Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

MAY 3, 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF NORWICH INLAND WETLANDS, WATERCOURSES AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION Lower-level Conference Room, 23 Union Street, Norwich, Connecticut Agenda Items A, B & C – Call To Order, Roll Call, Determination Of Quorum: Chairman Raymond Baribeault called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Raymond Baribeault, Chairman Richard Morell, Vice-Chairman Barbara Rothstein Ralph Page Douglas S. Lee Brandon Hyde Robert McCoy, Alt. Absent: Jeremiah Lowney Art Sharron Also Present: Peter Davis, Director Linda Lee Smith, Recording Secretary It was determined there was a quorum and all members present would be voting. D. Minutes: Upon motion by Douglas Lee and second by Richard Morell the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the April 5, 2012 regular meeting. E. Communications: NONE F. Public Hearings: NONE G. Old Business: IWWCC #12-03 – Chelsea Gardens Foundation, Inc. – CLA Engineers, Inc. – activities associated with access drives and walkways for the proposed public gardens at Mohegan Park within 100 ft upland review area. Peter Davis stated this project is located in Mohegan Park, Judd Rd/ Wilderness area, it’s in the upland review area, and it would require a buffer permit for the construction of a 20’ wide access road with drainage structures. The nearest point of disturbance to a wetland for the road is approximately 60 feet. Water quality basins and plunge pools are also being constructed as part of the drainage system. A very extensive wetland reports was included with their application. Instead of installing a silt fence, the Wetlands Report recommended they do wood chip berms. The berms will allow migration of obligate species to migrate from upland areas to the vernal pools during the breeding season. Tom Cummings noted that there were also buildings, parking and walkways that are part of Phase I. Department of Public Works (DPW) reviewed the drainage report, had a couple of minor suggestions but they’ve approved it. The majority of storm water will infiltrate or flow overland as it does now. Tom Cummings, CLA Engineers, gave a brief history overview from 1994 to the present. After reviewing the wetland soils he showed the original Master Plan for the site as well as the revised plan. After reviewing the wetlands soils, pools, and vegetation it had been revised as the Chelsea Gardens Master Plan. The wetlands paths they will be installing stone dust type of material 8’ wide and a lot of them follow the existing path. Tom Cummings said there are about 18 areas where they come within the 100’ buffer area to be able to build paths. Bob Russo, Soil Scientist with CLA Engineers stated there would be no direct or temporary wetland impact, all activities in this phase are within the 100’ upland review area. There are hiking trails and drives proposed and most of the work in the Upland Review Area would be for access to places like the vernal pools. Bob Russo & Brian Long were working to keep storm water flows to a minimum. The overflow parking on the grass will flow into vegetated strips and pavers that are pervious and would be put back into the ground, and the roof water would be collected in cisterns and used for watering the plants. Brian Long gave a brief overview on the storm water. He stated that the run- off is to keep areas as the vernal pools and wetlands as presently with the water runoff. Each area that has a paved area will have a water quality basin. Douglas Lee asked about portion the dash line is in the middle it looks like a +crown roadway with it going in two different directions. Brian Long said yes and they originally were thinking of putting in small water quality basin and had enough overland flow for small stretch before coming down. Douglas Lee stated that he was concerned when the winter months with salt trucks going through and he’d like to have controlled the amount of runoff from the road to the wetland areas. Rather than having it crowned could they re-bank so it is beyond and not down the center of the road. Mr. Long said yes that they can do it in a swale. Mr. Lee didn’t think he needed another basin on the right side the left looked sufficient. The water quality basins have been sized to reduce the peak flows going off the site. Peter Davis stated most of it is infiltration. Peter Davis stated that parts of the path system will be regulated activities at some point. He also stated that it was referred out to City Departments and didn’t have any comments. He would have more extensive comments when the site plan is prepared. He stated that at the end they will require an As- built rather than modify the plans now. Douglas Lee asked for a copy of the Inland Wetlands Report electronically. Bob Russo will get it to Peter Davis to be sent to the Commission. 2 Chairman Raymond Baribeault was concerned with the trash on the hiking paths and the maintenance of it. Tom Cummings said it will be staffed, it’s a gated protected area to visit the garden itself, and the staff will maintain the gardens. Brandon will be recusing his vote because he sits on the Chelsea Gardens committee. Upon motion by Douglas Lee and seconded by Ralph Page the Commission voted in favor with Brandon Hyde abstaining to APPROVE application IWWCC 12-03 Chelsea Gardens Foundation Inc. with the condition that all of the portion of the roadway for which storm water runoff capture and treatment will be covered so that there would be no inadvertently design sheet-flow from the roadway into the any of the wetland areas. . IWWCC #12-04 – City of Norwich, Norwich Recreation Dept. – activities associated with the construction and replacement of the existing bathhouse at Mohegan Park within 100 ft upland review area. Peter Davis explained to the Commission that this is to replace the existing bathhouse for a buffer permit in the Upland Review Area at Spaulding Pond. They are to replace the existing bathhouse with pre-cast concrete structure on the existing slab. There will be minor disturbances, excavation and installation of utility lines. Around the edge of disturbance they will install a silt fence, for very short term construction impact if any. Uncas Health had no comment as well as the other City departments. DPW worked very closely with the architect, CLA and did the plot plan, and they’re very comfortable and there is no change to any drainage, and pre and post conditions will be the same. Upon motion by Brandon Hyde and seconded by Barbara Rothstein the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE application IWWCCA 12-04. IWWCC #12-05 – Dutch & Associates Land Surveyors for Huaru Wang, 147 Westledge Drive – activities associated with the construction of a single family house and access drive within a regulated area. Peter Davis stated that this was an incomplete application. DPW had reviewed it and requested a number of items which the applicant hasn’t provided. This will need to be tabled, and they are within the 30 day timeframe. Upon motion by Ralph Page and seconded by Richard Morell the Commission voted unanimously to TABLE the application until the next regular scheduled meeting of June 7, 2012. IWWCC #12-06 – Killingly Engineering Associates for Franklin Hills Estates & Country Club, LLC to install water and sanitary sewer lines 3  from Stott Avenue to the town of Franklin within the 100 ft upland review area. Peter Davis explained that this application was being withdrawn. After reviewing the application it was submitted as an Upland Review Application, after further review they wanted to put a pipe under the wetlands so they would be constructing some access roads and a regulated permit application would be needed. A letter had been submitted from Normand Thibeault from Killingly Engineering Associates withdrawing their application. H. New Business: None I. New Business items submitted after agenda preparation and prior to the submission deadline: Peter Davis stated that he had received the wetlands application for Franklin Hills Estate & Country Club from Killingly Engineering Associates for 2 Consumers Ave/Stott Ave IWWCC #12-09 to table for the 30 day public petition period. Upon motion by Ralph Page seconded by Brandon Hyde, the Commission voted unanimously to TABLE the application until the next regular scheduled meeting of June 7, 2012, in order to comply with the required 30 day public petition period. J. Other Business: NONE K. Violations: NONE K. Adjournment Upon motion by Brandon Hyde and seconded by Douglas Lee it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda Lee Smith, Recording Secretary 4