Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members are reviewing the various measures that Planters’ Choice, a wholesale plant nursery, has proposed to rectify a wide range of wetlands violations that have been found on several of its properties on Huntingtown Road and Meadowbrook Road.

That review follows a sometimes emotional November 14 IWC public hearing attended by about 30 nearby residents on the environmental problems at 140, 153, and 155 Huntingtown Road, and 23 Meadowbrook Road. Those parcels comprise nearly 100 acres owned by Newman Holdings LLC, where Planters’ Choice LLC, grows a variety of plants for wholesale distribution.

Last May, in two “cease and correct” orders, the town informed the plant nursery that after an inspection, it was clear that unauthorized activities had occurred on the firm’s properties, including land clearing, earthen filling, grading, and the deposition of earthen material within regulated wetland areas.

The November 14 IWC hearing was held after 107 nearby property owners were formally notified of the meeting by mail by the applicant. [naviga:u]An October 10 IWC session[/naviga:u], which was conducted as a public hearing, was later nullified, after it was learned that the 107 property owners had not been notified of the session by mail, as is legally required.

Darryl Newman, representing Planters’ Choice, aided by James McManus, a soil scientist with JMM Wetland Consulting Services LLC, presented the nursery’s various proposals to correct the environmental violations that have been found at its properties.

Of the 23 Meadowbrook Road site, Mr Newman said measures would be employed to control soil erosion, including digging a swale to correctly direct the flow of stormwater. Plantings would be made to create a beneficial environmental buffer zone, he said.

Mr McManus said he has checked on the amount of sediment that has entered a wetland at the site. Some of that sediment will be removed by hand, he said. The soil scientist said that next spring, he would again check for any unwanted sedimentation, after which it would be removed by hand.

The physical measures proposed by the nursery’s civil engineer and landscape architect would rectify the environmental problems, thus enhancing the site, he said.

Mr Newman explained certain stormwater drainage pattern changes that would be employed to improve conditions at 153 and 155 Huntingtown Road.

IWC member Suzanne Guidera asked why the nursery proposes creating new wetlands rather than restoring wetlands that have been altered. Mr McManus pointed out that new wetlands are proposed because the former wetlands no longer exist.

IWC member Vanessa Villamil asked whether “a tremendous amount of plastic trash” at the nursery would be removed. Mr Newman responded that the plastic trash and various plant debris would be taken away.

Public Comment

Donald Hammalian of 26 Washbrook Road asked what the nursery will do to rectify problems that have been created on properties near the nursery. He mentioned a siltation problem that has occurred in a stream.

Sean Murphy of 139 Huntingtown Road asked whether the nursery will be required to restore to wetland status the areas that formerly were wetlands, but are now filled in.

Gregory Ladestro, the owner of 159 Huntingtown Road, said that changes which were made to an irrigation pond at the nursery changed the character of his property, causing serious sedimentation problems on it. Mr Ladestro said that a brook that formerly ran across his property has disappeared. He told IWC members he has photographs to substantiate his comments.

Mr Ladestro asked whether Planters’ Choice’s plans to correct environmental problems at his property. He said he wants to ensure that his property does not continue to be damaged.

Mr McManus said he wants to investigate Mr Ladestro’s complaint.

IWC members said the Planters Choice public hearing will continue on December 12.

Water Quality

Residents who spoke at the IWC’s October 10 session on Planters’ Choice had raised questions about the possibility of water runoff from the nursery’s fields contaminating their adjacent domestic water wells.

At that session, Steve Maguire, the town’s senior land use enforcement officer, inquired about Planters’ Choice’s use of pesticides on its nursery stock, to which Mr Newman responded the firm follows safety rules on pesticide usage. The nursery is willing to perform scientific testing regarding water quality, according to Mr Newman.

Town Health Director Donna Culbert said November 16 that at the request of Mr Maguire, she is working with him on testing some domestic water wells near the nursery for potential pesticide contamination.

It is a “work in progress,” Ms Culbert said, adding that the town will be using the state Department of Public Health’s laboratory to help with that water analysis.

The US Army Corps Of Engineers has asked the town Land Use Agency whether it has any knowledge concerning a complaint that the corps received about earthmoving at forested wetlands adjacent to the Pootatuck River last spring on Planters’ Choice land at 140 Huntingtown Road. Cori Rose, a senior project manager for the corps, is asking the town to supply the corps with information on the matter.

According to information listed in the town’s Geographic Information System (GIS), 23 Meadowbrook Road lies within the town’s Aquifer Protection Area. Also, 140 and 153 Huntingtown Road are in the town’s Aquifer Recharge Area. The property at 155 Huntingtown Road is partially within the town’s Aquifer Recharge Area. Those areas are considered environmentally sensitive due to their proximity to the underlying Pootatuck Aquifer, the town’s sole source aquifer, which is the source of two public water supplies and widespread individual domestic water wells.

Asked to comment on the IWC’s review of the wetlands violations, Mr Newman on November 15 said, “My family has been running a farm since 1939 on Huntingtown Road, and we have enjoyed a solid relationship with the town.

“We will address any needs that the town should have on this matter, which I feel is well-reflected by our contracting a highly professional and credentialed surveyor, soil scientist, landscape architect, and civil engineer to ensure that all plans address any stormwater and remediation needs,” he added.

“Planters’ Choice looks forward to a final resolution as soon as the commission deems suitable so we can immediately work on rectifying all areas of concern,” he said.