Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

July 10, 2014 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 Philip Kiley Robert McCoy, Alternate Absent: Ralph Page Douglas S. Lee Barbara Rothstein Jeremiah Lowney Brandon Hyde Art Sharron, Alternate Also Present: Peter Davis, Director Linda Lee Smith, Recording Secretary It was determined there was a quorum. D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Philip Kiley and second by Richard Morell the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the June 5, 2014 regular meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: Peter Davis stated there were two communications from the Commission on the City Plan to be discussed under Other Business. Floodplain Referral SP #14-03 – Norwich Public Utilities – 168 West Town St + Wawecus St and Floodplain Referral SP #14-04 – Montville Road/Trading Cove Brook. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None G. OLD BUSINESS: 1. IWWCC #14-01 – 128 Wawecus Hill Road – Application from Richard Perry/CLA Engineers, Inc. for the construction of abutments and covered bridge to support riding trails, within a regulated area. Peter Davis stated there are regulated activities within the wetlands; the primary activity would be the two abutments to support a proposed covered bridge. Mr. Davis stated there would be some excavation within the regulated area, dewatering, stabilization and temporary installation with sediment and erosion control, and sand bagging for coffer dams. Mr. Davis stated the flow from the adjacent pond was minimal and would be controlled by the coffer dam structures. Mr. Davis stated it would be a very short term disturbance, two weeks construction time for the abutments and the covered bridge to be constructed spring 2015. Robert Russo, Soil Scientist, CLA, Norwch gave a brief overview of the project. Mr. Russo stated the flow of water is very gentle and can hardly notice the water moving with very little erosive issues. Mr. Russo stated there would be about 1100 sq. ft. of actual fill of wetlands which was well below the Army Corp of Engineers threshold of 5,000 sq. ft. The project would require a minimum amount of fill to install the abutments. Mr. Russo stated calculations about bearing capacity of the soil were included with the application and is confident it could bear the load from the bridge. Patrick McLaughlin, City Engineer had reviewed the calculations and agreed with the analysis. Mr. Russo stated in order to excavate with minimal impact on wetlands, sand bags would be installed around the excavation to keep the water out and the hay bale barrier would be installed around the edge of the sand bags to filter any water that may seep out. There would be an area provided for the water within the excavated area to be pumped; dewatering enclosure, a settling basin and the water discharged would be clean. Mr. Russo stated geo textile and compacted stone would be brought in for the footings, a modular block wall for the bridge abutment, a concrete pad onto compacted gravel with the bridge timbers on it. Mr. Russo stated the construction would be short term, 2 to 3 weeks. Mr. Russo also proposed riprap around the abutments to keep the slopes stable. Richard Morell asked if the proposed gravel drive would have any impact on the wetlands. Mr. Russo stated the drive currently exists; the added gravel would essentially be maintenance. Philip Kiley asked if the sand bags and hay bales were temporary and the riprap was permanent. Mr. Russo stated yes. Richard Morell asked if the process would begin during the low flow season in August. Mr. Russo stated yes. Upon motion by Richard Morell and second by Philip Kiley it was determined there was not a significant activity for IWWCC #14-01. The Commission voted unanimously. Upon motion by Richard Morell and seconded by Philip Kiley the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE application IWWCC #14-01. 2 H. NEW BUSINESS: 1. IWWCC #14-02 – Connecticut Avenue and adjacent storm water easement areas – Application from DPW to stabilize existing storm drain outlets. Peter Davis stated the application would need to be tabled until the next regular meeting, due to the required 30 day public petition period. Upon motion by Richard Morell seconded by Philip Kiley the Commission voted unanimously to TABLE the application until the next regular scheduled meeting of August 7, 2014, in order to comply with the required 30 day petition period. I. New Business items submitted after agenda preparation and prior to the submission deadline: None J. Other Business: 1. Floodplain Referral, SP #14-03 – Norwich Public Utilities -168 West Town St + Wawecus St. Natural gas fueling station construction Peter Davis stated the CCP referral came before the wetlands commission for an advisory opinion on potential impacts to flood plain resources as a result of the proposed scope of work. Mr.Davis gave brief overview of the project. He stated DPU is leasing a portion of the property behind the car wash for a natural gas fueling station. Mr. Davis stated the flood plain elevation is 96'. The site is already developed and there is a slight increase in compensatory storage as a result of site grading for the access road. The dispenser facility will be elevated 1½’ above the floodplain elevation. Staff is of the opinion there is no potential impact to the flood plain resources. Philip Kiley made a motion and seconded by Robert McCoy to send a FAVORABLE recommendation to the Commission on the City Plan for SP #14-03 as there was no anticipated impact to floodplain resources. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Floodplain Referral, SP #14-04 – Montville Road/Trading Cove Brook Reconstruction of Montville Road Bridge The subject application is a referral from the CCP for activities proposed within a regulated floodplain and requires an advisory report. Peter Davis gave a brief overview on the project, which entails the replacement of the Montville Road. Mr. Davis stated the activities within the flood plain were reviewed under the previous wetlands application. Mr. Davis stated essentially everything involved in replacing the bridge is within the 100 year floodplain. Mr. Davis stated post construction compensatory storage will increase. 3  Philip Kiley made a motion and seconded by Richard Morell to forward a FAVORABLE recommendation to the Commission on the City Plan for SP #14-04 as there was no anticipated impact to floodplain resources and the proposed activities had been reviewed and approved under a prior wetlands permit application for regulated activities. Motion carried unanimously. K. Violations: None L. Adjournment Motion was made by Richard Morell and seconded by Philip Kiley to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda Lee Smith Recording Secretary 4