KENT—The Inland Wetlands Commission has unanimously approved a site plan submitted by Ross Cole for construction of a septic system and buildings on his property at 23 Stone Wall Lane.
Cole, an architect, had approached the commission with his initial plan in December, explaining that he had worked with the topography of the land in creating his design.
Commission members expressed concern, however, that a proposed barn infringed on the upland review area and asked him to consider a different location. Cole complied.
“Everything looks great,” Land Use Officer Tai Kern told the commission the last week of January. “I think everything is in order.”
The commission was not so quick to approve an application from the town to replace culverts on Fuller Mountain Road that drain water from Pond Mountain Brook.
Mike Jastremski and Jillian Gunderson of the Housatonic Valley Association presented the twin applications, with Jastremski explaining that the existing culverts are at risk of flood damage unless modified.
At present, the existing pipes in the culverts are each 48 inches, providing total openings of eight feet. During storms, debris can be caught in the culverts causing flooding.
Public Works Foreman Rick Osborne said his crew usually clears away the debris when a major storm is threatening.
The redesigned culvert would provide 22-foot openings with an open bottom for the stream bed.
“These projects come out of the master plan for Kent,” Jastremski said. The culverts are very old, having been put in in the 1920s and ’30s. He said the new culvert would be designed to create a natural stream bed.
Chairman Lynn Werner, who is executive director of the HVA, recused herself and vice chairman Paul Yagid temporarily ran the meeting.
He observed the erosion below the culverts and suggested that impedes fish from swimming through. Jastremski said the new culvert would allow free passage for fish.
There are two culverts to be replaced, and traffic will be disrupted while the work takes place. The project would begin with the downstream culvert and then move to the upstream outlet immediately thereafter. Each culvert is expected to take a couple of weeks to complete and it is hoped work can begin in June.
The issue was tabled until the next meeting awaiting information about where materials will be stockpiled.
Michael Baczewski of Native Landscape Design and Sustainable Solutions provided an update on work he is doing on a Cobble Road property to manage invasives.
His plan was approved last year to be conducted in phases. At the time of approval, Baczewski agreed to report to the commission at the start of each new phase.
He reviewed a proposal to cut nine ash trees and one apple tree, saying that they are in poor health and pose a threat to both the owner of the land, who likes to walk in the region, and to the stream if they become uprooted. His plan is to cut them and to leave the stumps in place so the root systems stabilize the earth.
He said there are other trees in the vicinity and that shade for the brook is not an issue. No equipment will have to cross the brook.
Werner expressed concern about invasives regrowth and Baczewski said he would like to see what native plants regenerate before deciding about plantings.
“We went from one of wettest seasons on record last summer to a fall that was the second driest,” he said. “The climate is changing some of the flora along the stream area. In short, our approach is to take one season at a time.”
He agreed to return in May with an update on the work and regrowth.
