CONNECTICUT RIVER GATEWAY COMMISSION

 

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

 

July 24, 2008

 

Present/Absent:

Chester:                    Margaret Wilson, Martha Wallace

Deep River:              Amy Petrone, Nancy Fishbach

East Haddam:            Vacant, Robert Boulware

Essex:                       Ed Marlowe, Fred Vollono

Fenwick:                    Chuck Chadwick

Haddam:                   Scott Thompson, Susan Bement

Lyme:                        Kevin Mazer, J. Melvin Woody

Old Lyme:                 Ted Crosby, Vacant

Old Saybrook:         Madge Fish, David Lemay

CRERPA:                  Steve Williams

Midstate RPA:         Raoul  De Brigard, Stacia DeMichele

DEP:                          David Blatt

Staff:                          J.H. Torrance Downes

Tidewater:                Judy Preston

 

Call to Order

            Vice-chairman Melvin Woody called the regular meeting of the Gateway Commission to order at 7:40 pm in the CRERPA meeting room. 

 

Approval of Minutes

Nancy Fischbach moved to accept the minutes from June 26, 2008.  David Blatt seconded.  Approved unanimously.

 

Guests

            None present.

             

Staff Report & Correspondence

·         Council on Environmental Quality’s new report on the condition of CT’s environment is online at www.ct.gov/ceq/AnnualReport’

·         DEP/OLISP permit issued in June, 2008 for CT River property in Chester off Parker’s Point Road to (1) retain/maintain existing river groin, (2) construction of concrete cap on said groin, (3) attachment of a fixed ramp, removable ramp and floating dock/piles, and (4) install a drainage pipe to connect pond to river.  What permit did NOT include, but was requested, was armoring rip rap along the shoreline to preserve the land and trees that are falling into the river. Issued permit is therefore consistent with DEP/OLISP philosophy that unless a home is in imminent danger of collapse, “hardening” of the shoreline will not be permitted to save land and/or trees.

·         River Valley News,  CT River Joint Commissions, Summer, 2008.   www.crjc.org

Primarily CT River in New Hampshire and Vermont.

·         Annual Report – Copy of Annual Report distributed.

·         Confirmation of Audit Understanding – for signature.

 

 Treasurer’s Report

            Gateway Monthly Expense Report FY 2007/08 was distributed for review and approval.  Downes highlighted several year-end entries for comparison purpose.  Nancy Fischbach moved to approve the report.  Martha Wallace seconded.  Approved unanimously.

David Blatt moved to pay the month’s bills for $820 to CRERPA and $1,680.00 to Tidewater.  Martha Wallace seconded.  Approved unanimously.

             

Variance Referrals

There were no variance referrals

 

Special Exception Reviews

Downes presented the results of a Special Exception review for Platner residential development located at 66 Seldon Road in Lyme at the mouth of Seldon Creek.  Although several additions were to be built, most of that construction would be in a location that faces Seldon Creek and not the main stem of the Connecticut.  It was explained that a significant vegetated buffer exists between the proposed construction and the Seldon Creek area.  The staff report to the Lyme Planning & Zoning Commission requested the planting of view-buffering vegetation where appropriate and consistent with the ecological environment within which the plants would be placed.  Melvin Woody provided an update on the ongoing discussions and challenges that have been occurring between the Platners and the Lyme Land Trust over the interpretation of a conservation easement originally established by the Seldons before they sold the property a number of years ago.

 

Tidewater

·         The Gateway Commission river trip on Riverquest was discussed with the Commission confirming that, besides the Commission, invitees should include area ZEO’s, Town Planners, Wetlands official and, finally, Land Trust members. It is the regulatory officials for Gateway towns that the Commission most wanted on the trip.  The Commission decided that Thursday, August 7, 2008 would be an appropriate date to conduct the trip.

·         Nancy Fischbach moved to reimburse Judy Preston in the amount of $22.65 for costs incurred in copying transcripts of hearings conducted for the establishment of the Gateway Commission in the 1970’s.   Martha Wallace seconded.  Approved unanimously.

 

Adoption Status of 2004 Standards

No update.

 

Status of Gateway Owned Properties

            Downes reported that the DEP / Balleck agreement is being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General.  A report of that review has not been completed as of yet. 

 

 

New Business

·         It was announced that Logan Clarke has decided to step down from the Gateway Commission as representative for the Town of East Haddam as he will be moving to Essex.  Fred Vollono has indicated that he will step down from the chair but remain on the Commission.

·         Noted that Raul De Brigard, Susan Bement, Nancy Fischbach and Melvin Woody met John Arnold of Connecticut Yankee and toured the CY Haddam Neck site at 3pm on July 24, 2008.  Amy Patterson of the Trust for Public Land accompanied the contingent.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business, Martha Wallace moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dorothy Papp

 

 

 

The next meeting of the Gateway Commission is Thursday, August 28, 2008 with such meeting being entirely devoted to a discussion of wind power and wind turbines.

 

 

 

Gateway Items of Interest

July 24, 2008

 

 

Staff Report/Correspondence/Updates/ To-Do

(1)  Council on Environmental Quality’s new report on the condition of CT’s environment is online at www.ct.gov/ceq/AnnualReport

 

(2)  DEP/OLISP permit issued in June, 2008 for CT River property in Chester off Parker’s Point Road to (1) retain/maintain existing river groin, (2) construction of concrete cap on said groin, (3) attachment of a fixed ramp, removable ramp and floating dock/piles, and (4) install a drainage pipe to connect pond to river.  What permit did NOT include, but was requested, was armoring rip rap along the shoreline to preserve the land and trees that are falling into the river.

 

Issued permit is therefore consistent with DEP/OLISP philosophy that unless a home is in imminent danger of collapse, “hardening” of the shoreline will not be permitted to save land and/or trees.

 

(3)  River Valley News,  CT River Joint Commissions, Summer, 2008.   www.crjc.org

Primarily CT River in New Hampshire and Vermont.

 

(4)  Annual Report

(5)  Confirmation of Audit Understanding – for signature.

(6)  Signature of Bill

 

Variance Referrals  

None.

 

Reports on Staff Reviews of Special Permit Applications

Platner Family, 66 Seldon Road, Lyme.  No variances required. Architect Stephen Lloyd of Chester.  Majority of view impact is on the south and southeastern side of property toward Seldon Creek. Little “presentation” to the main stem of the river.  Reminded the Lyme P&Z that the viewshed includes “tributaries and associated marshes” of the river, not just the main stem itself.  Requested the planting of vegetation wherever practical so as to buffer the visual impact, especially along the Seldon Creek boundary.

 

Status of Dock Standards Effort in Old Lyme

Scheduling meeting to review the comments/revisions of portions of the draft Addendum that impact the DEP Permitting Section’s authority.  Consensus on meeting date has been challenging to establish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


T I D E W A T E R    I N S T I T U T E

 

Update of progress on CT River Riparian Regulations Project

7/24/08

 

 

Informational interviews: Met with Connecticut College arboretum director Glenn Dreyer concerning his knowledge of riparian natural communities and management, stewardship and public education about trees.  Of interest was information he shared about cutting standards and protocols, riparian regulations from Candlewood Lake in the western part of the state, proposed legislation from the town of Sherman on tree-cutting standards, and coastal riparian legislation from the state of Maine.

 

Scheduled meetings: Juliana Barrett, extension educator with Connecticut Sea Grant and NEMO, to explore potential partnering on riparian outreach in the lower valley.

 

Draft Map: Work continues on regional GIS analysis to quantify project area.  Identify town, names of watercourses, basin, number and percent of watershed contained within Gateway Conservation zone, stream order.  Overlay EPA riparian study to identify existing and potential riparian conditions.  This map will allow us to understand what the regulation will be affecting on the ground and where the greatest need is. Fieldwork to be done in August.

 

Educational materials: Located and had copied 100 pages of the original legislative testimony surrounding adoption of the 1973 senate bill 1790, An Act Concerning the Preservation of the Lower Connecticut River Valley.  Fascinating reading!  The testimony will provide substantial context for Gateway Commission outreach materials (brochure, powerpoint) as well as welcomed historic background to supplement my conversations with community partners.  Outline attached.

 

River Quest Boat trip: Would like to confirm this evening for one of two possible evening dates in mid-August.