MINUTES OF THE BETHANY INLAND WETLANDS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009 Page 1 of 4
The regular meeting of the Inland Wetlands Commission was called to order at 7:47 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Bethany Town Hall, 40 Peck Road, Bethany, Connecticut.
The following members of the Commission were present:
Alexandra Breslin, Vice-Chairman, acting as Chairman.
Jon Painter, Member
Kristine Sullivan, Alternate Member, seated as a regular member.
The following members of the Commission were absent:
Patricia McGregor, Chairman
Jack Ellison, Member
John Kane, Member
Also present were:
Isabel Kearns, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer
Karen Walton, Land Use Assistant
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. It was moved by Painter and seconded by Sullivan to approve, as submitted, the minutes of the February 23, 2009, Regular Meeting.
Unanimous approval.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
1. Letter from Isabel Kearns, IWEO, dated March 3, 2009, Re: Review of Resubdivision for Woodlot Farm (523 Carrington Road).
2. Letter from DTC, dated March 23, 2009, Re: Review of plans for Woodlot Farm Resubdivision, 523 Carrington Road.
3. Letter from RWA dated March 23, 2009, Re: Review of application for 523 Carrington Road, Three-Lot Resubdivision.
4. Letter from Isabel Kearns, IWEO, dated March 23, 2009, Re: Review of application for 761 Amity Road, Fairwood Place.
5. Letter from Diana and John Chimini of 17 Split Rock Drive, dated March 19, 2009, Re: Disturbance of wetlands on Unger property, 82 Russell Road.
6. Letter from RWA dated March 23, 2009, Re: Review of application for 845 Carrington Road, for horse manure composting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. 523 Carrington Road (Woodlot Farm), Application #1119 submitted by John Paul Garcia for an IW Permit for a Three-Lot Resubdivision – Present for this application was John Paul Garcia, P.E./L.S., applicant. The Commission received the application. Mr. Garcia presented a brief overview of the proposed project and reviewed the letter from the Regional Water Authority, dated March 23, 2009, the letter from Diversified Technology Consultants dated March 23, 2009, and the plans submitted. Mr. Garcia then submitted a copy of the letter he received from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation dated March 10, 2009, and reviewed the comments on traffic and drainage with the Commission. The Commission requested a copy of the Drainage Calculations from Mr. Garcia. Mr. Garcia stated he will provide the Commission with a copy and that he will revise the plans per the comments he received. The Commission will schedule a site visit.
Tabled.
2. 761 Amity Road, Application #1120 submitted by the Mutual Housing Association of South Central CT, Inc. for an IW Permit to construct twelve rental senior affordable dwellings and one caretaker’s unit – Present for this application was Chris Juliano, PE/LS with Juliano Associates, representing the applicant. The Commission received the application. Mr. Juliano reviewed the proposed project and the proposed drainage system. Mr. Juliano submitted a stormwater drainage report, stormwater analysis and a soil report. The Commission requested a copy of a sample maintenance schedule. Mr. Juliano stated he will provide one. Also, the Commission asked Mr. Juliano to notify Yale pertaining to the close proximity of the Bethany Bog. Mr. Juliano reviewed the letter from the IWEO dated March 13, 2009. The Commission requested test pit data on the proposed rain garden area. The Commission will schedule a site visit and possibly a public hearing. The clerk will send the plans out to Diversified Technology Consultants for review. Tabled.
3. 36 Carrington Road, Application #1121 submitted by Timothy Strazar (Strazar Design) for and IW Permit to replace the existing outbuilding and remove and reconstruct the existing 3-bay garage – Present for this application was Timothy Strazar, representing the applicant. The Commission received the application. Mr. Strazar reviewed the proposed project with the Commission. The Commission would like more information on the wetlands located on the property. The IWEO stated she will obtain more information on the wetlands and will look at the plans for the adjacent lot. The Commission will schedule a site visit. Tabled.
4. 82 Russell Road, Application #768-M-4 submitted by Mary Ellen Unger to modify the IW Permit to construct a 28’ by 40’ barn – Present for this application was Mary Ellen and Mark Unger, owners of record and applicants. The Commission received the application. The IWEO stated she received a complaint from an adjacent property owner. The Commission is not comfortable acting on this application without visiting the site and will schedule a site visit. The Commission questioned the roof drainage off of the proposed barn. The applicant states there will be no gutters just sheet flow. Tabled.
5. Discussion with Pat Stewart pertaining to “Beautiful Bethany” (Litter cleanup) – No one was present for this discussion. Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated she spoke with Pat Stewart of Meyers Road, who is organizing a litter cleanup to have residents clean their roads and use their own trash bags on April 18, and 19, 2009. Ms. Kearns stated Pat Stewart wanted the Commission to be aware of the event and to be supportive of it.
6. 845 Carrington Road, Application #897-M-4 submitted by Acorn Traders to modify the IW Permit for a site plan modification to compost horse manure – Present for this application was Theron Simons, owner of record and applicant. The Commission received the application. Mr. Simons reviewed the proposed activity and stated that the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has conducted a site visit. Mr. Simons reviewed the process of composting horse manure. The Commission did not want to act on the application due to the discrepancy in the expiration date of the original permit. Staff will research and clarify the expiration date. Tabled.
OLD BUSINESS
1. 33 Old Amity Road, Application #1115 submitted by Joseph Dellaselva (Nino Performance) for an Inland Wetlands Permit to construct an automobile service center - No one was present for this application. Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated the applicant was having a problem getting the septic approved by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District. Due to the fact that the timeline will expire soon, the Commission needs to act on this application. It was moved by Sullivan and seconded by Painter to deny, without prejudice, Application #1115, submitted by Joseph Dellaselva, for an Inland Wetlands Permit to construct an automobile service center located at 33 Old Amity Road due to an incomplete application.
Unanimous approval.
2. 185 Beacon Road, Application #1118 submitted by Daniel Cusano for an IW Permit for the construction of a 24’ by 25’ building – No one was present for this application. Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated she spoke with Chairman McGregor previously pertaining to notifying the applicants that a soil scientist report is needed, which Ms. Kearns did. Tabled.
3. 268 Wooding Hill Road, Reconvene “Show Cause” Hearing pertaining to the Cease and Desist Order issued to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Hitchcock of 268 Wooding Hill Road, dated October 5, 2007 – See Item 4. Tabled.
4. 270 Wooding Hill Road, Reconvene “Show Cause” Hearing pertaining to the Cease and Desist Order issued to William Palmieri and Kathryn Sylvester of 270 Wooding Hill Road, dated October 5, 2007 – Commission members discussed with the IWEO and concluded that the IWEO will research the status of these orders and then the Commission will take appropriate action at the next regular meeting on April 27, 2009. Tabled.
5. 185 Fairwood Road, Reconvene “Show Cause” Hearing pertaining to the Cease & Restore Order Issued to William Grieger, dated May 1, 2007 – Commission members discussed with the IWEO and concluded that the IWEO will research the status of these orders and then the Commission will take appropriate action at the next regular meeting on April 27, 2009. Tabled.
6. 185 Beacon Road, Reconvene “Show Cause” Hearing pertaining to the Cease and Restore Order Issued to Daniel Cusano, dated June 20, 2006 – Commission members discussed with the IWEO and concluded that the IWEO will research the status of these orders and then the Commission will take appropriate action at the next regular meeting on April 27, 2009. Tabled.
7. 27 Hamilton Drive, Reconvene “Show Cause” Hearing pertaining to the order to Cease Activity Issued to Daniel Dinas and Angela Cunha, dated May 9, 2006 – Commission members discussed with the IWEO and concluded that the IWEO will research the status of these orders and then the Commission will take appropriate action at the next regular meeting on April 27, 2009. Tabled.
8. Continue review and adoption process for the new Inland Wetlands Regulations (Adopt new Inland Wetlands Regulations at the same time as proposed Stormwater Regulations.) – Tabled.
WETLANDS ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT AND APPROPRIATE COMMISSION ACTION
The following sites were inspected for permit compliance during construction:
1) 892 Amity Road Re-Inspection Required
2) 226 Fairwood Road Re-Inspection Required
3) 674 Amity Road Re-Inspection Required
4) 274 Amity Road Re-Inspection Required
5) 48 Clay Road Re-Inspection Required
It was moved by Sullivan and seconded by Painter to adjourn the regular meeting at 10:12 p.m.
Unanimous approval.
Respectfully submitted,
Antonia R. Marek, Clerk
for the Inland Wetlands Commission
