Wetlands permit

[albaran]

I'm new to the forum and plan to build a 24 x 28 garage addition to my existing house/garage which I will document for future posting. I am currently applying for all the neccessary permits. I live in Connecticut and have about 3 1/2 acres with a small stream that runs through it so it is classified as wetlands. The garage addition is very far from the wetland part but the wetland commission still has to issue a permit.
They are requiring a $950 bond to be posted which is made up of:
Silt fence $100
Storm detention system: $650
Tempoary and permanent stabilization of site: $200

Has anyone else on the forum had to deal with wetlands issues?

 

[Slow_Lane]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70904&highlight=nest

Check out this thread. Best to follow along and play by their rules and keep them happy. He is in Mass but I am guessing they are all East Coast B*st*rds. Good luck with the build.

 

[73 Mustang Bill]

I live in Florida, and live in a swamp on a lake. I agree with Slow Lane on playing by their rules. If you screw up and don't do somethign by their rules, I've found the best thing to do is say "Okay, I screwed up, but I want to make it right. What would you like me to do, and I'll do it?" When I said that, I think they were so used to the people that fight them tooth and nail that they were pleasently surprised. I had to pay for the permit that I should have paid for originally, but I didn't get hit with fines which would have been hunderds of dollars.

 

[Will67]

Wow this thread will go down hill fast. Sorry to the OP

 

[Freefall_Doug]

Either be 100% permit free and under the radar, or play by their rule. I am in CT too, I am unlucky enough to have my actual neighbor be one of the wetland guys. Never met him, so he could be a nice guy, but I can't exactly fly by night with him living right next door.

My other neighbor had a permited pool built, but the pool builder didn't keep the removed fill from washing down into some of the low lying areas that get vernal pools in the spring. They made him do a rehab project to dig all of the dirt back out of the wet mucky pools of dirt.

I think the rehab project caused more damadge then the small amount of fill. What a bunch of nonsense!

 

[Bender78]

Either be 100% permit free and under the radar, or play by their rule. What a bunch of nonsense!

X10. I have seen the local wetlands nazis at work.

 

[wssix99]

This is becoming more common across the country. (Some states have it much worse than you do.)

The main objective is to keep silt out of the water. It goes from the creek, to the rivers, etc. and kills off fish. Your site will not do that, of course, but the cumulative effect of all the construction in the state will.

Most reasonable municipalities I've seen have exceptions if your site is graded so there won't be runoff - but I expect you aren't in that case. What exactly do you need a wetland permit for? New structures, digging, foundations? Depending on the letter of the law, you might be able to phase the work so you don't need a permit. For example, if you can get foundations and a "parking pad" installed, you may be able to build a structure on that without a permit if you won't be disturbing the land.

 

[albaran]

I think a lot of you are missing the point of my original post I have every intent of complying with whatever regulations are required. I have seen too many people try to beat the system and only to have it come back to bite them in the future. (Especially when they go to sell the house.) I was also required to place a public notice in the paper which is delaying the project by about 2 weeks. I'm not a "hate the government" person and was merely trying to get a feel for other people's experiences with wetland permits.

 

[Tscott]

I deal with them at work all the time. Just call them and ask what they want from you, they are usually more than happy to help. Permits are not hard to get, as long as they are happy with what you are doing. You should be fine, just plead ignorance and ask them as many questions as you can.

Tom

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just as bad in MI.

A failed wooden seawall allowed some shoreline to wash away. Homeowner wanted to replace wooden seawall with concrete and restore the original contour of the shoreline. Nope, had to go with the now existing contour.

 

[wssix99]

I think a lot of you are missing the point of my original post I have every intent of complying with whatever regulations are required. I have seen too many people try to beat the system and only to have it come back to bite them in the future. (Especially when they go to sell the house.) I was also required to place a public notice in the paper which is delaying the project by about 2 weeks. I'm not a "hate the government" person and was merely trying to get a feel for other people's experiences with wetland permits.

Ah - Watch out for smart neighbors who don't like you. They or "environmentalists" can use the process to make life difficult for you.

Are you worried about not getting the permit? Usually, there is a waiting period for people with environmental concerns (or personal issues with you) to go before a committee and oppose a project. Does your locality require you to submit anything other than the zoning drawings for the wetland permit? If so, adding a topographical map that shows elevations may help reviewers get more clarity. (With a laser level and a little patience, you can make one yourself.)

You may also watch out for floodplains, which tend to go with wetlands and streams. If your new structure is encroaching on the floodplain, it could impact your insurance situation.

 

[hdshinn]

I wanted to put in a sidewalk to my front door on this ol' place after we bought it. The original owner never did finish the entry. We have a stream running across the lot (two acres) on the other side of the house. The proposed sidewalk is over 150' from the stream. 2/3 of that space is natural plant life - read biofiltration. I wasn't required to install a silt fence but I did have to obtain and pay for an environmental impact assessment to the tune of something over $US300.00.

I agree that it's best to comply with what I consider over zealous environmental regulations but if we didn't have and impose them, things could be a lot worse than they are. Beyond that aspect of building and construction, around here most people are ready to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

I'm in Skagit Co. WA state.

 

[Will67]

I used to do a ton of work in the Tahoe Basin area and obtained numerous permits from Tahoe Regional Planing Association (TRPA). It was just another hurdle to get stuff done. I am in agreement with what this agency is designed to do keep Tahoe blue.

 

[wssix99]

BTW - Every state is different on this stuff. I'm more familiar with other states but here's CT's definition: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2720&Q=325684

albaran - From what you described, it sounds like you are in more of a floodplain situation. Right? If so, you'd need to approach the permit differently than if you are on wet soils where birds congregate, etc. In that case, I'd think your locality would be more concerned with elevation of your addition and how much more it encroaches (gets closer to the creek) on the floodplain.

 

[billspit]

Sounds like the issues you are having to deal with are storm water runoff and not a "wetland issue", other than to keep silt out of the stream. Believe me, wetland, storm water and siltation issues are not something to ignore. I've seen huge fines for what I thought we minor issues.

Anybody doing work like this needs to be sure to work within the rules of their community. Usually there is a set area you can disturb and not have to got through all this.

 

[PassnThru]

I think a lot of you are missing the point of my original post I have every intent of complying with whatever regulations are required. I have seen too many people try to beat the system and only to have it come back to bite them in the future. (Especially when they go to sell the house.) I was also required to place a public notice in the paper which is delaying the project by about 2 weeks. I'm not a "hate the government" person and was merely trying to get a feel for other people's experiences with wetland permits.

Good for you. Many will rant and many will rave. But it is what it is.
You are going down the right path - and that comes from someone that doesn't necessarily agree with the regulations.....