Inland Wetlands Watercourse Agency

The West Haven Inland Wetlands Agency held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 in the Harriet North Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 355 Main Street, West Haven, CT at 6:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGANCE PRESENT: Commissioners Kane, Perrone, Beecher, Saldibar, Carr, Gilbane, Assistant City Engineer Pidluski, ZEO/Property Enforcement Officer Bernardo and Corporation Counsel Amendola. MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING: Commissioner Saldibar made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of January 20, 2015, seconded by Commissioner Beecher and passed. Continued: 1. Circle Street (West Haven High School): Application to excavate and remove an existing storm drainage outfall concrete headwall and install a new concrete headwall approximately 30 ft upland of the tidal wetlands. Applicant/Owner: City of West Haven-Kevin McNabola, File IW #15-016. Kent Gannon, Michael Sasso, Antinozzi Associates, Ken Carney, Chair, WH Building Committee, introduced themselves to the commission. Mr. Gannon gave an overview of the two sites, the existing and proposed, with regards to the stormwater, discharges and reductions on site. The site is approximately 20 acres. There will be new landscaping such as grass, shrubs and plantings. Commissioner Kane stated this application is just for the headwall and not other areas on the site. Mr. Carney submitted a letter from Milone and McBroom stating the soils on the site do not meet the criteria for wetlands. Commissioner Kane stated he questions the validity of the content of the letter because it doesn’t state that the person is a registered soil scientist. He stated this area needs to be looked at fresh. He stated there is no objection at this point regarding the application for the headwall. For any further work, an additional application needs to be filed. Mr. Pidluski stated he is concerned what may or may not be wetlands on the easterly side of the school. Commissioner Saldibar made a motion to approve File #IW 15-016, seconded by Commissioner Carr and passed. New: 1. 261 Saw Mill Road: Application to allow rock and soil that was removed within 100 ft of a watercourse without seeking proper approvals from the Inland Wetland Agency. Applicant: Rafiq Hameed, Owner: Al Hafeez Real Estate, LLC; File IW # 15-017. Charles Georgi, architect, stated the owner has done some work on site thinking that is what DOT wanted. Initially there was not supposed to be any site work done other than installing new tanks and the small addition. Building permits were obtained for this 1  work. However, a drive through was considered which has led to this confusion. A plan has not been submitted to staff as of yet. Mr. Pidluski suggested having City Planner Librandi attend the next meeting to give the commission his timeline with regards to discussions that he had with the applicant. Commissioner Kane made a motion to accept File #IW 15-017, seconded by Commissioner Saldibar and passed. Application is continued until next month. A site walk will be done by Mr. Pidluski and report back. 2. 184 Front Avenue: Application to allow the demolition of two (2) existing buildings to allow construction of a new office building with associated parking and storm water management system. Applicant: APT Foundation, Owner: Kelly Realty and Development, LLC File IW #15-018 Steve Bisola, engineer, stated a 10,000 sq. ft building is being proposed. There are two existing structures that will be demolished. The plan for stormwater management is to construct oil/water separator and sediment control measures and release into a detention system. Three catch basins will be added and the old stormwater system will be abandoned. It designed to retain a 25 year old storm. Commissioner Saldibar made a motion to accept File IW #15-018, seconded by Commissioner Carr and passed. Application continued until next month. A site walk is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. STAFF REPORTS: Com Diversified Technology Consultants (DTC) to discuss a plan of action to remediate the Lake Phipps area flooding issues. – Andy Bevilacqua submitted an updated plan and explained what issues need to be addressed and the type of work that would be done to alleviate the water flow. According to Mr. Pidluski, public works will be including all these expenses into their budget, which needs to go before an approval process. Commissioner Kane received correspondence from the Army Corp of Engineers informing the commission of a complaint from an Orange resident regarding contamination of the ground on Soundview Landscaping property at 50 Industry Drive. Commission Saldibar brought to the commission’s attention regarding elections for this commission. Elections will be placed on next month’s agenda. Attorney Amendola will look at the charter regarding expired terms for sitting commissioners. Mr. Pidluski received an anonymous complaint regarding an illegal retaining wall on 61 Platt Avenue. Commissioner Kane recommended the homeowner be notified as well as the coastal authority and make an application to this commission. ADJOURNMENT: 8:30 p.m. 2 Commissioner Saldibar made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Perrone and passed. 3