1995/05/02 Amended and Approved Minutes
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATER COURSES COMMISSION
The May 2, 1995 regular meeting of the Inland Wetlands and Water
Courses Commission was called to order at 7:05pm in The Public
Meeting Room, Town Hall, by Vice Chairman McCarthy. Present
Commissioners Paul Argazzi, Robert Estabrook, Jr. , James McCarthy,
Ralph Simeone, and Charles Warner, and Assistant Town Engineer
James Horbal, Agent to the Commission.
A motion to table acceptance of the minutes until later in the
meeting was made by Commissioner Paul Argazzi and seconded by
Commissioner Charles Warner.
Audience of Citizens
Barton Bovee, P.E. , MBA Engineering, requested that discussion of
Wilbur Cross Highway be added to the agenda. A motion to add Lot
15 - Block F as Item 2f was made by Commissioner Warner and
seconded by Commissioner Argazzi and carried unanimously.
Peter Ledger,. Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of New
Britain, requested that discussion of Hungerford Park Project Site
be added to the agenda. A motion to add Hungerford Park Project
Site as Item 2g was made by Commissioner Estabrook and seconded by
Commissioner Simeone and carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Application 95-06W Proposal by the City of New Britain to
establish a wetlands boundary on Lot 77, Block 23, Farmington
Avenue/Pheasant Run.
Mr. Ledger stated that on March 27, 1995 he visited the site with
the Plaintiff 's attorney and Jeffrey Peterson, Soil Scientist at
VHB, and that an additional area within the park site was deemed an
intermittent water course and was flagged accordingly.
Mr. Peterson noted that there was seepage located adjacent to a
bridal path. The seepage is approximately 500 square feet in area
with a substantial amount of clay content. The depth of the
scoured area is approximately 3 - 4 inches.
Cathy DeMarco, Wooster Street, New Britain questioned the
commission as to whether or not there was any regulated activity
within the wetlands.
Chairman James McCarthy responded that the application on file
states no activity at this time. Application to amend wetland
boundaries and further discussion of this should be addressed after
discussion of this evening.
Ms. DeMarco further stated that she and the "Friends of Hungerford
Park" were confused as to what this evening's meeting was in
regards to. She also said that her attorney wrote a letter to the
commission and it was never responded to in an appropriate manner.
Based on these two statements, Ms. DeMarco requested that she be
given a 30 day continuance due to these two factors. Ms. DeMarco
provided a copy of the letter from her attorney's office, Robinson
& Cole, to the commission.
James McCarthy, Vice Chairman of the Commission, received the
letter from Ms. DeMarco. Mr. Horbal stated to Ms. DeMarco that she
had been in his office 2 times prior to this meeting and he
explained to her what the application involved and what was being
requested by the applicant. Mr. Horbal stated there seemed to be
no confusion on her part at the time of her previous visits to his
office.
Vice Chairman McCarthy stated that this application is not to fill
any wetlands and that type of activity would require separate
application.
Eric Hanson, Newton Street, Kensington proposed a question to the
commission asking if the wetland boundaries was going to effect his
backyard.
Vice Chairman McCarthy responded that there would not be any
effect.
Mario Campagna, Newton Street, Kensington questioned if a previous
application may be a future application and why was the commission
so concerned about establishing wetland boundaries.
Vice Chairman McCarthy replied that the meeting is not about these
issues and to stick with the main issue at hand.
Mr. Ledger replied to the public in general that if we let the
commission do their job, the public will get a better understanding
of what the commission is trying to accomplish at this meeting.
Mr. Clyde Selner stated that there were no maps presented with this
application.
Vice Chairman McCarthy stated there were 3 maps that were submitted
at the time of the application.
Mr. Selner further stated that there was a seepage area and that
water discharged from the ground is oxygenated. He also said that
no one on the commission was a scientific expert.
Mr. Bob Levitt, Stratford Road, New Britain stated that an area
south of the proposed site contained skunk cabbage as well as
sphagnum moss. Several photos of this area were taken. Mr. Levitt
asked if live plants define intermittent wetland?
Mr. Peterson replied that it is potentially possible.
Ms. DeMarco asked if she can ask commission for technical
assistance from the DEP, State of Connecticut?
Vice Chairman McCarthy replied yes to Ms. DeMarco's inquiry.
Mr. Argazzi would like to view specific sight south of the proposed
area for live plants.
Mr. Ledger brought this forward looking for boundary changes and
would like to go forward with this application.
Commissioner Argazzi suggested that all commission members walk the
site prior to voting on the map change.
Commissioner Simeone made a motion to close the public hearing at
8 :25pm for Application 95-06W and it was seconded by Commissioner
Warner. All were in favor and carried unanimously.
After a short break the meeting was resumed at 8:35pm.
Mr. Simeone made a motion to accept Application 95-06W and Mr.
Estabrook seconded that motion. Commissioner Argazzi - no;
Commissioner Estabrook - yes, Vice Chairman McCarthy - yes;
Commissioner Simeone yes; and Commissioner Warner - no. Motion
approved.
Vice Chairman McCarthy stated that future applications regarding
area of new wetlands should be addressed through legal counsel.
REGULAR MEETING
1. Application 95-08W Proposal by the Richard & Janice Cotrona to
construct a residential dwelling and related appurtenances
within a regulated area on Lot 1-K, Block 19, Park Drive.
Bart Bovee, representing Richard and Janice Cotrona regarding the
site on Lot 1-K, Block 19, Park Drive. Mr. Bovee asked that the
site be walked by the commission members and himself at a future
date.
Commissioner Argazzi made a motion to table Application 95-08W to
a special meeting on 5/18/95 at 6: 00pm at the project site. It was
seconded by Chairman McCarthy. All in favor and carried forward.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to move to Item 2g, the
discussion of Hungerford to Item a. Commissioner Estabrook
seconded this motion. All in favor. Unanimous.
Mr. Ledger filed an official application of Hungerford Park with a
map (with the right to make some engineering adjustments) of impact
of change. Mr. Ledger also asked for a public hearing.
Commissioner Argazzi was willing to listen to a public hearing.
Vice Chairman McCarthy stated the same.
Commissioner Simeone made a motion to accept the application for
review and schedule a public hearing for the next meeting and it
was seconded by Commissioner Argazzi. All in favor. Unanimous.
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION
Item a.Application 93-04W - Request for transfer of permit
A motion was made by Commissioner Warner to table the request for
transfer and seconded by Commissioner Argazzi. All in favor and
carried unanimously.
b. #65 Saw Mill Drive - Release of site bond
Mr. James Horbal stated that, as previously discussed, wetland
vegetation was removed and a lawn established as well as advised
property owner that the site did not meet the overall wetlands
approval for the site. The area was still landscaped. Several
members surveyed this parcel and nothing has been restored as of
yet.
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to restore the site as
originally discussed. James Horbal to consult counsel on this
issue and to review original drawings or to work some type of
litigations. It was seconded by Commissioner Argazzi and carried
unanimously.
c. Lot 108, Block 108, Wildemere Road - proposed three lot
subdivision - discussion
Mr. Bart Bovee to propose 3 building lots with one common driveway.
He suggested that the commission take a look at this proposal.
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion to add further discussion of
Lot 10B, Block 108 to the special meeting on 5/18/95 at 6:00pm.
Commissioner Simeone seconded the motion. All in favor and carried
unanimously.
d. Correspondence
Mr. McCarthy read a letter from Mr. David Colburn dated 4/25/95
stating that he was giving his resignation. Various other
correspondence was reviewed by the commission as well.
Approval of Minutes
The following changes were noted in the minutes of 3/7/95:
Page 1 - last paragraph - should read lots 9-10, 9-11
Page 2 - last paragraph - should read 4/4/95
Last page - meeting was adjourned at 9:43pm.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to accept the minutes as
corrected of 3/7/95 and seconded by Commissioner Simeone. All in
favor and unanimously carried.
The following changes were noted in the minutes of 4/4/95;
Page 2 - 2nd paragraph - Mr. Massirio should be replaced with
Mr. Matulis
Page 2 - 2nd paragraph and throughout the notes should read
Mr. Ledger not Mr. Ledyard
Vice Chairman McCarthy made a motion that the minutes of 4/4/95 as
corrected be approved and it was seconded by Commissioner Simeone.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman James McCarthy to adjourn the
meeting at 10: 09pm and seconded by Commissioner Charles Warner.
All were in favor and carried unanimously.
Respectively submitted,
Tina M. DeGrandi
Recording Secretary