TOWN OF SOMERS

PLANNING COMMISSION

P.O. BOX 308

SOMERS, CONNECTICUT 06071

 

PLANNING MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING

Thursday, September 16, 2004

7:00 p.m.     Town Hall

 

I.            PUBLIC HEARING:

 

a.            Continuation:  Subdivision Application #376, 5-Lots, Hall Hill Road (Bridle Path Ridge, Richard A. McCullough, Inc. Builders

 

Chairman Karl Walton called the public hearing to order at 7:00pm.  Town Planner Patrice Carson read the legal notice.

 

Mike Mocko, environmental consultant for the applicant, presented his revised plans and stated that he had made all of the changes requested at the previous meeting, including modifying the notes to reflect the entire parcel for an A-2 Survey and the addition of horizontal and vertical scales to the plan for improving the line of sight at Hall Hill Road.  He stated that he had received approval from Merv Strauss.

 

Patrice Carson said that the open space fee had been set at $15,850.00, which is $3,170.00 per lot, and the bond had been set at $185,011.00.  She also requested that on Sheets 2 and 3 of the plans the street is labeled with the name “Bridle Path Drive”, and on Sheet 7 the dividing zone line be labeled.  It was also requested that when the applications were made to the DOT, a copy be sent to the Planning Office.

 

Anthony Liquori, 20 Valley View Drive, stated that he had met with Rick McCullough regarding a right of way for the row of pine trees.  He presented an agreement between himself and Mr. McCullough to be signed at a future date, in which it was stated that the line of sight would be preserved when the current line of trees were removed by the applicant and new trees were planted.

 

A motion was made by Cliff Bordeaux, seconded by Mike Collins and unanimously voted to close the public hearing at 7:14pm.

 

II.        CALL TO ORDER:

 

Chairman Karl Walton called the regular meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.  Members Clifford Bordeaux, Michael Collins, Karl Walton and Alternate Members, Georgeanne Kuzman (seated for Michelle Hayward), Joe Iadarola (seated for Brad Pellissier), and Greg Genlot were present and constituted a quorum.  Also in attendance was Patrice Carson, Town Planner.

 

III.       OLD BUSINESS

 

a.            Discussion/Possible Decision:  Subdivision Application #376, 5-Lots, Hall Hill Road (Bridle Path Ridge), Richard A. McCullough, Inc. Builders

 

A motion was made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Michael Collins and unanimously voted to approve Richard A. McCullough, Inc.’s 5-lot subdivision, application #376, in accordance with the plans known as “Subdivision Plan, Bridle Path Ridge, Bridle Path Drive, Somers, CT, Prepared for Richard A. McCullough Inc.”, dated:  April 1, 2004, Revised:  through 9/10/04, 13 sheets, which is conditional on the following:

 

1.  A note shall be placed on the plans:  “The filing of a $15,850.00 fee in lieu of open space ($3,170.00 per lot) is required to be paid to the Town of Somers upon the sale or transfer of each lot.”

The Town of Somers shall also place a notice on the land records to insure payment.

2.  A copy of the transfer of any of the lots shall be filed by the applicant with the Planning Office.

3.  All appropriate seals and signatures of the design professionals and Soil Scientist for this plan shall be on the plans.

4.  The signatures of the Town Engineer and Town Sanitarian shall be on the plans signifying their approval of the plans in accordance with Section 213-19 of the Subdivision Regulations.

5.  A bond for road, utility and site improvements in the amount of $185,011.00 in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney shall be filed with the Planning Office as required by Section 213-54.

            6.  The name of the road, “Bridle Path Drive”, shall be placed on the road shown on sheets 2 and 3 of 13.

            7.  The zone line separating residential zones A & A-1 shall be labeled on sheet 7 of 13.

            8.  The applicant shall obtain a permit from the Department of Transportation for the driveway cut for lot #4 (603 Hall Hill Road) and the sight line improvements at the intersection of Valley View Road and Hall Hill Road, and shall present a copy of the permit to the Planning Office.

The Planning Commission finds with these conditions the plan meets the requirements of the Somers Subdivision Regulations.

 

b.         Zoning Referral:  Site Plan Application for change of Use to Salon/Day Spa & Addition, 67 South Road, Wurdig

 

The Commission members had received a report dated September 15, 2004 from Town Consulting Engineer, Merv Strauss, for their review, discussing the Wurdig application.

 

Mike Mocko presented revised plans regarding the application.  He stated that he had reversed the traffic flow to reflect the Commission’s suggestion; in addition, he had received clarification from UPS regarding their delivery trucks, which require the same radius to turn as an SUV, and he felt this would be adequate for the site.  He added that having two curb cuts and changing the driveway to accommodate them with a one-way type drive was another option, although it would require a DOT permit.  He also stated that he had revised his septic plans in accordance with the recommendations of the Town Sanitarian.

 

Mike Collins asked about the frequency of deliveries from UPS and was told they would be approximately weekly.

 

The Commission agreed that the idea of two curb cuts could work out well if supported by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.  Karl Walton asked if DOT would allow two curb cuts and Patrice Carson stated that she would check with them.

 

Discussion followed about the drainage on the site.  Mr. Mocko stated that it was his opinion that the size of the parcel was not large enough to necessitate a drainage anaylsis, but he was willing to do one if the Commission required one.  He also stated that he felt the runoff would be taken care of in the routing of the water into the wetlands.

 

A motion was made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman, and unanimously voted to recommend to the Zoning Commission approval of the application with the condition that the applicant satisfies the Town Engineer’s requests as stated in his report of Septmber 15, 2004.  Appreciation was expressed for Mr. Mocko’s consideration of the two curb cuts and he will work with Patrice and DOT.

 

IV.            STAFF/COMMISSIONER REPORTS

 

Karl Walton and Patrice Carson reported to the Commission regarding the Freedom of Information hearing on September 13, 2004 with the Town Attorney.

 

V.            CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS

 

No correspondence was presented.

 

A bill from the Journal Inquirer was submitted for $62.96 for the meeting of August 5, 2004.  A motion was made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Cliff Bordeaux, and unanimously approved to pay the bill.

 

VI.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

A motion was made by Cliff Bordeaux, seconded by Joe Iadarola and unanimously voted to adjourn the September 16, 2004 special meeting of the Planning Commission at 8:12pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                Robin A. Timmons,

Brad Pellissier, Secretary                                                          Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.