Town of Goshen Inland Wetlands Commission
Meeting MINUTES for Tuesday November 1, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Town Hall Conference Room, 42 North Street
1. CALL TO ORDER: Thomas Stansfield (Chairman), Allen Kinsella, Lorraine Lucas, Antonio Damiani Excused: Martin Bothroyd (Vice Chairman), Ray Turri, Anthony Savarese, Town Planner/Enforcement Officer, Martin Connor AICP
2. PUBLIC HEARING :
Opened at 7:17 P.M.
a. Colby Engineering & Consulting LLC for Steve Cheek, Rte 63 North Street, Assessor’s map #6-10 Lot 42, wetlands crossing with driveway access to house site Mr. Colby submitted proof of notification of abutting neighbors and revised copies of plans with the suggestions from Rich Calkins, Town Engineer. This lot is a total of 25 acres and contains significant wetlands. The proposed plans include a single family four bedroom home and a crossing for the driveway. The only place sewer can go in the lower part of lot, (closer to rte 63). The utilities come up the driveway and proposed three cross culverts to keep flow thru crossing. The culverts will be placed where the natural low of the wetlands are for direct flow into the pipes. Mr. Colby is still waiting Torrington Area Health
approval. The septic design meets all criteria. Mr. Colby is also waiting approval from CL&P to put the septic in their right away. An Encroachment permit from DEP is also required and DEP will regulate what can be put in for drainage at the end of the driveway. Mr. Calkins suggested that a conservation easement be but on the remaining portion of the wetlands. Mr. Colby stated that he is not opposed a conservation easement, but feels the lot is undevelopable beyond the proposed plans. The area where the house is proposed the elevation is higher which would allow for a basement and footing drains, also it is surrounded by a greater amount of uplands which would allow for a yard and less wetlands being altered.
Penelope Sharp, Environmental Biologist, submitted planting plans. The lot is relatively flat and has little difference between the upland and wetlands. These wetlands are well vegetative, highly diverse and contain almost no invasive species. She recommends plantings on the side slopes of the driveway as a buffer and a three year monitoring period after the driveway is in to ensure no growth of invasive species. DEP identified three endangered species in that area, but Ms. Sharp did not find any in the disturbed area. These wetlands have excellent wildlife, but feels any wildlife should be able to cross the proposed driveway. Ms. Sharp feels that a fourth culvert pipe may help diffuse the flow, but due to the flatness of the land this decision should be made in the field.
Rich Mastercola, abutting property owner, stated that this is a pristine wetland and has unseasonable variation of water flow. Mr. Mastercola is concerned with the sedimentation until the slopes are stabilized. He is concerned because this is now a pervious surface and will be making it an impervious surface. Mr. Colby stated that the driveway will be sloped in both directions to avoid all runoff to one section. In addition Mr. Colby stated that this is a small driveway and there will be plantings along the side to help with stabilization. The area is relatively flat and there is no worry about flooding.
The Commission questioned the need for a fourth culvert pipe. Mr. Colby stated he is not opposed to adding the pipe, but it is not obvious where it goes and suggested that Martin Connor, AICP, Town Planner, inspect during installation to determine if necessary and where it should go. The Commission also asked Mr. Colby to consider proposing a Conservation easement on the large section of wetlands and to use construction fencing along with the Sedimentation and Erosion fencing.
The Septic is required to be reinforced H20 Galleys because CL&P will be driving trucks across them to fix their power lines.
Closed 7:52 P.M.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Stansfield seconded by Mr. Kinsella it was voted to move the Public Hearing for Proposed new Inland Wetland Regulations and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Map on the agenda to after #5 NEW BUSINESS. Vote unanimous
3. READING OF THE MINUTES: The September 6, 2007 meeting minutes were mailed to the Commission prior to the meeting for review
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Damiani seconded by Mr. Kinsella it was voted to approve the October 4, 2007 Meeting Minutes
4. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Colby Engineering & Consulting LLC for Steve Cheek, Rte 63 North Street, Assessor’s map #6-10 Lot 42, wetlands crossing with driveway access to house site. Tabled until December 6, 2007
b. Review Proposed new Inland Wetland Regulations and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Map - Tabled until after New Business
c. James Mersfelder & Sandra Stark, 11 Woodale Court, Shoreline Stabilization. The applicant was not present to discuss with the plans. A letter from the Woodridge Lake Property Owners Association has been submitted, giving him permission to do this work.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Damiani seconded by Mr. Kinsella it was voted to grant the permit for James Mersfelder & Sandra Stark, 11 Woodale Court, Shoreline Stabilization.
d. LDM Squared, 146 East Hyerdale Drive, Shoreline Stabilization. The applicant was not present to discuss plans with the Commission. A letter from the Woodridge Lake Property Owners Association has not been submitted granting permission to work on their property.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Stansfield seconded by Mr. Kinsella it was voted to grant the permit for LDM Squared, 146 East Hyerdale Drive, Shoreline Stabilization with the condition that no activity takes place before a letter from Woodridge Lake Property Owner is received allowing access to the property. Vote unanimous.
5. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Vincent and Rachel D’Andrea, 19 Park Road, Install New Septic System within regulated area. Bradley Korth, PE, Korth Engineering LLC, and applicant was present to discuss plans with the Commission. The Septic will need to be moved to the property line because the rest of the lot is ledge and very steep. The septic is 100% compliant, and will require easements from both property owners in the back. Grading will take place on their property. Both property owners have said they would give the easements, but have not been formally submitted. The Torrington Area Health has reviewed but an application has not yet been submitted. There is no well the house is on public water. No work is proposed in the wetlands. Due to the placement of the septic the proposed addition can not go on the
back of the house therefore requiring ZBA Approval. For the next meeting the applicant will have formal easements from the neighbors and Torrington Area Health Approval.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Kinsella seconded by Ms. Lucas it was voted to accept the application for Vincent and Rachel D’Andrea, 19 Park Road, Install New Septic System. Vote unanimous
b. David Beers of Connwood Foresters, Inc, Sheer Shop Road, Timber Harvest. Mr. Beers is representing the City of Waterbury. The proposed area for the timber harvest was cut 30 years ago, this will be the second thinning. Will use the same areas that were used then and they will be flagged. They received a permit from the state to use the landing and to use Bear Swamp Rd. The state requires that a temporary bridge be used for log trucks. They will be staying 50 ft from the wetland in all areas except for two areas which are 20 ft. away from the wetlands. No trees will be allowed to stay with in the wetlands. 2,155 trees will be marked to be cut. The work can be done at any time because this area has such a wide variety of terrain. When one section is wet there are sections
that are dry.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Damiani seconded by Mr. Stansfield it was voted to accept the application for Beers of Connwood Foresters, Inc, Sheer Shop Road, Timber Harvest. Vote Unanimous
c. Charles Roraback, Woodale Court Lot 538, Stone removal and shoreline stabilization. Andrew Roraback was present to discuss plans with the Commission. There are large Rocks next to the dock that Mr. Roraback would like removed. Now that the water is lowered they are completely out of the water. He would like to move the rocks closer to the shore for shoreline stabilization. The applicant submitted pictures and will mark the rocks he would like removed before the next meeting.
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Kinsella seconded by Mr. Damiani it was voted to accept the application for Charles Roraback, Woodale Court Lot 538, Stone removal and shoreline stabilization. Vote Unanimous
d. Mark FitzGerald, West Hyerdale Drive Lot 131, extension of permit #12-03-01. The Commission reviewed the application and plans
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Stansfield seconded by Mr. Damiani it was voted to extend the permit for . Mark FitzGerald, West Hyerdale Drive Lot 131, permit # 12-03-01 for five years. Vote unanimous
PUBLIC HEARING:
Opened Public Hearing 8:40 P.M.
Review Proposed new Inland Wetland Regulations and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Map. The Public Hearing was tabled until December 6, 2007, until Martin Connor, AICP, was present.
6. ZEO REPORT: The Commission received and review the ZEO Report
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Stansfield seconded by Mr. Damiani it was voted to accept the ZEO Report. Vote unanimous
7. CORRESPONDENCE: Letter from State of CT. dated Oct 5, 2007 re: FEMA Workshop and Letter from State of CT. dated Oct 4, 2007 Re: Woodridge Lake Dam requiring repairs. The Commission feels that before any work on the Woodridge Lake Dam is done a Wetland permit should be issued.
8. ADJOURNMENT:
IN A MOTION made by Mr. Damiani it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 P.M. Vote unanimous
Respectfully Submitted,
Rista Holda
Land Use Clerk
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