Following their review of development plans for a proposed commercial center in Hawleyville, Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members have approved a wetlands/watercourses protection permit for the project.

On September 9, IWC members approved the permit for Walter Kilcourse of New Milford for an approximately 4,400-square-foot retail center on an undeveloped 1.12-acre site at 149 Mt Pleasant Road (Route 6).

The project, known as Pogond Brook Plaza, would be built on the south side of Mt Pleasant Road, just east of Newtown Power Equipment, Inc. The property lies in a B-2 (Business) zone.

The development application lists the planned use as “retail/personal services.” The project would have 22 parking spaces. The building would be served by municipal sanitary sewers.

Project construction is listed as lasting eight months. Artel Engineering Group of Brookfield has drawn the technical plans for the complex.

The IWC application sought a permit to construct a building, build a retaining wall, place some earthen fill on the site, build stormwater drainage structures, install public utilities, construct a parking lot, and install lighting equipment. The plans include a brook-channel restoration plan for Pogond Brook.

The wetlands/watercourses permit granted by the IWC requires that the applicant meet nine environmental protection conditions for the project.

The conditions include the installation of erosion and sedimentation controls before construction starts and their ensuing maintenance. Also, the flagged physical extent of planned earthen disturbance at the site must be inspected and approved by the town’s wetlands agent before any construction starts.

Also, any changes to the plans must receive prior approval from the town. The applicant also must hire an environmental protection management consultant to ensure the terms of the permit are implemented.

The town has issued the applicant a flood prevention permit for the site. Pogond Brook has year-round water flow. Pogond Brook, which is a tributary of Pond Brook, bisects the 149 Mt Pleasant Road site in a generally east-west direction.

Pogond Brook’s presence at the site resulted in IWC members seeking more environmental protection information from the applicant than had been initially submitted.

Having received IWC approval, the project will be subject to zoning review by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P& Z).

Also, the Water & Sewer Authority will review the provision of sanitary sewer service for the retail complex.