Conservation Commission / IWWA Minutes 05/21/2013 ADOPTED

CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS
MAY 21, 2013
MINUTES FROM REGULAR MEETING

I. CALL TO ORDER

Rich Miller, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Conservation Commission to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices.  Other members and alternates in attendance were:  Alan Needham, Patrick Kottas, Margery Winters, and Donald Rieger.  Also present were:  Howard Beach, Conservation Officer, Janis Prifti, Commission Clerk, and other interested parties.

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairman Miller appointed Commissioner Rieger to serve as an alternate for Margaret Sexton and Commissioner Kottas to serve as an alternate for Nick Zackeo.

III. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION

a. Application #13-13 of James Clifton of Simsbury Water Pollution Control, Agent for Paul and Deborah Keefe, Owners, for work associated with construction on the sanitary sewer easements on the property located at 3 Hunter Road Extension (Map C20, Block 510, Lot 005).

On the Simsbury side of the line the Nod Brook meter read chamber easement has become inaccessible, including on foot.  Additionally, maintenance needs to be done for the iron oxide bacteria coating the inside of the concrete; material would then be applied to protect the concrete and the people doing this work need to get in with trucks.  On a routine basis, Town personnel need vehicle access to the area which requires limited tree removal/stumping and limited base installed where needed.  It is planned that the area will be bush hogged every other year.

Commissioner Kottas made a motion that this is a regulated activity because it is within the wetland area.  Commissioner Winters seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Kottas made a motion that this is not a significant activity because the area is being returned to an easement and does not involved removal or deposition of material and care will be taken regarding truck access and removal of trees.  Commissioner Winters seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Kottas made a motion to grant the permit for Application #13-13.  Commissioner Winters seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

b. Application of Richard L. Sawitzke, P.E., Town Engineer/Director of Capital Projects, Agent for the Town of Simsbury, for drainage channel maintenance on property located at 33 Carver Circle (Map G08, Block 116, Lot 014).

This Application is withdrawn for now.  A Town easement for a pipe only runs from the steep back yard down to Owens Brook with the property owner clearing much of the land and dropping trees into the brook.  This is an older system with a foot wide discharge pipe to a concrete channel and with trees falling in the brook it caused water to jump the channel and erode underneath; the owner then contacted the Town requesting repair help.  The repair would likely include a small plunge pool being put in with rip rap in the channel and installing check dams to break up the velocity.  Currently, the Town is waiting to receive a larger area easement from the property owner in order to begin the repair. 

IV. RECEIPT OF NEW APPLICATIONS

None.

V. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Ritson property had an approved landscape plan, but the property owner cut down 50-60 buffer trees along the property line upsetting neighboring condo owners.  Consequently, a revised planting plan adds bushes to provide a thicker buffer near the 3-story building.   The property owner reacted very positively to planting suggestions provided in a meeting with Commissioner Winters. 

Commissioner Rieger made a motion the Commission ask Staff to communicate to the Zoning Commission we have reviewed the revised planting scheme for the Ritson property and found it to be satisfactory and commend it to the Zoning Commission.  Commissioner Winters seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of May 7, 2013

On Line 31-33, the sentence, "Town Commissions are all adopting the same version of these Regulations, but for areas where they don't work the Town will utilize past effective practices." is moved to Line 100 as it refers to the Stormwater document; and the word "Regulations" in this sentence is changed to "standards".

The sentence on Lines 92-94 is deleted.

On Line 115, the words "re-vegetating the." are corrected to "re-vegetating."

Commissioner Kottas made a motion to approve the minutes as amended.  Commissioner Rieger seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Winters made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m.  Commissioner Kottas seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

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