HomeMy WebLinkAboutComplete AppWetland Delineation Soil Conservation Environmental Evaluation
Michael G. Schaefer
Professional Soil Scientist
138 Coomer Hill Road
Dayville, CT 06241
Telephone: 860 779 1219
February 18, 2008 John Diamantini 1399 Old Colchester Road
Oakdale, CT 06370
RE: Cease and Desist Order issued by the Town of Montville Inland Wetland Commission for property at 1399 Old Colchester Road (Assessor’s Map 44, Lot 4-3)
Dear Mr. Diamantini:
I have reviewed the Commission’s file, as emailed to me from Colleen Bezanson, Planner II, pertaining to this matter. I also received and reviewed the wetland mitigation plan and associated narrative (dated December 6, 2007) prepared by Timothy May, P.E. of May
Engineering, LLC of Oakdale. I visited the subject property on February 4, 2008 to
observe the regulated activities outlined in the Cease and Desist Order dated September 13, 2007 (i.e.: tree removal and deposition of materials within a regulated area). In addition, Staff notes dated 10/18/07 regarding the September 20, 2007 meeting of the Commission indicated that one of the members (Commissioner Whittaker) had the
following areas of concern: 1) The second driveway location appeared to be within the buffer area; 2) Construction equipment was being stored in the buffer area; and, 3) Depositing of material within the buffer area. According to Mr. May’s report, you finished house construction and site work at the subject property in July of 2001. Two bituminous concrete driveways were constructed, one of which provides access to the
garage on the western end of the house. According to Mr. May’s report, this driveway encumbers approximately 10,200 square feet of upland review area and involves direct impact (filling) of approximately 260 square feet of wetlands. Further, fill was placed over approximately 730 square feet of wetlands to facilitate the side slopes along the course of the driveway. During the spring and summer of 2007, you cleared
approximately 1,500 feet of vegetation along the lakefront and constructed a beach using a 2 to 3-inch layer of sand over the extant wetland soils. Finally, it has been asserted that you have allowed ATV traffic and otherwise cleared shrubby and herbaceous vegetation in a wooded area (approximately 8,500 square feet) located to the east of the beach.
Subsequent to the issuance of the Cease and Desist Order, you filed an application for a wetland permit that would allow for the filling of 0.05 acre (approximately 2,500 square feet) of wetlands, and would further allow for the uses in the upland review area as detailed above. In association with this permit application and remediation plan, you have offered to remove all equipment and construction materials stored in the upland review
Wetland Delineation Soil Conservation Environmental Evaluation
Photo 1 – 1399 Old Colchester Road (Image Taken from http://maps.live.com) area, and you have also offered to remove piled stones and restore vegetation in the areas that were damaged by vehicular traffic along the west side of the bituminous concrete
pavement on the western side of the house (collectively affecting approximately 1,000
square feet). You also propose planting/seeding the understory of the aforementioned 8,500-square foot wooded area with (10) blueberry bushes and (10) rhododendron bushes and grasses.
One feature that has not been discussed thus far is the gravel driveway that extends
northward form the bituminous concrete driveway at the west end of the house to the western edge of the beach. At the time of my field visit, I noted that a small beach and dock at waterfront residences
in the area were not uncommon.
Photo 2 – Home with beach and dock visible from subject property
Beach
Gravel Drive
Bituminous concrete drive skirting wetlands
Wooded area where understory is to be
re-established
Dock
Beach
Dock
Wetland Delineation Soil Conservation Environmental Evaluation
The lakefront is conducive to a small beach and use for outdoor recreation. Mechanical
damage due to motor vehicles, including ATVs and construction equipment, must be avoided. With the proper permits in place, a small beach can be established and cause minimal adverse impacts to the wetland resources. After viewing the beachfront, it was evident that the newly placed sand was subject to erosion. Any sand moving off the beach
would be deposited in the lake. In my opinion, if the beach is allowed to remain, the
length of the beach should be shortened to approximately 50 feet, and the erosion & sedimentation situation be effectively treated by constructing a shallow berm that is designed to split the flow to the west and to the east. Each end of the berm should be constructed such that its outlet is in a flat, well-vegetated area at least 25 feet from the
lake’s edge.
The gravel driveway, that runs from the bituminous concrete driveway at the west side of the house to the west side of the beach, should be allowed to re-vegetate, and if needed for access to the beach area for maintenance, etc., the use of grass pavers or some similar
technology should be implemented.
The last item, pertaining to the wooded area in the northeast corner of the parcel: I would suggest is that, in lieu of rhododendron bushes, the plans call for sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) in the wooded area, since it is shade-tolerant and can grow well in
soils that are moderately well drained or poorly drained. I would recommend at least 50
plants, 2 to 3 feet in height be planted in groups of 6 to 8 plants per group. I would recommend that New England Wet Mix be used to establish the herbaceous layer within the wetland, and that a perennial ryegrass, creeping red fescue grass seed mix be used in the uplands.
I concur with the remainder of the steps as outline in Mr. May’s remediation plan. Obviously, any work that could be considered a regulated activity is subject to prior approval from the Town of Montville Inland Wetlands Commission.
Please contact me if you have any questions or need further information. Sincerely,
Michael G. Schaefer, Sr., Professional Soil Scientist
04/11/2008 09:16 FAX
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John Diamantini
1399 Old Colchester Road
Oakdale,CT 06370
RE:Cease and Desist Order issued by the Town ofMontville Inland Wetland
Commission/or property al 1399 Old Colche~ter Road (Assessor's Map 44,Lvt 4-3)
Dear Mr.Diamantini:
In response to the question ofhow the use of motor boats in close proximity to your dock,
I have the following comments:
I do not profess 10 have any expertise in hydraulic kinetics as related to the action ofboat
propellers.J-!owever,I did note that the lake bottom around the shoreline in the vicinity
oryour dock appears to be comprised mostly ofleaf-covered cobbles and gravelly sand,
materials that are relatively stable when compared to finer-textured mineral or organic
materials.
Please contact me ifyou have any questions or need further lnfonnation.
Sincerely,
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Michael G.Schaefer,Sr.,
Professional Soil Scientist
file:///mntvl-th-gis01/...D%20COLCHESTER%20RD%201399-M44L4-3/Application/wetland%20soil%20scientist%20letter%203-19-08.txt[2/10/2022 1:28:45 PM]
From: John Diamantini [jkdiamantini@sbcglobal.net]Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:09 PMTo: cbezanson@montville-ct.orgSubject: John Diamantini
Michael G. SchaeferProfessional Soil Scientist138 Coomer Hill RoadDayville, CT 06241
Telephone: 860 779 1219
March 19, 2008
John Diamantini1399 Old Colchester RoadOakdale, CT 06370
RE: Cease and Desist Order issued by the Town of Montville Inland Wetland Commission for property at 1399 Old Colchester Road (Assessor’s Map 44, Lot 4-3)
Dear Mr. Diamantini:
In response to Item #1 of your letter from Colleen Bezanson, Planner II, I have the following comments:
Item #1 – “Re-examination by the Soil Scientist of the dock area to make sure depth of water is adequate for large boat use” – According to your information, the depth near the end of the dock is approximately 6 feet. I researched two popular brands of recreational boats (Bayliner and Sea Ray) to determine the maximum draft of boats between 18 feet long and 25 feet long. The maximum draft with the outdrive in the down position is approximately 3 feet for boats in this size range. This would indicate that water depth of 6 feet is more than adequate for boat docking.
Please contact me if you have any questions or need further information.
Sincerely, Michael G. Schaefer, Sr., Professional Soil Scientist