Danbury Environmental Impact Commission schedules 10 Albert Road review, tables Morfar item and keeps full planting bond

The Danbury Environmental Impact Commission met Wednesday evening and voted to accept an application for formal review at its Feb. 11 meeting, tabled a separate regulated-activity item, and upheld a requirement that planting costs be fully bonded.

Marissa Belacqua, who identified herself as the owner of 10 Albert Road, told the commission she plans a 20-by-35-foot addition to the side of her one-story house and that a small stream runs through her backyard, which prompted the wetland review. "I'm not touching any of the wetlands," she said. "The closest I'll be is about 5 feet." She said her plans include a silt fence during construction, later relocating an existing vinyl fence to further separate the yard from the wetland, and a stormwater/drain detail prepared by R.J. Gallagher's office.

Staff said the property's existing septic system was installed in 2020 and therefore does not need replacement, and staff noted no invasive species at the inspection. A staff member who participated in the inspection said plantings could be required as a buffer enhancement but described the decision as an agency determination. "When I inspected the property, that that wasn't there," the staff member said, referring to invasive plants. The staff member added he would prepare a staff report for the commission's next meeting and recommended acceptance of the application.

A commissioner moved to accept regulated activity 126010 (10 Albert Road) and schedule it for the Feb. 11 meeting; another commissioner seconded the motion and the commission approved it by voice vote.

On an older item, the commission tabled regulated activity 1258227 for 297 Jocelyn Road (Morfar) until the Feb. 11 meeting after a motion to do so was seconded and approved.

In other business staff raised a discrepancy between the language in an originally approved permit and the bond amount the applicant's agent provided. Staff said the permit text required the full planting bond, while the agent had offered the typical practice of submitting 30% at issuance. Staff proposed clarifying the permit to require "30% of the planting cost plus $8,000" as an alternative to the full bond; commissioners debated and then voted to maintain the permit as written, requiring 100% of planting fees for the amount cited of $2,100.

The commission also set an additional meeting to begin reviewing amended regulations and to place fee schedules in an appendix; members agreed to meet Thursday, Feb. 5, at 4:30 p.m. and staff said the fee values are unlikely to change.

The meeting adjourned after a motion, a second and a voice vote.