Conservation Commission - Minutes - 07/28/2022

MEETING MINUTES
Conservation Commission
July 28, 2022 6:30 PM
Waterford Town Hall
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Members Present: Matthew Keatley, Dave Lersch, Rich Muckle, fa
Geneva Renegar, Wade Thomas 5
Members Absent: Talivadis Maidelis ds
Alternates Present: Bud Bray, Ivy Plis
Staff Present: Maureen FitzGerald, Environmental Planner 2
Leanne Santos, Recording Secretary S
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1. CALL TO ORDER AND APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
R. Muckle called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. B. Bray was seated for the vacancy, I. Plis
was seated for T. Maidelis. Staff noted J.Wainscott has resigned from the Commission.
2. APPROVAL OF THE July 14, 2022 MEETING MINUTES
Motion: Motion made by W. Thomas, second by M. Keatley to approve the July 14, 2022
meeting minutes.
Vote: 6-0-1 [I. Plis abstaining]
3. APPLICATION REVIEW
Motion: Motion made by W. Thomas, second by D. Lersch to move Application #C-22-7
to be reviewed first.
Vote: 7-0-0
C-22-7, 48 Great Neck Road — Condominium Development, Adam Builders LLC, Owner &
Applicant, Joe Wren PE, (Indigo Land Design), Agent
Skip Adams and James Cowen (Cowen EcoDesign, LLC) were present for the application. J.
Cowen distributed a cut sheet of the proposed road crossing in relation to the existing farm road
crossing the wetland. The farm crossing is south of the proposed wetland crossing. A twenty
foot box culvert is proposed to span the wetland and watercourse, changed from the original plan
which included a 20 ft. and a 16 ft. box culvert. Staff noted that the revised culvert will result in
additional wetland fill and asked for a breakdown of temporary construction impacts vs.
permanent wetland disturbance, footing details and the difference in area to be impacted by the
crossing design.
J. Cowen noted the remainder of site construction proposed within the upland review area
involves installing the stormwater detention basins. The basins are proposed to be planted with
native herbaceous plugs and seeded to increase the speed of vegetation establishment and
diversity of plant species. He noted that butterfly and pollinator habitat plants are included. The
basins are designed to be bio-filtration basins. Water levels are anticipated to draw down within
48 hours after a storm event. J. Cowen reviewed the construction schedule for the wetland
crossing, The existing farm trail will not be used. Footings will be poured in place during the
low-flow season and the 3-sided culvert installed. He estimated the construction for the culvert
would be 1-2 weeks in duration.
J. Cowen noted there are vernal pools located on lands to the north and south of the subject

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July 28, 2022
p. 2 of 3
property and best management practices are incorporated into the proposed design to minimize
impacts to amphibian migration, including cape cod curbing.
The commission discussed if the application is a significant impact that requires a public hearing
and whether there was public interest in the application. Staff noted that a public hearing was
conducted by the Planning & Zoning Commission for the master plan and zone change required
for the project. S. Adams added that only one member of the public attended the hearing.
Motion: Motion made by D. Lersch, second by W. Thomas that a public hearing is not
necessary, the proposed activity is not a significant impact activity and there has
not been public interest per the criteria of Section 9.1 of the regulations.
Vote: 7-0-0
C-22-6, Gardiner Woods Road - Drainage Upgrade, Town of Waterford Dept. of Public
Works, Owner/Applicant, Daniel Matheson, Agent.
No representative for the application was present. The Commission members discussed the need
for the project and public safety concerns. Staff reviewed application comments dated July 24,
2022. The Commission discussed potential maintenance requirements for the pipes to control
sediment impacts. An annual inspection and maintenance of the pipes was recommended as a
condition of approval.
Motion: Motion made by W. Thomas, second by D. Lersch to have staff prepare a draft
permit with conditions discussed.
Vote: 7-0-0
4. NEW APPLICATIONS — no new applications received
5. VIOLATIONS
1122, 1124 Hartford Turnpike: Unauthorized fill, grading & deposition of materials adjacent to
inland wetlands. Notice of Violation issued May 26, 2022 — Restoration Plan comments issued
July 18, 2022.
Staff distributed a revised restoration plan prepared by CLA Engineers submitted July 26, 2022
in response to the July 18, 2022 comments. Commission members reviewed the revised plan and
requested the following modifications to the restoration plan.
1. Boulders shown at the 50 ft. wetland off-set as a continuous line are to be set at a
maximum distance of thirty feet apart and be no smaller than 4 cubic yard to mark the
fifty foot wetland offset, with wetland non encroachment markers (provided by
Commission) to be installed between boulders and along the existing tree line.
2. Shrub plantings are to be a minimum of 3 to 5 feet height at installation rather than one
gallon plantings.
oF In the southwest corner of the 50 foot buffer impact area, the number and diversity of
native plantings should be increased and include existing native shrubs such as sweet
pepperbush and spicebush. Shrubs plantings also to be 3 to 5 foot minimum height at
installation.
4. Monitoring reports are to be prepared and submitted to the Commission by October 30"
of each monitoring year. Replacement of dead plantings is required.

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July 28, 2022
p. 3 of 3
5 A cash bond is required to be submitted for an amount equal to 50% of the cost of the
plantings, seeding and monitoring reports.
A revised restoration plan incorporating the above modifications is to be submitted to the
Conservation Commission within 14 days after receipt of the notice of plan approval.
The restoration work is required to be completed by October 30, 2022.
Staff will notify the property owner and the engineer.
43 Shawandassee Road: Mowing in Designated Wetland Non-Encroachment Area, Notice of
Non-Compliance issued June 10, 2022, corrective actions letter issued July 18, 2022.
Staff noted the owner had forwarded an email noting the corrective actions have been
implemented. Staff will inspect and report to commission at next meeting date.
6. CONSERVATION OUTREACH
Commission members will continue to submit photos and work on stormwater and water quality
awareness for outreach.
7. CORRESPONDENCE
Arbor Day Foundation Renewal
Connecticut Assoc. of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc. Renewal
Motion: Made by D. Lersch, second by G. Renegar to approve renewal of Arbor Day
Foundation and Connecticut Assoc. of Conservation and Inland Wetlands
Commission Inc.
Vote: 7-0-0
8. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Motion to adjourn made by W. Thomas, second by M. Keatley to adjourn at 8:12
pm.
Vote: 7-0-0
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Leanne Santos
Recording Secretary