SPECIAL MEETING
ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009
A meeting of the Enfield Conservation Commission was held on Monday, February 23, 2009 in the Enfield Room, Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairman Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:23 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Dynia, Chairman
Natalie George
Karen LaPlante
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall
MEMBERS ABSENT: Joanne Kneiss, (Alternate Member)
Tim McGuire
Richard Szewczak
Kathleen Vose (Alternate Member)
ALSO PRESENT: Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner
Susan Berube, Recording Secretary
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael Dynia at 7:23 p.m.
Roll Call:
Present were: Chairman Dynia and Commissioners George, LaPlante, and Pfeifer-Hall. Also present were Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner and Susan Berube, Recording Secretary.
Unfinished Business:
Subdivision/Development Referrals from Planning & Zoning Commission
· Village at Scantic – Review of revisions and new correspondence
The Commissioners reviewed materials presented at the most recent IWWA meeting, held on February 17, 2009.
The applicant’s engineer’s memo and updated planting plan were reviewed. Commissioner George noted comments from Mr. Askew regarding use of erosion and sediment controls, and that extensive rip rap was recommended, instead of filter fabric in the channel.
It was noted that on page 8 of the Planting Plan that Commissioner George’s name was removed but that the ECC was named as providing the suggestions for the plants to be used.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall stated that the applicant should have hired a landscape professional and that the ECC should not be noted on the plans at all.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall also stated her opposition to the detention basins being piped. The Town’s engineer had originally recommended armoring the drainage areas with rip rap. A memo from Mr. Cabibbo, dated 01/12/09 referred to drainage outlets from the ponds be brought to the base of the channel, but said nothing about piping.
She noted other applications where this has been done, such as the subdivision off of Abbe Road.
A later memo by Mr. Cabibbo, dated 02/03/09, speaks of the outlet being piped, but Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall again noted that he had originally required rip rap.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall expressed frustration. The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency’s goal is to protect wetlands. The Town’s engineer does not make wetland decisions, only on what is appropriate for construction purposes.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted that many questions are being asked and there is some controversy over the various methods and items being requested by the applicant. He suggested that it all not be taken at face value.
He added that there seems to be new information available and the formulas that have been used thus far may not be appropriate for this site. In addition, there has been suggestion that there should not be any infiltration on the site, including rain gardens.
Commissioner LaPlante noted that it had been brought out earlier that the slopes have a clay layer and water has the ability to follow it and create erosion.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated that it has been stated that the more stable of soils on similar sites are those that have been disturbed and returned with more stable soils.
Commissioner George noted that disturbance for the siphon system would mean putting new soil over the original escarpment soils, which could be a cause of future slope failure.
She added that she also feels that at least 4 lots should be deleted from the plans and that a siphon system is not right for this site. If the siphon system is allowed, it will mean new soils will be added either on the clay underlayment or on top of erodible sands and will not last either because of seepage along the interface of the soils or through inappropriate recreational use of the area as access to the river banks via the cut in the escarpment slopes.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall stated that the Commission has gone out of its way to offer constructive comments, such as a recommendation of fencing along the escarpment slope.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted that whatever is done should be done in the most responsible manner. He added that the ECC is an advisory board and the members have substantial concerns and that their fundamental concerns remain the same as they were in the beginning of this application.
Members then discussed the recommendation that there be no additional runoff down the escarpments.
Commissioner LaPlante noted that her concern of additional water entering the channel has not been addressed. She added that she is afraid it will become a problem as it has on Sun and Cloud Streets.
In discussion of Dr. Welti’s letter from 1999 to previous Wetlands Agent Jay Northrup, Mr. Alsbaugh noted that this was a generalized formula, not site specific. That formula may not be applicable for this particular site.
Commissioner LaPlante noted that deleting the lots along the escarpment would still allow development of 31 lots so it should still be a feasible project.
Commissioner George noted that the outlet of pond #2 will be challenged due to the steepness of the slope in that area.
Commissioner LaPlante lamented that most of the ECC’s concerns – the escarpments, fencing, removal of lots, have not been addressed. She also wondered what benefit the conservation easement will be and who will police it.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall noted that there is now talk of having a conservation restriction or covenant, instead of an easement. She feels that this is a weaker form of protection and a false sense of security. It makes the homeowner responsible and the town can only hope they will adhere to the restrictions.
Commissioner George added that during the selling process it is only a notice to the homeowner that they have limited use of the lot area. The homeowner must actually read the covenant to find out what the limitations and restrictions are.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall feels that the ECC should recommend an easement, not a covenant because an easement “has more teeth”.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted that the trend is moving away from the Town having responsibility for such sites.
Members continued discussing their concerns of having conservation covenants instead of easements. Whether the property is town owned or privately owned, there could be slope failure. It was felt by the commissioners that the Town would end up paying for slope repairs even if the property is privately owned.
If the land were town owned, fencing could be installed and the number of developed lots reduced, cutting down on the possibility of activity on the slopes, including having debris dumped onto it.
Commissioner LaPlante stated that the Commission is trying to keep problems from happening and having to spend Town money to repair the slopes when problems could be prevented from happening at all.
Mr. Alsbaugh recapped for the record: that the ECC fundamentally believes that town owned open space is still the best way to deal with the environmental issues and, as a general statement, the commission stands behind the recommendations and comments in their memo of 01/20/09 to the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Agency.
Members also briefly discussed drainage issues, noting that the applicant states that half of the roof drainage will be infiltrated on the lot and the remainder is drained to the street, but it is unknown as to how that will be enforced.
It was noted that it is unknown who will develop each lot or how many phases there will be or how long the development will take.
Chairman Dynia left the meeting at 8:23 p.m. and returned at 8:26 p.m.
Commission members determined that a memo should be sent to the IWWA and noted various points that should be included.
Among them were:
· Appreciation for the IWWA’s discussion of items in the Commission’s original memo of 01/20/09,
· Terrace escarpment soil preservation,
· Conveyance of runoff to the unnamed brook,
· Changes to the natural conditions that development will have on the escarpment, Scantic River, and related wetlands
· Reiteration of original concerns of the proposed development
· Deletion of lots along the escarpments.
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall to authorize Mr. Alsbaugh to draft a memo to the IWWA from the ECC based on notes developed at this meeting. Vote was 4-0-0.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall thanked members who attended the most recent IWWA and spoke on behalf of the concerns of the Commission.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted that Mr. Joffray, president of the Scantic River Watershed Association spoke with him regarding this project and the Association’s concerns over access to the Scantic River and impact of sediment on the downstream fisheries.
Next Meeting Date: Regular Meeting, March 10, 2009
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Secretary
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