Middletown inland wetlands agency approves 54,720-sq-ft warehouse with wetland mitigation

The Middletown Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency voted to grant permit W2024-14 for a 54,720-square-foot office and warehouse facility partially within wetlands at Middle Street (engineered address 75 Philmac Drive). Staff read findings that the proposal includes permanent impacts to 4,840 square feet of isolated wetlands and a proposed mitigation area of 8,930 square feet, a 2-to-1 mitigation ratio, and includes standard conditions and project-specific stipulations.

The permit was presented by applicant agent Gary Dayharsh of Fletchco LLC and owner Gerald Crane. Rebecca Lee, engineer with Arleveck Associates, described grading, a two-tier parking layout and a stormwater approach that routes runoff through proprietary filtration devices (referred to in the record as "jellyfish" units) into a new detention basin, with controlled outflow to wetlands. Soil scientist George Logan described wetland delineation, identified decades-old disturbance at the wetland edge and outlined the mitigation planting plan (12 trees, 84 shrubs, 870 propagules and seed mixes) and supervision by a wetlands professional during implementation.

Staff memos read into the record included a Jan. 14 memo from the city engineer noting one outstanding item (a detail of the detention basin and an easement amendment requiring an 8-24 referral) and a Jan. 15 memo from the Water & Sewer Department recommending approval subject to routine water and sewer stipulations. A support letter from the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce was also entered into the record.

Commission members questioned the applicant about the jellyfish filtration system, its inspection and maintenance (the units are to be inspected quarterly and cleaned at least annually; manufacturer guidance in the submitted materials recommends replacement of fabric/tentacle media at intervals such as five years), and whether routine sampling at the outlet was required (the project stormwater report did not require routine outlet sampling). Rebecca Lee said the jellyfish units use soil-media canisters housed in a concrete vault to meet Connecticut stormwater quality standards where on-site soils are too poor to provide infiltration. George Logan said excavation, stockpile management and invasive species control (phragmites) are described in the mitigation sequence and that a qualified wetland scientist will supervise the work.

The permit was granted with conditions read into the record that included: standard conditions (1–16) for erosion and sediment controls, a performance bond to cover erosion/sediment control and mitigation plantings (bond amount to be calculated by the town engineer), three years of post-installation monitoring by a wetlands professional with reports to the agency, an easement modification for 75 Philmac Drive requiring planning-and-zoning and common-council approval (8-24 referral), and installation of a berm in the northern mitigation area to contain jellyfish discharge prior to flow reaching the wetlands. The agency took a voice vote; the record shows ayes and no opposition or abstentions.

The agency closed the public hearing on the application and moved the item to old business where the draft findings of fact and conditions were read and approved. Next procedural steps identified in the record include the applicant obtaining required easement approvals and posting the bond prior to construction.