COLCHESTER CONSERVATION COMMISSION
PUBLIC HEARING & REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Town Hall – 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Chairman Gary Avery, Vice Chairman Falk vonPlachecki, Moe Epstein, Darrell York,
Andy George
Members Absent: Kurt Frantzen, Mary Bylone, Sue Bruening
Others Present: John Malsbenden, BOS Liaison, Jay Gigliotti, Wetlands Enforcement Officer
Public Hearing
W2008-2905, Regulation adoption, Town of Colchester, Third Party Consulting Fees
Voting Members: Chairman Gary Avery, Vice-Chairman Falk vonPlachecki, Moe Epstein, Darrell York, Andy George.
The following items were presented for public record:
A. Application to Conservation Commission, Dated January 13th 2008
B. Proposed new regulation language and sections
C. Power Point Presentation, 3rd Party Consulting Regulation
J. Gigliotti read the third party consultant regulation change.
7.14 In cases where a development may be in a sensitive area, the Colchester Conservation Commission may require that a 3rd Party Environmental Consultant be hired to look at the potential impacts associated with the development. The cost of this consultant shall be bourne by the applicant. No permit shall be issued until 3rd party is paid in full.
Chairman Avery asked is there was any discussion. There was none.
F. vonPlachecki motioned to close the public hearing, seconded by M. Epstein. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Avery closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
Regular Meeting
2. Call Regular Meeting to Order: Chairman Avery called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
3. Additions to Agenda: F. vonPlachecki motioned to add 8. 1-A Discussion of Septic Repair to the agenda, seconded by D. York. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
4. Approval of Minutes 12.10.08: M. Epstein motioned to approve the minutes of 12.10.08 amending minutes under Item 9, bullet 2, deleting to purchase land. The motion was seconded by F. vonPlachecki. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
5. Public Comments: None
6. New Applications:
A. W2008-2905, Regulation adoption, Town of Colchester, Third Party Consulting fees:
F. vonPlachecki motioned to accept W2008-2905, seconded by A. George. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
B. W2009-2906, Caring Communities of Connecticut, 84 Waterhole Road, 2 – Lot Subdivision, no municipal improvements, septic on edge of URA, DRD – 3.20.09:
West Wentworth and Glen Meadows were present on behalf of the application. They gave an overview of what they would like to do showing wetland areas within the area. There are 7.3 acres with a working farm. Approximately 3 acres would be separated to build a single family home. The home would accommodate six of the residents of the Caring Communities.
F. vonPlachecki motioned to accept W2009-2906, seconded by M. Epstein. All members present voted in favor.
MOTION CARRIED.
C. W2008-2907, Mackey’s 132 Linwood Ave., Wetland crossing, modification to existing permit; smaller footprint. DRF 3.20.09
Mackey’s new plan has made the access road to the rear of the property smaller in width and replaced the culverts with a bridge. The change will lower the amount of wetlands disturbance to 4610 sq ft. Drainage calculation needs to be obtained.
F. vonPlachecki motioned to accept and table for statutory purposes until staff can review, seconded by
M. Epstein. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
7. Pending Applications:
A. W2008-2904, 50 Bukley Rd. 8-Lot Sub Div., previously withdrawn, Carvalho Brothers Realty, Assessor’s Map 1-4 Lot 8A, DRD 2.13.09:
Charles Dutch spoke on behalf of the application. The open space is going to the town unless the town says it should go elsewhere. A 20ft access area has been opened up to address the concern of the commission at the last meeting. The grading was done a bit further to keep it under a 10% slope.
F. vonPlachecki motioned to approve W2008-2904 with stipulations that all staff comments be addressed, a letter from NPU to applicant and a note on the plans stating the drainage easements are in place, and a permit will not be issued until all conditions are met, seconded by M. Epstein. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
8. New Business:
1-A. Discussion of Septic Repair:
Charlie Dutch, Dutch and Associates, brought a septic system repair job before the commission to ask advice per staff’s request. What kind of permits, if any, at all would be required for the repair was in question. The design of the septic system called for a curtain drain to be installed approximately 25 feet off the edge of the wetlands. The commission instructed Mr. Dutch to go ahead and install the curtain drain for groundwater monitoring. If the groundwater monitoring results showed that the site could not support a septic system than the curtain drain would be removed, if the results showed that the site could, then the curtain drain would stay and the applicant will at that time come in for the necessary permitting.
A. RFQ & RFP’s for Environmental Engineering Firms: A draft of the RFQ and RFP was reviewed. Minor changes need to be made.
B. Detention Basin Discussion
• How long to hold/drain water
• Test Pit Data
• Specifications
• Security
Information about stormwater drains, dry detention ponds based on the 2004 Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual was distributed for review. Discussion included the filtration aspect of the drains and ponds. How much water and how long the water can be held remains an issue of concern. Fencing could be put around the basins by the developer but would still become the responsibility of the town for maintenance purposes. The commission requested that the Town Engineer be asked if 72 hours a reasonable length of time for detention basins to hold water was. They also would like guidance from the engineer on the modeling line for the water height.
9. Old Business: None
10. Conservation
A. GIS Agricultural Lands: Chairman Avery is interested in open space land owned by the town that could be farmed to help provide food to the local food bank. Town land was discussed.
11. Correspondence:
• Fee Schedule – Surrounding towns: J. Gigliotti has the fee schedules from surrounding towns and will be evaluating if further for a future meeting.
• Habitat: Distributed for review.
12. Adjournment: F. vonPlachecki motioned to adjourn. Seconded by D. York. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
Chairman Avery adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m.
Dawn LePage, Clerk
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