HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001_10_23 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Village of Larchmont
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
TOWN CENTER: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
" 914-381-7845
CZMC Minutes
October 23,2001
A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Management Commission(CZMC)was held on October
23, 2001 in Conference Room A, Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New
York. The meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Madelaine Berg, Chairperson
Frank Buddingh
Elizabeth Cooney
Katherine Dehais
Marc Godick
Bernard Kaplan
Dr. C. Alan Mason
Howard McMichael
REGRETS:
O Lili Andrews
William Bailey
Dickson Brown
OTHERS PRESENT:
Phyllis Wittner Councilwoman, Town of Mamaroneck, Liaison to CZMC
Elizabeth Paul Environmental Coordinator, Town of Mamaroneck
Fred Grippi Architect, 29 Marbourne Drive
Al Ragazzino Applicant, CM Vesta, 29 Marbourne Drive
Tony Acocella Landscape Architect, 29 Marbourne Drive
Benedict Salanitro Engineer, 19 Kolbert Drive
Lawrence Gordon Architect, 19 Kolbert Drive
Vikram Malkani Applicant, 19 Kolbert Drive
1. Approval of Minutes
The minutes for August 28, 2001 and September 25, 2001 were accepted as amended.
2. Referrals
a. Freshwater Wetlands and Watercourses Permit for the Construction of a New
Single Family Residence at 29 Marbourne Drive-Block 334,Lot 25
Referred by the Town of Mamaroneck Planning Board
The developer is proposing to construct three single-family homes on the last three
lots remaining in the Marbourne subdivision. The parcels are directly adjacent to
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t? Printed on Recycled Paper
Saxon Woods Park. The parcel being reviewed by CZMC is the only parcel of the
Othree that requires a wetlands permit. The proposed house will be located within the
buffer zone of a wetland area located in Saxon Woods Park. The other two parcels
are outside of the 100' buffer zone and have already been approved by the Town.
The property under consideration was cleared and filled during the development of
the Marbourne subdivision,but was never developed. The lot is presently overgrown
with weeds and has a chain link fence across the front of the property.
Al Ragazzino,the applicant, Fred Grippi,the architect, and Tony Acocella, the
landscape architect,presented the proposal. The house will be a 4,500 square foot,
single-family residence. The property has been filled and there is a 20' drop at the
rear of the property with a retaining wall. The property's current grade will remain.
Several easements are located on the property for sanitary sewer and drainage
easements. Located directly behind the property is Saxon Woods Park, where there
is a stream and a wetland area. A discharge outlet for the storm water drainage
system that serves the entire subdivision empties into the stream behind the property.
When the Marbourne subdivision was developed,this area was allocated for a storm
water retention system. •
The drainage system for the proposed house includes four drywells located in front of
the house. Percolation tests were conducted and are being reviewed by the Town
Engineer. The tests were done at the location of the proposed drywells to a depth of
three feet. No bedrock was encountered. The depth to bedrock is significant due to
the amount of fill material on the site. The house may need to be built on pilings.
The applicant presented the landscaping plan for the site. At the request of the
Planning Board, the driveway will be constructed of paving stones. The Landscape
Architect proposes to plant Norway Spruce and White Pine behind the house to
provide screening and wildlife habitat. Several trees will be removed from the
property. These are poplars and are not the original trees on the site. These trees
established themselves after the site was disturbed, filled and graded.
CZMC members requested that the applicant provide additional information on the
site's conditions, including the original topography of the site and information on the
existing storm water and sanitary sewer systems. This information will be necessary
to determine the property's role in storm water detention and will indicate the
conditions on the site prior to development.
The applicant was asked if it was possible to move the house further away from the
wetland area. The applicant stated that the project would require a variance and
would be out of line with the other homes along the street. The applicant believes
that the proposal will benefit the neighborhood by completing the work on an
abandoned site. He stated that the proposal would not impact the wetlands,because
the property is not located in a flood zone, and would not have drainage problems
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due to the existing topography, a more pervious driveway surface, and a large storm
water retention system.
Members of the CZMC agreed to meet, if possible,to review any additional
information provided by the applicant before the next planning board meeting.
Based on the location of the proposed action within the wetland buffer zone, the
project is inconsistent with the policies set forth in the LWRP, unless additional
information provided by the applicant can indicate that there will be no impact on the
watercourse.
b. Freshwater Wetlands and Watercourses Permit for Additions to the Existing
Single Family Residence at 19 Kolbert Drive, Block 307,Lot 1
Referred by the Town of Mamaroneck Planning Board
Benedict Salanitro,the Engineer,Lawrence Gordon,the Architect and Vikram
Malkani,the homeowner,presented their proposal for additions to the existing single-
family house at 19 Kolbert Drive. The footprint of the house is located within the
100-foot buffer zone of the Sheldrake River.
Two drywells will be installed to contain additional runoff from the site. The rear
drywell will accommodate the 430 sq ft of impervious surface created by the patio
and the front drywell will contain the runoff from the additional roof area.
Percolation tests have been performed for the drywells. The Town Engineer is
�•r reviewing the results. The applicant was unsure where the runoff from the property
currently was discharged. It was suggested that the applicant examine the stream
bank for a drainage outfall from the property and dye test the existing drywells to see
if they discharged into the Sheldrake River.
One tree on the property will need to be removed in order to complete the proposed
project. The applicant will contact the building Department to obtain a tree permit if
necessary. Frank Buddingh recommended that an arborist look at a second tree on the
property that may have structural damage.
CZMC finds the proposed project to be inconsistent with the policies set forth in the
LWRP because of its location within the wetland buffer zone. Should the Planning
Board choose to issue the Freshwater Wetlands and Watercourses Permit
notwithstanding the finding of inconsistency, CZMC recommends that the proposed
patio be made of pavers or bricks set in sand to increase permeability and reduce
runoff from the site and that the front drywell be moved farther away from the brook.
CZMC also recommends that larger drywells be installed that would accommodate
the runoff from the entire house. CZMC acknowledges that because of the current
sizing of the proposed drywells,there will be no net increase in runoff from the site.
However, if the drywells were sized to accommodate all of the runoff from the site,
the impact of the proposed project would be mitigated by the increased storm water
detention capacity. The homeowner did not know if there currently are drywells
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servicing the house. If there are existing drywells, these are likely to be nearing the
end of their useful life.
3. Open Space Inventory
Completed open space inventory packages were handed in. All of the parcels that are left
to investigate are located on large estates within the Town of Mamaroneck. These parcels
will be more difficult to visit without the property owner's consent. Elizabeth Paul will
draft a letter to these residents describing the open space inventory and asking for their
cooperation with the project.
4. Old Business
No old business to discuss.
5. New Business
No new business to discuss.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
The next scheduled CZMC meeting will be held on November 27, 2001. Anyone unable to
attend this meeting should contact Elizabeth Paul at(914) 381-7846 or at
conservationdept a,townofmamaroneck.org
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