Inland / Wetlands & Water Courses Agency

REGULAR MEETING OF THE INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES AGENCY MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT MAY 2, 2018 A. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. All members are voting members. Present: Commissioner Joe Carta Commissioner Robert Whitney Commissioner Trevor Davis Commissioner David Pritchard Commissioner Fred Terrasi Commissioner Ken McClellan Commissioner Jennifer Greenberg Commissioner Constance Kisluk Commissioner Jammie Middleton Absent: Commissioner Anthony Moran Commissioner Gabriel Russo Commissioner Kayleigh Pratt Commissioner Jack Pieper Commissioner Phil Nettis Staff: Michelle Ford, Zoning and Wetlands Enforcement Officer Public: 0 members B. Public Hearing None C. Old Business 1. Proposed installation of sewer, drain pipes, grass swale and grading within the upland review area for the construction of a new single family dwelling at 258 Crystal Lake Road. Applicant/agent Pamela Neumann 18-01 Frank Magnotta, PE represents the application and describes the project. He stated that the project includes demolishing a number of existing structures on the property and construct a new single family dwelling which will include installing new sewer pipes and footing drains. He commented on all the staff comments. 1 Commission McClellan asked if silt fences would be used when demolishing the old house. Commissioner Davis asks about relocating the pump to be closer to the street but Mr. Magnotta explained that they couldn’t because of the well radius and other wells in the area. Commission Kisluk asked about the separation of roof and footing drain and potential for backup. She would prefer the roof drain infiltrated. Mr. Magnotta said the ground water is too high and can’t infiltrate. Commissioner Whitney moves for approval for the installation of sewer, drain pipes, grass swale and grading within the upland review area for the construction of a new single family dwelling at 258 Crystal Lake Road. Commissioner McClellan seconds the motion. Commissioner Carta would like to add the staff recommendations as a condition of the approval. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. 2. Proposed installation of two (2) hoop houses (28' x 88' each) and a carport (22' x 30') to be used for storage of farm equipment, vehicles and accessories within the upland review area at 1340 Country Club Road. Applicant/agent Jason & Jennifer Blakeslee 18-02 (Date of receipt 4/4/18) Michelle Ford introduces the project and the reasons why they have the application is now before the Agency. She reads letters submitted by the nearby property owners into the record. Attorney Ralph Wilson states why the applicant is here and states the application will address City Engineer, Tom Nigosanti’s comments to address the drainage. He introduces the applicant, Jason Blakeslee to give a better layout of the property. He explained that this is in pursuit of farming. He gave a detailed description of what the hoop houses and garage would look like. Commissioner Kisluk said that she did not see any evidence of farming. Mr. Blakeslee explained that he has three separate parcels and this happens to be one where he stores his equipment. Commissioner Kisluk said she sees evidence of a lot of broken down cars, boats and things that may have petroleum which may leak. Hoop houses are not sealed and she only wants to see farming equipment in the hoop houses and not leaky old junk cars because of the potential for leaks. Mr. Blakeslee explained that those were old aerial photos and most of those vehicles are gone. Commissioner Davis asked if there was a floor proposed for the hoop houses and if the wetlands were flagged. Mr. Blakeslee stated there is no floor and that it is a gravel base right now. The wetlands were delineated many years ago. Commissioner Davis said that when he drove by last week, he noted a lot of inoperable vehicles still on the premises and has concerns for the soils and the wetlands. Commissioner McClellan asked if the applicant was doing any maintenance on any of the vehicles including oil changes. Mr. Blakeslee responded ‘no’. Commissioner Whitney expressed concern about storing vehicles on a pervious surface because of potential for contamination. He would like to see applicant submit a grading plan to staff. Commission Middleton asked what was the rationale behind the number of hoop houses. Mr. Blakeslee said it was more economical to put in two separate hoop houses instead of one large one. Commissioner Carta asked what kind of equipment he going to store in the hoop houses. Mr. Blakeslee responded that some of the vehicles would go into the houses and hay for his animals. Commission Kisluk asked about the aerial photos and his intentions for property. 2 Jason said his plan is to get rid of the junk and have a cleaner property. He agreed to pave under the hoop houses and underneath the carport. A motion to approve with the condition for impervious surface as floor was moved by Commissioner McClellan. Commissioner Pritchard seconds the motion. A discussion ensued. Commission Davis stated he cannot vote in favor without engineering and actual delineations. Commissioner Whitney also has drainage concerns and wants a more detailed plan showing runoff. Commissioner Terrasi also wants a complete plan and containment. Commissioner Whitney suggested that the applicant modify the application and continue to the next meeting. Attorney Wilson agrees to come back with revised plans. Commissioner stated he had concerns about how much staff time was put into this as the department is down 2 people and would like Jason to hire a professional engineer. Commissioner McClellan withdraws his motion to approve and Commission Pritchard seconds. Commissioner Davis is looking for a site plan with topo, shows drainage and engineer’s recommendation for the base, floor or pad. Commissioner Carta added the wetlands boundary, a better map with a scale and a secondary protection for hoop house, grading and elevations, and wetland delineation. Commissioner McClellan moves to table to the June 6th meeting. Commissioner Pritchard seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. 3. Proposed single family dwelling, driveway, footing drain and grading within the upland review area at Unit 7, 62 Autumn Lane of the Autumn Meadows Active Adult Planned Community. Applicant/agent Trilacon - Autumn Meadows LLC 18-03 ZEO Ford explained to the Commission that there are new owners and they will finish the project. Mike Bennett, Professional Land Surveyor with Bennett & Smilas Associates explained the work that would be done to complete the Autumn Meadows Active Adult Planned Community. Commissioner Whitney moves for approval for a single family dwelling, driveway, footing drain and grading within the upland review area at Unit 7, 62 Autumn Lane of the Autumn Meadows Active Adult Planned Community. Commissioner Terrasi seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. D. New Business 1. Proposed construction of a new concrete precast bridge to replace old deteriorating bridge within regulated wetlands and 100 foot upland review area at 80 Stantack Road. Applicant/agent Dino Pandolfo/Meriden Motorcycle Club 18-04 (Date of receipt 5/2/18) Commissioner Terrasi moves to accept application for a proposed construction of a new concrete precast bridge to replace old deteriorating bridge within regulated wetlands and 100 foot upland review area at 80 Stantack Road and schedule as Old Business for the June 6th meeting. Commissioner Kisluk seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. 3  2. Proposed embankment stabilization to minimize polluted fill material into the stream at the northeastern portion of parcel within the 100 foot upland review area at 56 Pameacha Avenue. Applicant/agent Arcadis U.S., Inc. 18-05 (Date of receipt 5/2/18) Commissioner Whitney moves to schedule a public hearing for June 6, 2018 for the proposed embankment stabilization to minimize polluted fill material into the stream at the northeastern portion of parcel within the 100 foot upland review area at 56 Pameacha Avenue. Commissioner McClellan seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. E. Agency Review 1. CEASE & DESIST ORDER for Giuseppa & Angelo Monarca Trustees & Arbutus Estates HOA, Inc. for work done within Regulated Wetlands and the Regulated Area without a Permit at Monarca Dr. Maps/Lots: 40/0041; 40/0042; 40/0132 ZEO Ford handed out the history and photos on this ongoing order. She asked the Commission to uphold and modify the order to include any conditions that they see fit. She read the Order into the record and explained each photo. Mr. Monarca spoke to the Commission. He stated that DeRita worked with him but it got out of hand with the truckloads of fill. He stated that he used Lot #1 for his mason business and the fill came from the addition at Xavier High School. He said that he would finish with the silt fence by the next day and by the weekend, he would have hay bales. He would also remove any excess fill from the wetlands. A discussion ensued. Commissioner Davis advocates an engineer to present plan to remediate. Commissioner Carter recommended the following:  Continue the Cease & Desist;  Get a mitigation and remediation plan;  Wetlands protection;  Stabilize the steep slopes;  ZEO Ford also added getting an engineer that is familiar to handle these violations, site developments and then make recommendation to present to the Commission;  A site plan for the IWW application for a permit;  Needs to hire a professional engineer. ZEO Ford said for the record, the Commission is asking that the Order be modified so that the owner install appropriate sedimentation and erosion controls around the perimeter of the impacted area by no later than Monday, May 7th and provide proof that he has retained an engineer to develop a mitigation plan, a remediation plan and a stabilization plan for the property. Commissioner Whitney moves to modify the Order and seconded by Commissioner Greenberg. No discussion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. 4 A motion for a 5 minute recess at 9:04 PM was moved by Commissioner Whitney and seconded by Commissioner McClellan. All in favor. Commissioner Davis left the meeting. Meeting resumed at 9:20 PM. F. Reports of Officers and Committees and WEO Report ZEO Ford gave a report on 1075 Newfield Street and will ask them to attend the next meeting if Commission would like to discuss their plans. G. Public Open Forum None H. Minutes – April 4, 2018 Commissioner McClellan moves for approval of the minutes of April 4, 2018. Commission Terrasi seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The Chair states the matter passes with 7 affirmative votes and two abstentions by Commissioners Whitney and Greenburg. I. Communication and Bills ZEO Ford read a letter from the City of Meriden regarding a text change. J. Adjournment Commissioner Pritchard moves for adjournment. Commissioner McClellan seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 9 affirmative votes. Respectfully submitted Michelle Ford Zoning and Wetlands Enforcement Officer 5