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2005-11-08 TOWN OF BERLIN CONSERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2005 Members Present: Michael DeLorenzo, ChairmanGuy Hoffman Steven SokolowskiRichard Schmidt Peter F. Regan Juliet Benjamin, Secretary Absent: Christina BergerKarl G. Lewis Rev. Frederick Raap 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman DeLorenzo called the meeting to order @ 6:35 P.M. 2. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS: None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, SPECIAL MEETING OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005: Commissioner Sokolowski MOVED to approve the Minutes of Tuesday, October 11, 2005 as written. SECONDED by Commissioner Hoffman. Unanimously approved. 4. NEW BUSINESS: ? A. Project Review – Open Space Subdivision/Special Permit – 7 Lots – Giana Woods Subdivision – 267 Elton Road – Coccomo Brothers Developers – Town Planner Hellyn Riggins explained that the proposal was for 5 lots, not 7. She also noted that this proposal has to first be reviewed by Inland Wetlands and the Water Control Commission. Commissioners reviewed the site plan and expressed concern about the development being located adjacent to the Elton Road Well Fields. Commissioners were in agreement that due to the proximity of the well, residential or any other development could very well be detrimental to the well and make the well property susceptible to contamination. ? B. Subdivision Application – Shuttle Meadow Development – Lincoln St. – 16 Lots – Town Planner Riggins stated that the proposal has been changed from assisted living to 15 single family homes in the R-15 zone. Commissioners expressed concern about the detention pond. Town Planner Riggins stated that nearly every development proposal shows a detention pond, but no plan is in existence to time release the water from these areas to prevent flooding within the Town. A working Town system must be developed to prevent or restrict flooding within the existing areas that are susceptible to flooding. Commissioner Sokolowski Conservation Commission Minutes -11/8/2005 - Page 2 noted that all the plans show drainage going towards the property line, but where does it go from there? There is no coordination from property to property of stormwater runoff. Concerning this property, Commissioner Sokolowski questioned whether all the drainage would be going toward the property at the corner of Lincoln St and Farmington Ave and flooding across Lincoln St? Chairman DeLorenzo stated that he would check with Town Manager Middlebrooks on how far along the Stormwater 2 Management Plan has progressed. Commissioner Sokolowski questioned who would be responsible for maintenance of the detention area and what will be the schedule of maintenance. Will the homeowners of the lot perform the maintenance where the detention area is located? Where will the drainage outlet be and can the discharge be handled by the existing system? ? C. Site Plan Amendment – Vista Ridge LLC – Proposed Addition – Modern Plumbing Supply, 152 Berlin Turnpike – Town Planner Riggins noted that this project has received a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The variance was for the extent of building coverage, but they do not exceed the extent of impervious coverage. Commissioner had no comment on this proposal. D. Site Plan Amendment – 259-279 New Britain Road LLC (Former Magson Uniform Site) – New Building – Office/Retail – Commissioners had no comment on this proposal. Commissioner Hoffman made a motion to add Calendar of Meetings 2006 to the Agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Sokolowski & unanimously approved. Commissioner Hoffman made a motion to add Discussion of Job Description for Natural Resource Specialist for the Conservation Commission to the Agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Sokolowski & unanimously approved. Calendar of Meetings 2006 – As per the request of the Town Clerk, the Commission reviewed the draft calendar of meetings for 2006. Commissioners felt that the calendar was in order. Secretary Benjamin will file a copy with the Town Clerk. Job Description for Natural Resource Specialist for the Conservation Commission – Commissioners reviewed the draft job description. Chairman DeLorenzo explained that the proposed position, as part of the Development Services Department, would spend a certain number of hours working for the Conservation Commission and the balance of time would be spent working with the staff of the Development Services Dept. Commissioners were asked to make any comments or recommendations regarding this job description to either Chairman DeLorenzo or Town Planner Riggins. Commissioner Hoffman made a motion to add Discussion of Cannamela Property, Chamberlain Highway to the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Sokolowski. Conservation Commission Minutes -11/8/2005 - Page 3 Discussion of Cannamela Property, Rear of 2259 Chamberlain Highway – Town Planner Riggins noted that this property is located behind house number 2259 Chamberlain Highway. The Town Council is considering purchasing the back property, which joins up with land belonging to the former proposed power plant. Commissioners were in agreement that this would be a favorable property to purchase for open space and the Commission was in favor of the acquisition. 5. OLD BUSINESS: A. USE OF TOWN LANDS Commissioner Schmidt explained that he and Karen Pierson had been taking pictures on Ragged Mountain when they saw someone from Connecticut Forest & Parks clearing ground cover back by about 50’. Commissioner Schmidt asked him to stop clearing the ground cover and told him that the land was supposed to be left in its wild state and undisturbed, and he agreed not to clear any further land. Commissioner Schmidt also called Lisa Day, who had appeared before the Commission a couple of months ago, and she agreed to follow up on this item. B. OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION – C. OPEN SPACE PUBLICATION – K. PIERSON, UPDATE OF “STUDY OF TOWN-OWNED OPEN SPACE, OCTOBER 1994” - Chairman DeLorenzo played the draft Power Point presentation submitted by Ms. Pierson. Chairman DeLorenzo has the presentation on disc form and will make it available to all commissioners for their comments and additions. Town Planner Riggins suggested that someone with the Conservation Commission should co-ordinate with the Park & Recreation Commission as to specific uses for certain areas, such as horse trails. Chairman DeLorenzo also noted that the Berlin Land Trust needs to be included as part of the presentation. Commissioners discussed having hard copies of the presentation, in addition to the computerized Power Point Presentation. Commissioners also noted that they would like to expand on larger properties and add details on those properties. Commissioner Schmidt felt that this would prove to be an invaluable tool for introducing the general public to open space acquisition. Commissioner Hoffman discussed land cover statistics that he has obtained through UCONN. 6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Commissioner Hoffman stated that he is still concerned about the brown water runoff from New Park Dr. that runs across the Berlin Turnpike and onto Orchard Road. Town Planner Riggins agreed to look into this. 7. CORRESPONDENCE: Chairman DeLorenzo noted that he has a copy of a letter sent by Keith Scheer regarding the Scheer open space parcel on Orchard Road. Mr. Scheer requests that he be able to garage his tractors on the property. Commissioner Sokolowski stated that the Town should have a lease agreement regarding use of the outbuildings, etc. Chairman DeLorenzo Conservation Commission Minutes -11/8/2005 - Page 4 stated that the Commission has to set up a management plan before deciding on other issues. In his letter, Mr. Scheer also offered to volunteer for maintenance of the property, opening trails and keeping fire roads open. 8. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Hoffman MOVED to adjourn the meeting @9:00 P.M. SECONDED by Commissioner Schmidt & UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. Respectfully submitted, Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary