Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes August 5, 2021 CITY OF NORWICH INLAND WETLANDS, WATERCOURSES AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION VIRTUAL/REMOTE MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Richard Morell called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. B. ROLL CALL and SEATING of ALTERNATES: Present: Chairman Richard Morell, Vice Chairman Douglas Lee and Peter Chalecki. Swarnjit Singh Bhatia joined at 7:04PM. Brandon Hyde joined at 7:07PM. Absent: Michael Lahan and Robert McCoy. Also Present: Dan Daniska, Assistant City Planner and Katherine Rose, Recording Secretary. C. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Douglas Lee put forth a motion to APPROVE the July 1, 2021 regular meeting minutes as presented. Peter Chalecki seconded. Peter Chalecki, Douglas Lee and Richard Morrell voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. D. COMMUNICATIONS: Dan Daniska reported that he received a notification to treat the pond at 289 New London Turnpike on or around August 5th, 2021. E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. F. OLD BUSINESS: None. ● IWWCC #21-06 – 267 Salem Turnpike – Construction New Single Family Home, Approximately 9500 Sq. Ft. of Disturbance within the 100 Foot Upland Review Area. Property and Application of Tony Liang/TTL Realty, LLC. Assessor’s Map 121, Block 2, Lot 12. Zone R-20. The applicant was not in attendance. Dan Daniska presented the application and revised site plans that address concerns from city departments. Discussion ensued regarding the comments from the city engineer and the site layout. Douglas Lee made a motion that the application was not a significant activity and did not require a public hearing. Peter Chalecki seconded. Douglas Lee, Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde and Richard Morrell voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Douglas Lee made a motion to APPROVE IWWCC #21-06 with the following conditions: ● That the approval is valid for FIVE YEARS and will expire on 08/05/2026. ● That the required bond, in an amount deemed satisfactory to the City Engineer, be submitted for Erosion and Sediment Control and Site Restoration. Bonds must be  submitted in a form acceptable to the City (check or letter of credit) prior to any land disturbance activities occurring. ● That final revised plans be submitted and reviewed by City Staff. ● That the City’s letter of approval be placed on the final revised plan set (cover page preferred). ● That all site activities shall be conducted in accordance with the plans, specifications and documents of record. Any deviation from the approved plans or construction sequence shall be cause for enforcement action by the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission. ● That the permittee shall notify the Inland Wetlands Agent prior to the commencement of work and upon its completion. ● That all work and all regulated activities conducted pursuant to this authorization shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of this approval. Any structures, excavation, fill, obstructions, encroachments or regulated activities not specifically identified and authorized herein shall constitute a violation of this approval and may result in its modification, suspension, or revocation. Upon initiation of the activities authorized herein, the permittee thereby accepts and agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of this approval. ● That no equipment or materials including without limitation fill, construction materials, or debris, shall be deposited, placed, or stored in any wetland or watercourse on or off site unless specifically authorized by this approval. ● That the General Provisions stated in Section 11.9 of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations are applicable to this permit. ● That the permit shall not be assigned or transferred to another entity without the written permission of the Commission. ● That all erosion and sediment control measures shall be in accordance with the Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control. Erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed and inspected prior to site disturbance. It is the permittee's responsibility to schedule the inspection with the Norwich Planning Department. Additional erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed if determined to be necessary by the Designated Agent. The permittee shall take such necessary steps consistent with the terms and conditions of the approval, to control stormwater discharges and to prevent erosion and sedimentation and to otherwise prevent pollution of wetlands and watercourses. ● That this permit will be strictly enforced. The Commission may suspend or revoke this permit, may direct the Commission's Agent to issue a cease and desist order or may require the applicant to modify, extend, or revise the site work or restore the area to its original condition if it finds that the applicant has not complied with the conditions set forth in this approval or if the applicant exceeds the scope of this approval as set forth herein or if the intended use or actual use of the general site is not as represented by the application or the plan of record. Peter Chalecki seconded. Douglas Lee, Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde and Richard Morrell voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. G. NEW BUSINESS: Richard Morrell stated both new applications would be received and voted on during the regular meeting. ● IWWCC #19-17M – 33 Wisconsin Avenue – Modification of a Previously Approved Grading Plan (IWWCC #19-17)) Located within the 100 Foot Upland Review Area. Property and Application of Prime Enterprises, LLC, Frank Blanchard – Principal. Assessor’s Map 34, Block 1, Lot 4. Zone BP. David McCane of Boundaries LLC introduced himself on behalf of the applicant, who was the property owner, and presented their proposed modified plan. David McCane discussed the original proposed plan and revisions made to reduce the amount of operating area for the business that would be compromised from 1,200 sq. ft. to approximately 200 sq. ft. Douglas Lee and David McCane discussed the changes in the plan in regards to DEEP regulations. David McCane noted that the proposed revised plan met all DEEP standards. Discussion continued regarding the variations between the previously approved and proposed plans. Douglas Lee made a motion that the application was not a significant activity and did not require a public hearing. Peter Chalecki seconded. Douglas Lee, Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde and Richard Morrell voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Swarnjit Singh Bhatia made a motion to APPROVE IWWCC #19-17M with the following conditions: ● That the original approval remains valid for FIVE YEARS and will expire on 12/02/2024. ● That the bond originally approved with IWWCC #19-17, in an amount satisfactory to the City Engineer, is sufficient for Erosion and Sediment Control and Site Restoration. ● That all site activities shall be conducted in accordance with the plans, specifications and documents of record. Any deviation from the approved plans or construction sequence shall be cause for enforcement action by the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission. ● That the permittee shall notify the Inland Wetlands Agent prior to the commencement of work and upon its completion. ● That all work and all regulated activities conducted pursuant to this authorization shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of this approval. Any structures, excavation, fill, obstructions, encroachments or regulated activities not specifically identified and authorized herein shall constitute a violation of this approval and may result in its modification, suspension, or revocation. Upon initiation of the activities authorized herein, the permittee thereby accepts and agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of this approval. ● That no equipment or materials including without limitation fill, construction materials, or debris, shall be deposited, placed, or stored in any wetland or watercourse on or off site unless specifically authorized by this approval. ● That the General Provisions stated in Section 11.9 of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations are applicable to this permit. ● That the permit shall not be assigned or transferred to another entity without the written permission of the Commission. ● That all erosion and sediment control measures shall be in accordance with the Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control. Erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed and inspected prior to site disturbance. It is the permittee's responsibility to schedule the inspection with the Norwich Planning  Department. Additional erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed if determined to be necessary by the Designated Agent. The permittee shall take such necessary steps consistent with the terms and conditions of the approval, to control stormwater discharges and to prevent erosion and sedimentation and to otherwise prevent pollution of wetlands and watercourses. ● That this permit will be strictly enforced. The Commission may suspend or revoke this permit, may direct the Commission's Agent to issue a cease and desist order or may require the applicant to modify, extend, or revise the site work or restore the area to its original condition if it finds that the applicant has not complied with the conditions set forth in this approval or if the applicant exceeds the scope of this approval as set forth herein or if the intended use or actual use of the general site is not as represented by the application or the plan of record. Brandon Hyde seconded. Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde and Richard Morrell voted in favor. Douglas Lee voted in opposition. The motion passed. ● IWWCC #21-10 – 20 Hammond Avenue – Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system to repair an existing system in the Regulated Area. Application of James Troeger, Property of Claudia Orrego. Assessor’s Map 111, Block 1, Lot 26. Zone R-40. James Troeger stated his application was in regards to repairing an antiquated septic system at a single family home which had completely failed and was therefore looking to replace the system. James Troeger stated he had conferred with Uncas Health District who provided a verbal agreement as to what would be an acceptable repair. Douglas Lee made a motion that the application was not a significant activity and did not require a public hearing. Peter Chalecki seconded. Douglas Lee, Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde. The motion passed unanimously. Douglas Lee made a motion to APPROVE IWWCC #21-10 with the following conditions: ● That the approval is valid for FIVE YEARS and will expire on 08/05/2026. ● That all site activities shall be conducted in accordance with the plans, specifications and documents of record. Any deviation from the approved plans or construction sequence shall be cause for enforcement action by the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission. ● That the permittee shall notify the Inland Wetlands Agent prior to the commencement of work and upon its completion. ● That all work and all regulated activities conducted pursuant to this authorization shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of this approval. Any structures, excavation, fill, obstructions, encroachments or regulated activities not specifically identified and authorized herein shall constitute a violation of this approval and may result in its modification, suspension, or revocation. Upon initiation of the activities authorized herein, the permittee thereby accepts and agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of this approval. ● That no equipment or materials including without limitation fill, construction materials, or debris, shall be deposited, placed, or stored in any wetland or  watercourse on or off site unless specifically authorized by this approval. ● That the General Provisions stated in Section 11.9 of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations are applicable to this permit. ● That the permit shall not be assigned or transferred to another entity without the written permission of the Commission. ● That all erosion and sediment control measures shall be in accordance with the Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control. Erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed and inspected prior to site disturbance. It is the permittee's responsibility to schedule the inspection with the Norwich Planning Department. Additional erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed if determined to be necessary by the Designated Agent. The permittee shall take such necessary steps consistent with the terms and conditions of the approval, to control stormwater discharges and to prevent erosion and sedimentation and to otherwise prevent pollution of wetlands and watercourses. ● That this permit will be strictly enforced. The Commission may suspend or revoke this permit, may direct the Commission's Agent to issue a cease and desist order or may require the applicant to modify, extend, or revise the site work or restore the area to its original condition if it finds that the applicant has not complied with the conditions set forth in this approval or if the applicant exceeds the scope of this approval as set forth herein or if the intended use or actual use of the general site is not as represented by the application or the plan of record. Peter Chalecki seconded. Douglas Lee, Peter Chalecki, Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Brandon Hyde and Richard Morrell voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. H. OTHER BUSINESS: None. I. VIOLATIONS: None. J. ADJOURNMENT: Douglas Lee made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 PM. Peter Chalecki seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose, Recording Secretary