RECEIVED DECEMBER 4, 2008 @ 9:02 A.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
4 pages
Redding Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 1028
Redding Center, Connecticut 06875-1028
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
7:00 p.m. – Community Center
37 Lonetown Road
Present: David Pattee, Chairman/ Jeremiah Ross; William Hill; Frederick Schroeder; Joseph Beres; Victor DeMasi; Wallace Perlman.
Also present: Peter Olson, Commission Counsel
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
I. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONTINUE
Application #08-25, Reeda B. Harsche (owner), Three Levels Corporation (agent), 626 Redding Road. Received 8/5/08. Public Hearing on an application for “Riverbend”, an affordable housing project on 14.19 acres pursuant to C.G.S. Section 8-30g for the approval of a License for the construction of ten (10) units including the location of sealed pipes serving a subsurface waste disposal structure and related earth disturbing activities associated therewith upslope from the Saugatuck River and within 500’ of the high water line of a vernal pool as regulated pursuant to Section 2.23c of the Regulations. Project activity involves ten (10) proposed dwellings, (13) housing units. Public Hearing opened 11/18/08.
F. Harsche was present along with Atty. Neil Marcus; Wayne Jacobsen of Spath Bjorklund; and Russ Slayback of Leggette, Brashears and Graham. Peter Olson, Conservation Commission Counsel was present in addition to Tom Ryder, Conservation Commission consultant from Land Tech. Per P. Olson, J. MacBroom will attend the 12/16/08 Public Hearing. Mr. MacBroom’s report will be submitted on 12/3/08.
V. DeMasi reported that he will listen to 11/18/08 meeting tapes before the next meeting. J. Beres and listened to the 11/18/08 meeting tapes.
D. Pattee noted receipt of the following new information into the record:
-11/19/08 email from J. Cassiello, Zoning Commission
-Email from B. Flanagan, ZEO/WEO
-11/25/08 report from Spath Bjorklund re: response to 11/17/08 report from J. MacBroom.
-11/24/08 email from R. Slayback to N. Marcus re: response to MacBroom report
-11/25/08 letter from N. Marcus with reports
-11/29/08 letter from Dr. Piotr Parasiewicz, Rushing Rivers Inc.
-11/19/08 letter from D. and J. Coleman
-11/18/08 letter from B. and H. Toplin
-12/1/08 letter to Reeda B. Harsche from Attorney on behalf of the Estate of Armando J. Bonsignore
N. Marcus submitted certified letter receipts and an outline of previous comments made by R. Slayback and W. Jacobsen. Mr. Marcus addressed the Coleman, Toplin and Rushing River letters and suggested that the Commission ignore the letter from Dr. Parasiewicz unless personally present on 12/16/08. R. Slayback refuted Item 1 on Page 3 of the Rushing River letter.
W. Perlman requested information re: probability that the Saugatuck River will be polluted in the first ten years. Mr. Slayback stated that there is no probability.
W. Hill cited information re: low septic feasibility and questioned the quantities of nitrate into the Saugatuck River. D. Pattee confirmed the source of the report as taken from the N.R.C.S. website and analyzed from Fairfield County soils data collection. W. Hill also questioned how much material will be removed from the site and within the site. W. Jacobsen will submit that information at the next meeting.
D. Pattee read part of the J. Cassiello email confirming that this application is denied by Zoning until Conservation renders a decision. N. Marcus read a portion of the stipulation filed by the Superior Court on 4/10/08. J. Cassiello clarified that Town Counsel requested the statement re: denied until Conservation decision.
T. Ryder from Land Tech Consultants reported that he listened to the tapes of the 11/18/08 meeting. He reviewed his comments as submitted in his report.
D. Pattee requested specific information describing the proposed use of pervious surfaces.
Members of the public noted their concerns. D. Coleman clarified the main points of his submitted letter and asked if the septic systems can be replaced when they fail. N. Marcus responded that there are reserve areas and money in a bond. Holly Hawthorn suggested that the Commission wait until results are in from the study noted in the Rushing River letter before making a decision on this
application. J. Bonsignore reviewed photographs and noted his concern re: drainage swale at southeast portion of the property. A letter has been submitted from his attorney requesting correction to this problem. Mr. Bonsignore questioned if the controls are designed for worst-case scenarios.
C. Kimball noted his concerns re: use of emergency access road, lack of tertiary leaching fields and density. D. Knapp questioned whether an easement includes other construction such as tennis courts, pool, etc. C. Couch stated that more homework needs to be done concerning soils. R. D’Angelo for the Redding Preservation Society read a letter. E. Sherrick stated that the potential benefit is not enough to justify environmental risk.
N. Marcus stated that the public comments do not address the six reasons for denial of this application as previously submitted. D. Pattee requested information for the next meeting to include description of “pervious”, proposal of conservation easement for eastern side of the property and draft stormwater management agreement.
The use of Filtrex was suggested by J. Ross and commented on by T. Ryder.
The Public Hearing will continue at the 12/16/08 meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -Minutes of 11/18/08
On the motion of W. Perlman and the second of J. Ross, the Commission voted to approve the 11/18/08 Minutes. J. Beres and V. DeMasi abstained.
On the motion of W. Perlman and the second of F. Schroeder, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the 11/22/08 Ortner Site Walk Minutes.
III. REGULATORY
Matthew Palmisano re: violations at 113 Cross Highway. Discussion 9/2/08.
B. Flanagan will schedule a site inspection and report back when complete.
Application #08-30, Martin Ortner, Trustee, Daniel Falls (agent), 10 Silversmith Lane. Received 11/18/08. Discussion and possible vote on an application for septic replacement within the regulated area. Site Walk 11/22/08.
D. Falls was present for the applicant.
On the motion of W. Perlman and the second of F. Schroeder, the Commission voted unanimously to approve Application #08-30.
IV. DISCUSSION
Discussion of Open Space Plan.
No comments have been received. Draft will be submitted in final form.
V. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
F. Schroeder and J. Ross are meeting 12/3/08 at 8:15 am at the Old Town Hall re: town and Nature Conservancy grant for invasive species removal.
On the motion of V. DeMasi and the second of W. Perlman, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:07 p.m.
Submitted by:
Kristi C. Reilly
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