The Conservation Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to approve remediations proposed in response to an enforcement order issued recently to Masjid Al-Ikhlaas, also known as the Islamic Society of Greater Milford, at 2 West Elm Street.

Conservation administrator Judy Day told the commission that the enforcement order was issued due to unpermitted fill and buffer zone disturbance. The Islamic Society of Greater Milford (ISGM) provided a sketch plan showing how the area will be stabilized and restored in both the short and long term.

She noted that an ISGM representative contacted her and requested that gravel be installed in areas that had been excavated. Plans showed where a silt fence and straw wattles were installed to prevent erosion in two areas where fill had been removed. Day requested that a native seed mix be applied there.

In addition to these measures, Day asked that permanent immovable barriers be installed across the entire parking lot to mark the wetland’s edge. Signs calling attention to the wetland zone were proposed by the ISGM.

Parking concerns raised

Member Walter Garland brought up a concern about parking that was not part of the enforcement order. He said he observed ISGM attendees parking on the grass past the paved parking lot.

“I drive by there quite often, and it seems like there are cars everywhere around there,” he added, saying that the area is “just dirt” now.

Later in the meeting, Garland, a former Board of Appeals member, suggested that the ISGM petition for increased parking.

Day said the proposed gravel installation would stabilize a former lawn area “that was getting ripped up from the cars.”

ISGM member Abdul Abuhajeb said children play in that area in the warmer weather. Cars tend to park on the grass on Friday afternoons, when the ISGM is busy.

Chair Melissa Recos explained that the commission’s concern is that materials in the disturbed area would infiltrate the wetland if cars continued to park there.

Anna Rogers, the town’s environmental and inspectional services coordinator, said the “majority of the area is not jurisdictional.”

“It’s really a zoning issue, not a commission issue,” she added. “It’s up to the building inspector, so we can let him know.”

Loop Road improvement plan approved

The commission approved 5-0 the town’s request for a negative determination of applicability for improvement to Loop Road that would provide better access to the schools.

Constructed in 1996, Loop Road has fallen into disrepair. It is located within the schools complex just west of Hayden Rowe Street.

Claire Hoogeboom, a wetlands scientist at LEC Environmental Consultants, presented updated plans that addressed questions raised at the last meeting on Jan. 27. The plans clarified that catch basin cleaning would be preformed on the stormwater infrastructure.

She added that no work would occur within 2 feet of the resource area boundary. This concern was previously raised by wetlands consultant Joe Orzel.

Plans also showed more details about the alternate parking area. It would be pursued only if the town has enough funds to include this area in the work.

North Mill Street hearing continued

The commission voted 5-0 to continue the hearings for a single-family home planned for 12 North Mill Street and associated soil testing until Feb. 24 because the revised plans were received too late for a peer consultant review.

Developer Lou Petrozzi of Wall Street Development Corporation told the commission that he supplied additional information from a well installer about the proposed well that he said was holding up the decision.

“I think we did a protocol that really describes each aspect of the proposal,” he said.

Petrozzi added that pictures of the type of rig used were included with the revised plans. The installer told him that he needed a temporary pit beyond the well’s location to perform the work. That area, shown on the plan, would be restored once the job is completed.

Member Ed Harrow asked if there was enough room to access the well after the house is built in case it needed to be redone later. Petrozzi said the land is “generally flat.”

Day told Petrozzi that Orzel could not review the plan until an outstanding bill of approximately $1,800 was paid. Petrozzi said he would contact her the next day to discuss the invoice, calling the amount “overkill.”

She added that the well drilling and maintenance protocol “should be prepared by a professional well drilling company.”

Petrozzi said he did not want to supply additional information until he had an indication that this plan would be approved.

This is the second proposal he presented. The previous one had the well encroaching further into the wetland.

“I don’t believe that the commission can vote without having the paperwork filled out to indicate what we’re voting for,” explained Recos.