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Stratford commission ends hearing on wetlands regulation updates; tables applicant item and reorders agenda
Summary
The commission closed a continuation of the public hearing on proposed inland wetlands regulation amendments, heard attorney input on statutory alignment and permit durations, tabled a related applicant item (Bluebird/Red Buff/Bloomberg references), and approved procedural agenda changes to hear Mountain Development Corp. first.
At the start of the meeting the Stratford Inland Wetlands Commission continued a public hearing on proposed modifications to the town's inland wetlands and watercourses regulations. Attorney Bellas, appearing for the applicant, said he had revised roughly 10 sections to conform the local regulations to recent case law and statutory language and had copied statutory text into the draft so the town language would match the state's wording (transcript citation: "22 a dash 38 13"). Bellas flagged several specific edits, including changing the town's permit term to match the state (the regulation previously read five years while the statute allows 10 years).
Commissioners questioned who determines a "significant impact" in upland review areas; Bellas answered that the Wetlands Commission makes that determination based on the evidence presented. He also clarified that where the state statute assigns a power to another board (for example, bonding for soil and erosion control assigned to the zoning commission in the statute), the town cannot reassign that authority by local regulation.
Chair asked for public comment on the regulation amendments; no members of the public rose to speak. The commission moved to close the public hearing by voice vote.
During old business the commission discussed an applicant matter variously referred to in the transcript as Bluebird Prestige, Red Buff Bridal Inc., and Bloomberg Prestige Incorporated. Commissioners asked whether to table that item to a later meeting; Joe moved to table and Dr. Chess seconded. The commission also voted to take other business out of order and bring up the Mountain Development Corp. application first.
The record shows the commission intended to discuss the regulation updates further under old business after closing the hearing. The commission then proceeded to the Mountain Development presentation and subsequent technical Q&A. The commission later moved to executive session to continue deliberations on the Mountain Development matter.
Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 001; regulation hearing exchange spans SEG 012'SEG 114; closure motion recorded SEG 272'SEG 286; agenda and table motions span SEG 319'SEG 406.
