Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report\\planning\planningoffice$\CurrentProjects\IWC\2021\Archived\221 IWC 3 (80 Walker Rd) Timber Harvest\Staff\Staff Report 3-18-2021.doc Applicant: Chris Casadei c/o Hull Forest Products, Inc. Property Owner: Mark Suprenant Address: 80 Walker Road (066-001-000), Oakdale, CT Meeting Date: March 18, 2021 (Decision Required Date 5-7-2021) Applicant Request: As of Right Determination for Timber Harvest Activity Description Wetland Disturbance Area 0 sq ft Upland Review Disturbance Area 0 sq ft Watercourse/ Waterbody Disturbance Area 0 sq ft Staff Comments  Application is for an As of Right Determination for a Timber Harvest in accordance with Montville Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations Section 4.1.a and C.G.S. Section 22a-40.  Under the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act C.G.S. Section 22a-40 and Montville Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations (“Regulations”) Section 4.1.a, farming is as “Permitted operation and use”. Forestry is defined as farming or agriculture under C.G.S. 1-1q.  80 Walker Road is located in the R-120 zone on 35.9 acres and contains regulated wetlands & watercourses.  Applicant states in narrative, Hull Forest Products, Inc. plans to conduct a selection harvest on 20 of the 35.9 acres. This harvest will be conducted as a whole tree operation where the marked trees will be felled and a skidder will be used to transport the trees to the yarding area where they will be merchandized into saw logs, firewood and chips to be hauled off site via existing driveway. There is one intermittent drainage crossing associated with this operation involving an existing culvert. The culvert will be adequate to support the equipment and no additional E & S will be required. All trees to be removed will be marked for removal and it is expected that 22,710 board feet of saw timber and fifteen (15) cords will be removed. It is estimated that about 2-4 weeks will be required to complete the project with a start date of spring or summer 2021.  No new roads will need to be created since there are existing cart paths on the property as show on map and aerials.  Further details are shown on map entitled “Timber Harvest Map Property of Mark Suprenant 80 Walker Rd, Oakdale CT”, Dated February 2021.  The Commission will need to make a finding as to whether or not the proposed activities are “As of Right” and, therefore, do not require a permit. Section 4.1.a of the Regulations states the following: “4.1 The following operations and uses shall be permitted in inland wetlands and watercourses, as of right: a. Grazing, farming, nurseries, gardening and harvesting of crops and farm ponds of three (3) acres or less \\planning\planningoffice$\CurrentProjects\IWC\2021\Archived\221 IWC 3 (80 Walker Rd) Timber Harvest\Staff\Staff Report 3-18-2021.doc essential to the farming operation. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to include road construction or the erection of buildings not directly related to the farming operation, relocation of watercourses with continual flow, filling or reclamation of wetlands or watercourses with continual flow, clear cutting of timber except for the expansion of agricultural crop land, or the mining of topsoil, peat, sand, gravel or similar material from wetlands or watercourses for the purposes of sale.”  There is no proposed relocation of watercourses with continual flow or filling or reclamation of wetlands or watercourses with continual flow associated with the proposal associated with the timber harvest and, subsequently, staff recommends approval of the proposal as an “As of Right” activity. Draft Motion to Approve After giving due consideration to all relevant factors including those in Section 10 and or Section 4 of the Montville Inland Wetland Regulation and Section 22a-41 of the Connecticut General Statutes, I move to approve application  221 IWC 3, submitted by the Applicant, Chris Casadei c/o Hull Forest Products, Inc. on behalf of the property owner, Mark Suprenant for a Timber Harvest as more fully described in the Application, dated 2-19-2021 and map titled “Timber Harvest Map Property of Mark Suprenant 80 Walker Rd, Oakdale CT, Dated February 2021”, as a Permitted Use As of Right and, therefore, no permit is required. With the condition the applicant shall place temporary timber mats over small culvert for additional erosion & sediment control measures.