Simsbury conservation agency approves River Bend wetland permit with conditions

The Simsbury Conservation and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency on the most recent agenda approved a wetland permit for River Bend Development Connecticut LLC to permit grading and installation of a drainage system in the upland review area at 1503 Altmetto Street (Assessor Map 04, Lot 403).

Agency staff described the scope as roughly a half-acre disturbance in the upland review area and noted the proposal includes a buried gallery infiltration system and filtration galleys to handle overflow. "Saxton Brook is along the left side of the property... it's about average is about 50 feet from Saxton Brook," the applicant representative said while reviewing the site plan, describing where the infiltration features would discharge.

The commission's technical reviewers and the project team detailed stormwater treatment elements: redistributed drainage areas, two oil/water separators, a stormwater-quality swale with small rain-garden pockets, a series of check dams to allow short-term ponding and nutrient uptake, and pretreatment chambers ahead of infiltration units. Project engineer Bridal Hanek said the changes were intended to "provide a more even distribution of stormwater passing" and to allow inspection access and maintenance for pretreatment chambers and separators.

The soil and natural-diversity reviewer reported a Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) response that identified a small set of species of interest tied to the nearby Farmington River and two terrestrial upland species. The reviewer said the current phase is not expected to conflict with those findings but that future, aquatic-focused phases will require additional consultation and that some activities may be subject to time-of-year restrictions.

During questions, applicants and engineers recommended a minimum of twice-yearly inspections for pretreatment units and separators, with monthly visual checks to monitor buildup; they also described using a detention-basin seed mix for areas expected to pond periodically and plans to mow and replant persistent wet pockets as needed.

Commissioners debated buffer planting along the property edge adjacent to an apartment complex called The Point. Design review had suggested white pine; commissioners raised concerns about lower-branch loss on tall pines and favored a combination of a 15–20-foot berm and native alternatives such as American holly or deciduous trees to achieve screening without creating a 100-foot tall wall.

A motion to approve application CC-25-20 (River Bend Development Connecticut, LLC) for upland review-area infrastructure passed with conditions. The agency's motion listed findings that the project "has no direct impacts" to wetlands and set conditions requiring NDDB compliance and continued consultation as needed, submission of a planting plan for species adjacent to the watercourse, a salt-management plan, and an erosion- and sedimentation-control bond during the zoning process.

Next steps noted by staff include the applicant's meeting with the town engineer to answer remaining technical questions and the applicant's obligation to secure any required stormwater permit if total disturbance reaches the state threshold. The agency's approval permits the applicant to proceed under the stated conditions; future phases that affect aquatic habitat will require additional reviews.