1997/04/01 Amended and Approved Minutes
OEa��N TOWN OF BERLIN
INLAND WETLANDS
!lid AND
o i‘ c WATER COURSES COMMISSION
240 KENSINGTON RD. BERLIN, CT 06037
RpORAlE°
APRIL 1, 1997
The April 1, 1997 regular meeting of the Inland Wetlands and
Water Courses Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. in the
Engineering Room, Town Hall, by Chairman Michael Balinskas.
Present were Vice Chairman James McCarthy, Commissioners Ray
Jarema, Charles Warner, Connie Marshall, and Ralph Simeone, and
Assistant Town Engineer James Horbal, Agent to the Commission.
Excused was Commissioner Joseph Monzillo.
Commissioner Lang arrived and was seated at 7: 13 p.m.
Commissioner Mark Morin was present but not seated.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Page 1 - 1st paragraph it should be noted that Connie Marshall
was present at the meeting of 3/4/97.
Page 2 - 8th paragraph it should be noted that the plunge pool
was recommended by the Engineering Department.
Page 2 - last paragraph should read Mr. Casezza is proposing a
larger driveway in order to be able to turn around due to. . .
Page 3 - 9th paragraph should read. . .received a letter from this
commission's agent and stated. . .
Page 4 - 1st paragraph should read. .This plan will not reflect
what the DEP is requiring.
Page 4 - 4th paragraph should read. . . it was then that he realized
the plans were not the approved drawings.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to accept the minutes of March
1, 1997 as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Jarema.
All in favor. Motion carried.
AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
None.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Application 97-04W Proposal by the City of New Britain
to construct playing fields and related appurtenances within
wetland areas on Lots 77B and 77C, Block 23, Farmington
Avenue. _
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Chairman Balinskas read the legal notice into the record
regarding the public hearing being held on Application 97-04W.
Peter Ledger of the City of New Britain stated that the proposal
this evening consists of the fourth site for the project which is
an alternative plan.
Mr. Ledger further stated that the new application addresses
priority needs and wetland issues. The proposal includes the
filling of 10, 000 square feet of wetlands near the highway and in
exchange a 20, 000 square foot area of new wetlands will be
created.
Clarence Corbin, Acting City Engineer stated that the proposal
includes a football field, currently the soccer field, improved
drainage, installation of subsystem drainage, retaining the
general sloping nature and characteristics of the site. Also the
football field will be raised about 1 foot. A drainage ditch
will be added along with the reconstruction of the existing
temporary bridge to be made permanent. The bridge will be a
pre-engineered wood decking, approximately 20 feet in length and
8 feet wide and will be bolted down. The bridge will be used to
accommodate the coach's truck and the water will flow under the
bridge. There will be a gravel parking lot. A 15" storm
drainage pipe will be used to tie in the subsurface drainage
system.
Bob Russo, Environmental Scientist of UHP in Middletown stated
that there are 2 types of wetlands on this site. On the eastern
portion of the site there are natural wetlands and on the western
portions there are isolated pockets which are created wetlands.
In the natural wetlands there is diverse vegetation. Mr. Russo
further stated that the soil is of a sandy and permeable nature.
Mr. Russo said that the created wetlands in line with the surface
water flow and the wetland will be kept wet through the ground
water discharge.
Chairman Balinskas asked what the estimated water flow into the
mitigated area would be?
Mr. Corbin stated that the water flow would be 8 cfs designed for
a 25 year storm.
Commission Lang stated that she is not comfortable with voting or
commenting on this application as she is on the Board at
Hungerf ord.
Eddy Arbor of Berlin asked how the lights would be positioned on
the field.
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Mr. Ledger stated that there will be 4 lights facing inward on
the field.
Mr. Campagna of 164 Newton Street in Kensington asked if another
site could be used instead of this one.
Mr. Ledger stated that the other 3 sites were not favorable for
various reasons. The site needs to be close to Willow Brook Park
and New Britain High School. -
Mr. Campagna suggested that there is property near the high
school and possibly New Britain Machine's property. Mr. Campagna
disagreed with the current site of the proposal. He further
asked how much this project will cost.
Mr. Ledger stated that there is a budget of $500, 000 for this
project.
Vincent Durante if the field will be used for anything other than
football.
Mr. Ledger stated that the field will be used for soccer and
field hockey. The field will be utilized from late spring until
mid November.
Kathy DeMarco, representing the Friends of Hungerford, stated
that the group is definitely pleased with the City of New
Britain's proposal. (Refer to Vacinity Map, Hungerford Park,
Wetlands Application, Farmington Avenue, Berlin, CT - Scale
1"=50 ' . Designed by: P.T. Drawn by: J.F.P. Checked by:
P.T. /C.W.C. Dated: March 10, 1997. City of New Britain Bureau
of Engineering - Clarence Corbin, Acting Director, 27 West Main
Street, New Britain, CT. Also refer to Hungerford Park Sports
Fields Drainage Map is using a scale of 1"=40 ' for sheets 5-10.
Designed by: J.P. Drawn by: R.P. Checked by: J.P. Dated: March
1997. City of New Britain Bureau of Engineering - Clarence
Corbin, Acting Director, 27 West Main Street, New Britain, CT. )
Clyde Selner of Berlin stated that the proposed site for this
project enhances Hungerford Park and promotes wildlife and the
plan also helps to control sediment runoff better. This has a
less detrimental effect than the previous application. There is
no detrimental downstream effect.
Sal Gozzo, Newton Street, Kensington stated that if in another 2
years the City of New Britain wants to add more fields to the
proposed project site, what happens at that point?
Chairman Balinskas stated that the City of New Britain would have
to come before this Board.
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Mr. Ledger stated that he cannot see any reason why the City of
New Britain would come back to this board in the future regarding
Application 97-04W.
Commissioner Marshall made a motion to close the Public Hearing
for Application 97-04W. Seconded by Commissioner Jarema.
Five in favor. One abstention by Commissioner Lang. Motion
carried.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to approve Application 97-04W
with standard conditions. Seconded by Commissioner Simeone.
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to amend the motion for
approval requiring the as built drawings show the mitigated
wetland area for Town mapping purposes. Seconded by Commissioner
Warner.
Five in favor. One abstention by Commissioner Lang. Motion
carried.
Chairman Balinskas stated that now we return to the motion to
approve Application 97-04W which was made by Commissioner Warner
and seconded by Commissioner Simeone.
Four in favor. One abstention by Commissioner Lang and one
opposed by Vice Chairman McCarthy. Motion carried.
Vice Chairman McCarthy asked if there was a curb in the parking
area.
Mr. Ledger said that there were no plans for a curb, however
curbing could be added.
Chairman Balinskas recessed the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Chairman Balinskas called the meeting back to order at 8:50 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. Application 97-07WF Proposal by CRP, LLC, to place fill
and regrade within both a wetland and flood hazard area on
Lots 3A, 3B, 4A and 12Z, Block 76A, Christian Lane.
Bart Bovee, Engineer of MBA Engineering, to speak on behalf of
the applicant, David Manafort.
Mr. Bovee stated that the piled material has been removed per our
discussion last meeting. He further stated that this plan is
proposing to construct a building to store the applicant's
equipment.
Mr. Bovee said that the DEP is ready to act conceptually on this
plan. The proposed pond will be used as a shallow
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Chairman Balinskas asked, "How deep is the pond going to be?"
David Manafort stated that the deepest area is 40 feet.
James Horbal, Agent to the Commission, recommended holding a
public hearing for this application.
Commissioner Simeone presented pictures of waterflow through the
site.
Vice Chairman McCarthy stated that this application sounds like a
significant activity with a wetlands area.
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to work Application 97-07WF
in conjunction item 4b. listed later on agenda, with the notice
of violation for Application 92-15WF.
Commissioner Simeone asked if the violation issue will be worked
out within a month?
Mr. Bovee stated that it would.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to go to a public hearing on
May 6, 1997 for Application 97-07WF. Seconded by Commissioner
McCarthy.
All in favor. Motion carried.
4b. Application 92-15WF - M.B. Associates - Notice of Violation
David Manafort stated that a silt fence will be put back up with
hay bales. Everything else has been removed from the flood plain
area or disposed of.
Mr. Horbal stated that staff has received remarkable updates
regarding violations, and considerable progress has been made on
behalf of the applicant.
2. Application 97-08W Proposal by George J. and Elizabeth
Pawlak to construct a sanitary sewer within a wetland area
on Lot 28A, Block 108H, Jeffrey Lane.
Ed Szcepanik to speak on behalf of the applicant.
Mr. Szcepanik stated that water will be accessible on Four Rod
Road in the future.
Mr. Horbal stated that from Staff's point of view there are no
concerns.
Chairman McCarthy made a motion to approve Application 97-08W
with standard conditions and the condition being no building
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permit is be approved at such time for Lot 28A. Seconded by
Commissioner Warner.
All in favor. Motion carried.
(Refer to Sewer Layout Map, Lots 28, 28A, 28B for George Pawlak,
Four Rod Road, Berlin, CT. Roderick D. Hewitt, Consulting
Engineers and Land Surveyors, Kensington, CT. Dated: March 11,
1997. File name: E: \DRAW\92093\SPLIT. Drawn by: RDH/CAD. Sheet
No. 1 of 2 , and 2 of 2. Project No. 96052 . )
3. Application 97-09W Proposal by Sebastian Malespini to
construct a commercial structure, parking and appurtenances
within a flood hazard area on Lot 5, Block 86, Mill Street.
Ed Szcepanik representing the applicant.
Seb Malespini stated that he has an existing flower shop in Town
and would like to expand it.
Commissioner Simeone asked what the parking lot will be made of?
Mr. Malespini stated that the parking lot will be made of
asphalt. The elevation of the parking lot will be 42-43 .
Commissioner Simeone made a motion to approve Application 97-09W
with standard conditions. Seconded by Commissioner Jarema.
Five in favor. One abstention by Vice Chairman McCarthy. Motion
carried.
(Refer to Subdivision and site plan - Land of David and Victoria
Kiel, Lot #5, Block 86, Farmington Avenue, Berlin, CT. Roderick
Hewitt, Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of 470 New
Britain Road, Kensington, CT. Plot date: 3/6/97. File name:
D: \DRAW\97016\SITE-p. Drawn by: RDH/CAD. Sheet No. SI-1 of 1. )
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME PROPERLY BEFORE THE COMMISSION
4a. Application 94-18W - Priscilla Pasternak - Request for
modification of an existing permit.
Troy Casezza, the applicant, stated that adjacent property owner
is not interested in an easement. Mr. Casezza presented a signed
letter from the adjacent property owner stating such.
Mr. Casezza stated he is proposing a retaining up to the curb and
no hammerhead or turn around for the driveway. He further stated
that the retaining wall is 5 feet and slopes down to nothing.
Mr. Horbal suggested that the applicant have the limits of the
proposed activity and corners of the home staked out for the
Commission's review.
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Mr. Casezza stated that he does not want to invest more money
into this property if it's not going to be considered for
approval.
Chairman Balinskas stated that this is a difficult site to deal
with in terms of wetland issues.
Commissioner Lang made a motion to go to public hearing on May 6,
1997. Seconded by Commissioner Simeone.
Five in favor. One opposed by Commissioner Marshall.
Motion carried.
Chairman McCarthy read the conditions of the previous approval of
this application to Mr. Casezza.
Mr. Casezza stated that an exact footprint was not specified in
the conditions of the previous approval.
4c. APPLICATION 90-03WF - Lombardo Enterprises - Notice of
Violation
Peter Lombardo submitted the requested copy of the regulations
from the DEP.
Mr. Lombardo stated that he could not give much information
regarding this application because Rod Hewitt was not available
this evening to represent him.
Chairman Balinskas stated that this application will be addressed
at the next meeting.
4d. Application 93-04W - Kensington Health Care Center - Request
for transfer of permit and extension of construction
commencement period.
Mr. Waldman was unable to attend this evening.
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to transfer the existing
permit under Application 93-04W from The Kapsan Group back to
Arthur Waldman d.b.a. Warm Springs Mortgage and extend the
construction commencement period for Application 93-04W for
another 2 years, as requested by the applicant, with standard
conditions, and that any changes made to the prints be approved
by this commission. Seconded by Commissioner Marshall.
All in favor. Motion carried.
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ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at
10:23 p.m. Seconded by Commissioner Warner.
Al]. in favor. Motion carried.
Respectively submitted,
Tina M. DeGran
Commission Secretary
cc: Ida M. Ragazzi, Mayor
Bonnie Therrien, Town Manager
Commission Members
James Horbal, Agent to the IWWCC
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