City Council

CITY OF DANBURY Town of New Fairfield 155 DEER HILL AVENUE DANBURY, CONNECTICUT 06810 4 Brush Hill Road www.danbury-ct.gov New Fairfield, Connecticut 06812 ELISA ETCHETO Jean Green LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT PHONE: 203-797-4514 Administrative Assistant to the First FAX: 203-796-1529 Selectman e.etcheto@danbury-ct.gov (203)312-5600 MEETING NOTICE Who: Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee When: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 6:30PM Where: Danbury City Hall 155 Deer Hill Ave. Purpose: Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee Meeting #14 *Original agenda Item on file with the Danbury Legislative Assistant & with the Town of New Fairfield Committee Members & Representatives: Holly Robinson, City Council Member, City of Danbury Antonio Iadarola, City Engineer & Public Works Director, City of Danbury & Town Engineer, New Fairfield David Day, Public Utilities Superintendent, City of Danbury Corporation Counsel Representative, City of Danbury Ken Gucker, Alternate, Danbury Jeff Main, Conservation & Inland Wetland Commission, New Fairfield Peter Hearn, New Fairfield Ann Marie Mellas, Alternate, New Fairfield Posted Notices: Town Clerk, City of Danbury & New Fairfield Information Board, City of Danbury City Website, City of Danbury & New Fairfield  Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee (Meeting #14) AGENDA When: 6:30 PM – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Where: Danbury City Hall – 3rd Fl 155 Deer Hill Avenue ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Minutes - March 25, 2025 4. Public Speaking 5. Summary of DEEP Application & Meetings 6. Project Updates - B&L 7. Invoices for Approval 8. Communications to the Committee 9. Meeting Schedule 10. Executive Session - Presentation/discussion of preliminary Margerie Reservoir Trail: draft trail designs and associated maps/plan 11. Adjournment  3. Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee (Meeting #13) March 25, 2025 Chairman Robinson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Present were Committee Members David Day, City of Danbury; Antonio Iadarola, City of Danbury; Jeff Main, New Fairfield; Ken Gucker, Alternate, City of Danbury. Absent were Peter Hearn, New Fairfield; and Ann Marie Mellas, Alternate, New Fairfield. Also present was Joseph Mortelliti, Outside Counsel, City of Danbury; Kevin Grindle and Oscar Villavicencio, Barton & Loguidice (B&L); and several members of the public. A motion was made by Alt. member Gucker, 2nd by Member Main, to move Item #7 to Item #3 on the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Public Speaking: Diane Cooke, Danbury Resident – asked about landscaping and the use of native plants. Millie (inaudible), New Fairfield Resident – spoke in support of the trail. Kristina McCarthy, New Fairfield Resident – spoke in support of the walking trail and its health benefits. Kelly Linquist, New Fairfield Resident – asked about the plan to address eagle nests that are close to the trail. Jennifer Pappas, New Fairfield Resident – discussed concerns with traffic congestion, reservoir safety, fencing, and environmental issues. She spoke on the need to communicate and discuss these issues. John McCartney, New Fairfield Resident – spoke in support of the trail and the need for more walking trails for seniors and to unite the two communities. Minutes: A motion was made by Alternate Member Gucker, seconded by Member Main, to waive the reading of the minutes. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Alternate Member Gucker, seconded by Member Main, accept the minutes from the January 28, 2025 meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. B&L Update: • Online data summary: 514 responses, 177 map comments; mostly New Fairfield residents and 45+. • Advancements to trail route alignment based on online data: Connection to other activities and dog park is requested. Safety while walking the trail is a concern due to high traffic nearby. Privacy, Connectivity and Safety were top concerns. Connection from trail to sidewalks along Route 7. Vegetation buffer to help with privacy. Minimize disturbance to the area and nature. Created an eagle nest buffer zone. Slight adjustment to trail near existing stone walls to avoid them. Grading and/or boardwalk will help with trail near wetland areas. Suggested connection to the dog park.  • Estimated construction costs and material options: Factors to consider are the boardwalk vs. fill Grading • Summary of pre-application meeting with DEEP: Entering Phase 3: Design Development (April – August) Review of permits needed: Recreational development, wetland and stream crossing permits required. Create a Schedule: Dependent on level of disturbance 10 month review process is estimated Scheduling DEEP Wildlife Scientist to review eagle nest in person Phase construction to limit eagle nest disturbances during mating season. Member Day asked about DEEPs input on the eagle nest; Mr. Grindle confirmed that they believe the trail will not make a significant impact in composition to the disruption Route 7 already has on the nest area. Member Main asked about the proposed sidewalk location close to businesses and high traffic area; he spoke on all the drainage that comes across Route 7 and an opportunity for mitigation of what is going into the reservoir; Mr. Grindle confirmed the water mitigation is on their radar. Member Gucker spoke on the damage done to the area from the microburst; he supports the vegetation barrier near the condos for privacy; he suggested extending the trail slightly where the junction is connecting the trail to Bear Mtn. Reserve to alleviate the proximity to wetlands; he spoke on the importance of addressing storm water runoff; he discussed the opportunity to remove invasive plants and thanked the team for addressing the eagles nest concerns. Member Iadarola asked about adding tags to the map; he noted concerns with the flood line; and he asked about the grading plan that affected the location of the path and the boardwalk plan; Mr. Grindle suggested PVC construction for longevity. Member Iadarola also asked about addressing dead trees during the construction. Chair Robinson asked about the dual role of Mr. Iadarola and Mr. Day with regards to a quorum during a walk through; Mr. Mortelliti confirmed they could plan offline. The Chair asked about scheduling town hall meetings in New Fairfield and Danbury; Mr. Grindle asked that they solidify the path before calling the town hall meetings to allow for a better presentation. Members Gucker and Iadarola asked for an overview of all the comments collected on the website; Mr. Grindle confirmed they were mostly positive and all information will be made available on the website once it is reviewed by the committee. Mr. Grindle confirmed for Member Day that the length of the trail is 2 miles and the boardwalk is 1,300 linear ft. Chair Robinson noted that the walk through will be scheduled for April or May depending on the DEEP meeting. Outstanding Invoices: B&L Invoice # 11079 ($8,040) – A motion was made by Member Gucker, seconded by Member Iadarola, to approve the invoice from B&L Invoice #11079. Motion carried unanimously. Schedule: Next meeting is scheduled for: April 22, 2025* at 6:30pm in Danbury. *schedule conflict requires a new date to be determined. Adjournment: A motion was made by Member Main, and seconded by Member Gucker, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Holly Robinson, Chair; Antonio Iadarola, David Day, Ken Gucker, Jeff Main.  6. Margerie Lake Reservoir Trail Eagle Nest Site Walk Meeting Friday, 25 April 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Meeting Summary Notes It is assumed that these notes are a true summary of the meeting. Any corrections or omissions should be brought to the attention of the writer within one (1) week. If not, they will be considered substantially correct. Attendees  Brian Hess - Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Division, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP);  Jeff Main - New Fairfield, Conservation & Inland Wetland Commission, Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee (MRTAC);  Peter Hearn - New Fairfield, MRTAC;  Ken Gucker - Danbury, State Representative, MRTAC;  Kevin Grindle, PLA - Associate, Barton & Loguidice, LLC (B&L); and  Leigh Jones, PLA - Associate, B&L. CC  Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee;  Antonio Iadarola, P.E. - Town Engineer, New Fairfield; City Engineer, Danbury;  David Day, Public Utilities Superintendent, City of Danbury;  Kenton Higgins, Asst. Superintendent of Public Utilities, City of Danbury Location Proposed Margerie Lake Reservoir Trail New Fairfield and Danbury, Connecticut Date 22 May 2025 Site Walk Summary Notes DATE OF SITE WALK: Friday, 25 April 2025 On Friday, April 25, 2025, representatives from Barton & Loguidice and the Margarie Lake Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee conducted a site walkthrough with Brian Hess of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) Wildlife Division. The purpose of the walkthrough was to assess the proposed trail alignment in the vicinity of a known active bald eagle nest and to evaluate any potential ecological impacts related to the nesting site. RockLedge Center, 247A Route 100, Suite 2007, Somers, New York 10589 · Office: 914-232-3646 · BartonandLoguidice.com During the site visit, the active bald eagle nest was observed using binoculars and a spotting scope. One adult eagle was present in the nest, and at least two eaglets were visually confirmed. The adult eagle appeared alert to our presence but did not exhibit any signs of distress. The proposed trail alignment was reviewed in the field, with particular attention to its proximity to the nest. The trail alignment, at its closest point, is approximately 200 feet from the active nest, placing this portion of the trail within the CT DEEP-designated 330-foot primary buffer zone for bald eagle nesting activity. Per CT DEEP guidance and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recommendations, the primary buffer zone (up to 330 feet) is intended to minimize activity during the nesting season, while a secondary buffer zone (up to 660 feet) applies to additional management considerations. This segment of the trail is situated directly adjacent to Route 37 (Pembroke Road), an existing State highway that already runs through the buffer zone. Mr. Hess acknowledged the existing road’s presence and the fact that the proposed trail alignment makes use of this previously disturbed corridor while minimizing new disturbances within the primary buffer zone’s undisturbed habitat. He expressed appreciation for this approach and confirmed that such placement minimizes additional impacts to the nest environment. In response to a comment from a local resident regarding the possibility of other nests nearby, a visual inspection was conducted during the site walk. No additional nests or signs of nesting activity were observed. Mr. Hess noted that while multiple nesting pairs would not typically occupy areas in such close proximity, it is biologically normal for a single eagle pair to construct multiple nests as part of pair bonding or to prepare an alternate nest in case the primary nest becomes unusable. Mr. Hess supported the inclusion of interpretive signage acknowledging the eagle nest and providing educational information about bald eagles and their protection status. He also endorsed the idea of incorporating a physical barrier (e.g., fencing or rail) along the trail in the area nearest the nest to encourage users to remain on the designated path and further reduce potential disturbance to nesting eagles. Based on the field review and discussions, Mr. Hess stated verbally that he had no objection to the proposed trail alignment as reviewed on site. He expressed that the trail’s proximity to the nest—while within the primary buffer—is mitigated by its placement alongside an existing State highway and the inclusion of interpretive and physical trail elements to minimize disturbance. Mr. Hess also indicated that he would assist B&L with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reviews and would be providing a favorable recommendation that the required CT DEEP permits be granted. The relevant authorization anticipated is a General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater and Dewatering Wastewaters Associated with Construction Activities (GP-020), which includes coordination with the Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) regarding listed species and critical habitats along with relevant CEPA/NEPA/ACOE permitting. It is assumed that these notes are a true summary of the meeting. Any corrections or omissions should be brought to the attention of the writer within one (1) week. If not, they will be considered substantially correct. 2|MLRT 7.1  7.2 Work performed through 3/22/25 includes: * Complete Trail Routing Study * Review/Analyze online survey data * Continue with CTDEEP Project Permitting *Commence Design Development phase of work  9. Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee 2025 Meeting Schedule ______________________________________________________________________________ All meetings begin at 6:30pm June 17 City Hall - Danbury July 22 Senior/Community Center, New Fairfield August 19 City Hall - Danbury September 16 Senior/Community Center, New Fairfield October 21 City Hall - Danbury November 18 Senior/Community Center, New Fairfield December 16 City Hall - Danbury