Environmental Impact Commission

Posted in City of Danbury Town Clerk’s office on September 12, 2024 at 10:54 a.m. CITY OF DANBURY 155 DEER HILL AVENUE DANBURY, CONNECTICUT 06810 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT COMMISSION (203) 797-4525 www.danbury-ct.gov (203) 797-4586 (FAX) REGULAR MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT COMMISSION MINUTES CITY HALL – 155 DEER HILL AVENUE City Council Chambers Wednesday, August 28, 2024 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Chairman Matthew Rose called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present by roll call: Gary Dufel, John Schwartz, Elizabeth Falk, Geoff Herald, and Mark Massoud. Staff present was Melissa Llera, Secretary, and Larry Liebman, Environmental Compliance Inspector. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Massoud. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: August 14, 2024 Motion to accept the minutes of August 14, 2024 as presented was made Geoff Herald; seconded by Mark Massoud. No remarks. All in favor with Ayes of those eligible to vote: John Schwartz, Elizabeth Falk, Geoff Herald, Mark Massoud, and Matthew Rose. Next regular meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2024. NEW BUSINESS: #1220 55 Kenosia Ave, D is for Dog LLC, Artel Engineering, Agent, (E17079), IL-40 Zone, Construction of dog boarding and grooming facility Dainius Virbickus, professional engineer with Artel Engineering, was present to represent the applicant. They are looking to perform some site modications on the 1.6 acre site. The site is located across from the back entrance of Danbury Square. The site has an existing, single-story building that had been a former office building. They are looking to repurpose the site to a doggie daycare. There is sufficient parking with the 28 spaces. A plan is presented that EIC Minutes – August 28, 2024 Page 2 delinates the wetlands with a green line. The proposed plan shows that the existing gravel parking area in the rear will become fenced in play areas for the dogs. They will restripe the parking spaces which will make it more conforming and result in 29 spaces. They are adding an area off the parking for the trash enclosure which will be away from the wetlands and dogs. The rectangular play areas in the rear will be turf grass. A sheet of the turf specifications was presented to the Board. The turf will have a stone base and the blades will mimic grass. The liquid waste will perculate through the stone, and the non-liquid waste will be cleaned up by staff. They will also have a rain garden buffer area between the wetlands and outdoor play areas. The play areas will be surrounded by an 8 ft. fence to prevent dogs from jumping over, and the interior division fences will be 4 ft. tall. The project won’t result in loss of wetlands or a disruption to the wetlands. Chairman Rose indicates that the Commission will be scheduling a site walk. Mr. Dufel asks how the storm water will flow off site, and if there is an increase in impervious surface. Mr. Virbickus states there will be about a 200 sq. ft increase in impervious surface for the trash enclosure. The storm water from the impervious surfaces will drain to the grass buffer around, and at times into the brook or Kenosia Avenue. The rain garden will accommodate water from the rear of the building and some of the impervious surfaces. Ms. Falk feels in a heavy storm the doggie play areas will act as impervious surface, so she is curious about the sizing of the rain garden. Mr. Virbickus said the rain garden was based on the latest information provided by DEEP. Mr. Schwartz asked what the elevation change is between the turf areas and rain garden. Mr. Virbickus said about 452 to 451. Mr. Schwartz questions, since the land is pretty flat, how will the water be conveyed to the rain garden. Mr. Virbickus said from a hydraulic standpoint, once the 3-4” of stone under the turf are inundated, the water will then migrate to the rain garden. Mr. Schwartz asks about the type of soils under the rain garden; Mr. Virbickus responds that soil testing has not be completed yet. Mr. Schwartz feels they seem to be slow perk soils; Mr. Virbickus agrees and hopes the rain garden will improve that. Mr. Massoud asks about the disposal of the dog waste with concerns of it leeching into the ground during rains from the dumpster. Mr. Virbickus said Central Bark informed him the staff would use bags to pickup the waste, dispose of those bags in an inside receptacle, and then that bag would be disposed of in the dumpster. Trash enclosures have lids and side doors now, so the potential of leeching is much less now. Mr. Rose asks if the dumpsters will be on a concrete pad; Mr. Virbickus confirms. Mr. Massoud requests the applicant outlines a manangement plan for the waste disposal to minimize pollutants; Mr. Virbickus agrees to have that done. Mr. Schwartz asks about the water table. Mr. Virbickus reiterates they have not done soil testing. He suspects about the same as the brook which would be about 4-5 ft. between the surface and water table. Mr. Liebman requests that perculation tests on the bottom of the rain garden and bottom of two outdoor play areas be completed, so they know the infiltration rates. Based on this, they may have to change the depth of stones under the turf. Mr. Virbickus agrees to have it completed. Mr. Herald asks how many dogs they expect to have. Neil Marcus of Cohen & Wolf was present. He responds the client had said about 75 dogs. This number is consistent with the Planning requirements for parking as well. This will be operated by a national company. Ms. Falk requests they provide a cross section of the rain garden design. Mr. Virbickus said they can, and will also be providing a landscape plan done by Abigail Adams. EIC Minutes – August 28, 2024 Page 3 Mr. Schwartz asks if the wetlands on the west side of the property are hydraulically connected to the ones behind the mall; Mr. Virbickus believes they are and flow towards the mall. Mr. Liebman requests that Mr. Virbickus is on site during the Commission’s walk thru. Motion to table No. 1220, 55 Kenosia Ave., was made by John Schwartz; seconded by Geoff Herald. All in favor with Ayes of those eligible to vote: John Schwartz, Elizabeth Falk, Geoff Herald, Mark Massoud, and Matthew Rose. OLD BUSINESS: None APPLICATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL: None ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ACTIONS: None VIOLATIONS: 1. Halas, Barnum Road, Danbury, CT- Cease & Desist Motion to table Halas, Barnum Road- Cease & Desist until the next regularly scheduled meeting was made by Geoff Herald; seconded by Mark Massoud. All in favor with Ayes of those eligible to vote: John Schwartz, Elizabeth Falk, Geoff Herald, Mark Massoud, and Matthew Rose. OTHER MATTERS: Mr. Liebman informed the Commission that the remediation for 24 Barnum Road is underway. He had received the second status report yesterday. It will be a few more months, and was slightly delayed due to the rain. CORRESPONDENCE: None ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn was made by Geoff Herald; seconded by Mark Massoud. All in favor with Ayes of those eligible to vote: John Schwartz, Elizabeth Falk, Geoff Herald, Mark Massoud, and Matthew Rose. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Llera Recording Secretary