Conservation Commission approves restoration plan for Olson Mobile Home Park

The Litchfield Conservation Commission on July 9 voted unanimously to approve a revised restoration plan for the Olson Mobile Home Park, directing the project team to add trees and a formal five-year monitoring program before the plan is presented to the Board of Selectmen.

Chad Bridal, civil engineer and principal owner with Field Snow Land Consultants, told commissioners the plan had been revised after prior comments and field verification. "The planting plan now totals 90 shade trees, 27 understory trees, 60 shrubs which equates to a 117 trees and a 177 total plants," Bridal said, summarizing the proposed species mix and numbers. He also said the silt fence had been relocated to the approved position and that the project limit of disturbance was field-surveyed to clarify planting locations.

Bridal said the Board of Selectmen had already approved a restoration bond amount "about I think it's 156,600," and that monitoring and oversight costs had been included in the bond estimate. He told the commission the estimate accounted for monitoring and reporting (he referenced figures included in the estimate for five-year monitoring and oversight). Bridal offered to add an explicit monitoring note to the plan and to supply the commission with monitoring reports.

Commissioners pressed for details on monitoring frequency, plant warranties and invasive-species controls. Commissioners directed that the monitoring note require quarterly inspections in the first year, annual inspections thereafter through year five, invasive-species monitoring and replacement of any tree that dies during the five-year monitoring period. Commissioners also asked that Patriot Holdings provide an annual monitoring report summarizing results.

During the site discussion the county forester flagged a large stand of Japanese knotweed outside the immediate restoration area near old septic lagoons. Commissioners and Bridal agreed to flag the limits on-site and meet to discuss burying or treating the knotweed; Bridal said the knotweed was not in the restoration zone but needed separate attention.

A commissioner moved to approve the Litchfield Estates restoration plan with three conditions: raise red maple and red oak counts from 25 to 30 each, add the five-year monitoring note (quarterly in year one, annual thereafter) including invasive-species monitoring and replacement of dead trees, and require an annual monitoring report from Patriot Holdings. Another member seconded the motion. The chair called for the vote and the motion passed 5-0-0.

The commission tasked the chair with drafting a letter documenting the commission's approval and planned to have the applicant submit a revised plan and monitoring note to the commission prior to the upcoming Selectmen meeting.