CORNWALL INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES AGENCY

MINUTES OF THE

REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 5, 2008 CORNWALL TOWN OFFICE BUILDING

Present: Regular members D. Stevenson Hedden, Adam Fischer, William Hurlburt, Celia Senzer, alternates Roger Kane and Andrew MacDavid and Land Use staff Karen Griswold Nelson

Absent: Regular member Doc Simont.

Chairman Hedden called the meeting to order at 7:30PM in Cornwall Town Hall with a quorum established. Mr. Kane was seated for regular member Doc Simont.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August meeting

Motion Mr. Hurlburt, second Mr. Fischer to approve the minutes of the August meeting as presented; unanimously approved.

PENDING APPLICATIONS: None.

NEW APPLICATIONS:

App # 518 – Dan Gracey applicant/Coltsfoot Farm LLC owner c/o Robert Lansing manager –Maintenance and cleaning of existing drainage ditches for reclamation of pasture land– Lot 3, Coltsfoot Valley subdivision.

Mr. Hedden recused himself from discussion of the application.

Dan Gracey, Pine Street addressed plans to bring cattle back to Coltsfoot Valley and the improvements needed to reclaim the pasture land for grazing. Mr. Gracey addressed the current condition of disrepair of the ditches on the site, stating that the draining and maintenance of the ditches had been a regular practice of the farm years ago. Mr. Gracey stated that the current proposal was to dig out the ditches to a 2 foot width and a depth of several feet so as to catch the drainage and streams from the property and surrounding property, noting that the original ditches had been dug by Denny Frost. Mr. Gracey stated that the lack of maintenance of the ditches had resulted in land, once used for hay and the planting of corn right up to the brook, being covered by standing water. In response to questions, Mr. Gracey stated that the spoils from the ditches would be spread in the fields, seeded and hayed. With agreement that all concerns had been satisfied and that the application constituted activities associated with agricultural uses:

Motion Mrs. Senzer, second Mr. Kane that the commission had determined that App # 518 – Dan Gracey applicant/Coltsfoot Farm LLC owner c/o Robert Lansing manager –Maintenance and cleaning of existing drainage ditches for reclamation of pasture land– Lot 3, Coltsfoot Valley subdivision constitutes a “Use as of right” as per Section 4.1a of the Cornwall Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations as the activities as described in the written and oral testimony are associated with agricultural uses; unanimously approved.

App #519 – Dan Gracey applicant/Coltsfoot Farm LLC owner - Agricultural activities including the drilling of a well, the installation of power for a pump and power fencing, trenching for frost free hydrants all as per project engineered by NRCS - Lot 3, Coltsfoot Valley subdivision.

Mr. Gracey outlined the proposed activities as part of an agricultural project engineered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (a division of the US Department of Agriculture), with attention drawn to the final application including a fourth item, to “construct a wooden crossing for animals at west end of creek that comprises the north boundary of the Lansing lot.”

Mr. Gracey stated that activities had already started on the site, including the drilling the pounded 200 foot depth well in an location approved by the NRCS (and the local heath agencies including Torrington Area Health – in response to questions from Griswold Nelson.) Mr. Gracey outlined the proposal to construct an animal crossing across the Old's property and stated that grant also included monies for rotational grazing in the future.

Motion Mr. Hurlburt, second Mr. Fisher that the commission had determined that App #519 – Dan Gracey applicant/Coltsfoot Farm LLC owner - Agricultural activities including 1. The drilling of a well in the southeast corner of the property to water cattle, 2. The installation of underground power to the southeast corner to run a pump and power fencing, 3. Trenching along the south border of the property (at least 30 feet from the stream) to run water to four frost free hydrants and 4. The construction of a wooden crossing for animals at the west end the creek that comprises the north boundary of the Lansing lot, all as per project engineered by NRCS - Lot 3, Coltsfoot Valley subdivision constitutes a “Use as of right” as per Section 4.1a of the Cornwall Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations as the activities as described in the written and oral testimony are associated with agricultural uses; unanimously approved

OTHER BUSINESS PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

The commission was advised that Mrs. Senzer had recently attended session 3 of the DEP annual training session.

INLAND WETLANDS OFFICER REPORT.

At the request of Griswold Nelson, Mr. Kane addressed his own recent visits to Furnace Brook Farms and his observations of the site development currently underway as part of App 513 – Sunset View LLC applicant/owner. Griswold Nelson advised the commission that the work being undertaken, including some minor changes to the plans under the supervision of design engineer Bart Clark was part of the second phase and that weather permitting, would result in completion of the final and third phase in the spring.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion Mr. Hurlburt, second Mr. Kane to adjourn at 8:15PM: unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Griswold Nelson