[0:03] Okay, it is Tuesday, March 10th, 6:02
[0:08] p.m. This is a meeting of Norwok's
[0:10] Inland Wetland Agency and Conservation
[0:12] Commission. Could we have roll call,
[0:14] please?
[0:16] » Yes. Uh, Commissioner Vanette
[0:19] » Here,
[0:20] » Commissioner Quagi
[0:21] » Here,
[0:22] » Commissioner Healey
[0:23] » Here,
[0:24] » And Commissioner Brereslin
[0:25] » Here. Right. So you have four which is
[0:28] acquiring.
[0:30] » Fantastic. Uh do we have anyone logged
[0:32] in from the public to comment on
[0:34] anything particular?
[0:38] » Oh uh no there are no attendees.
[0:42] » Love it. Nor do we have receipt in
[0:44] discussion. So moving on to discussion
[0:46] and or decision. S26-6615
[0:49] which lane?
[0:51] Um, this applicant has requested that uh
[0:55] discussion be tabled uh for this
[0:58] meeting. They did provide me a letter of
[1:01] um extension.
[1:03] Um, and I would um
[1:09] anticipate and encourage discussion
[1:13] about the application at your next
[1:15] meeting.
[1:16] » Love it. Moving on then. S26-662
[1:21] 26 Canon Street.
[1:24] » Okay. This application was received at
[1:26] your last uh meeting and uh upon its
[1:29] receipt, you had some initial comments
[1:31] for the um the applicant mostly having
[1:34] to do with the uh removal of vegetation
[1:37] necessitated within the upland review
[1:40] area. Uh the applicant has revised um
[1:45] their uh plans and provided some
[1:48] additional information um including the
[1:51] um kind of the drainage study that led
[1:53] to the uh proposed work um and revised
[1:57] plans
[1:59] um that include not only vegetation
[2:02] removal but also vegetation replacement
[2:04] and then a summary um project narrative
[2:08] letter. But, um, if I guess I'll have
[2:13] the applicant, um, do a a quick review
[2:17] of those changes and then I'll just note
[2:19] that I did send out a second email
[2:23] earlier today with a staff report that
[2:25] includes a draft resolution uh, for your
[2:28] consideration if you want to do that
[2:30] tonight.
[2:34] » Over floor is yours.
[2:35] » Good evening, commissioners. We uh as uh
[2:39] Miss Careti has uh mentioned we've uh
[2:42] put together a letter for a cover letter
[2:45] and summary of the project and why the
[2:47] project has taken place as well as the
[2:50] uh report that was prepared by Woodard
[2:53] and Kern and we have uh drawings on the
[2:57] demolition plan that show the trees the
[3:00] two 30-inch trees that are being removed
[3:01] as well as the uh replanting plan that
[3:04] has been installed on the uh plan a
[3:07] profile for the area of construction and
[3:11] at this point I can let Wood and Kern
[3:13] the team which has been a a great help
[3:16] to us with this project uh add anything
[3:18] that they would like to add.
[3:20] » Um hi everyone. So Jennifer Martinez
[3:23] Torres with Woodard and Curran just want
[3:25] to confirm everyone can see my screen.
[3:28] » Yes.
[3:29] » Okay great. So based on the last meeting
[3:32] um we had discussed the presence of two
[3:34] mature trees um adjacent to the area of
[3:37] the proposed um cohort improvement. So
[3:40] those have been included in our demo
[3:42] plan. These are the two trees in
[3:44] question. Um and this plan was updated
[3:47] uh was provided with the recent
[3:49] submission. Um, and the other item that
[3:52] we talked about was a planting plan or a
[3:54] restoration plan for the area that was
[3:57] also updated on our plan set that shows
[4:00] the location of the proposed plantings
[4:03] with a planting list that includes the
[4:06] species, the quantity, and the size. And
[4:09] um just to reiterate Paula mentioned, we
[4:11] also provided a copy of the drainage
[4:14] report um that basically you know
[4:16] summarizes our analysis of the
[4:18] pre-improvement and post improvement um
[4:20] flooding conditions based on um you know
[4:23] these proposed uh the upsizing of the of
[4:27] the existing drainage system in this
[4:28] area.
[4:31] » Boy, that looks wonderful to me. Uh,
[4:35] have we um Alexis, have you gotten an
[4:38] eyeball on the the species proposed?
[4:45] » I mean, I'm sure
[4:48] » I was muted. I was talking but muted.
[4:50] Um, yes, they are all native to
[4:52] Connecticut species and and all look uh
[4:56] appropriate for the uh location.
[4:59] Absolutely.
[5:00] » Beautiful. Other commissioners have
[5:02] thoughts or questions?
[5:08] Okay, hearing none.
[5:10] » Sorry, just what is the pipe um made of
[5:14] again? The material
[5:16] » Reinforced concrete.
[5:19] » Okay.
[5:21] Um is
[5:24] so Alexis you can tell where I am asking
[5:26] this because I've recently completed my
[5:28] uh but is anything um being done to that
[5:33] pipe? Do are there any measures needed
[5:36] to sort of make it a more
[5:39] natural the bottom of the pipe to be
[5:44] » I got baffles or anything like that that
[5:48] I so learned exist
[5:51] » Right so normally what you um you're
[5:54] referring to your recent training
[5:56] » Correct
[5:57] » Um the
[6:01] I'd say that this this is a pipe that
[6:03] conveys a storm water drainage system.
[6:05] So a upstream if you will or or pipes
[6:10] and right. So this is not a stream. So
[6:12] those
[6:13] » Uh when you have a stream crossing um
[6:17] that includes a culvert that that is
[6:20] exactly when you want to um ask the
[6:24] questions that you just asked but not
[6:26] for the conveyance of a of a whole
[6:28] system.
[6:30] » Okay. I wasn't sure about what the
[6:32] » Um Thank you. And the
[6:33] » Thought I'd ask
[6:34] » And the point is to maintain consistency
[6:36] and like the turbulence flow whatever it
[6:39] is from the creek to the culver to back
[6:42] to a creek
[6:44] » When when there is a um kind of a stream
[6:47] crossing right there is um it depends on
[6:50] the the water course certainly if there
[6:52] are um native fish in that water course
[6:55] you want to have a bottom situation
[6:58] where um the fish aren't um
[7:03] have as a natural of a substrate as
[7:05] possible so that there's not either a um
[7:08] too high a velocity if it's a kind of a
[7:11] smooth pipe or not uh not enough water
[7:14] if it's kind of flattened out.
[7:16] » Got it.
[7:17] » But there are no fish um coming coming
[7:19] out of this pipe unless it's someone's
[7:22] goldfish.
[7:24] » Okay, awesome. Thank you for that. Good
[7:26] uh good thinking though, Heather.
[7:30] Uh, okay. Any other questions or
[7:33] comments?
[7:36] Okay. So, I'll move to uh approve the uh
[7:40] resolution uh dated March 10th, 2026 for
[7:44] S26-62
[7:47] as written as far as I can tell.
[7:51] Can I have a second?
[7:53] Second.
[7:54] » Seconded. Any discussion?
[7:57] Hearing
[7:59] none, uh, we'll call to a vote. All in
[8:00] favor?
[8:02] I
[8:03] » I
[8:04] » I
[8:06] » Okay, I think that's everyone. There
[8:08] four or um, great. Well, uh, thank you
[8:13] Paul and Jennifer, for
[8:16] making it easy for us, doing a great
[8:18] job.
[8:19] » Commissioners, thank you. We appreciate
[8:21] the time and, uh, we appreciate Alexis's
[8:24] hard work and input as always, too. So,
[8:26] thank you very much.
[8:27] » Yeah.
[8:27] » Yes, definitely. Thank you so much.
[8:29] » You bet. All right. Thank you. Good
[8:30] night.
[8:31] » Take care.
[8:33] » Moving on to approval of minutes from
[8:35] our February 24th meeting.
[8:43] » Oh, sure. Fine. I'll approve the
[8:46] minutes. I mean,
[8:47] » You'll move to approve the minutes.
[8:49] » I will move to approve the minutes from
[8:52] the February 24th meeting.
[8:54] » Excellent.
[8:56] I'll second for fun. Any discussion?
[8:59] All in favor?
[9:01] One, two, three, four. Wonderful.
[9:04] Uh would we like to discuss any uh new
[9:07] or ongoing conservation initiatives?
[9:11] » I'll just put in a pitch for the um
[9:14] listening session that is scheduled for
[9:16] tomorrow evening um in support of the
[9:19] citywide plan for flood resilience. the
[9:23] um I and the planning and zoning office
[9:26] uh received a grant to look at um um
[9:31] flood resilience from across the city
[9:34] and our first public engagement is uh
[9:37] tomorrow evening and um I will be will
[9:42] also be um
[9:45] issuing a online survey for those that
[9:49] can't come and talk tomorrow tonight and
[9:53] um the survey is designed to ask
[9:56] questions that um the consultant would
[10:00] really like to have answers to as far as
[10:02] the formation of of the plan and better
[10:05] understanding what risks in particular
[10:07] Norwok residents um face during flood
[10:10] events. So I will be sending the survey
[10:13] uh link out to all of you as well.
[10:17] » Do you have to register for that or you
[10:18] just follow the link on Zoom? You just
[10:20] follow the link on Zoom.
[10:22] » Okay.
[10:24] » Does Does this have Does this include
[10:27] like coastal flooding? It does. Okay.
[10:31] I'm just making sure I'm not getting
[10:32] things crossed here.
[10:34] » Yeah. So, we're looking at um coastal
[10:38] flooding related to storm surge. Um also
[10:42] tidal or sunny day flooding, riverine
[10:45] flooding, and um
[10:49] potentially other um kind of storm water
[10:53] infrastructure related uh flooding. So
[10:57] those are kind of the three types of
[10:58] » Okay, great.
[10:59] » No rock faces.
[11:06] » That's it.
[11:07] » Okay, thanks Alexis. Uh do you have
[11:11] anything else you'd like to add as
[11:13] staff?
[11:17] No, I did send out uh earlier today
[11:19] finally the email with the uh link to
[11:22] the
[11:25] required training by D for inland
[11:29] wetland agency members. Um, so make sure
[11:33] that you um
[11:37] I think uh I think nearly all of you
[11:41] have maybe already done it, but um um
[11:44] you can check check that link, make sure
[11:46] that that was the one that you you took
[11:49] or will take. Um it's required by the
[11:52] end of the the calendar year. So
[11:55] reporting to the state starts in March
[11:58] 2027
[12:00] and it basically requires that you
[12:02] retake this training every four years or
[12:06] uh each term. So um your sentence is
[12:10] five years. So that means every every
[12:13] five years um a redo and thanks in
[12:18] advance to those of you who have sent me
[12:20] your certificate.
[12:23] Do you need us to That's what I wanted
[12:25] to
[12:26] » I need um they should have issued like a
[12:28] certificate or something.
[12:30] » Yeah.
[12:31] » Just forward that to me.
[12:33] » Something. Okay.
[12:34] » Heather, if we could get a a a printed
[12:37] version and a frame on the wall behind
[12:38] you, I think that'd be helpful.
[12:40] » Listen, I am so proud of myself for
[12:43] doing it and knocking it out this like
[12:45] like this weekend. Like so proud of
[12:47] myself. Well, now that the weather's
[12:49] getting warmer, it's going to be harder
[12:50] and harder for me to do it. So, it may
[12:54] be a end of year last minute thing for
[12:57] me.
[12:58] We'll see.
[12:59] » I'll keep pestering you. Don't worry.
[13:00] » Perfect.
[13:02] » Okay, Groovy.
[13:04] Uh, thanks. I don't have anything to
[13:07] comment on. Does anyone else have
[13:09] anything they'd like to throw out there?
[13:12] » All right. Oh,
[13:13] » No. One more thing. I'm sorry. Um just
[13:16] the what is the date again Alexis of the
[13:23] uh Earth Day?
[13:25] » Oh, thank you. That is um Saturday I
[13:29] want to say April 25th.
[13:31] » Oh, okay. Cool.
[13:33] » Um
[13:33] » I didn't write it in my calendar. So,
[13:37] » Um
[13:40] just confirm that Saturday. Yes,
[13:43] Saturday the 25th. I will send out a
[13:47] email once um the organizers have more
[13:51] details as far as the the time.
[13:54] » That's I just wanted to block it out
[13:56] » Was the point. Block it out meaning put
[14:00] it on your calendar.
[14:01] » Yeah, block it out on my calendar.
[14:03] Sorry. Not mentally block it out. Right.
[14:06] [laughter]
[14:09] Um on the 25th of March in Greenwich, we
[14:13] um are having Peter Pone come and speak
[14:15] about invasive species management. So
[14:18] it's only on it's only in person. It's
[14:20] not um we're not doing via Zoom, but I
[14:23] don't know if anybody's ever heard Peter
[14:24] Pone speak before. He's a Connecticut um
[14:27] deep wildlife biologist. He's a
[14:28] fantastic speaker. I've seen him a
[14:30] couple times. and uh he'll be live in
[14:31] person um in Greenwich on um March 25th
[14:35] at um 7 p.m. at the Eastern uh Greenwich
[14:38] Civic Center if anybody's interested.
[14:42] » Yeah, he's an excellent um
[14:44] » He's good. Yeah,
[14:46] » Kind of low-key
[14:47] um down to earth um guy that knows a lot
[14:51] about plants and
[14:54] um
[14:55] e ecotones.
[14:58] Thank you. Sure.
[15:03] » That's a Wednesday then?
[15:05] » Yeah, Wednesday night 7 p.m.
[15:07] » And what is it called again if I were to
[15:08] look it up?
[15:09] » It um if you go on the Greenwich Town
[15:11] website, there's an invasive species uh
[15:13] management campaign. Uh and I can send
[15:15] you a flyer as well. Um but it's just
[15:17] it's Peter Pone um just invasive species
[15:19] lecture. Greenwich uh there should be a
[15:21] press release coming out
[15:22] » Soon about it.
[15:24] » Um regards to parks, understanding and
[15:26] managing invasives invasive species.
[15:28] Yeah. Uh the plan is to record it so
[15:31] it'll be available, but it's always more
[15:33] fun to um you know, see it live to be
[15:36] able to ask questions. He's he's a
[15:37] particularly just really great speaker
[15:39] um and very knowledgeable about
[15:40] invasives.
[15:43] » Does he say yachts to pox?
[15:46] » I don't know.
[15:48] » Be fun if you did
[15:49] » With a Boston accent. I'm not sure.
[15:50] » Boston accent.
[15:53] Uh cool. All right. That's a good one,
[15:55] too. Thank you.
[15:58] Okay.
[15:59] Anything else? Paul's awfully quiet.
[16:02] » Not much to say.
[16:04] » Cool. Okay. Uh on that note, then I will
[16:09] move to adjourn. May I have a second?
[16:13] » Second.
[16:14] » Seven. Got it. All in favor? I
[16:17] » I. All right. 618 started two minutes
[16:20] late. Pretty good.