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Commission tables Red Mountain Trail wetlands application after detailed technical questions
Summary
The commission tabled the wetlands permit application for the proposed Red Mountain multiuse trail at 50 Goodwin Street to allow staff and the applicant time to provide topography, profiles and clarify compensatory mitigation for about 3,500 sq ft of direct wetland impacts and 1.5 acres of upland-review activity.
The Torrington Wetlands Commission voted to table the permit application for the proposed Red Mountain multiuse trail on the linear parcel at 50 Goodwin Street. Applicant Paul Cousins (project represented by consultant Matt Ormrod of SLR Consulting) presented updated plans that had been submitted the same day; staff recommended deferring a decision to allow review of new materials.
SLR's Matt Ormrod described the project route along an inactive Conrail rail bed and a range of wetland and upland-review impacts. The plan shows roughly 3,500 square feet of direct wetland and watercourse impacts (green areas on the plan) and about 1.5 acres of work within upland review areas (grading, clearing vegetation, trail paving). Key design elements include a 2-inch (transcript: "2 minute") concrete trail surface, installation of reinforced-concrete 24-inch stormwater conveyance pipes beneath the trail to maintain hydrologic connections between wetland areas, riprap splash pads and sediment control details, and removal of an existing 36-inch concrete pipe in poor condition.
Commissioners asked for additional details before a decision: topography and cut/fill profiles (not all sheets included contours), clearer cross-sectional profiles for the culvert/crossover (sheets 28 and 32 were specifically requested), and clarification about compensatory wetland mitigation. Staff noted the project is funded in part by the Connecticut Recreational Trails (Deep Rec Trails) grant and raised the question whether the grant program imposes thresholds or mitigation requirements for direct wetland impacts. The commission discussed potential mitigation options including small constructed wetland basins or native-plant restoration and requested more information on compensatory approaches and experience with Deep Rec Trails requirements.
Other technical issues discussed included existing invasive species (multiflora rose, black locust, winged euonymus) and varying limit-of-disturbance widths due to topography. SLR and staff agreed to provide additional topographic and profile information and to follow up on Deep Rec Trails requirements. The commission then moved, seconded and approved tabling the application to the next meeting.
No final permit decision was recorded; the tabled status preserves the record for further review and clarifications required by staff and commissioners.
