Simsbury, CT - Conservation Commission

Chairman Howard Beach, Jr. called the Regular Meeting of the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency to order at 7:33 P. M. in the Main Meeting Room at Simsbury Town Hall. The following members were present: Andrew Bucknam, Richard Miller, William Nowak, Thomas Sharpless, Jennifer Simone, Chris Ursini, and Margery Winters. Also present were Laurie Whitten, Conservation Officer, Lisa Arakelian, Commission Secretary, and other interested parties.

A motion was made by Commissioner Miller to enter Executive Session at 7:35 P. M. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nowak, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Nowak to come out of Executive Session at 8:33 P. M. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller, and unanimously carried.

A. Application of Sharon Onions, Owner, requesting an Inland Wetlands Permit to remove an existing deck and build a screened porch, within the regulated area on property located at 301 Firetown Road

Mark Braden, Builder, explained that he is proposing to remove an existing deck and replace it with a 16’ x 16’ screened porch on piers. The small amount of material to be removed for the piers will be redistributed on the property.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless that this is a regulated activity by reason of construction proposed to take place in the buffer zone to a wetland. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Winters, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless that this is not a significant activity because it does not appear to have a potential to harm the wetland in any way. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless to grant the permit for the proposed activity. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller, and unanimously carried.

B. Application of H. John Tully and P. Carol Tully, Owners, for an Inland Wetlands Permit for the dredging of a drainage channel within the regulated area on property located at 28 Long View Drive.

John Tully explained that he is proposing to remove approximately 25 cubic yards of material from an existing channel (80’ long x 4’ wide), which ends in a swamp on town-owned open space. He is hoping to only have to dredge up to 150 feet from the wetland but, in case that doesn’t clear the channel enough to allow proper flow into the swamp, he is requesting a permit to dredge right up to the wetland, as recommended by the Town Engineer.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless that this is a regulated activity by reason of excavation to take place in the upland review area of a wetland. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bucknam, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless that this is a significant activity because of its potential to cause siltation into a wetland. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bucknam, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless to not hold a public hearing, as there appears to be very little public interest. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bucknam, and unanimously carried.

A motion was made by Commissioner Sharpless to grant a permit to dredge to within 50 feet of the wetland, with the condition that the area be re-vegetated to allow for stabilization, and be monitored for invasive plant species. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bucknam, and unanimously carried.

A. Laurie Whitten distributed a portion of the revised Wetlands Regulations and explained that she is continuing to work on them, and is attempting to make an agreement with the Town that she can finish the revisions, on a Consultant basis, after her position is terminated.

A motion was made by Commissioner Nowak to approve the minutes of the May 4, 2004 meeting, as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Winters, and unanimously carried.