By Susan MacEachron

The subdivision of a residential lot, the restoration of City Meadow and two tennis courts were discussed at the Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) meeting on Jan. 8. 

At a public hearing, George Johannesen of Allied Engineering Associates, representing homeowner Carlene Laughlin, described the plan to subdivide her land at 305 Mountain Road. The current lot is approximately 53 acres with a single-family home. Laughlin wants to create two additional building lots to be deeded to family members. The proposed lots are approximately seven acres each and have minimal wetlands.

Torrington Area Health must grant approval for a lot subdivision, and it requires a septic system plan. Johannesen said the property is steep with significant exposed ledge, so the area suitable to install a septic system is limited. He also explained that the septic sand needed to create the system must be on site. Johannesen said all requirements were met and Torrington Area Health has approved the plan. Wetlands approved the subdivision.

Wetlands Enforcement Officer Michael Halloran noted that the application to build a tennis court on an empty lot next to the sober house on Ashpohtag Road, discussed at the Dec. 4 meeting, has been withdrawn. Halloran explained that the town’s zoning regulations do not allow an accessory use, such as a tennis court, to be built on a lot with no house. 

First Selectman Matt Riiska discussed the restoration plan for City Meadow. He said that Michael Nadeau, a wholistic land care consultant, would be overseeing the project and that four different contractors would be required. Getting control of the invasive phragmites and, to a lesser extent, the nonnative cattails is a critical first step. Riiska said he was consulting with Native Habitat Restoration, LLC, from Stockbridge on the herbicides they plan to apply. Molly Ackerly, formerly a member of the City Meadow Committee, now disbanded, said the town would like to cut down the phragmites, and this is the best time of year to undertake the work. Wetlands approved the town mowing prior to receiving the application for the overall restoration plan. 

Ackerly and Riiska pointed out that control of the phragmites is an ongoing effort. Ackerly said that over the course of three to five years the native plants should begin to crowd out the phragmites.

Wetlands briefly discussed the application to reconstruct an existing tennis court and build two pavilions, one for the tennis court and one for the pool at 220 Mountain Road. The proposed construction is all uphill of wetlands. Halloran explained that he brought the matter to the agency because there is a steep grade down to the wetlands from the proposed building site and he thought they should review the plans. Hartley Mead, Wetlands chair, deferred action until either the property owners, Alex and Katie Thomson, or their agent, landscape architect Renee Byer, could attend the meeting to provide additional information.