Conservation Commission / IWWA Minutes 01/20/2015

CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS &

WATERCOURSES AGENCY MINUTES

JANUARY 20, 2015

REGULAR MEETING

I.          CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Margery Winters opened the Regular Meeting of the Conservation Commission at 7:30 p.m. in the Simsbury Board of Education Conference Room at 933 Hopmeadow Street.  Other members and alternates in attendance were Phil Purciello, Darren Cunningham, Donald Rieger, Patrick Spaulding and Donna Beinstein.   Also present were Rachel Blatt, Assistant Town Planner; Janis Prifti, Commission Clerk; and other interested parties.

II.        APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Acting Chairperson Winters appointed Commissioner Beinstein to serve as the alternate for the Commission vacancy. 

III.       ELECTION TO FILL CHAIRMAN VACANCY

Commissioner Purciello made a motion to nominate Margery Winters as Chair for a term to the conclusion of the first meeting in September 2015.

Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Commissioner Purciello made a motion to nominate Darren Cunningham as Vice Chair.

Commissioner Rieger seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Commissioner Margaret Sexton joined the meeting at 7:33 p.m.

IV.       DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION

1.         Application #14-43 of John M. McCarthy, Agent; Chestnut Hill Associates of Simsbury, LLC, Owner; for development in the Upland Review Area to a wetland on and abutting the property located at 690 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map G11, Block 132, Lot 053). Zones SC-1 and SC-2.

Application #14-43 was read into the record.  Chairperson Winters recused herself.  Vice Chairman Cunningham invited the Applicant's representative to proceed with their presentation.  

The Applicant's representative noted the Ensign House project location at the corner of Hopmeadow Street and Drake Hill Road with trees lining the open site front, and parking at the site back.  The Applicant is before the Commission due to offsite adjacent wetlands with the 100-foot buffer extending into the proposed development, as shown by a heavy line on the plan at the southwest corner of the parking lot; the 3.2-acre site currently has about 56,000 sq. ft. of existing impervious which would increase to 59,000 sq. ft. of impervious.  The Applicant proposed renovating the existing mansion into 7 units of housing, and constructing 2 residential buildings in back - 1 with 14 units and 1 with 17 units connected by a walkway; 1 building would have a garage under minimizing grading and in keeping with topography; and the location of a separate garage structure to be constructed was noted.   The Applicant indicated a new building with an exposed foundation would occupy the southwest site corner working with existing slope topography and set at slope edge to prevent disturbance during construction.  The Applicant's representative noted that the existing tree belt and lawn belt would remain.  The Applicant's representative indicated that the storm drainage system is not yet fully developed, but all impervious surface drainage would be taken offsite and collected in a pipe system, as it is currently.  The Applicant's representative noted there is a fully developed erosion and sedimentation control plan with silt fence at slope top, backed up by hay bales, and silt fence throughout the site to prevent sediment or erosion from leaving the site.  The Applicant's representative summarized the difference between the existing site and proposed project at about 800 sq. ft. of additional development in the buffer which they believed to be minimal and that they have protected the wetlands.

Regarding general grading, the Applicant's representative indicated one contour in the setback at the top of the existing slope; the parking lot area would remain about the same; in the back of the site, would be an area with about 2 feet of cut, a new lower retaining wall, and little grading due to being close to the property line; and a series of catch basins for storm water with the water taken offsite to the river.  Regarding efforts to not increase runoff from impervious surfaces to the river, the Applicant's representative indicated zero increased runoff in a peak storm due to an underground detention system for additional water; a vortex unit would perform water treatment to remove sediment with deep catch basins resulting in removal of 80% of sediments, as mandated by the State.  The Applicant's representative showed the Commissioners on the layout the change to the parking footprint. 

Regarding disturbance at the property line, the Applicant's representative indicated it would be minimal with foundation excavation and about a foot of surface grading near the very steep slope; a wetland is adjacent to the area and the area would be accessed from the parking lot with the acknowledgement that construction will be tricky on the building side closest to the slope.  The Applicant indicated the first phase would be mansion renovation and the second phase would be the new buildings connected by covered walkway; existing and additional trees were shown on the plan along with the dumpster locations.   The Applicant's representative indicated their previous plan was modified following the wetlands study because they were too close to the setback, so they will not be building in that area.  Regarding the plantings, the Applicant noted they are listed on L1 of the plan with a wetland slope re-vegetated by native shrubs; a 10x12-foot above grade wooden patio deck was also noted.

The Applicant's representative indicated that if this Commission approves of the proposed project today, and Zoning approves on 2/7/2015, they would move forward with more detailed planning, likely breaking ground by end-2015 with completion by end-2016. 

Commissioner Spaulding made a motion that this is a regulated activity in the Upland Review Area. 

Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Commissioner Rieger made a motion that it is not significant activity in that it has no direct impact on the wetlands and appropriate erosion and sedimentation controls and other practices are included.

Commissioner Purciello seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Commissioner Rieger made a motion to grant the permit conditioned on an undertaking to work very closely with Staff on phasing of the activities to assure all necessary controls are in place; that the timing of breaking ground, and such, be counseled with Staff’s judgment about the avoidance of erosion and seasonal problem;, that Staff be satisfied on an ongoing basis that tracking protections are sufficient and appropriate; and the drainage review by the Town Engineer, noting there not be any increase in runoff from the site.

Commissioner Purciello seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

V.        RECEIPT OF NEW APPLICATIONS

None.

VI.       CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Regarding Meadowood, Town Staff advised the Commissioners that no work has been done and the property is currently for sale.  The Commissioners indicated Meadowood's obligation under the easement requires a report to the Town regarding conservation activities; Town Staff will draft a letter addressing this requirement by the end of the month.

Town Staff advised the Commissioners of the following for consideration:  1) a letter received from DEEP regarding pesticides; 2) GIS online Town mapping has launched with the DEEP wetlands map and will also shortly include amended Town mapping which would be brought before the Commission prior to its launch; and 3) the need to determine a procedure for applying Chapter 128 and the requirements for when an application should come before the Commission. 

Town Staff indicated the Bylaws need to be updated and will provide a hard copy of both the Bylaws and Regulations to the two new Commissioners; various educational/training opportunities were discussed by the Commissioners. 

The Commissioners discussed the open space inventory, which includes DEEP wetlands/watercourses; the Open Space Committee may have a summer intern look at property locations, conditions, usage, and how best to deal with a property; a forester working with Parks and Recreation was potentially discussed for this work.

VII.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES of January 6, 2015 Regular Meeting

On Line 9, the name “Winters” is inserted following the word “Chairperson”.

Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the January 6, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes, as amended.

Commissioner Purciello seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

VIII.    ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Sexton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.

Commissioner Spaulding seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

_____________________________

Donald Rieger, Secretary