Conservation Commission

CITY OF NORWALK CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLAND AGENCY SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 PRESENT: Steve Klocke, Chair; Matt Pentz; Heather Breslin; Ed Holowinko; Kathryn Knight STAFF: Alexis Cherichetti OTHERS: Aleksandra Moch; Wayne D’Vanzo I. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Klocke called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. It should be noted that this meeting was held on Zoom.com with all participants calling in, separately. II. ROLL CALL Ms. Cherichetti called the roll. III. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no members of the public that spoke. IV. RECEIPT & DISCUSSION V. DISCUSSION &/OR DECISION a) #S24-644 – 189 Perry Avenue – Moch/Carter – Corrective Action expansion of driveway and installation of drainage adjacent to a watercourse Ms. Cherichetti began with a brief overview of the corrective action. She noted that there is a draft resolution in their packets. Aleksandra Moch introduced the project team and then began the presentation. She discussed the installation of the drainage which would be under the driveway. She also explained that work to be done is cost prohibitive for her client. She explained what work they were proposing to do. There was a discussion about the existing drainage system. Wayne D’Vanzo explained the drainage system including the routes of the dry wells. They are not creating more runoff. There was also a discussion about the illegal area of the driveway as well as 2 dry wells. Ms. Cherichetti showed them the site plan. There was a discussion about restoring the gravel areas to the lawn. Mr. D’Vanzo said that it was an improvement from what had been there. Ms. Conservation Commission September 10, 2024 Page 1 of 4 Cherichetti explained what the staff had seen when they went to the property, including trenches that were connected to the dry wells. The commissioners had concerns and requested more information. They decided they would not be voting on the draft resolution. Mr. D’Vanzo said that he could provide the necessary calculations. b) #S24-641 – 4 Singing Woods Road – William Kenny Associates, LLC - Corrective Action removal of fill from a wetland and construction of a new SFR adjacent to a wetland Ms. Cherichetti gave a brief overview of the application by noting that a public hearing had been held at the previous meeting on August 13, 2024. At this point, the commissioners reviewed the resolution in the staff memo. *** MR. KLOCKE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM DATED SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 FOR #S24-641 AS WRITTEN. *** MS. KNIGHT SECONDED THE MOTION. *** STEVE KLOCKE; MATT PENTZ; KATHRYN KNIGHT; ED HOLOWINKO; HEATHER BRESLIN APPROVED. *** NO ONE OPPOSED THE MOTION. *** NO ONE ABSTAINED. c) #S24-640 – 2 Lloyd Road – Jay Fain & Associates, LLC – Corrective Action piping and filling of a wetland and watercourse Ms. Cherichetti said she had received a letter of withdrawal from this application which she read into the record. They would submit a new application in the future. She would send them an enforcement order since they had not met the directives of the notice of violation. Ms. Knight asked about the disappearance of the wetlands to be addressed in the enforcement order. Ms. Cherichetti noted what would be addressed during the process. VI. BOND RELEASE/REDUCTION REQUESTS a) #S04-187 – 10 Peaceful Lane – Kovach – Corrective Action restoration of a wetland and watercourse – Release of $1,200 bond held Ms. Cherichetti said that this application was dated 2004 and showed them the site plan. She explained what had been cleared which was a violation. She showed them pictures of the current property. Ms. Cherichetti does not recommend release of the bond. There was a discussion about the bamboo on the property. Ms. Cherichetti said she did not think it was there in 2004. She said that she would also speak with the Law Department and submit a Conservation Commission September 10, 2024 Page 2 of 4 notice of violation about replacing the buffer. The Conservation Department could use the bond to have the shrubs planted as set forth on the site plan. She would have to submit a new notice of violation. The owners had requested the release of the bond. *** MR. KLOCKE MADE A MOTION TO REJECT THE REQUEST TO RELEASE THE BOND FOR #S04-187. *** MR. PENTZ SECONDED THE MOTION. *** STEVE KLOCKE; MATT PENTZ; KATHRYN KNIGHT; ED HOLOWINKO; HEATHER BRESLIN APPROVED. *** NO ONE OPPOSED THE MOTION. *** NO ONE ABSTAINED. Ms. Cherichetti said that this is on the list of violations and explained that the homeowner was in violation, as well as what they had done. She also explained what the Conservation Commission at the time did. b) #S19-532 – 34A Bayne Street – Papadopoulos – Corrective Action landscaping adjacent to a wetland and watercourse – Release of $2,570 bond held Ms. Cherichetti said that this item would be tabled to the next meeting. c) #S21-586 – 8 Sheffield Drive – Adelman – Corrective Action removal of fill materials improperly deposited into wetlands – Release of $2,496 bond held Ms. Cherichetti noted that the current owners are different from the owners in 2021 who had received the corrective action application. She explained what had been done. She showed them pictures of an inspection in early September. Staff recommended releasing the bond. *** MR. KLOCKE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO RELEASE THE BOND FOR #21-586. *** MS. BRESLIN SECONDED THE MOTION. *** STEVE KLOCKE; MATT PENTZ; KATHRYN KNIGHT; ED HOLOWINKO; HEATHER BRESLIN APPROVED. *** NO ONE OPPOSED THE MOTION. *** NO ONE ABSTAINED. VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) August 13, 2024 meeting minutes Conservation Commission September 10, 2024 Page 3 of 4 *** MR. PENTZ MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 13, 2024. *** MR. KLOCKE SECONDED THE MOTION. *** STEVE KLOCKE; KATHRYN KNIGHT; ED HOLOWINKO; MATT PENTZ APPROVED. *** NO ONE OPPOSED THE MOTION. *** HEATHER BRESLIN ABSTAINED. There was a discussion about the new commissioner who had not attended this meeting. VIII. CONSERVATION INITIATIVES There were no comments. IX. COMMENTS OF STAFF a) Report of the Senior Environmental Officer Ms. Cherichetti said she had sent an information sheet on each of the commissioners for their review. She asked for changes and updates. There was also a discussion about voting for the election of officers to the Conservation Commission. X. COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS a) Report of the Commission Chair Mr. Klocke said he had no comments. XI. ADJOURNMENT *** MR. KLOCKE MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. *** MR. PENTZ SECONDED THE MOTION. *** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Meeting adjourned at 7:04 pm. Respectfully submitted, Diana Palmentiero Conservation Commission September 10, 2024 Page 4 of 4