Commission approves modification to Woodland Road permit; parking-area plan includes stormwater improvements

The Stratford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission voted to approve a modification to a previously permitted development at the northeast corner of Woodland Road and Sunset Avenue, allowing a parking area in place of a previously approved 33,000-square-foot warehouse.

Tom Ryder, senior biologist with LandTech, told the commission the 2.36-acre property had been approved in 2022 for a warehouse with required mitigation; design complications related to FEMA elevation requirements made the warehouse option impractical because the building would have required piles and lifts. “They decided to scrap that idea for the warehouse and are now coming back for a modification to the permit for a parking area,” Ryder said.

Ryder said the modification preserves the prior 3:1 wetland mitigation and the planting plan, and that the new stormwater management design reduces peak volumes for the 25-, 50- and 100-year storm events compared with the earlier plan. He described a gravel-based attenuation system with catch basins flowing to a level spreader to maintain existing drainage gradients and to allow infiltration.

Chair asked for a motion; the record shows the motion to approve was made “By Angela, second by Chris,” and the commission approved the modification by voice vote. No further conditions were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: As approved, the project retains the prior mitigation commitments; staff and the applicant will proceed with permitting and site work in accordance with the approved modification and the town’s wetlands regulations.