MINUTES OF THE
BETHANY INLAND WETLANDS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016
Page 1
of 6
The regular
meeting of the Inland Wetlands Commission was called to order at 7:30 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, Chair
Kristine Sullivan, Vice-Chair
Lisa Gaw, Member
Roger Hathaway, Member
Brian Smith, Member
Nancy Scanlon, Alternate Member
Also present
was:
Isabel Kearns, Inland Wetlands
Enforcement Officer
NEW BUSINESS
1)
Sanford
Road between 130-62 and 131-12, Application #1259 submitted by Nicholas Zito –
RWA Forester for an IW Permit for the replacement of failed culvert with two
12” pipe –
The Commission formally received the
application. Present to speak on behalf
of this application was Nick Zito, the applicant, Forester from the South
Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.
Lisa Gaw recused herself. (employee of
the SCCRWA)
Chair Breslin stated for the record that
she represents the Town of Bethany on the SCCRWA Representative Policy Board
and Land Use Committee.
Mr.
Zito briefly reviewed the proposed project and noted in discussion:
·
Will be replacing culvert with
corrugated plastic pipe.
·
Will plan to complete during
months of August or September.
The Commission would like to conduct a
site visit.
Further
discussion and appropriate action on the application was deferred until the
Commission’s next regular meeting adjourned to Monday, April 25, 2016. Tabled.
2)
265
Beacon Road – Veterans Memorial Park, Application #1260 submitted by Mathew
Kirschbaum for an IW Permit to construct a pavilion in the children’s play area
for shade –
Present to speak on behalf of this
application was Mathew Kirschbaum, the applicant, who is an Eagle Scout.
Mr.
Kirschbaum briefly reviewed the proposed project and noted in
discussion:
·
The pavilion will be 12 feet by
15 feet and inside the playground area.
·
Will be using 6” by 6” wooded
columns.
·
Submitted one page of photographs
of the proposed pavilion and location.
In discussion, Commission members noted:
·
No need to do an application. Proposed activity between the playground and
existing pavilion. Not near the
wetlands.
·
Any runoff that might be caused by the construction,
which will be minimal, won’t cause a problem.
It was moved by Sullivan and seconded by
Gaw that it is the consensus of the Inland Wetlands Commission that no action
from the Commission is necessary as long as the applicant does not place any
soils removed during construction anywhere near the pond. Also, there should be no impact to the onsite
wetlands because the exiting pavilion and the solid footing of the playground are
between the area where the proposed structure will be located.
Vote
5 to 0.
Voting
were: Breslin, Sullivan, Smith, Gaw,
Hathaway.
Unanimous
approval.
3)
Preliminary
discussion with John Paul Garcia regarding 667-668 Amity Road – construct
building and soccer fields –
Present for this discussion was John
Paul Garcia, P.E./L.S., representing the developer.
Mr. Garcia submitted site plans dated
February 3, 2016, and reviewed with the Commission.
During discussion, Mr. Garcia noted:
·
Intent of client is to construct
two outdoor soccer fields and one indoor 250 SF building.
·
Field will be a sand rubber crumb
mix.
·
No wetlands on the site.
·
Providing underground detention
systems.
·
The facility will be for young
adults and adults.
·
No material will be leaving the
site.
·
Developer owns another facility
in Hamden, Connecticut.
·
There will be no night games
outside.
In discussion, Commission members noted:
·
One main concern is the potential
for lighting going towards the wetlands.
·
Recommending impervious surfaces
as much as possible.
·
It was moved by Sullivan and
seconded by Smith that a letter be submitted to the Planning and Zoning
Commission with the following three stipulations:
a) Would
like the Planning and Zoning Commission’s review to include a review by their
Consulting Engineer that the drainage as presented to the Inland Wetlands
Commission is accurate.
b) There
shall be no lighting on the outside soccer fields or in the westerly parking
lot and if that is proposed, the applicant will need to submit to the Inland
Wetlands Commission for review.
c) The
use of impervious surface for the easterly parking lot should be considered.
Vote
5 to 0.
Voting
were: Breslin, Sullivan, Smith, Gaw,
Hathaway.
Unanimous
approval.
It was moved by Hathaway and seconded by
Gaw to add the following two applications to the agenda for receipt.
Voting
were: Breslin, Smith, Gaw, Hathaway.
Unanimous
approval.
4)
861
Litchfield Turnpike, Application #1261 submitted by Karl Rainey for an IW
Permit to replace the garage with a 1,000 SF barn
–
The Commission formally received the
application. Present to speak on behalf
of this application was Karl Rainey, applicant and owner of record.
Mr. Rainey briefly reviewed the proposed
project and noted in discussion:
·
Extra soil will be used for
grading on property.
·
Silt fence will be installed
around area of activity.
·
Roof runoff will sheet flow into
splash box onto gravel.
Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated property is
not on Regional Water Authority public water supply watershed. Ms. Kearns will check with Connecticut Water
Company.
There was some discussion about a pump
station in the area that was abandoned.
The Commission would like to conduct a
site visit. Property owner will place
stacks where proposed barn will be located.
Further
discussion and appropriate action on the application was deferred until the
Commission’s next regular meeting adjourned to Monday, April 25, 2016. Tabled.
5)
94
Mesa Drive, Application #1262 submitted by Cheryl Peterson for a Site Plan
Approval –
The Commission formally received the
application. No one was present to speak
on behalf of this application.
The
Commission will conduct a site visit.
Further
discussion and appropriate action on the application was deferred until the
Commission’s next regular meeting adjourned to Monday, April 25, 2016. Tabled.
OLD
BUSINESS
1. Discussion
regarding Raccio Drive – Proposal from Diversified Technology Consultants
– Tabled.
2. Continue
discussion with John Paul Garcia regarding 10 Northrop Road – Cease and Desist
–
The Commission
received an email for John Paul Garcia, dated March 22, 2016, Re: 10 Northrup Road, evaluation of invasive
species. Tabled.
3. Continue Show Cause Hearing regarding
Cease and Desist Order, dated
October 21, 2014, to Mrs. Bitina Patel of 10 Northrop Road, extension of
patio, stonewall along the pond, waterfall and clear cutting of trees within
the 150-foot upland review area without permit – Tabled.
4. Discussion regarding Bethany West
clearing. (Letter from Roman Mrozinski of
the
Southwest Conservation District) – The
Commission will schedule a site visit to field check. Tabled.
5. 185 Beacon
Road, Discussion with Daniel Cusano regarding non-permitted barn
–
Tabled.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
November 30,
2015 Regular Meeting Minutes
December 29,
2015 Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25,
2016 Regular Meeting Minutes
February 22,
2016 Regular Meeting Minutes
Tabled.
CORRESPONDENCE
1) Email
for John Paul Garcia, dated March 22, 2016, Re:
10 Northrup Road, evaluation of invasive species.
2) Email
from Isabel Kearns, IWEO, to Mike Patel of 6 Sargent Drive, dated March 2,
2016, Re: Inland Wetlands Condition of
Approval for 6 Sargent Drive, IW Permit #1070-M-1.
3) Letter
from Isabel Kearns, IWEO, to Michael Patel, dated March 16, 2016, Re: Notice of Violation, 6 Sargent Drive.
4) Letter
from Isabel Kearns, IWEO, to D. Totton and J. Sasso, dated March 18, 2016,
Re: Notice of Inland Wetlands Inquiry,
clear cutting of trees located at 66 Sperry Road. Isabel Kearns, IWEO, stated she will be walking
the property on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.
5) Letter
from Aquarion Water Company, dated January 20, 2016, Re: Aquarion Environmental Champion Awards.
The
Commission will ask Conservation Commission and Land Trust if they have interest
in nominating anyone for the Environmental Champion Award. Clerk will scan and email.
PUBLICATIONS AND
WORKSHOPS
1.
Connecticut
Federation of Lakes presents Connecticut Lakes Conference 2016, April 9, 2016,
Goshen, Connecticut.
2.
The
Habitat, A newsletter of the Connecticut Association of Conservation &
Inland Wetlands Commissions, Winter 2016.
3.
Connecticut
Wildlife, January/February 2016.
ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER REPORTS AND APPROPRIATE COMMISSION ACTION
-
SCHEDULE
SITE VISIT
The Commission scheduled a site visit for
Sunday, April 3, 2016. Members to meet
at the Town Hall parking lot for 8:30 a.m.
Sites to visit are:
·
94 Mesa Drive
·
861 Litchfield Turnpike
·
Sanford Road
·
Bethany West
OTHER
BUSINESS -
108 Carrington Road – Timber harvest
– The Commission would like John Garcia to resubmit his letter regarding the
timber harvest which was discussed at the February 22, 2016 meeting and
documented in a letter from Mr. Garcia dated January 28, 2016. The Commission would like him to clarify exactly
what he is doing on the property due to the wet soils on this property.
Chair Breslin discussed the idea of
having an informal special meeting with Commission members to review new ideas,
what the Commission’s jurisdiction is, what the Commission’s mission is,
experience of Commission members, etc.
Chair Breslin will propose some dates in an email.
ADJOURNMENT
There
being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Gaw and
seconded by Hathaway to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:56 p.m.
Unanimous
approval.
Respectfully
submitted,
Antonia R.
Marek, Clerk
for the Inland Wetlands Commission
