Torrington wetlands commission declares Winstead Road project "significant," sets June 2 public hearing

The Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission voted May 26 that a proposal for earth-material storage and a new building at 2904 Winstead Road (applicant Martin Connor) constitutes a “significant activity” and must proceed to a public hearing on June 2, 2026.

A commission member who reviewed the site described a mismatch between an inlet grate that had visible flow and an outlet that appeared stagnant, and said large, steep stockpiles on the property were spilling into adjacent wetlands and streams. “This site is too small for the use that they have,” the member said, arguing the development appeared to be treated as an as-of-right industrial/commercial activity rather than being engineered to protect nearby wetlands. That commissioner moved for the significance determination; the motion was seconded and the commission carried the motion.

Staff and other members raised technical questions about the wetland delineation, noting at least one prior survey that mapped portions of the proposed building footprint as wetlands. Commissioners asked for a third-party soil or wetland scientist to provide an independent opinion on the delineation and on pipe elevations where the inlet and outlet flows did not match.

One commissioner outlined mitigation options discussed in the staff report and in members’ site-visit observations, including a roughly 2,500-square-foot mitigation area with a mix of trees (minimum 6-foot-tall, 3-inch caliper specifications in the staff discussion), shrubs, and seed mixes to restore disturbed upland adjacent to wetlands.

Commissioners also discussed statutory timing for opening a public hearing after an application is accepted. Staff confirmed the application was accepted at a prior meeting and that the commission would publish hearing notices; a commissioner moved to set the public hearing for June 2, 2026, to allow staff time to mail notices and satisfy notice requirements.

The public hearing will allow residents, applicants and experts to present evidence and testimony about the proposed activities and possible mitigation. The commission’s record includes conflicting wetland delineation reports cited by members; the hearing is the next formal step for resolving whether the proposed work may be permitted and under what conditions.

Procedure and next steps: the record of the significance determination and the notice of public hearing will be posted and mailed per commission practice; the hearing provides an opportunity for third‑party review results, engineering clarifications on pipe grades and for members to request additional conditions if the permit is later considered.