Commission approves septic construction and stormwater diversion permit for Newfield Road property

The Torrington Wetlands Commission approved a permit for septic construction and a stormwater diversion into wetlands at 2480 Newfield Road (Assessor's map 230, lot 1, block 1). The application, for applicant John Miller (representing Brian Whittlesey), addresses an enforcement-initiated repair of a failed septic system and the need to revise the septic layout to avoid conflict with an existing stormwater pipe.

Staff presented revised plans showing a continuous 15-inch stormwater pipe (the previous draft had a 15-to-10-inch transition that staff identified as problematic) and a proposed impervious fill to replace a trench where the existing stormwater outlet conflicted with the proposed septic location. Torrington Area Health soil scientists reviewed and confirmed the proposed fill material would be effectively impervious compared with surrounding soils. The assistant city planner recommended approval with conditions including field designation of the stormwater outfall location and filling the trench with the specified impervious material; the assistant also said staff and Torrington Area Health would inspect during and after work.

Earlier in the agenda commissioners voted that the application did not constitute "significant activity" and deferred final determination of significance until final plans were submitted. The commission then moved, seconded and approved the permit with the conditions and recommendations listed in the assistant city planner/wetlands agent memo dated 05/06/2025.

On the record, staff noted the installer expects to start in May because the septic breakthrough remained active; the outfall is proposed just outside the 100-year floodplain to reduce conflict with flood flows. The transcript records the commission’s motions and approval; exact vote-by-name tallies were not specified in the meeting record.