TOWN OF GRANBY
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
MINUTES
August 12, 2009
PRESENT: Chairman David Tolli, Barry Avery, Richard Martindale, Charlie Katan and David Askew, Technical Advisor to the Commission.
Chairman Tolli called the meeting to order and confirmed a quorum at 7:05 p.m.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Martindale, the commission voted (4-0-0) to accept the minutes of the July 8, 2009 meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2a. Town of Granby, Silver Street bridge replacement
Mr. Avery recused himself from discussions on this matter.
Chairman Tolli read the public notice to open the hearing.
Dennis Garceau, of WMC Consulting Engineers, presented the proposed project. The project is part of the bridge replacement project and is funded through federal and local monies. Eighty percent of the $2 million project is federally funded. The Silver Street bridge replacement is named State Project #55-136. Currently, ninety percent of the design phase is complete. A soil scientist has flagged the area, a species assessment has been done, and the Army Corps of Engineers has approved the process.
The existing bridge will be replaced with a longer prefabricated steel structure. The new clearance span will be 75 ½ feet. There will be 400’ of roadway construction and the roadway is to be widened to a 24’ travel width. Additional drainage and drainage swales are to be installed and the road bed will be raised approximately 2 ½ feet.
During construction Silver Street will be closed. The detour route will be on Route 189 and Doherty Road will become one way. The detour is 6 ½ miles and will add approximately 10 minutes of travel time.
The project will take eight to ten months to complete. The final design has been submitted and it is anticipated to be permitted by October 2009. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit is expected by the end of the year. The anticipated start date is April 2011. A full-time inspector will be on site for the duration of the project.
The impact to the wetlands is contained within 3,400 square feet.
Chairman Tolli asked whether or not the existing dam would be removed. Since removal of the dam would mean the pond would disappear and dredging would be required, it was determined that this would cause too great an impact on the site and not worth pursuing. The abutment is being pushed back and will allow greater water capacity. The old jersey barriers are to be removed. Any activity taking place in the stream bed will be coffered and similar or same materials are to be used.
Mr. Askew asked if anything other than 4’ sumps in the catch basins will be used. Drainage swales with grass to stabilize will be added.
The public was invited to comment.
Mr. Isenberg, of 148 and 140 Silver Street and 42 Stonehenge Way, commented that the presentation answered most of his questions. He owns the only house that overlooks Doherty Road and had concerns about the detour. It is a blind corner. Mr. Isenberg states that he is pleased that appropriate measures have been taken to address concerns and appreciates the way the state operated in the planning process.
M. Goslee, 9 Sutton Drive, asked if any changes have been made since the last meeting. There have been no changes. Closure and detour designs were addressed.
Tim Crotty, 58 Granville Road, asked if there were plans to inspect and/or shore up the dam. There are no plans to change the dam. Its surroundings will be stabilized. The staging for the project will be located on the north side of Silver Street.
John Jenkins, 62 Lost Acres Road, asked why the state decided not to dredge the pond (it had been discussed in the past). Primarily due to environmental concerns the decision was made. The State Department of Transportation (DOT) approached the Town of Granby to participate in the bridge replacement program and the topic of the pond dredging was dropped. The DOT wanted to keep the bridge replacement process on track and to leave other concerns out.
Tim Crotty asked if there were plans to divert the water during construction. No, water will continue to run through during the project. Studies have been taken to ensure the engineering plans will handle the flow. A coffer dam system will be used.
Mr. Isenberg commented that at the intersection of Route 189 and Silver Street the site line to oncoming traffic is hampered by foliage. Will the town trim it back? The state owns that property and the town will ask for permission to cut it back.
John Jenkins commented that the guardrail is too low in this area. (The state has raised the road bed.) The town Department of Public Works (DPW) will notify the state of the situation.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Martindale, seconded by Mr. Katan, the public hearing was closed. (4-0-0)
WETLAND BOUNDARY CHANGES
3a. No wetland boundary changes.
NEW APPLICATIONS
4a. Town of Granby, Silver Street bridge replacement.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Martindale, seconded by Mr. Avery, the commission grants the application for State Project #55-136 dated June 23, 2009, based on adequate studies and limited impact on the regulated area. (3-0-0)
CEASE ORDER:
5a. Cynthia Anne Berkowitz, 63 Cooley Road (11/2/2005)
Chairman Tolli received a letter regarding the non-compliance to the court order. Mr. Askew says he has an inspection scheduled for August 13, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.
5b. Cambridge House, redux
Mr. Askew has talked to both the owner and the engineer regarding the remediation. A contractor has been retained to begin the work.
REPORT OF DESIGNATED AGENT:
6a. Request for Review – Signed
1. 348 North Granby Road, addition and remodeling
2. Holcomb Farm, irrigation line crossing stream
3. 114 Wells Road, Janeski farm road maintenance
6b. Request for Review – Pending
1. 211 Salmon Brook Park, stabilize West Branch bank in Salmon Brook Park near dog park
Details of the stabilization plan were requested at the last meeting. Mr. Askew has a letter from Clark Engineering describing the work to be done. The bank is currently being undermined near the dog park. Trees have been falling in due to the erosion. 175’ of the bank is affected. The plan is to keep the vegetation and to use native stone to build a better border. There will be no excavation in the stream. Large stones will be placed with a backhoe and some large stumps will be used since they hold materials well.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Katan, the commission approves the Request for Review provided Mr. Askew is notified of the start date of the project and monitors it for the duration. (4-0-0)
2. 496 Salmon Brook Street, gravel removal
It is unnecessary to sign the request because there are no regulated areas within the area of activity.
3. 28 Strawberry Fields, in-ground pool
A revised site plan has been submitted. All of the commission’s requests have been addressed in the new plan. Ed Lally submitted a letter stating that there would be no impact to the wetlands as a result of this project. The temporary access road is to be removed after construction.
ON A MOTION, by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Katan, the commission authorizes the designated agent to sign the request based on the revised plans showing a revision date of August 6, 2009. (4-0-0)
4. Town of Granby, sewer line installation
Mr. Armentano, Director of Community Development, reports that the project is ready to go out to bid. There have been reported failures of several systems in the area. Twenty-two homes will be serviced (running from Kearns School to the two houses past Archie). There are no wetlands within the right of way. Connections of homes to the system will be addressed at next month’s meeting. Kevin Clark, town engineer, drew up the plans for the system. The road will be kept open during the project.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Katan, the commission grants the Request for Review. (4-0-0)
5. Lucian Cascio, 14 Donahue Road, carport
Sketched plans were submitted with all distances included. This is a basic structure with no grading planned. The activity is well away from regulated areas.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Katan the commission grants the Request for Review. (4-0-0)
6. Joe Voboril/Dave Payton, 61 Barn Door Hills Road, logging with stream/wetland road crossing
This is a two acre parcel on a 60 acre lot. Mr. Voboril would like to place a crossing constructed of tree lengths lashed together with ¾” chain with brush at either end for traction. The commission will look at the property on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. No activity is permitted until the commission has reviewed the site.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Avery, seconded by Mr. Katan, the commission voted unanimously to add the following three items to the agenda:
7. 192 West Granby Road, new house
This matter requires an application and a letter regarding the method of wetland mapping.
8. 19 Barn Door Hills Road, farm field
The owner would like to fill in a channel that exists with nearby soils to enable him to plow and plant next year. The sheet flow from the area collects is this one area. There is no other known source of the water. This matter is continued to next month’s meeting.
9. 114 Wells Road, boxed culvert
The approval for maintenance of the existing farm road at Janeski’s farm did not include expansion. The culvert that was replaced was not in-kind, it was an improvement and requires authorization.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Martindale, seconded by Mr. Katan, the designated agent is authorized to sign the request. (4-0-0)
MISCELLANEOUS:
7a. Manitook Lake, milfoil
No additional information to report.
ANY OTHER PROPER BUSINESS:
None
The next monthly meeting is September 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Martindale, seconded by Mr. Katan, the commission voted (4-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Yost
Recording Secretary
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