Inland Wetlands Commission

CITY OF TORRINGTON INLAND WETLANDS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 21, 2023 Present: Jay Bate, Jr., Chair Christine Altman, Vice Chair (arrived 7:09 p.m.) Emily Jury, Member Joe Paganini, Member Adrienne M. Barbe, Member Karl Hunter, Member Also Present: Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Assistant City Planner and Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer Not Present: Tomasz Kalinowski, Member 1. Call To Order: Chair Jay Bate called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.; Room 218, City Hall Auditorium, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT, and remote via Microsoft Teams meeting. 2. Roll Call and Announcement: Chair Bate announced present and serving this evening will be Commissioners Emily Jury (via zoom), Joe Paganini, Karl Hunter, Adrienne Barbe, and Jay Bate. Also present is Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Assistant City Planner. Christine Altman arrived 7:09 p.m. 3. Minutes for Approval: a. January 24, 2023 MOTION by Mr. Paganini to approve January 24, 2023 minutes, seconded by Mr. Hunter, unanimously carried. 4. Old Business: None 5. New Business: a. Applicant: Eric Beyus and Alexis Waight Location: 435 Notting Hill Gate Activity: Erect fence within regulated area  Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed this application arose from a combined zoning and wetlands violation, where hutches, coops, fencing, and minor filling had been done within the regulated areas. The owners have agreed to move the hutches out of the wetlands area, which has already been accomplished at this time. The only thing remaining is a split rail fence, and the owners have requested to keep the fence within the wetlands area. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus screen shared an aerial photo, showing location of wetlands and fencing. Owner Alexis Waight appeared and explained the fence is for their dog, and to keep their daughter safe, and to keep people from wandering onto their property. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus shared a recent photo of the site, showing the hutches have been moved. (Vice Chair Altman arrived at this time, 7:09 p.m.) Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed the application. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus said he will be recommending metal medallions for wetlands be posted on site. Ms. Waight was agreeable to this. MOTION by Ms. Altman to accept the following application: Applicant: Eric Beyus and Alexis Waight Location: 435 Notting Hill Gate Activity: Erect fence within regulated area and that this is not a significant activity requiring a public hearing. Motion seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. This item will appear on next month’s Commission agenda. 6. Staff Report: a. Enforcement Report:  137 Babbling Brook Road Mr. Nardi-Cyrus updated the Commission, this is the result of a barn being erected without permits. A perennial stream was buried and piped, and a lawn created in the area. The applicant has been cooperative and is working with George Logan, Soil Scientist. Mr. Logan has been delayed in submitting application due to an office move, and the application should be arriving by the next meeting.  131 Woodbine Street A shed was constructed on City property, near the Naugatuck River. The property owner has received a permit to remove the shed, and clean up the debris by June 1, 2023.  3226/3222 Torringford Street Property owner George Noujaim is building a single family home on one lot, and inland wetlands were found on one lot, the wetlands was completely blocking the entrance to the lots. An Inland Wetlands Permit was received. Significant restoration was required. Logging was also being done, and the loggers dragged material through the wetlands ripping the area apart. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus worked with them to stop action, and update the Inland Wetlands Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4 March 21, 2023  permit, and the area will be restored. Much work will need to be done to restore the wetlands in this area. Tractors were sunk up to their hubs in wetlands. This was not a particularly cold winter, which created more problems with unfrozen ground areas. b. Agent Determinations:  131 Woodbine Street – relocation of shed in URA Previously discussed under enforcement  232 Klug Hill Road – temporary construction access road in URA Mr. Nardi-Cyrus explained this is not the access road to the campground, but an improved farm road. c. Minor Modifications:  232 Klug Hill Road – Torrington City Engineer had concerns about the grade of this access road, modifications could be done and no real changes were made that would necessitate another Inland Wetlands application.  2315 Torringford West – extend culvert pipe Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed the two owners of this property are loggers, and the installation of a culvert pipe for a single family home was not done correctly. The engineer needed to redesign the culvert. This was a minor modification to extend their culvert pipe. c. Notifications  Environmental Intervention – Silicon Ranch Corp. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus explained this environmental intervention on the new solar project. This project went directly to the Connecticut Siting Council, with no local Torrington decisions required. This project was reviewed by the Connecticut DEEP for their inland wetlands permitting. Any local resident can file as an intervenor. This is just a notice to this local land use agency that a private citizen is involved with the State permitting process now. Torrington Conservation Commission has also received this notice.  TWC notice of dam maintenance – Reuben Hart Reservoir Noted by Mr. Nardi-Cyrus that no approval is required from the City of Torrington. Connecticut DEEP forms/applications were sent in, and the dam is in the process of being inspected. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus explained the process of Jurisdictional Determination for the new Commission members. Agricultural, water company work, etc. fall into this category. Inland Wetlands Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 March 21, 2023 7. Adjournment: MOTION by Ms. Altman to adjourn at 7:26 p.m, seconded by Mr. Paganini, unanimously carried. City of Torrington Land Use Office Inland Wetlands Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4 March 21, 2023