Inland Wetlands Commission

City of Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Present: Jay Bate, Jr., Chair Christine Altman, Vice-Chair Adrienne Barbe, Member Joe Paganini, Member via Microsoft Teams Staff: Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer Not Present: Randell Stelma, Member Steven Thompson, Alternate 1. Call to Order: Mr. Bate called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in-person at Room 218, City Hall, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT. The meeting was also conducted via Teams online. 2. Roll Call and Announcements: Mr. Bate stated present and serving in person this evening are Commission members Christine Altman, Adrienne Barbe. Serving remotely is Joe Paganini 3. Minutes for Approval: a. 11/19/2024 – Regular Meeting MOTION by Ms. Altman to approve the 11/19/2024 minutes, seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. 4. Old Business: a. Applicant: Jonathan Miller Location: 2480 Newfield Road (Assessor Map 230 Block 001 Lot 001) Activity: Relocation of storm piping connected to 15” RCP originating across Newfield Road. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reminded the Commission members that this application is part of an enforcement action. There was an emergency piping of runoff from the road. Bill Colby has been hired to do a redesign but has been unavailable. The applicant has not retained another engineer. He asked that we table the application until the February meeting. They have until February 4th Inland Wetlands Commission meeting to present a plan. MOTION by Ms. Altman to table the application, seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. 5. New Business: a. Applicant: Galen Semprebon, East-West Engineering Location: 53 McDermott Ave (Assessor Map 119 Block 006 Lot 012) Activity: Resubdivision Mr. Semprebon presented the subdivision plan to the Commission. He reminded the Commission that he came before them in 2023 to present an application for an Inland Wetlands permit for the current Cannabis operation. Now they would like to divide the lot, retaining enough for the needs of the Cannabis operation and selling off the other. The existing brick house would need to be demolished for the second lot to conform to zoning regulations. The zone requires 10,000 sq ft lots. This plan would create one 31,028 sq ft lot and one 74,137 sq ft lot. No work is proposed in the upland review area. Chairman Bate asked where the dividing line was located. Mr. Semprebon answered that the dividing line hugged the Northern side of the brick house then jogged Northward in a stepwise pattern Westward. Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Assistant City Planner and Wetlands Enforcement Officer, located the applicable map and pointed out the line with setbacks. Ms. Altman asked why the property line had so many jogs in it. Mr. Semprebon answered that the shape of the proposed property line is to accommodate the zoning requirements and provide each lot with the required ratio for impervious surfaces. Chairman Bate asked if anything was happening to the water quality basin. Mr. Semprebon replied that there was maintenance but no changes. Mr. Nardi-Cyrus stated that he first processed this application as an agent permit but wants to make sure that the current wetlands permit for cleaning and maintaining the water quality basin is transferred to the new property owner. Chairman Bate inquired if various piping is in good shape. Mr. Semprebon said they were in good shape and that the special exception required repair work which was completed. MOTION by Ms. Altman to accept the application with no significant activity, seconded by Ms. Barbe, carried unanimously. b. Applicant: Inland Wetlands Commission) Activity: Adopt newly surveyed wetlands onto City Wetlands Map (set public hearing date) Mr. Nardi-Cyrus pulled up the proposed map and explained that for wetlands and wetlands soils surveyed through various activities to be added to the wetlands map, a public hearing must be held. He pointed out how surveyed wetlands on the map (green hatched outlined in red) matched up generally with the USDA soil mapping. Ms. Altman inquired if the AJK’s new survey would make it onto this revision. Mr. Nardi- Cyrus answered no, it wasn’t complete and would make it to the next round. MOTION by Ms. Altman to set the Public Hearing for February 4, 2025, Seconded by Ms. Barbe, carried unanimously.  6. Staff Report: a. Enforcement Report Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reported on enforcement at 3350 Winsted Road, stating that he has been in regular communication with the team and while they had delays in December, the completed wetlands mapping should be on the February agenda. Mr. Nardi Cyrus discussed 2904 Winsted Road, Fragale Property. Citations were issued in early December, which brought in the property owner and his engineer Bill Colby called to see what they need. They just need a complete site plan of the property. The owner put up mafia blocks to hold the giant amount of material, with small amount of material bleeding into the wetlands. They just need a complete site plan of the property. b. Agent Determinations: Mr. Nardi-Cyrus reported on agent determinations on 262 Country Club Road for a shed in URA and 222 Notting Hill Gate for garage in URA and accidental clearing of wetlands. Permits were granted for both. 7. Adjournment: MOTION by Ms. Altman to adjourn at 7.23 p.m., seconded by Ms. Barbe, unanimously carried. Nate Nardi-Cyrus _________________________ Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer City of Torrington, Land Use Office