TOWN OF SOMERS
ZONING
COMMISSION
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
ZONING
COMMISSION MINUTES
4/7/03;
7:30 p.m.
Town Hall
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman
Peter Klein called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Members present were:
Peter Klein; George Sulikowski; Lise Wood; Robert Martin. Alternate Jill Conklin arrived at 7:40 p.m.
and was seated for Marie Burnette. Also
present was Patrice Carson, Town Planner.
II. MINUTES APPROVAL: March
17, 2003 & March 31, 2003
March 17: Lise
Wood made a motion to approve the 3/17/03 minutes, as written. This motion was seconded by Rob Martin and
unanimously approved by the Commission.
March 31: One
change was made on Page 1; 3rd paragraph:
Remove "Drive" and substitute with "Lane".
Rob Martin made a motion to approve the 3/31/03
minutes, as written. This motion was
seconded by Lise Wood and unanimously approved by the Commission.
III. OLD BUSINESS: There
was none.
IV. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Site
Plan Application for Used Car Dealership, 58 Springfield Road, Moore
Mr.
Moore presented a site plan of the property he intends to rent and open a used
car dealership at 58 Springfield Road.
He plans to use the building in the front of the property for office
space and lobby in one section and the other section for his automobile
shop. Mr. Moore pointed out the areas
for customer parking as well as the spaces available for vehicles for
sale. These parking areas are paved. There is a grassy area behind the building
that could be paved if additional parking is required.
Patrice Carson said that only 60% of a business
property could be covered by impervious surfaces.
Mr. Moore plans to plant some white pines for
screening. He also intends to develop a
nice lawn and to install a sprinkler system.
He would like the area to be attractive and appealing to his
customers. His business sign will be
smaller than what is presently on the site.
He will work with the Zoning Enforcement Officer on the sign
requirements.
Hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. until l:00 p.m. on Saturdays. His dealership will be closed on Sundays and
holidays.
There was a brief discussion about requiring some type of screening between the business zone and adjoining residential property. Mr. Moore said the adjoining property is a field that is owned by his landlord so additional screening may not be necessary.
Mr. Moore has an agreement with a licensed oil
products removal company that will take his used oil, etc. off-site for
disposal. No body work or painting will
be done on-site. The shop will be used
to prepare the vehicles for re-sale.
Patrice Carson said Mr. Moore is aware that this
property has a level of contamination in the soils. Sanitarian Steve Jacobs has recommended that the Town Attorney
prepare an agreement that absolves the Town of any liability as far as this
contamination is concerned.
Mr. Moore gave the Commission a copy of his
Statement of Purpose for his business.
If the Zoning Commission approves his site plan, he will meet with the
Fire Marshal and the Building Inspector to find out what their requirements
will be.
Rob Martin asked about the lighting plan. Mr. Moore said he prefers to use down-type
lighting that will not glare out onto the road or adjoining properties. He plans to use "up lights" on his
business sign.
George Sulikowski made a motion to accept the Site
Plan Application for a used car dealership at 58 Springfield Road and refer it
to the Planning Commission for their recommendation. Lise Wood seconded this motion which was unanimously approved by
the Zoning Commission.
Patrice Carson reminded Mr. Moore that the Planning
Commission meets at 7:00 p.m. on April 9, 2003 and his application will be on
the agenda.
Lise Wood made a motion to add the following item to
the agenda under New Business. This
motion was seconded by Rob Martin and unanimously approved by the Zoning
Commission.
b. Site Plan Application for a
Woodworking Shop at 34 Egypt Road, Units A and B; Birkenshaw
Dave
Birkenshaw, owner of this industrial complex, said his new tenant, Jim Reardon,
will be operating a woodworking shop.
He manufactures wood products such as doors and moldings. Dave gave Mr. Reardon's Statement of Purpose
to the Commission.
Lise Wood made a motion to accept this Site Plan
Application and forward it to the Planning Commission for their
recommendation. This motion was
seconded by Rob Martin and unanimously approved by the Commission.
V. STAFF/COMMISSION REPORTS:
Chairman
Klein read Zoning Enforcement Officer Jim Taylor's report to the
Commission. The report covered Zoning
enforcement activity since the last Zoning meeting. A copy of his report will be attached to the minutes.
Patrice Carson reported that a zoning permit
application has been submitted for the two businesses proposed for 8 South Road
- Dunkin Donuts and Subway. The
foundation of the building is already in place. It is now proposed to be a one-story building with the two
businesses located at each end and two retail spaces in the middle. Fewer parking spaces will be required;
however, the developer intends to leave his plan the way it is. The sign permits will be handled by Jim
Taylor.
It was the consensus of the Commission that they
would like to see a rendering of the proposed building - but do not need to see
the Site Plan again. Patrice Carson
will bring the rendering of the one-story building to the next Zoning
Commission meeting.
The Commission asked when construction would
begin. The Town Planner said
construction will begin as soon as the building permit is issued.
VI. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: There
were none.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS: There were none.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by Lise Wood; seconded by George Sulikowski and unanimously approved by the Commission. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Marie
Burnette, Secretary
Connie
Carenzo, Recording Secretary
Town of Somers Zoning Enforcement Officer
For the Zoning Commission Meeting of April 7, 2003
Covering the Weeks
of 3/17/03 Thru 3/31/03
Activities listed by Address
Zoning Permits issued ------13
Certificates of Occupancy issued----22
Enforcement activity:
1. 23 Hall Hill Rd. Continuing action. CL&P is in the process of eliminating this violation when the service trucks are able to access the site. Currently too wet.
2. 48 South Rd. Southfield Corner, Have notified the association that the outdoor lighting must come into compliance in order to avoid legal action. Responded to schedule a meeting on 4/17/03. As of this date Mr. Persano has not scheduled said meeting. Will issue C & D Order if he does not respond by April 15, 2003.
3. 625 Main Street. Received complaint regarding Portable Sign at DB Mart. Violation Eliminated.
4. 17 Country Fair Dr.. Accessory building placed without Zoning Permit. Issued C & D Order. Owner has agreed to obtain appropriate permits.
5. Noise complaints from A. Koehler and D. Folan of Sunshine Farms concerning noises being emitted from CONVAL, Inc., Mountain Tree Service and businesses within the Birkenshaw and Barnes Industrial buildings. Attached is a copy of my response letter to the complainants as a result of my investigation.
6. 24 Haas Rd.. Storage of business Vehicles in residential district. Business trailers have been removed. Violation eliminated.
There are two remaining unregistered vehicles on the property which has also been a complaint from the neighbor but they are currently permitted.
NOTE: I do want to make the commission aware that it is increasingly difficult to fulfill the duties of this office within the currently allotted eight hours per week.
Respectfully submitted:
Jim Taylor, ZEO