Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

May 5, 2016 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, and Determination Of Quorum: Chairman Richard Morell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Richard Morell, Chairman Douglas S. Lee, Vice-Chairman Brandon Hyde David Poore Robert McCoy, Alternate Art Sharron, Alternate Absent: Philip Kiley Barbara Rothstein Also Present: Linda Lee Smith, Administrative Secretary It was determined there was a quorum. Richard Morell introduced Donald Poland, professional wetlands staff for the City of Norwich. D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Douglas Lee and seconded by David Poore the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the April 7, 2016 regular meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: None F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None G. OLD BUSINESS: 1. IWWCC #16-01 – 27, 51, & 59 Norwich Avenue – Application from Norwich NE Development, LLC for the demolition of an existing building and construction of an 8,320 sq. ft. retail building with 42 parking spaces, loading zone, and associated utilities within the Upland Review Area. Donald Poland stated he reviewed the application, and the applicant had submitted revised plans and answered all related questions. Mr. Poland stated it’s not a disturbance to the wetlands, but it is in a regulated area and in relation to a watercourse. Mr. Poland stated his comments related to the wetlands were to the design of the drainage system and plunge pool because of its location near the brook and the revised plan had improved it. Mr. Poland stated he had reviewed the answers to the City Engineer and felt comfortable with the plan and revisions.  Mr. Bill Sweeney, land use attorney with TCORS in New London gave a brief presentation. Mr. Sweeney explained that this was a redevelopment project consisting of the old B&C auto repair shop, taking the building down with minor environmental cleanup, and putting retail use in the Taft station area of town. Mr. Sweeney worked with Mike Saracin to rezone the property to allow the project to proceed. Mr. Sweeney stated this is not a regulated activity permit for fill in the wetlands but it is an upland review buffer permit and located more than 100’ ft. from Hunters Brook which is the regulated watercourse area and only a small portion of the paved parking lot is within the 100’ of the upland review area. Ben Wheeler, licensed landscape architect, Director of Operations at Engineer Design Professionals, South Windsor presented. Mr. Wheeler stated the plans were to construct an 8,320 sq. ft. Family Dollar store. Mr. Wheeler explained there were 3 parcels that would be consolidated into 2 parcels with the entrance on Norwich Avenue. Mr. Wheeler stated Hunter Brook was down the bottom of a very steep stable slope with quite a bit of vegetation grown over the years and with no erosion issues. Mr. Wheeler stated there is a small portion of the parking lot which falls within the upland review area. Mr. Wheeler stated the storm water system is a traditional closed system to a series of underground chambers at the north end of the parking lot which would serve the 25 year storm as required per the regulations. Mr. Wheeler stated there was an overflow pipe which comes out to the slope with a plunge pool at the end of the pipe to stabilize the bank and any runoff and with no erosion down the bank. Mr. Wheeler stated Mr. Poland’s comments were taken into consideration with the additional topography info between outlet pipe and Hunter Brook and submitted a revised plan. Mr. Wheeler stated the riprap channel would be going all the way down the slope and there is no direct impact to any of the wetlands, it’s 6,000 sq. ft. of disturbance within the upland review area, which he considers to be very minor and would have negligible impact to the surrounding area. Art Sharron asked if the holding tanks required maintenance. Mr. Wheeler stated they would have to regularly be inspected that there wasn’t any sediment building up; they were functioning properly; and a storm drainage report issued would list the maintenance procedures. Douglas Lee was concerned with the discharge and specifications around the riprap because of the steep slope. Mr. Lee asked for more details concerning the engineering and sizing of the riprap and plunge pool. Mr. Wheeler stated the riprap was sized with the DOT standards for not only the size of plunge pool but the size of the rock in the plunge pool and also the ripraps. Mr. Wheeler stated he had revised the plan to make sure it was sized properly with the amount that was coming out of the overflow. 2  Mr. Lee asked Mr. Poland for his opinion from an erosion standpoint if he was satisfied it would be adequate. Mr. Poland stated the original plan had only the plunge pool in the design and it didn’t have the riprap all the way down. Mr. Poland had questioned how would it function with a larger than 25 year storm, and the revised plan was designed to the 100 year storm. Mr. Poland stated that the plunge pool was enlarged and the additional riprap was added. Mr. Lee stated the riprap actually provides ability to withstand a 100 year storm as opposed to originally a 25 year storm, with which Don Poland agreed. Douglas Lee asked on the plan in reference to the limits of clearing that correspond to the current clearance and vegetation. Mr. Wheeler stated there was a little bit of clearance where the parking lot would have to be cleared for the plunge pool and the riprap squall but the woods on the plan are the existing vegetation on site. Richard Morell asked if there would be any storage of fill on the site during construction. Mr. Wheeler stated there would be a temporary top soil stock pile and the erosion control plan shows that it’s properly protected and it wouldn’t impact Hunter Brook. Douglas Lee stated with the installation of the riprap a certain amount of disturbance is almost unavoidable to the edge of either side of the riprap. Mr. Lee wanted to know the extent of that disturbance and how they would stabilize post construction. Mr. Wheeler stated the landscape plan shows an erosion control mix to be planted in the disturbed area as well as erosion control mats, which would minimize the disturbance as much as possible. Douglas Lee asked what Mr. Poland’s perspective was on the adequacy of the erosion control mix and mats. Mr. Poland stated there would be silt fencing, hay bales and plunge pools with concern of the coverage the amount of area it would be spanning, but Mr. Poland didn’t comment on it. The City Engineer made comments and the new design included the riprap down to the brook, E&S controls at the base of the plunge pools, and base of the channel for the brook which are silt fencing and hay bales. Mr. Poland felt comfortable with the Chairman’s comments in relation to time of year restrictions on construction and worthwhile to consider. Bill Sweeney stated the reason to break ground on the project in July was to be able to do site work in low flow conditions in August and September and to avoid time of year such as early spring. Douglas Lee stated when making the motion a condition could be stipulated for timing to assure that the erosion control mix has a chance to root and grow by October. David Poore asked if there was any new drainage collection from Norwich Ave., or if it was all site related. Mr. Sweeney stated its all site related as Norwich Ave. is a State road with its own drainage system, and this would not be contributing anymore to Norwich Ave. and not disturbing into Hunter Brook. 3  Upon motion by Douglas Lee second by Art Sharron motion carried unanimously to approval with the condition that the construction activities associated with the installation of the riprap overflow, plunge pool and overflow panel be done sufficiently early enough for the erosion control planting mix to have a chance to adequately root before the end of October. H. NEW BUSINESS: None I. New Business items submitted after agenda preparation and prior to the submission deadline: 1. IWWCC#16-02 – 460 & 474 West Main Street – Application from O’Reilly Automotive Stores, Inc. for the construction of a retail store within a regulated upland review area. Upon motion by Art Sharron and seconded by Brandon Hyde the Commission voted unanimously to TABLE the application until the next regular scheduled meeting of June 2, 2016, in order to comply with the required 30 day petition period. J. Other Business: None K. Violations: None L. Adjournment Motion was made by Art Sharron and second by David Poore to adjourn the meeting at 7:22 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Linda Lee Smith Administrative Secretary 4