Inland / Wetlands & Water Courses Agency

Chair Joseph Carta Vice-Chair Ken McClellan Members Fred Terrasi Trevor Davis Inland Wetlands David Pritchard Jammie Middleton Jennifer Greenberg Brian Gartner And Alternates Steven Skultety Jack Pieper Vacant Paul Dyka Watercourses Agency Vacant Vacant Kristen Rzasa Staff James Sipperly, Environmental Planner MEETING MINUTES Wednesday – April 5, 2023 Meeting held in person only, Municipal Building, Common Council Chambers 7:00 P.M. Present: Kristen Rzasa Joseph Carta Paul Dyka David Pritchard Jennifer Greenberg Fred Terrasi Steven Skultety Jack Piper Trevor Davis Absent: Brian Gartner Kristen Rzasa Jammie Middleton Public: Chris Holden, Public Works Director, Ian Cole, Sal Monarca, Brian Canodo, Frank Marchese and two others Staff: James Sipperly, Environmental Planner A. Call to Order J. Carta, Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance. B. Public Hearing None C. Old Business 1. Request for the renovation of existing shooting range with activities within the regulated 100 ft. upland review area. Applicant/Agent: City of Middletown/Department of Public works. 2023-3 Chris Holden, Public Works Director presented the project. This project is similar to a previously approved project granted by the Agency, but it has expired a few months ago. The project wasn’t completed previously because of the lack of funding. The FBI and Police department have the funding now to move forward. The plan is to encapsulate the existing berm and extend it on either side and raise it. They will also add a building for training. F. Terrasi asked about the lead residue and lead abatement. C. Holden reported that the abatement is to cover it with concrete and isolate it that way. K. Rzasa asked about the vegetation removal and grass cover and E&S controls. Page 1 of 5 Motion: To have staff read the draft motion. Moved by F. Terrasi; seconded by D. Pritchard; unanimously passed. IWWA APPPLCATION W 2023-3 Applicant/Agent Department of Public Works 260 Meriden Road – renovation of existing shooting range Draft Motion: That the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency (hereinafter, “Agency”), having considered application 2023-3 with due regard to the criteria enumerated in Section 22a-41 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 8 of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Regulations of the City of Middletown finds the following: 1. That the proposed activities are to encapsulate the existing earthen shooting range berm with additional fill to enhance and expand the existing berm, construction of a concrete infield and a ballistic concrete barrier with associated clearing and grading. 2. That there will be no direct or indirect wetland impacts and that there will be 14,500 square feet in the 100 foot upland review area. 3. That the proposed work, as specified and conditioned below, is in conformance with the purposes and provisions of said sections and furthermore, will not have a significant adverse effect on the adjacent inland wetlands and watercourses. Therefore, permit # W 2023-3 is granted, with conditions, to allow the following regulated activities as depicted on the submitted plan entitled: “Site Plan, Middletown Shooting Range Renovation, 260 Meriden Road, Middletown CT, scale 1”=20’, dated March 1, 2023, sheets 1-4, prepared by SLR Consulting Group” This Permit is issued by the Agency subject to the following conditions and/or modifications as follows: 1. If the authorized activity is not completed within five (5) years from the date of approval by the Agency that is, on or before January 4, 2028 said activity shall cease and, if not previously revoked or specifically extended, this Permit shall be null and void. 2. The permittee shall notify the Wetlands Officer immediately upon the commencement of work and upon its completion. 3. Prior to the commencement of any site work, the Permittees and/or their agent shall properly install any and all sedimentation and erosion (S&E) control measures as depicted on the site plans approved by the Agency. Changes to S&E controls may be made in order to accommodate field conditions so long as they provide equal or greater protection against S&E into the regulated wetlands and upland review area. 4. A copy of the plans approved by the Agency shall be kept at the job site for the duration of construction activities as approved herein. 5. During construction, as represented to the Agency, no material shall be stockpiled within the regulated area or in areas other than those depicted on the site plans approved by the Agency. Page 2 of 5  6. The City reserves the right to inspect the site work area at any time from commencement to conclusion of the property to ensure permit conditions and compliance with the regulations is being met. 7. All sedimentation and erosion control devices shall remain in place until the end of construction and the site is deemed stabilized by the City’s Wetlands Enforcement Officer or other authorized agent of the Land Use Department. An inspection can be scheduled by calling 860-638-4590. 8. All work, including all regulated activities conducted pursuant to this authorization, shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of this Permit. Any structures, excavation, fill, obstructions, encroachments, and/or regulated activities not specifically identified and authorized herein shall constitute a violation of this Permit and may result in its modification, suspension, or revocation. Upon initiation of the activities authorized herein, the Permittees accept and agree to comply fully with all terms and conditions of this Permit. 9. No equipment or material including, without limitation, fill, construction materials and/or debris, shall be deposited, placed, and/or stored in any regulated area, on or off site, unless specifically authorized by this Permit. 10. The authorizations and activities set forth in this Permit are not transferable without the written consent of the Agency or its Authorized Agent. 11. In evaluating this application, the Agency has relied on information provided by the Permittees. If such information subsequently proves to be false, deceptive, incomplete and/or inaccurate, this Permit may be modified, suspended, or revoked by the Agency. 12. If applicable, flagging associated with the wetland boundary shall remain until the completion of construction activities and shall not be removed until all work is complete and the site is stabilized. 13. The Permittee shall employ best management practices, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Permit, to control stormwater discharge, to prevent erosion and sediment migration beyond the work area(s), and to otherwise prevent pollution of inland wetlands and watercourses. The Permittees shall immediately inform the City’s Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer of any problems related to activities in the regulated area, which have been impacted during the course of, or caused by, the authorized work. 14. This Permit is subject to, and does not detract from, any present or future property rights or other rights or powers of the State of Connecticut, and conveys no property rights in real estate or material nor any exclusive privileges, and is further subject to any and all public and private rights and to any federal, state, or local laws or regulations pertinent to the property or activity affected hereby. 15. Nothing in these regulations shall obviate any requirement for the Permittee to obtain any other assent, permit, or license required by law and/or regulation by the Government of the United States, the State of Connecticut, or any other political subdivisions thereof. Obtaining such assents, permits, and/or licenses is solely the responsibility of the Permittee. 16. That any storage of fuel, oils and other chemicals on the site shall be stored in a secondary container to prevent the possibilities of spills and/or leaks. T. Davis asked about the sound and the barriers to block the sound. C. Holden stated that the earthen berm is 14’ high and the sound wall is 16’ high on top of that. Vote was unanimously. Page 3 of 5  D. New Business 1. Request to construct a trucking terminal with a 8,100 sf building with 8 loading docks on Timber Ridge Road (map –Lot 01-0018), applicant/Agent: Harpreet Sandhu/TBS Plus, LLC 2023-4 Brian Canado, P.E., presented the plans in detail. There will be 1.98 acres of pervious pavement and .95 of upland review disturbance. Ian Cole, Soil Scientist gave his report. There are no wetlands to be disturbed. Bradley Brook is the watercourse that flows through the property. T. Davis asked about moving the building and because of the grade they cannot. J. Piper asked aboiut the drippings of oil, gas and truck fluids. K. Rzasa asked about vegetation removal and I. Cole said that most of it is invasive and the soil in the field was stripped off in 2008. S. Skultety asked about finish floor elevations and proposed grades. Motion: To accept the application and put it on the agenda for May 3, under old business. Moved by T. Davis; seconded by P. Dyka approved unanimously. Motion: To set a field trip for April 19, 2023 at 5:00pm. Moved by D. Pritchard; seconded by J. Piper approved unanimously 2. Request to construct a 12,000 sf CMU storage building in the upland review area at 2175 South Main Street. Applicant /Agent: AMI Sports, LLC 2023-2 S. Monarca explained the proposed plans. It will be just a storage building with no plumbing. The engineer explained the drainage and discharge of the plunge pool to the intermittent watercourse. The engineer explained the plunge pool details. Motion: To accept the application and schedule it for action on May 3, 2023. Moved by D. Pritchard; seconded S. Skultety; approved unanimously 3. Request to place millings /gravel to park 20-50 cars for a new used car dealership within the upland review area at 1397 Newfield Street. Applicant /Agent: Joshua Freeman/Freeman Enterprises LLC The applicant is not in attendance tonight. J. Sipperly stated that a basic plan was submitted and told the applicant that it would have to be designed by a professional. Motion: To accept the application and table it for May 3, 2023. Moved by T. Davis; seconded by F. Terrasi; approved unanimously. E. Agency Review 1. Proposed conversion from a grass soccer field to a synthetic turf field within the upland review area. J. Sipperly stated that item was before the wetland commission as stated by the applicant. Staff could not find any application or site plans. Nothing was found in the electronic archives. J. Carta stated that he does remember that it came before the commission but couldn’t remember when. Page 4 of 5  F. Marchese stated that they received permission to do several fields. One they turned into turf and after a rain they can play on it immediately. They want to convert a grass field into another turf field. The contactor, Carl Rosa explained the drainage and installation of the turf. J. Greenberg asked about the water drainage. S. Skultety asked about the topsoil being removed and it was confirmed it will be removed off site. T. Davis asked about the permeability of the turf. Motion: That the turf will be better for the field and be more efficient and that no permit is required. Moved by F. Terrasi; seconded by K. Rzasa; approved unanimously. F. Reports of Officers and Committees J. Sipperly reported that he conducted some inspections of various locations but did not have the location list with him. G. Public Open forum None H. Minutes of March 1, 2023 The minutes were reviewed. Revisions are: Terrasi with two R’s ; B. Gartner was absent as well as T. Davis absent; add public under 3rd paragraph C1. Motion: To approve the minutes as amended; moved by D. Pritchard; seconded by J. Greenberg; approved unanimously with K. Rzasa abstaining I. Communication and Bills J. Greenberg finished revising the wetland regulations. J. Sipperly recommended forming a subcommittee to review them. J. Greenberg, D. Pritchard, J. Middleton and J. Sipperly are the subcommittee members. J. Adjournment Motion to adjourn at 8:25pm Moved by K. Rzasa; seconded by f. Terrasi Passed unanimously. Respectively Submitted, James Sipperly, Secretary Department of Land Use Page 5 of 5