Public Works outlines Butternut Park loop, parking and culvert fixes; commission defers final action

Acting Public Works Director Howard Weisberg told the Middletown Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency the city plans to complete the park trail loop at Butternut Park by adding about 900 feet of path on the west side, expand a parking area by realigning Thomas Street and replace two failing culverts that currently drain into the park pond.

Weisberg said the project includes hooded catch-basin inlets to keep floatables and oils out of the pond and deep-sump catch basins where appropriate. He said the parking lot will sit separate from the relocated roadway to reduce on-street parking and include a paved 10-foot-wide trail graded toward the pond to avoid new drainage structures. ‘‘We’re gonna be replacing that pipe, and we’re gonna add a hood to the catch basin to keep out floatables, and oils,’’ Weisberg said.

Commissioners asked about the project schedule and erosion-and-sediment (E&S) controls. Weisberg said paving and culvert replacements were desired this fall if materials were available; otherwise the work would wait until spring. He acknowledged the E&S compliance agreement on the file lacked a signature and confirmed it must be completed. On the question of rerouting parking-lot runoff to the road, Weisberg said gravity and bedrock made that option likely uneconomical and would require extensive piping; instead the project team will rely on hooded inlets, frequent catch-basin cleaning and riprap at culvert outlets.

Commissioners also raised tree removal and a dam inspection. A commissioner noted two trees flagged for removal on the pond’s west side; Weisberg said the cleared vegetation is mostly a vegetated slope and that the city would seek to replace removed trees once a planting plan is provided. He added the city had completed a dam study with vegetation-clearing recommendations and said the project will comply with that study at construction.

The commission moved to continue the matter to the October meeting so staff could draft a motion with stipulations that reflect public comments and engineering concerns. The developer said a continuance would not create a hardship. The agency did not adopt final permit conditions at the September meeting.