The Farmington Inland Wetlands Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a batting cage at 20 Wolf Pit Road, clearing the way for the town's Recreation Department to install a 70-by-15-foot facility for Little League and high school use.
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Jessie Caetano, Director of Recreation, presented the project. The work involves removing approximately two inches of soil from a grassed area in the corner of the property and replacing it with pea gravel or crushed stone. Small poles will be set in the ground to support the cage structure. The excavated soil will be taken off site.
The commission attached one condition: erosion control measures must be in place as approved by town staff.
The application moved quickly. It was accepted at the March 18 meeting, where the commission also determined the project did not constitute significant activity and did not require a public hearing. Wednesday's vote completed the process.
No commissioners raised substantive concerns. Chair Ned Stachen polled each member individually; none had questions beyond confirming that the site is currently grass and that the material would be removed.
"Happy hitting," Stachen told Caetano after the vote.
In other business, the commission tabled a review of revised plans for the JBS Developers project at 598 Plainville Avenue. Senior Assistant Town Planner Bruce Cyr said new plans were submitted Friday and are still under review, with a full set of comments expected for the April 15 meeting. The commission will make its determination of significance at that time.
The next Inland Wetlands Commission meeting is April 15 at the Town Hall Annex — the first in-person session since the commission shifted to a fully remote format during COVID. The commission's most recent full agenda included five development applications in a single sitting last November.