Country Club Project Approved By Hamden Inland Wetlands Commission With Conditions

HAMDEN, CT — The Hamden Inland Wetlands Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved, with extensive conditions, a plan by the New Haven Country Club to rebuild and expand facilities at 160 Hartford Turnpike, including a new pool house, a golf cart barn, parking and drainage upgrades, and a pedestrian walkway.

The approval followed a detailed review and debate over tree removal, erosion controls, stormwater management and protection of the wooded buffer that shields the lake. The vote came after the commission added multiple safeguards and revisions requested by commissioners and town staff.

Project details and review

The application, filed by New Haven Country Club Corporation, proposes demolishing and replacing an aging pool house, constructing a cart barn, renovating parking areas and installing a new walking path. Engineer Marcus Puttock said the project also includes major stormwater improvements, such as new catch basins and drywells, a hydrodynamic separator, and upgrades to the drainage outfall with energy-dissipation measures and a concrete end wall, according to the meeting minutes. He said the outfall discharges onto Regional Water Authority property and that the RWA supports the proposed changes.

Commissioners questioned Puttock on environmental impacts, particularly tree removal. Commissioner Kirk Shadle asked how many trees would be cut; Puttock estimated about 25 to 30, primarily in the cart barn area, and said the disturbed area would extend roughly 20 to 30 feet further into the buffer. He acknowledged an error on the plans showing a break in silt fencing and said final plans would show continuous fencing, according to the meeting minutes.

Shadle and Commissioner George Schneider also questioned erosion controls and stockpile locations. Puttock said materials would be stored on an existing parking lot and agreed to mark stockpile areas on revised plans. He also said hay bales would reinforce silt fencing near the cart barn, where disturbance would be greatest.

Conservation area and stormwater concerns

Town Inland Wetlands Agent Thomas Vocelli emphasized protection of the wooded buffer that protects Lake Whitney. He proposed a series of conditions requiring permanent Inland Wetlands Conservation Area medallions, prohibiting lawn encroachment, limiting disturbance, and mandating weekly inspections of erosion controls.

Schneider confirmed the project would increase impervious surface coverage by about 5 percent and sought assurance that long-term operation and maintenance plans for the stormwater system would be included on the final drawings. Puttock agreed to add them.

Commissioners also raised concerns about contractors recognizing wetland boundaries during construction. Puttock said a pre-construction meeting would be held with contractors and town officials and said he was willing to install medallions or signage if required.

Tree replacement debate

A lengthy discussion focused on replacing trees removed for construction. Commissioner David McCollum pushed for replanting near the disturbed area, citing localized impacts such as exposed soil. Shadle suggested planting along the Lake Whitney tree line, while Commissioner Michael Stone proposed requiring a formal replanting plan.

Vocelli said the intent was a roughly one-to-one replacement with native trees and noted that a similar condition had worked well on a recent application. The commission ultimately required the applicant to replace removed trees with a similar number of native trees, submit a report detailing their location, species and diameter, and complete planting within 18 months of the decision.

Demolition and hazardous materials

Architect David Thompson addressed comments from the Regional Water Authority regarding demolition. He said a hazardous materials consultant would survey the site, identify any controlled materials and prepare a mitigation plan as part of the building permit process.

At Shadle’s request, the commission added a separate condition requiring demolition environmental survey results to be filed with the wetlands agent and the RWA before any demolition begins, with mitigation plans subject to town approval if needed.

Vote and next steps

After final revisions, Commissioner Schneider moved to approve the application with 21 conditions, and Shadle seconded. Chairman Michael Milazzo called the vote, and all members present voted in favor.

Key conditions include reinforced silt fencing, permanent conservation area markers, strict limits on disturbance near Lake Whitney, weekly inspections of erosion and trash areas, inclusion of RWA recommendations on final plans, replacement of removed trees, and written RWA consent before any work begins on its property at 1301 Whitney Ave.