Redding Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 1028
Redding Center, Connecticut 06875-1028
MINUTES
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
7:30 p.m. - Community Room at the Community Center
Present: David Pattee, Chairman; Jeremiah Ross; William Hill; Frederick Schroeder; Joseph Beres; Victor DeMasi; Wallace Perlman.
Also present: N. Ketcham, First Selectman
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
I. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONTINUE
Application #06-24, Reeda B. Harsche (owner), Three Levels Corporation (agent), 626 Redding Road. Received 7/18/06. Discussion on an application for "Riverbend", an Affordable Housing project on 14.19 acres for the proposed location of a subsurface waste disposal system and earth disturbing activities associated with ten (10) proposed dwellings, three (3) of which will have a one-bedroom accessory apartment. Site Walk 7/25/06. Public Hearing opened 9/19/06. Continued 10/3/06.
Atty. Neil Marcus was present for the applicant along with Wayne Jacobson from Spath Bjorkland; Russ Slayback from Leggette, Brashears & Graham and Mr. Harsche. Atty. Sharon Taraska and Tom Ryder from Land Tech Consultants were present for the Commission.
D. Pattee noted receipt of the following new information:
-letter dated 10/17/06 from Land Tech
-letter dated 10/17/06 from Leggette, Brashears & Graham
-report dated 10/10/06 from Southwest Conservation District
-letter dated 10/15/06 from Redding Preservation Society, read into the record as requested.
Atty. Marcus reviewed the list of eight documents from the previous application to be included in this application. He submitted a request to include four additional items. Mr. Marcus also submitted a written response to a Land Tech report received today.
W. Jacobson submitted a written copy of presentation notes from the 10/3/06 meeting. He reviewed new information regarding catch basins and measures to protect amphibians.
R. Slayback reviewed septic system details and addressed the report from J. MacBroom.
Atty. Marcus questioned the qualifications of members of the Southwest Conservation District.
Tom Ryder commented on new information as reported by Mr. Marcus and Mr. Jacobson and highlighted his concerns.
F. Schroeder questioned Mr. Slayback re: responses to J. MacBroom's report. Mr. Slayback provided references to the responses in his reports. W. Hill requested an update from Dr. Klemens re: vernal pools.
N. Ketcham reported on the relationship and history of the Southwest Conservation District. G. Connolly noted his concern re: density and the invalid comparison of this application to previous applications as stated by the applicant.
C. Kimball noted his concerns and questioned N. Ketcham re: qualifications of the Southwest Conservation District. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the qualifications were researched and found to be beyond reproach.
J. Bonsignore resubmitted photos of his areas of concern re: flooding and commented on three driveway configurations in three meetings. He reiterated his question re: placement of utility cables.
J. Hixon requested inclusion of the entire record of the previous application. He noted his concerns including misinformation as noted in the letter from Brian Roche of Aquarion. Helen O'Brien commented on the conduct of the applicant. R. Slayback responded to Mr. Hixon's comments re: equations.
Atty. Marcus rebutted comments and clarified the proposed driveway usage. He requested and was granted an extension. A request will be submitted in writing.
D. Pattee stated that the Public Hearing will continue at the next meeting. He encouraged the applicant and consultants to submit any new material no later than two weeks from tonight. The Public Hearing will continue on 11/7/06.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -Meeting of 10/3/06
On the motion of W. Perlman and the second of F. Schroeder, the Commission voted to approve the 10/3/06 Meeting Minutes as amended: Page 2, fourth paragraph, third sentence, change to "It was confirmed that a response from the Dept. of Public Health will be made after action has been taken by this Commission."; Page 3, second paragraph, third sentence, change to "A sign stating 'Hunting in Progress' will be posted on trails where hunting is taking place." J. Ross abstained.
III. REGULATORY
Application #06-38, Barrett Cram, Executor (owner), Steven D. Trinkaus (agent), 146 Cross Highway. To receive and discuss an application for wetland activities associate with a proposed six-lot subdivision.
Mr. Cram was present. He briefly reviewed the proposal accompanied by a map. A site walk was scheduled for Sun., 10/29/06 at 8:30 a.m.
Application #06-39, Peter Rowan (owner), Frank Fowler (agent), 26 Long Ridge Road. To receive and discuss an application for a septic system installation to replace a failing system within the regulated area.
Mr. Rowan was present along with the septic system installer. The proposal was reviewed and a site walk was scheduled for Sun., 10/29/06 at 9:30 a.m.
IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
DEP is holding a meeting on 10/25/06 re: organic land care. Meeting to be held at DEP Headquarters in the Phoenix Auditorium at 10 am.
A sample of the signage for bow hunting activity was reviewed.
F. Schroeder and J. Ross have been reappointed to the Commission for another four-year term.
D. Pattee reported the Gov. Rell is appointing a Commission to work on stopping urban sprawl.
A copy of an article re: preservation of open space will be distributed.
The Sierra Club is co-sponsoring a meeting at GLDC on 10/21/06 at 9:15 a.m.
D. Pattee is attending the DEP training session on plant identification on 10/20/06.
F. Schroeder reported on the use of Roundup on invasive species.
The presence of Dodder, an invasive species native to CT, was discussed.
On the motion of V. DeMasi and the second of W. Perlman, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 p.m.
Submitted by:
Kristi C. Reilly
Kristi Reilly
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