Chairman Koehler called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Harold Bernier was seated for Brian Doody.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the December 11, 2000 meeting was read aloud. Motion by Harold Bernier, seconded by Joseph Piotrowski to accept the minutes of the December 11, 2000 meeting as presented. Harold Bernier, Joseph Piotrowski and Arnold Koehler voted in favor of the motion. John Kaufman and David Holley abstained. The motion carried. Minutes of the January 8, 2001 meeting were read aloud. The minutes were amended to add under New Business, (c) Rossi Corporation, "A site walk was scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2001 following the scheduled site walk at 97 Waterbury Road" and under New Business, (b) J.N.J. Realty, LLC, "The Commissioners agreed to have Bill Donovan contact the owner of Southbury Car Care, LLC, a facility similar to what the applicant is proposing, and schedule a site visit for the Inland Wetlands Commission to observe the operation." Motion by John Kaufman, seconded by Harold Bernier to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2001 meeting as amended. Unanimous. Chairman Koehler noted for the record that the (3) site walks scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2001 were cancelled to inclement weather.
Communications:
Public Hearings: None
The order of business was changed to discuss Application #09-2000, Rossi Corporation, prior to discussion on Application #08-2000, J.N.J. Reality, LLC.
b. Rossi Corporation, c/o Rod Burgess, 97 Summit Road. Application #09-2000 for a Logging Operation. This application was accepted at the January 8, 2001 meeting. Bill Donovan suggested that since this operation was similar to (2) previously approved opeartions, that the Commissioners might consider approving the application before them to allow Rossi Corporation to complete this project with the advantage of frozen ground. David Holley stated that since there was no logging being done within a regulated area, the same type of portable bridge is being used and no problems with the prior operations, he had no objections to approving this application. John Kaufman agreed but with a stipulation that Bill Donovan is contacted prior to the start of any work as with the prior approvals. Motion by David Holley, seconded by John Kaufman to approve Application #09-2000, Rossi Corporation, for a selective thinning logging operation with one stream crossing within a regulated area, with the stipulation that Bill Donovan be contacted prior to the start of the operation. Unanimous.
c. J.N.J. Realty, LLC, 97 Waterbury Road. Application #08-2000 for a Car Wash Facility/Quick Lube. This application was accepted at the January 8, 2001 meeting. It was noted that a site visit was held at the Southbury Car Care, LLC, on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. Bill Donovan distrubuted a revised site plan map submitted by the applicant since the last meeting. David Carson of OCC Design Consortium, representing the applicant, explained that pursuant to the last meeting, the site plan was forwarded to the Town's Engineer. After discussions with the Assistant Director of Public Works, Gene McCarthy, Bill Donovan and the site contractor, minor additions and changes were made to the plan. Mr. Carson noted the following changes: 1) placement of a plunge pool at the point where storm water runoff from Route 69 discharges onto the site; 2) rip rap the channel between the plunge pool and detention basin; 3) proposed planting scheme for both the detention pond and the Enhanced Natural Area; 4) installing 18" storm water piping from the proposed plunge pool (item 1) to the Enhanced Natural Area where the storm water will discharge into. Chairman Koehler read aloud the letter dated January 8, 2001 from Jane Fowler and stated that a petition for public hearing on this application was received with 35 signatures. Michael Dreher, Stonefield Drive, submitted another 31 signatures petitioning for a public hearing. A public hearing was scheduled for February 26, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. The Commissioners rescheduled a site walk for February 17, 2001 at 8:45 a.m. with an alternate date of February 24, 2001 at 8:45 a.m., if necessary. Bill Donovan will advise the Town Engineer of the site walk and the applicant will schedule the soil scientist to be present as well. David Holley noted for the audience that the Inland Wetlands Commission has authority to regulate activity pertaining to wetlands only. Mr. Holley stated that the letter submitted by Jane Fowler raises issues that would fall under jurisdiction of the Planning & Zoning Commission.
New Business: None
Enforcement Hearings: None
Land Use Inspector's Report: Bill Donovan commented that the developers of the medical facility on Route 69 are doing an excellent job in trying to comply with the erosion control plan.
Public Participation: Helen Plante, 5 Rosewood Drive, asked if a site walk could be accurate with the amount of snow and frozen ground that exists at this time of the year. Bill Donovan stated that the Commissioners rely on the Town's wetlands map as a guide to where wetlands are located and it is generally accepted practice to accept a soil scientist's determination of a designated wetlands area. Bill also stated that the schedule site walk could be cancelled again if the conditions do not allow for proper assessment of the site. Sigrun Gadwa of Carya Ecological Services stated that she has been retained by Jane Fowler the site plan for the car wash. Ms. Gadwa questioned the determination that the drainage from Route 69, which runs through the site for the proposed car wash, doesn't constitute a wetlands area. Ms. Gadwa also questioned whether proper permits were obtained for the clear-cutting that has been done on the property in light of the adjacent wetlands. John Kaufman stated that the application was accepted with the understanding that the determination of designated wetlands would be made at the site walk with the soil scientist. There were no further comments from the public.
Motion by David Holley, seconded by Harold Bernier to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. Unanimous.