Inland Wetlands Commission

CITY OF TORRINGTON INLAND WETLANDS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 24, 2023 Present: Jay Bate, Jr., Chair Christine Altman, Vice Chair Adrienne Barbe, Member Randall Stelma, Member Also Present: Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer and Assistant City Planner Not Present: Joe Paganini, Member 1. Call To Order: Chair Jay Bate Jr. called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; City Hall Auditorium, Room 218, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT, and remote via Microsoft teams meeting. 2. Roll Call and Announcement: Chair Bate announced present and serving this evening are Commissioners Christine Altman, Adrienne Barbe, Randall Stelma and Jay Bate. Also present is Nate Nardi- Cyrus, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer. 3. Minutes for Approval: a. September 26, 2023 MOTION by Ms. Altman to approve the September 26, 2023 minutes, seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. 4. Old Business: a. Applicant: Mike Perugini Location: 811 Torringford Street (Assessor Map 144 Block 002 Lot 002) Activity: Construction of house within upland regulated area The applicant was not present. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed past history on this site. The applicant is searching for an engineer now, and has requested a 65 day extension until the December meeting for the Commission to make a decision. If a decision is not made, the application will have to be denied and a new application can be considered, as the time requirements have expired. MOTION by Ms. Altman to table this application, seconded by Mr. Stelma, unanimously carried.  b. Applicant: Berat and Festim Arjo Location: 207 Silver Brook Lane (Assessor Map 219/001/197) Activity: Restoration to remediate grading and filling of mapped wetlands within the URA The applicant was not present. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus stated the applicant was not able to be present this meeting as he is out of the country. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus screen shared maps of the site and provided history of the fee structure proposed, which has been paid and an application submitted. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus provided details of additional information on the application given by the applicant, referring to plans and maps screen shared. A new fence has been erected in the upland regulated area without the applicant informing the Land Use Office, this fence went up immediately after the last meeting. It is probably a benefit to the wetlands, keeping activity out of the wetlands. The fence has been added to the application. Per Mr. Nardi-Cyrus, the fence will have to be partially removed to restore the wetlands area. MOTION by Ms. Altman to accept the application: Applicant: Berat and Festim Arjo Location: 207 Silver Brook Lane (Assessor Map 219/001/197) Activity: Restoration to remediate grading and filling of mapped wetlands within the URA and installation of a fence. and that this is not a significant activity requiring a public hearing. Motion seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. c. Applicant: David Alfano Location: 87 Eagle Ridge (Assessor Map 244 Block 006 Lot 173) Activity: Restoration of unpermitted altered wetlands. The applicant was not present. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus provided history from the last Commission meeting. He suggested removing the planted hemlocks, black birch is a safer, hardier choice. Ryan Nelson, Soil Scientist, can oversee this project, and wetlands signage can be posted. The house foundation is five feet from the edge of the wetlands, making the markers important. Plants species to be used can be worked out with City Staff. In response to questions from Mr. Stelma, Mr. Nardi-Cyrus provided details and history to mitigate and correct the violations on site. Now this application is ready for a decision. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus’ recommendation is to approve with conditions: a. Project is to be overseen by a professional restoration specialist. b. Metal wetlands sign plaquards shall be placed, and placement to be approved by Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer. c. Plant species may be modified with the approval of the Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer as stated in Nate Nardi-Cyrus’ memo to the Commission dated October 24, 2023. MOTION by Ms. Altman to GRANT a permit with above noted conditions. Motion seconded by Mr. Stelma, unanimously carried. Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission Meeting Minutes – October 24, 2023 Page 2 of 5  d. Applicant: James Mazzarelli Location: 137 Babbling Brook Road (Assessor Map 221 Block 003 Lot 054) Activity: Piping of 130’ of watercourse, creation of armored ponds before and after piped stream, and backfilling of adjacent wetlands to extend lawn. The applicant was not present. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed the Zoning Enforcement action of the accessory structure that was constructed without permits, which the applicant addressed and complied. There is a piped stream and wetlands that had been filled between 10 and 15 years ago. There are soil scientist mappings done in the 1980’s during the time of the subdivision. George Logan, REMA, Soil Scientist from Vernon, CT appeared via zoom. Mr. Logan provided technical details of his research on the site. Mr. Logan can make himself available for a site walk with Commissioners. Mr. Logan screen shared a 2016 aerial photograph of the site and noted features of the site, pointing to various areas on the map, and reviewed his mitigation implementation notes. The seed mix was reviewed in detail, referring to screen displayed information sheets. The seed mix will be monitored for two years to remove invasives. No full size trees or shrubs are suggested at this point by Mr. Logan. These areas can be defined with posted metal plaquards. Removal of invasives was discussed. It was the consensus of the Commission that a site walk is important. Maps and aerials were further reviewed. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus provided an overlay map provided by the City’s GIS Manager. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus shared photos taken on September 25, 2023 and provided details of the site. MOTION by Ms. Altman to table Applicant: James Mazzarelli Location: 137 Babbling Brook Road (Assessor Map 221 Block 003 Lot 054) Activity: Piping of 130’ of watercourse, creation of armored ponds before and after piped stream, and backfilling of adjacent wetlands to extend lawn. until a site walk with the Commission can be done to determine if this a significant activity. Motion seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus stated we have 65 days to set a public hearing, and he will work with the applicant to obtain an extension. e. Applicant: Robert Carlson Location: 540 Westledge Drive (Assessor Map 229 Block 002 Lot 031) Activity: Removal of vegetation within basin and adjacent area within wetland and deposition of gravel in the URA. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed his memo to the Commission dated October 24, 2023, which included installing wetlands markers on the trees around the wetlands, and that the permit Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission Meeting Minutes – October 24, 2023 Page 3 of 5  be allowed for maintenance of the wetlands and that the curtain drain be moved back and armored with stone and the area be seeded with restoration seed mix, and the maintenance to be determined, such as mowing. A detailed discussion by the Inland Wetlands Commission, applicant Mr. Robert Carlson, and Mr. Nardi-Cyrus followed outlining restorations and moving of the piping (7:45 p.m.) MOTION by Ms. Altman to GRANT a permit to Applicant: Robert Carlson Location: 540 Westledge Drive (Assessor Map 229 Block 002 Lot 031) Activity: Removal of vegetation within basin and adjacent area within wetland and deposition of gravel in the URA. To restore an area approximately 100 sq. ft. of original wetlands with native wetland seed mix with the consultation of the Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer and the “ T “ of the curtain drain shall be removed. The basin will be allowed to be maintained and mowed once a year, and wetlands markers will be posted on the wetlands boundaries. Motion seconded by Mr. Stelma, unanimously carried. 5. New Business: None 6. Staff Report: a. Enforcement Report – update 516 Mountain Road - Mr. Nardi-Cyrus provided information on a past as-of-right permit issued, and ponds were created on site. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus has not seen any agricultural activity on this site, and he wants Mr. Mazzarelli to explain his plans, as he is looking to obtain an agricultural permit. Mr. Bate noted the site was hayed in the past. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus responded the hay area has now been replaced with a giant pond with no Commission determination or permit. Mr. Mazzarelli has stopped into the Land Use Office a couple times when Mr. Nardi- Cyrus was out of the office, and they have not been able to connect. If they are unable to connect, Mr. Nardi-Cyrus will issue the Show Cause, so that Mr. Mazzarelli can appear here and explain his plans. There is much disturbance on site. At the 3350 Winsted Road, site of the materials recycling center, their Inland Wetlands Permit is expiring, and five acres of wetlands have been encroached upon with a giant mountain of material, approximately 30 to 40 feet high in the mapped wetlands areas. We are waiting to get the permit application in and nothing has been provided yet. If an application is not submitted by the next meeting, they will be in violation of the permits, and a Show Cause will be issued by Mr. Nardi-Cyrus. The Commission and Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reviewed mapping of the site. Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission Meeting Minutes – October 24, 2023 Page 4 of 5  b. Agent Determinations – None c. Training Mr. Nardi-Cyrus had circulated CACIWC training available on November 11, 2023. The DEEP also has training modules for Inland Wetlands Training, and Mr. Nardi-Cyrus will circulate the link to Commission. 8. Adjournment: MOTION by Ms. Altman to adjourn at 8:12 p.m., seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. _______________________ Land Use Office Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission Meeting Minutes – October 24, 2023 Page 5 of 5