease and desist orders, $150.00 per day, per violation. It would be nice if we had somethi=
ng
like this.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: That’s exactly right. It’s the kind of thing we ne=
ed,
but it has to be processed through the Town Council and the Ordinance
Subcommittee to get something like that passed.
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Undercuffler: It=
says
here that it was on their Agenda December 13th, so I don’t
know how that wound up, for Harwinton.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 11
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Duplissie: I =
agree
with the article, is that in an eggshell the people you deal with all come =
in
front of us are the ones that (inaudible).=
The happy homeowner didn’t realize what he was doing and they =
come
into compliance, but it’s that 1% that know what they’re doing =
and
they don’t care, and those are the ones that (inaudible).
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: Th=
ose
are the ones that you need to go after, right. A month ago I requested Paul Jesse=
ll to
look into, of course he’s no longer our assigned lawyer for this
commission, but he was looking into the other towns around here that had
similar ordinances and he was going to draft up something for us to look at,
but that hasn’t been done to my knowledge yet.
Mr. Rafey:
No, but right now Franklin Pilicy, the Town Attorney, is reviewing t=
he
proposed changes to our Regulations and he will have a meeting with the ent=
ire
Commission, or maybe only the subcommittee. I want to discuss this with him to=
see
if he can help us with how we can do this.
&n= bsp; B. = Council of Governments Central Naugatuck Valley Land Use Educational Seminars/ Cour= ses for new Commission Members.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Rafey: If anyone is inter=
ested,
please let me know so I can register you.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Polletta: I’d like =
to
attend, but I’ll let you know which day.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Rafey: Just call us as so=
on as
you can and let us know.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Duplissie: These are 3 separate topics?
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Rafey: Yes.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Duplissie: And they’re local.
&=
nbsp; &=
nbsp; Mr.
Zawadzki: I’ve atte=
nded
all 3 of these previously, but the third one in my opinion was geared very
heavily towards Planning and Zoning and not this Commission. They looked at street widths, and =
things
that Planning and Zoning deals with.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Duplissie: But that comes into play when
we’re talking in regards to if they’re coming alongside the
wetlands, and they require a 30 foot road width, then we can say how about =
24,
so you impact us 6 feet less, so that’s the only nice thing about it,=
is
that everybody knows how to read a map.&nb=
sp;
If we don’t know how to do that, we should all learn how to re=
ad a
map so we know what we’re looking at.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 12
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr.
Zawadzki: Well it can’t hurt, it’=
;s
just that that was my take on it.
Jim Gibbons is very good.
= D= iscussion: None<= o:p>
=
M=
OTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
10. Repor=
ts
from Officers and Committees
&n= bsp; None
11. Repor=
ts
from Staff
=
; None
12. &n=
bsp; Public
Participation
Mr. Hrico: =
I’m here tonight to represent
Heritage Development Corporation on the Project, Heritage Woods that you
reviewed actually last month, and we talked to you informally about, and
I’d like to take just about 5 or 10 minutes of your time to talk abou=
t a
particular issue on the project tonight when that comes up.
Mr. Zawadzki: <=
/b> Okay, but just keep in mind that wh=
atever
is said tonight, by us, is not binding so we’re not going to offer any
conclusions or opinions. We c=
an
make recommendations, but that’s it.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I’m looking for recommendati=
ons
and guidance. We’ve beg=
un the
process of, we’ve almost finalized on laying out the roadway, and
we’re trying to really reduce the impacts and I have one area, and we
took a look at a few different options and I’d like to present the op=
tion
to you as I saw as being the most suitable option and see if there’s =
some
sort of agreement or some guidance on that.
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> You need a Motion to Add this item=
on
the Agenda.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> This is Public Participation.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 13
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> No, actually under Public Particip=
ation
they want to add an item on the Agenda, Preliminary Discussion on Heritage
Development.
MOTION:<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> (Mr.
Polletta, sec. Mr. Duplissie) to Add Agenda Item 12A, Preliminary Discussio=
n on
Heritage Development, Heritage Woods.
Discussi= on: None<= o:p>
MOTION P=
ASSED
UNANIMOUSLY
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>A. =
Preliminary Discussion on Heritage Development, Heritage Woods
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> This is basically the same map tha=
t was
presented the last time originally by Bob Houlihan, who couldn’t make=
it
tonight. He’s at an Awa=
rds
Ceremony for Heritage Development that they’re working on over in
Southbury for the Courtyard at Heritage Green, that is being presented by t=
he
National Homebuilders Association for some of the achievements that
they’ve done over there.
Specifically what I=
217;d
like to talk to you, or run by you guys tonight, is the emergency access
entrance that were proposing and we briefly mentioned it last time, so
we’ve looked at a couple of different options and really took a pretty
heavy look into it over the past month and looked back at some of the other
options we had, and obviously our first option is that there was an existing
cart path that we found, or a farm road that the farmer who owned the prope=
rty
used to access some big open fields here (inaudible). If you don’t mind I’d =
like
to get a little closer.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> That’s the access off of
Middlebury Road?
Mr. Inaudible:<=
/b> That is the access off of Middlebu=
ry
Road and we’re proposing to have it as an emergency access only. We had originally looked at making=
a
through road out of it, but it really didn’t fit the character of the
neighborhood over here to be having a large scale development emptying out =
onto
Middlebury Road, which is really not suitable for that type of traffic. As you know (inaudible) developmen=
t of this
size is the amount of families that are going to be living in here, we real=
ly
do need for emergency purposes and for the safety and health and welfare of=
all
of the people in here, a second access into this project, so what we decide=
d to
do is propose one actually in a new location other than the old farm road.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The old farm road started from the=
side,
came into the property, abruptly turned to the north, went down an embankme=
nt,
across a fairly steep slope to get to a clearing and it’s pretty obvi=
ous that
there would be (inaudible) there in order for the farmer to access his fiel=
d.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 14
Another option that we
looked at was creating an entranceway off of New Wood Road which is off of
Route 63. And even though this
comes through an industrial development and it’s fairly suitable, asi=
de
from the fact that you have to go around a very huge wetlands, cross throug=
h a
wetlands, and there’s an existing I guess cart path going through the=
re
now, and I realize the Commissioners have actually walked that on the site =
walk
and it turns out as you get to the western end of this wetlands, you’d
actually have to cross through wetlands before you start heading up a hill,=
and
the cart path crosses through and runs through the wetlands, rather than ju=
st
briefly through it so there’s about 150 feet of actual roadway through
here, through the wetlands, and there’s really no way to circumvent t=
hat
because the slopes are too steep everywhere else along here so you have to =
kind
of make the turn and run through the wetlands and we didn’t feel that=
was
all that suitable.
So what we’re
proposing is a 15 foot wide gravel roadway I believe that will be gated at =
the
end so that nobody will be using that on a daily basis, it’s really o=
nly
for emergency vehicles to come in here if this entrance is blocked. We’re crossing the wetlands =
at a
spot where the wetlands narrows down to a very small area, it’s about=
13
feet wide here. The (inaudibl=
e)
itself where there’s an existing cart path is about 70 feet wide, 70 =
feet
of crossing and as I mentioned the last time, I’d really like to stay=
on
existing roadways and existing disturbed areas as much as possible, but hav=
ing
gone down here and walked through here, there were a few items that really =
came
to my attention.
The first one is that
I’d have to walk during the day, so it’s pretty wet out there r=
ight
now. There’s water actu=
ally
flowing in this roadway, seeping out of the wetlands, so even though there&=
#8217;s
a (inaudible) area not considered wetland soil, this portion of the roadway
(inaudible). But more importa=
ntly
just to the south end of that seems to be a peapod, the wetlands tend to ch=
ange
right at this crossing. The u=
phill
side is rocky, I think it’s pretty much a (inaudible) type of wetlands
and just on the south side it turns into a totally different looking wetlan=
ds,
there’s no vegetation growing (inaudible) it seems very wet and my gu=
ess
is it’s probably peat moss in there which in my opinion is much more
sensitive of an area and so we’d like to stay away from using this if=
we
possibly can and come across and cross at that 13 foot section. The slope is pretty gentle coming =
down
through here, about an 8% naturally which allows us to create this gravel
roadway without doing a tremendous amount of cut and fills and without havi=
ng
to pave it, because an 8% slope really isn’t too steep. As you get to 10 or over the steep=
ness
of the road or driveway I always recommend paving even though it’s not
always the regulations, but anything more than 10% if you don’t pave,=
you
have a multitude of problems, one being icing in the Winter and the other b=
eing
washing away during rainstorms, the wetlands to follow tire tracks and gain=
so
much velocity on steep driveway that it washes it right out. In this case we’re pretty mu=
ch
able to stay right on grade so there will be very little disturbance gettin=
g to
the wetlands crossing and the wetlands narrows right down.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 15
When I was out the oth=
er day
there is a brook flowing through here.&nbs=
p;
It’s probably seasonal, I’ll be in August it’s not
flowing, but it certainly was this week and we’re proposing what look=
s to
be probably a 24 inch culvert through here. Because we’re able to stay on
grade, come in and out, I’m trying to keep this crossing as low to the
ground as possible so we don’t have to build the roadway up higher and
then have side slopes going into it and bringing in a lot of fill to achieve
this, so in this particular case I felt that a regular circular culvert was
probably a pretty appropriate solution to let the water pass through
there. There is some drainage=
on
Middlebury Road. There’=
s a
pipe that comes out here. That
water will not affect it. That
water is actually on the downhill side of our crossing so that water would
continue on and I’ll bet that’s probably the water that’s
flowing this roadway out, the existing farm (inaudible).
As far as disturbance =
goes,
the original crossing, we disturbed about 3,600 square feet of wetlands.
Mr. Polletta: Once you get to the top on the roa=
d, is
the site line, I know that when we walked it that day, that bend where we t=
ried
to go before is pretty dangerous to get down that corner, but the way you w=
ant
to go now is pretty straight, is the site line better?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> The site line does get better
(inaudible).
Mr. Polletta: At that point, where do you want to
go? What are you proposing?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Because we’re actually getti=
ng
closer to this curve, so from here you an see through the curve but not aro=
und
it. As we’re moving up
towards this end of the property, we’re starting to be able to see up
around that bend, the bend is not incurably sharp but from here it’s
sharp enough (inaudible) about this far.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 16
Mr. Zawadzki: But as you say it’s gated, a=
nd
it’s not going to be a day to day traffic situation anyway.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> (Inaudible) we don’t expect
anybody to go in and out of there.
(Inaudible.)
Mr. Zawadzki: It would be for the Fire Departmen=
t or
something like that.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Most likely the Fire Department.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> And they’re going in, not co=
ming
out.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> They’re going in and they=
217;ll
have people here at that point. If
they have to get in here they’re going to stop traffic because
(inaudible).
Mr. Zawadzki: So I’d say site line is not =
really
a factor, well it’s not our prerogative anyway but it’s not rea=
lly
that crucial of a thing. On y=
our
crossing there, is the an advantage to a 24 inch culvert versus say a rainb=
ow
arched type of culvert?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Well the 24 inch . . . .
Mr. Zawadzki: Do you have to bury it more?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Are you talking about an open
(inaudible)?
Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, I was thinking more like the =
open,
rainbow . . . .
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> You’d have to have some sort=
of a
foundation (inaudible).
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> Yea, but instead of doing that, th=
ough,
instead of doing an open arch, what I don’t like is when you have tha=
t 24
inch, it’s all pinpoint load, which means you’re taking all the
water and pushing it all in one point, so what ends up happening is, when we
did that site walk, if you remember crossing that, gravel path, that road, =
that
farm path, there was a lot of water that was crossing there, and that
wasn’t that wet then, and now with all the snow melting, there’=
s a
lot of water out there. Rathe=
r than
doing one 24 inch, I’d rather you’d put 6 or 7 15 inchers and
disperse the load along that 30 or 40 foot length so that you have water
seeping through these pipes rather than going to one concentrated area flow=
ing.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 17
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I can certainly look at that. The place where we are crossing is
naturally constricted and it’s a very well defined flow, right through
here, a single flow, but you’re right, at the farm crossing where the
farm road is, it seeps coming down the hill, as soon as you make the corner=
and
get to the flat portion, there is water flowing into that road and for the
entire70 feet basically and channels 5, 6,10 feet apart, all the way through
here. As you get to this poin=
t,
this finger, this (inaudible) sharing the water in directions (inaudible) c=
rossing
and there’s really only one major defined channel, and it was about 3
feet wide I think, (inaudible) walking out there, so a single culvert may w=
ork
better. I would definitely go=
back
and take a look at that, if it takes 2 smaller culverts, or I find it takes=
3,
we could also do that to try, and like you said not to constrict the flow, =
but
for all intents and purposes it’s pretty constricted right here,
we’ve chosen that spot because of that.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> I have a friend who built a house =
in
Naugatuck and they proposed it as one 24 inch in front of his house because
it’s a drainage swale for the development up above, and we fought
it. We said okay we’ll =
put
the one in, as long as if this doesn’t work, you’ll come back a=
nd
put 4 in at a later date if this doesn’t work. Sure enough, they put the one in, =
and
the first big storm in the Spring, all the brush washed down and it clogged=
up
that one 24 inch, so they came in and added 3 more. When they did that, there’s =
no
more clog anymore because it doesn’t bring it all to one point, it
dissipates it so the brush doesn’t clog one point so that’s what
I’m afraid of over here, is that if we disperse it over a wider area,=
it
doesn’t bring it all to here, even if we have to make it so that it f=
lows
across, and disperse instead of on a 3 foot wide trench, do it on a 15 foot
wide trench, and you put 4 of them, it works much better and you end up wit=
hout
the headaches that you’re going to end up with one.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I’ll certainly take a look a=
t that
and actually as I was going through the presentation talking about keeping =
the
grade low, it dawned on me that there’s some product of squash culver=
ts
also and you can get them in fairly small sizes, so I may be able to get an
elliptical shaped one (inaudible).
Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, that’s what I was think=
ing of
when I said rainbow, just a wider arbiter, something, I don’t know wh=
at
they call them, but I knew there is different stuff on the market.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Squash pipes basically (inaudible)=
. At first I thought you were talking
about a true arched culvert.
Mr. Zawadzki: Well I was, but I didn’t kno=
w what
else was out there, but the objective was to elongate the passageway for the
water.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 18
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I can certainly look at that. The reason I am here tonight is ju=
st to
get a general consensus that this would probably be the most appropriate
crossing.
Mr. Polletta: You don’t have another place=
to
go.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> We do have those other options but=
we
don’t (inaudible).
Mr. Polletta: Right, and you’ll be doing l=
ess
disturbance where you’re proposing versus if you try to go to New Wood
Road or where we walked that day, during the field trip.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Absolutely. It’s about 650 feet from whe=
re we
start here until we get to the development here and then you’re in the
middle of it, so it’s only an additional 650 feet of road. From New Wood Road it’s 2,10=
0 feet
around the disturbance, and even though it’s already disturbed,
it’s still disturbance, so we’d really rather not go there, we'd
like to just take this whole area and take it out of the mix of the project=
and
leave it the way it is.
Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, I’d say you’re on=
the
right track there.
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Did you discuss this issue with the
Planning and Zoning Commission also, because they are the ones who will rev=
iew
the road system and the traffic circulation and everything?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Mr. Houlihan has, I have not been =
to a
Planning and Zoning meeting yet.
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> This Commission will look at the
alternative that has the least impact on the wetlands, but sometimes
that’s not the most favorable for the Planning and Zoning Commission
because they’re looking at it from a different perspective. They’re looking at the traff=
ic
circulation and other things.
It‘s better to talk with both commissions at the same time bec=
ause
it’s a preliminary discussion and they should know that you already c=
ame
to this Commission and that is the proposed location for this and see how t=
hey
feel about it.
Mr. Polletta: How many units are they proposing =
in
there?
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 19
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> We haven’t come up with a to=
tal
number yet, actually since the last meeting when we talked about redesigning
the (inaudible) roads if you remember, we took the crossing out, eliminated=
a
crossing through here and I really went back and reworked the entryway thro=
ugh
here to utilize the existing roadways because there are obstructers and the=
re
are pipes and crossings through here already, so that forced us to do a lot=
of
work, there’s actually I believe an old concrete bridge. It was covered with snow when I was
there the other day but for all intents and purposes it looked like about a=
24
or 30 foot wide concrete, I’d have to say bridge, it didn’t hav=
e a
bottom so it was either an open bottomed box culvert or bridge here so
we’d like to utilize the same area there so we sent the plan back to =
the
Land Planner, Matarrazzo Associates, and they’re taking a look now wi=
th
the new road layout and how they’re going to arrange, we’re loo=
king
at 300 to 350 units.
Mr. Duplissie: =
I have one concern, I don’t k=
now if
I should express it now. Can =
I?
Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, if it’s going to be hel=
pful
to him.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> I have to go up and look. This looks like an open area.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> It is, correct.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> And then we have this crossing rig=
ht
here for these two little pieces right here, and I don’t know how many
units you have here, but we’ve got a wetland crossing here and I
don’t know how the Commission feels, but if we could eliminate this
crossing and take this piece and move them out through that little line that
you have right here into this area, and eliminate this one wetland crossing,
I’m just talking out loud, before we go too far.
Mr. Zawadzki: Well anytime you can eliminate any
wetland crossing it would make us happier.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Well I could certainly take a look=
at
that and present that back. T=
onight
I can’t make a decision to take that crossing out (inaudible).
Mr. Zawadzki: Yea, I understand and neither can =
we, of
course ideally why there wouldn’t be any wetland impact or crossing b=
ut
they you wouldn’t be here at all.
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Right, and then on a project with =
this
many acres it’s virtually impossible to develop that size project wit=
hout
wetland impacts. My job is to
reduce them, and talk to you about your concerns and take those to heart, t=
ake
those back and see what we can do to come to an agreement and move forward =
with
the project.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 20
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> Yea, but when you look at somethin=
g like
this, moving that Y over to the inland and not having to make that crossing=
, it
leaves it as open space, you still come up with the same amount of units, a=
nd
yet I can understand when you come in off the development up the street, th=
en
you have to make a crossing to access the whole space, but over here
you’re making a crossing across the wetland for just whatever those 1=
0 or
12 or 14 units you’re going to put in there whereas you have open are=
a on
the inside to put it so it’s a little more congested on the inland but
that’s one less crossing.
Mr. Hrico: =
I can certainly take a look at that=
, and
I think that’s a very good idea.
Mr. Rafey:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> That can be a feasible and prudent
alternative.
Mr. Jones:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> The largest circle that you have t=
here,
right there, the reason that you can’t come in that way is that you
don’t own the land beyond the end of that road, is that correct?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> (Inaudible.)
Mr. Jones:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Cause if you owned that land, you =
could
take (inaudible). Is that som=
ething
(inaudible)?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> (Inaudible.) We don’t own the land here a=
nd
I’m not incredibly familiar with it, I’m not sure if there̵=
7;s
already an industrial property there with a business on it. We have not map=
ped
all the wetlands through here (inaudible) so it’s probably a good cha=
nce
that (inaudible) there’s going to be some wetlands, cause the wetland=
s do
tend to spread through here pretty well.
Mr. Duplissie:<=
/b> But you do own another piece out t=
here,
just beyond the corner there’s a little piece that they own but
it’s not part of this development.
Mr. Zawadzki: Any other questions, comments?
Mr. Hrico:<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> I thank you very much.
13. Adjou=
rnment
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Duplissie, sec. Mr. Beauchamp) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 8:50 p.m.<= o:p>
&nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&nbs=
p; MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2006
PAGE 21
&nbs=
p; Regular
Meeting Adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respect=
fully
submitted,
Ronald =
Jones,
Secretary
Conserv=
ation
Commission/
Inland
Wetlands Agency
&nbs=
p; _________________=
_________________