Southbury commission approves Main Street redevelopment with stormwater, remediation conditions

The Inlands Wetlands and Watercourse Agency approved a permit on July 15, 2026, allowing redevelopment of 616 Main Street South into a convenience store with two island fuel pumps, subject to conditions requiring a recorded stormwater management agreement, a remediation plan for contaminated soils, and a $15,000 bond to guarantee installation and maintenance of stormwater controls.

Engineer Mark Lankor, principal engineer for the applicant, described a 40-by-60 building, a canopy over two island pumps and associated parking. He told the commission the plan reduces on-site impervious coverage from “well over 60%” to about 50% and relies on a continuous deflective separation (CDS) unit and an oversized bioretention infiltration basin to meet Connecticut DEP water‑quality guidance. “It’s a convenience…a convenience and gas station that would have 2 island pumps,” Lankor said.

Why it matters: the parcel sits adjacent to a brook and includes mapped wetlands and a 50-foot upland review area. The commission's conditions aim to limit on-site runoff and require long-term maintenance for treatment devices to protect the watercourse.

Key facts and conditions - Resource impacts cited in the draft resolution include 94 square feet of disturbance within wetlands and 11,077 square feet of disturbance within the 50-foot upland review area; the proposal keeps much of the work within existing disturbed footprints. - Stormwater controls: two catch basins at the low points on Main Street South, a CDS unit to capture heavy particulates and a bioretention/biofiltration basin for nutrient removal and infiltration. Lankor said the CDS unit is serviced annually and the basin will be inspected and maintained per a schedule included in plan documents. - Contaminated soils: an NB Environmental Services study identified two contamination zones (near former gasoline tanks and near an in‑ground hydraulic lift). The draft resolution requires excavation and proper disposal of contaminated soils, follow-up testing and submission of a site remediation report to the town’s land-use enforcement officer for agency review. - Bond and recorded agreement: staff proposed and the commission included a $15,000 bond to ensure installation and maintenance of the stormwater system, erosion controls and plantings. The resolution also requires a recorded stormwater management agreement that sets inspection schedules, a responsible party and enforcement mechanisms.

Discussion and oversight Commissioners pressed for clear construction sequencing, contractor notice of potential contaminated soils on the construction drawings and regular coordination with the environmental consultant who will direct on‑site testing and remediation. The engineer agreed that contaminated material would be hauled off-site rather than stockpiled and that the environmental consultant would stop work if required by testing results. Staff said preconstruction meetings and weekly or as‑needed updates would be used during active remediation and early construction stages.

Vote and next steps A motion to approve the application as modified on the record passed after a verbal vote; the transcript records "Aye" and "Motion carries" but does not include a roll-call tally. The draft resolution lists a pending approval date of 07/15/2026 and an effective date of 08/07/2026. Required submittals (recorded stormwater agreement, remediation report, maintenance plan and bond) must be completed before clearing and construction begins.