Inland Wetlands Grants Approvals

The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency considered six applications at their meeting last night, approving most.

Two of them were from the City Public Works Department, who failed to send a representative to the meeting. The first was an application for ongoing approval of minor maintenance work within wetlands and wetlands review areas. Public Works has, for the past several years, simply notified Planning Department staff of any such work, and after consultation with Joe Carta, chair of Inland Wetlands, staff has provided approval. The Agency approved a 3 year extension of this arrangement.

The second Public Works application was for drainage work on Sawmill Road and Bell Street, in Westfield. Agency members felt they could not consider this proposal without anyone from Public Works present to answer questions, and they continued the application until the May meeting.

The Agency considered a 6 lot subdivision with city water and on-site septic systems, to be located on Coleman and Maple Shade Roads. They voted to allow the subdivision, with the provision that when a site plan was developed for the one lot within the wetlands review area, this site plan would require an Inland Wetlands permit.

JR Marino, of American Contractors, spoke to the Agency asking for an expansion of a previously approved turnaround lane connecting two parking lots at the Hindu Temple at 11 Training Hill Road. After speaking with the Board of Directors of the Temple, Marino said he advised them that instead of 11', the turnaround should be 20' wide. The Agency, which had previously expressed concern about the 11' turnaround, approved the expansion of the turnaround to 20'.

John Rogalsky's application to alter a previously approved application for a one-lot subdivision on Congdon Street West was also approved. Rogalsky proposed changing the route of the septic line, upon the suggestion of the Water and Sewer Department.

The Agency also approved a 5 year extension of a previously approved application for construction of a new house on Mile Lane. This has not been uncommon at Inland Wetlands and at Planning and Zoning. Developers are delaying construction because of the state of the economy.