Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes December 5, 2024 CITY OF NORWICH INLAND WETLANDS, WATERCOURSES AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION HYBRID MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER: called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. B. ROLL CALL and SEATING of ALTERNATES: Chairman Richard Morrel stated that all members, aside from alternates Cullan Riley and Nicholas Fortson, would be seated and voting during the meeting. Present: Richard Morrell, Douglas Lee (ZOOM), Chris Seery (ZOOM), Peter Chalecki (ZOOM), Cullan Riley (ZOOM), Nicholas Fortson and Deane Nason. Absent: Brandon Hyde. Also Present: Katherine Rose, Recording Secretary; and Dan Daniska, City Planner/Wetland Agent C. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Peter Chalecki put forth a motion to APPROVE the September 12, 2024, regular meeting minutes. Douglas Lee seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. D. COMMUNICATIONS: Dan Daniska stated there would be a webinar on Connecticut Land Use Law for Municipal Land Use Agencies, Boards and Commissions held virtually on December 22, 2024. Dan Daniska stated he would forward the information to members as the date gets closer. E. OLD BUSINESS: 1. IWWCC #24-12: 70 Yantic Lane Application for maintenance activities, including removal and disposal of silt build up, and re-grading of overgrown vegetated areas in a drainage pond on- site to improve water flow and quality. Proposed land disturbance activities within a regulated wetland and associated upland review area. Application and Property of Michael and Kathleen McCormack. Assessor’s Map 57, Block 1, Lot 6. Zone R-20. (Received Via Statue) Dan Daniska pulled up an aerial view of the property on screen for all to see. Michael McCormack showed where the intrusion of the pond and silt plume ran through the culvert that runs under their driveway. Michael McCormack stated he was unsure of the date of the aerial image, but it was fairly accurate to the current conditions of the site. Michael McCormack also noted the excessive vegetation growing around the pond. Michael McCormack stated it was their intent to clean the pond area and the rest of the property. Michael McCormack showed the area north of the dam where he would be stationing the dump trucks and loading the dredging, so that there would not be any interference with traffic. Michael McCormack stated that the wetland agent recommended they use a tracking mat to eliminate silt, which would be located in the same area. Michael McCormack explained that the area shown is the best place for this work as the rest of the property was steep, and there was a dam located on the northern side. Michael McCormack stated he would install hay bales in addition to the tracking mat. Michael McCormack shared a view of the dam on the north side of the property where more vegetation growth existed. Michael McCormack stated the gazebo on the property sat by the deepest part of the pond, which was only about a foot of water, and he planned to dig a sump there. Michael McCormack stated they would pump that and use a filtration system such as a perforated pipe and silt sack, and then return the water to the stream that runs below the dam. Michael McCormack stated this is how the dewatering would take place, if necessary. Michael McCormack shared a west view of the unloading area. Michael McCormack added that he spoke to a contractor who said if they took on the job, they would bring the sediment to a farm in Franklin and lay it in a corn field. Richard Morrell asked what type of equipment would be used for the project. Michael McCormack responded that he imagined a large excavator would be needed and a series of dump trucks. Richard Morrell asked if the contractor had an estimate of how much fill would need to be removed. Michael McCormack responded that his estimate was about 1,300 cubic feet. Michael McCormack stated he wished to bring the pond to a mean depth of about four feet. Michael McCormack estimated the job would take about three weeks to complete, assuming there would be roughly 100 dump truck loads of debris to be removed. Deane Neason asked if work to the pond and dam had been done previously. Michael McCormack responded he was unsure, but the silt was coming from the Yantic Lane hill and the infrastructure in place on the road to contain the runoff does not do enough. Discussion ensued. Deane Neason asked what the expected lifetime of the work was. Michael McCormack stated he would be happy to get ten years out of it. Peter Chalecki asked if the pond received any storm water from the road or catch basin system in any way. Michael McCormack responded it did not, and the storm system infrastructure was independent of what was being washed into his pond. Dan Daniska noted that if the applicant was planning to store anything dredged out before it goes in a dump truck, appropriate Erosion and Sedimentation controls would need to be placed around that. Dan Daniska asked what the working hours of the project would be, to which Michael McCormack responded 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM approximately. Dan Daniska asked if the applicant would put anything in the spillway to prevent things from being disturbed downstream. Michael McCormack responded the pond has acted like a filtration system, which is why all of the silt is within it and not washing into the stream. Michael McCormack stated he had no intention of dissembling the spillway in any form, and noted there was a buildup of silt by the dam of the north side where it also did not flow further down. Michael McCormack stated he was unsure of how to add additional filtration by the dam. Dan Daniska asked that the applicant keep an eye on the situation and advise of any changes. Deane Neason made a motion that the application was not a significant activity and would not require a public hearing Douglas Lee seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Chris Seery made a motion to To APPROVE IWWCC #24-12 with the following conditions: ● That the approval is valid for FIVE YEARS and will expire on 12/05/2029. ● 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. Douglas Lee seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously.  F. NEW BUSINESS: ● Receipt of New Applications: None. G. OTHER BUSINESS: None. H. VIOLATIONS: Updates I. ADJOURNMENT: Douglas Lee made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:19 PM. Chris Seery seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose - Recording Secretary