APPROVED INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY TOWN OF WOODBRIDGE REGULAR MEETING ON MAY 16, 2018 A regular meeting of the Inland Wetlands Agency (IWA) for the Town of Woodbridge was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in the Central Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 11 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, Connecticut. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Jack Kurek ~ Acting Chairman, David Speranzini, Barry Josephs and Joshua Goldberg ALTERNATES: Josh Lemon EXCUSED: Robert Blythe and Jean Webber (Alternate) ALSO PRESENT: Terry Gilbertson, Agency Enforcement Officer (AEO) Kristine Sullivan, Acting Recording Secretary Acting Chairman Jack Kurek called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.. Lemon was seated for Blythe. NEW BUSINESS ELI AND CAROLYN LEVY: 12 HEMLOCK HOLLOW The application for reclamation of the area cleared in excess of that provided by IWA Permit # 2017-010 at 12 Hemlock Hollow Road was formally received. The application was accompanied by a color coded map and narrative showing the planned areas of reclamation and plantings to be done, certificate of mailing to the abutting property owners and check for the State and Town application fees for the permit. The property is on a public water supply watershed. Eli and Carolyn Levy were present to discuss the application. In discussion of the application they noted: The had consulted with Complete Environmental Services and Amy Sampson principal with AES Landscape Design, who is a Certified Horticulturalist and Accredited Nursery Professional. They had provided an existing plan. Noted erosion controls were in place except for the hay bales that had been in the stream and gotten washed downstream in a heavy rainfall. The reclamation plan included within 15 from the stream edge planting silky dogwood in one row by hand along the stream bank for stabilization with white clover seed sowed in the remaining soil in all areas not covered by existing growth or new shrubs. In the yellow shade area 15 ~ 35 from the stream edge plantings, have the stumps remain in place, but trimmed as low as possible with a chain saw. Three River birch saplings would be planted to provide future shade to the stream.. Boulders from the upland area of the property would be moved in front of the tree line at the 35 stream edge border to create a linear barrier to identify where the stream buffer began. In the green shaded area 35 from the stream edge to the driveway, stumps would be removed. The area would be leveled with 2 washed stone and top dressed with 4 6 of pesticide and contaminate free topsoil spread with rye grass seed and hay until the grass germinated. Acting Chairman Kurek noted that his initial comments were: The proposed stream buffer line on the submitted plan is a straight line rather than the curved line approved by the original permit.
He would like to see the area of remediation correspond to the original selective clearing limits. Was concerned that while some boulders might be on top, some boulders could be partially buried and require more disturbance. Was concerned about the removal of stumps of trees that were originally supposed to remain in the area that was approved for selective clearing. AEO Gilbertson noted: That staff had prepared a map showing the original approved selective clearing limits to the dramatically expanded cleared area shown on the reclamation plan. Due to State budget cuts the Southwest Soil Conservation District could not provide the level of assistance that it originally had. He recommended that the Agency consider engaging a biologist to assist with reviewing the submitted remediation plan and Recommended Michael Kline, a wetland biologist and soil scientist. Engaging a specialist would allow the Agency and applicant access to data to make a wise decision. An inspection of the property by the specialist, IWA members and applicants would be a good approach. Public comments on the application were made by: Andrew Danzig: 3 Milhaven Road Cheryl Gelernter: 11 Hemlock Hollow Road JESSICA HALPRIN: 4 ELDERSLIE LANE Application for residential addition in upland review area. The application submitted by Jessica Halprin for location of a storage shed in an upland review area of her residential property located at 4 Elderslie Lane for storage of farm and gardening equipment was formally received by the Agency. The application was accompanied by plans showing two alternate llocations for the storage shed, a certificate of mailing for required notice to the abutting property owners and checks for the local and state fees and recording of the Agency s decision on the application on the Town Land Records. The property is not on a public water supply watershed. Mrs. Halprin who was present to discuss the application noted the following: The shed would be for storage of farming and gardening equipment. The shed would be 16 by 24 in area. The 16 side of the shed would face towards the driveway and the neighbors to the west. The two alternate locations for shed proposed on the submitted site plan where chosen for their proximity to the driveway and are in natural clearings so that no tree clearing would be needed to place the shed in either location. The shed would be located on gravel with 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 posts. The ground in either location is level. The color of the shed would be chosen to blend into the surroundings. Page 2 of 3
AEO Gilbertson asked why the shed was not proposed to be located on the eastern side of the property towards Peck Hill Road to the side of the house. Mrs. Halprin replied that that area is steep and it would be dangerous for access and egress for a tractor. Agency members inquired where gas would be stored. Mrs. Halprin replied there was no intent to store oil or gas in the shed. Those items are currently stored in a flammable storage cabinet in the garage. Abutting property owner Adam Gorelick from 10 Elderslie Lane expressed the following concerns regarding the shed: Concern with aesthetics That during construction of the Halprin residence the basement of his residence flooded. Concern about noise. Would prefer if the shed was moved back where the Halprin s garden was. Mrs. Halprin responded that locating the shed by the garden would be difficult for access and egress by the tractor due to the slope. She did not believe that shed would increase noise. AEO Gilbertson asked if the Halprins would be amendable to providing a vegetative buffer for the shed. There was discussion of having a site visit by AEO Gilbertson, the Halprins and the Gorelicks to view the potential locations for the shed There being no further discussion the Agency members acted as follows on the application. ** Mr. Lemon moved to defer action on the application to Agency Enforcement Officer Terry Gilbertson subject to an inspection of the property with the property owner and abutting neighbor Adam Gorelick to determine if a suitable alternate location for the shed is practical. ** Mr. Josephs seconded. ** Voting for: Kurek, Speranzini, Josephs, Goldberg and Lemon ** Abstained: No one Unanimous Approval 5-0 OLD BUSINESS There was no old business was on this evening s agenda. RECEIPT AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE IWA SINCE THE MARCH 21, 2018 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGENCY WHICH IS NOT RELATED TO LISTED AGENDA ITEMS: 1. A request was received from Walter Piechota for release of the $15,000.00 performance bond related to the Agency Permit for the residential site development of 27 Elderslie Lane. Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Agency members to have the Agency s Consulting Engineering firm inspect the site and report on compliance with the IWA permit for the property. Page 3 of 3
2. The Winter/Spring issue of the Habitat, published by the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions. Copies were distributed to Agency members. ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AEO Gilbertson reported that 220 Seymour Road has had some of the excess vehicles that had been kept at the site moved, noting that those vehicles were moved to another location in Town. DISCUSSION OF COMMISSION GOALS, CHANGES, DIRECTIONS AND POSSIBLE REGULATION CHANGES There was no discussion of this agenda item this evening. SCHEDULING DATE FOR NEXT IWA SITE INSPECTIONS As previously noted a site inspection of 12 Hemlock Hollow will be conducted at the convenience of the Agency soil scientist/biologist consultant, property owners and Agency members. PASSING OF AGENCY CONSULTING ENGINEER ROBERT CRISCUOLO Lead by Agency member Barry Josephs, Agency members and staff reflected on the untimely passing of long time Agency Consulting Engineer Robert Criscuolo. Bob was remembered as a consummate professional, who passed away far too young. Bob s ability to excel at peer review of applications that came before the Agency was unparalleled. In Bob s words We are friends of the truth. That perhaps best described the character and integrity of Bob. He will be sorely missed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of March 21, 2018 continued on March 26, 2018 ** Mr. Goldberg moved to approve the minutes as submitted. ** Mr. Lemon seconded. ** Voting for: Kurek, Goldberg and Lemon ** Abstained: Speranzini and Josephs Unanimous Approval 3-0-2 ADJOURNMENT ** Mr. Lemon moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. ** Mr. Speranzini seconded. ** Voting for: Kurek, Speranzini, Josephs, Goldberg and Lemon ** Abstained: No one Unanimous Approval 5-0 Accordingly, the meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Page 4 of 3
Kristine Sullivan, Acting Recording Secretary Page 5 of 3