MINUTES OF THE BETHANY
The regular meeting of the Inland
Wetlands Commission was called to order at 7:42 p.m. in the Commission Meeting
Room in the Bethany
Town Hall 40 Peck Road Bethany Connecticut
The following members of the Commission
were present:
Alexandra Breslin, Chair
Kristine Sullivan, Vice-Chair
Roger Hathaway, Member
The following members of the
Commission were absent:
Brian Smith, Member
Lisa Gaw, Member
Also present were:
Isabel Kearns, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer
NEW
BUSINESS
1. 90
Pole Hill Road Bethany Community
Garden
Committee for an Inland Wetlands Permit
for a community garden using pond as a
water source –
The Commission formally received the
application. Present to speak on behalf
of this application was MaryEllen Unger, Chairman of the Bethany Community
Garden Committee.
Mrs.
Unger noted the following:
- Proposing
to build a community garden at the Pole Hill Parking Lot.
- Google map
photo submitted in packet shows location of pump and pump house.
- The pipe to
the pond will be on top of the ground and goes to the pump house. The pipe from the pump to the storage
tank will be underground so that lawn can be cut (northwest corner of
garden).
- Made
appointment with the caretaker of pump in Woodbridge to see how operates.
- Will be
locating garbage pails.
- Once a week
will fill up storage tank and have two spouts where people can get water.
In
discussion, Commission members noted:
- The Commission would like to learn more about
the wetlands and what the impact of withdrawing this water from the pond for
the proposed garden would be.
- Concerned in drought conditions with the
pond.
- Will send out to Diversified Technology
Consultants for review.
Further
discussion and appropriate action on the application was deferred until the
Commission’s next regular meeting on Monday, August 25, 2014. Tabled.
2. Discussion with Eric DeCesare, Hilltop Road
Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated she phoned Mr. DeCesare
pertaining to the sedimentation running out onto Route 69.
Present for this discussion was Eric DeCesare of 37 Hilltop Road
Also present was Larry Shine
of 46 Hilltop Road. Mr. Shine stated that CL&P has cut all
the brush out where the water dissipated and that the Highway Department has
repaved the road and put in curbing.
The Commission would like to
visit Hilltop Road
Mr. DeCesare denied the Commission
from entering onto his property.
The Commission will visit Hilltop
Road on their own.
Tabled.
3. 93
Peck Road
Permit to locate two mini cold frames
-
The Commission formally received the
application. Present to speak on behalf
of this application was Peter Verab, applicant and owner of record.
Mr.
Verab noted the following:
- Proposing
to locate two mini greenhouses with no water and no heat.
- Sink pipes
in concrete at four corners.
- Area is
already clear.
- Old permit
expired for future proposed items.
In
discussion, Commission members noted:
- Mr. Verab needs to update his application to
include future proposed items.
Further discussion and appropriate
action on the application was deferred until the Commission’s next regular
meeting on Monday, August 25, 2014. Tabled.
OLD BUSINESS
1. 63 Sargent
Drive
and
modify IW Permit #1182 for a Site Plan for a storage building –
Present to speak on behalf of this application was
Bill and Wendy Grieger, applicants and owners of record.
Commission members discussed and proceeded to
deliberate.
It was
moved by Sullivan and seconded by Hathaway to approve Application #1223
submitted by Bill and Wendy Grieger for an Inland Wetlands Permit for a Site
Plan for a storage building located at 63 Sargent Drive in accordance with the
following submitted plans prepared by John Paul Garcia & Associates,
Bethany, Connecticut:
a.
“Proposed Site Plan”, dated
February 12, 2012, revised to June 9, 2014, Drawing No. C-1.
b.
“Proposed Septic Plan”, dated
November 12, 2012, revised to June 9, 2014, Drawing No. C-2.
c.
“Erosion Control Plan”, dated
November 12, 2012, revised to June 9, 2014, Drawing No. C-3.
d.
“Drainage Plan”, dated November
12, 2012, revised to June 9, 2014, Drawing No. C-4.
e.
“Typical Details”, dated February
21, 2012, revised to June 9, 2014, Drawing No. C-5.
Also, this approval is subject to the
standard conditions found on the Land Records Volume 93, Page 802 and 803.
Based on the fact
that the applicant is proposing a smaller building than what was originally
approved for this site, there should be less of an impact on the onsite or
adjoining wetlands.
Vote
3 to 0.
Voting were:
Breslin, Sullivan, Hathaway.
Unanimous approval.
2. Discussion regarding Bethany West
clearing. (Letter from Roman Mrozinski
of the
Southwest Conservation District) – Tabled.
3. 185 Beacon
Road, Discussion with Daniel Cusano regarding non-permitted barn
–
Tabled.
4.
Continuation
of Show Cause Hearing regarding Town of Bethany
conducted in a
regulated area without an Inland Wetlands Permit
–
The
Commission received a letter from Diversified Technology Consultants,
dated January 23, 2014, Re: Review comments on Anthony Drive
5.
Discussion
in regard to amendments to the Inland Wetlands Regulations per State
of CT – Tabled.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
1.
It was moved by Sullivan and
seconded by Hathaway to approve, as submitted, the minutes of the June 23,
2014, Regular Meeting.
Voting
were: Breslin, Sullivan, Hathaway.
Unanimous approval.
At 8:34 p.m.,
it was moved by Sullivan and seconded by Hathaway for the Commission to enter
into an executive session regarding the approval of the five-lot subdivision (Woodward
Estates) of 46 Mesa Drive.
Unanimous
approval.
At 8:40 p.m.,
it was moved by Sullivan and seconded by Hathaway for the Commission to exit
out of executive session.
Unanimous
approval.
For the
record, no votes were taken in the course of the executive session.
2.
It was moved by Sullivan and
seconded by Hathaway to amend the minutes of the May 19, 2014, Special Meeting
to include in the approval of the five-lot subdivision of 46 Mesa Drive
submitted on behalf of Mr. James Woodward that this approval is subject to the
“Standard Conditions for Wetland Permits” found on the Land Records Volume 93,
Page 802 and Page 803.
Voting
were: Breslin, Sullivan, Hathaway.
Unanimous
approval.
BILLS
1. It was moved by
Sullivan and seconded by Hathaway to approve the payment of $1,500.00 to
the Southwest Conservation District for
Municipal Contribution – Support of natural resource
conservation effort and providing
information, education and technical assistance to
municipal agents and private landowners of
Bethany. Budget year 2014/15.
Voting
were: Breslin, Sullivan, Hathaway.
Unanimous
approval.
GENERAL
CORRESPONDENCE
1.
Letter from Quinnipiack Valley
Health District, dated July 14, 2014, Re:
Comments on review of application for 90 Pole Hill Road
2.
Letter from Diversified
Technology Consultants, dated January 23, 2014, Re: Review comments on site visit to Anthony Court
3.
Letter from Stephanie Ciarleglio,
Woodbridge Town Clerk, dated July 24, 2014, Re: West River Watershed Coalition, looking for
endorsements from Towns to improve watershed.
Commission members
reviewed and discussed.
Chair Breslin
stated that for the record that she represents the Town of Bethany on the
policy board for the SCC Regional Water Authority.
It was moved
by Sullivan and seconded by Hathaway that the Bethany Inland Wetlands
Commission endorse the concept of the West River Watershed Coalition and
forward a copy of that endorsement to the Board of Selectmen with the
recommendation that the Town of Bethany join the coalition. The Inland Wetlands Commission stated that
the West River Watershed is an important natural resource in the Town of
Bethany providing both public water supply watershed and ensuring the quality
of our drinking water. Also the West
River Watershed provides open space for recreation, a wildlife habitat and
rural character for the Town of Bethany.
Unanimous
approval.
4.
Letter from Southwest
Conservation District, dated July 1, 2014, Re:
Annual Contribution invoicing for Budget year 2014-2015 for $1500.
PUBLICATIONS
AND WORKSHOPS
1.
Connecticut Wildlife, May/June
2014.
2.
The Habitat, Summer 2014.
ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER REPORTS –
Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated that on Mesa Drive the
beavers are damming up the water body and the Department of Public Works goes
in and releases the obstruction. Ms.
Kearns then stated she received a call from the Town of Beacon Falls that when undammed
the water is overflowing downstream and causing problems. She contacted the Humane Society of the U.S.
for assistance.
SCHEDULE SITE
VISITS – None.
ADJOURNMENT
There
being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Sullivan
and
seconded by Hathaway to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:49 p.m.
Unanimous approval.
Respectfully submitted,
Antonia R. Marek, Clerk
for the Inland Wetlands Commission
