CONSERVATION COMMISSION
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES AGENCY
APRIL 20, 2004
REGULAR MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Howard Beach, Jr. called the Regular Meeting of the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency to order at 7:36 P. M. in the Main Meeting Room at Simsbury Town Hall. The following members were present: Richard Miller, Thomas Sharpless, and Jennifer Simone. Also present were Laurie Whitten, Conservation Officer, Lisa Arakelian, Commission Secretary, and other interested parties.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Chairman Beach appointed Jennifer Simone to serve for John Yocom.
III. WORKSHOP: SUMMARY OF SPRING 2003 VERNAL POOL WORKSHOP
Hank Gruner, of the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance and Science Center of Connecticut, gave a brief introduction to the vernal pool study which was conducted during the Spring 2003, in the Town of Simsbury.
Damon ____________ gave a detailed presentation of the vernal pool study.
A motion was made by Commissioner Winters to recess at 7:57 P. M. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sharpless. The motion carried and the Commission reconvened at 8:04 P. M.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
A. Application of Mark B. Tracy, Owner, requesting an Inland Wetlands Permit to construct a driveway within the regulated buffer area on property located at 34 Old Farms Road (continued from March 17, 2004 meeting).
Mark Kement, Engineer, informed the commission that he has revised the plans to include a raised driveway, as recommended at the March 17 meeting, added two culverts with eight-inch pipes, and 43% of the site has been dedicated to town open space. Because of the large area of open space, the reserve septic system has been relocated and has been approved by the Farmington Valley Health District.
Commissioner Miller noted that a salamander was seen on the site walk and recommended that a vegetative buffer be planted between the driveway and the pond to further protect the pond, but allow migration of the salamanders.
Commissioner Miller also asked if a permeable material could be used in place of asphalt on the area of the driveway closest to the pond. Mr. Kement replied that he would consider it.
Karl Harbison, 11 Watson Drive, stated that, at times of heavy moisture, he has seen the two ponds on the property join and actually reach up to the 310-foot gradient.
Conservation Commission
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency
Regular Meeting
Minutes
4/20/04
Page 2
Mark and Diane Tracy responded that the highest they can recall the water rising is about 20 feet from their deck, about the 309 contour.
Chairman Beach opened the hearing to public comment.
Robert Melvin, 23 Watson Drive, stated that he participated in the 2003 vernal pool study and participated in the study of the ponds on this site, in particular. He also distributed photographs of the ponds taken during the study, depicting the two ponds joined by water, as well as the presence of spotted salamanders and wood frog egg masses.
Laurie Whitten noted that a site walk was conducted on April 17. Present at the site walk were Laurie Whitten, Mike Gragnolati, William Nowak, Howard Beach, Margery Winters, Thomas Sharpless, Jennifer Simone, Richard Miller, and John Yocom, as well as two members of the public. The potential for vernal pool species was discussed at the site walk. Whitten also noted that a discussion of this application, specifically the possible presence of vernal pools, was conducted via e-mail between certain members of the commission. She offered a copy of the correspondence to the applicants.
Robert Melvin, 23 Watson Drive, stated that he would like to see a very specific plan for construction of the driveway.
Chairman Beach stated that he would like to see the results of test pits dug on the site near the proposed driveway.
A motion was made by Commissioner Winters to continue the public hearing until May 4, 2004. Seconded by Commissioner Miller, and unanimously carried.
V. RECEIPT OF NEW APPLICATIONS
A. 2 School House Lane
B. 50 Canal Street
C. 1 School House Lane
VI. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Laurie Whitten informed the commission that a sixth grade teacher in Simsbury is teaching her class to use Integrated Pest Management to control purple loosestrife. They are raising a species of beetle that they plan to release which will feed primarily on purple loosestrife. She would like to make a presentation at the May 4 meeting.
Conservation Commission
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency
Regular Meeting
Minutes
4/20/04
Page 3
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. March 17, 2004
Commissioner Winters recommended the following amendments to the minutes of the March 17, 2004 meeting:
Page 1, sixth paragraph up from the bottom, remove the sentence that begins, “Mr. Gragnolati said he determined...”
Page 2, third paragraph up from the bottom, change the final sentence to read, “The driveway will follow the contour of the site, so as not to disturb the area.”
Page 3, second paragraph, second sentence should read, “Mr. Kement said it would be a standard 12-foot wide driveway.”
Page 3, fifth paragraph from the bottom, first sentence should read, “Commissioner Winters said that, since the road is at elevation 308, it could become flooded and, in the Winter icy and, with oil trucks coming...”
A motion was made by Commissioner Winters to approve the minutes of the March 17, 2004 meeting, as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Simone, and unanimously carried.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Simone to adjourn the meeting at 9:46 P. M.
| 
