TOWN OF SOMERS

PLANNING COMMISSION

P.O. BOX 308

SOMERS, CONNECTICUT 06071

 

PLANNING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

Thursday, March 24, 2005

7:00 p.m.     Town Hall

 

I.          PUBLIC HEARING

 

a.         Continuation of Resubdivision Application #383:  8-Lots, Stafford and Rocky Dundee Roads, GCS Development

 

The public hearing reconvened at 7:08 pm.  Patrice Carson read the legal notice.

 

George Schoeber stated that he believed he had met all of the requirements by staff.  He had received the Town Engineer’s latest correspondence and each of the items noted on it can easily be taken care of.  Commission Members were also given a copy of Mr. Strauss’ letter for review and comments.

 

Mike Tarbell has reviewed the detention basin details with Mr. Strauss and has received his approval.  They spoke with Merv Stauss this afternoon regarding the easement on the driveway on Lot 6.  The Town Engineer has asked that the drainage easement should not be over the driveway in order to provide a “cleaner transaction”.

 

The open space requirement has been meet.  Mrs. Carson still needs a copy of the 2 deeds for areas along the road frontages so they can be submitted to the Town Attorney.

 

Mr. Schoeber thanked the Planning Commission, Town Planner Patrice Carson and Town Engineer Merv Strauss for their help and cooperation during the application process.  He stated that it had been a pleasure to work with the Town of Somers.

 

There were no further comments by the audience and no further questions by the Commission.  A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to close the public hearing at 7:18 pm.

 

II.        CALL TO ORDER

 

Chairman Karl Walton called the meeting to order at 7:23 pm.  Members Brad Pellessier and Karl Walton, and Alternates Greg Genlot (seated for Cliff Bordeaux), Georgeanne Kuzman (seated for Mike Collins), were present and constituted a quorum.  Town Planner Patrice Carson and Town Engineer Mervyn Strauss were also present.

 

III.       OLD BUSINESS

 

a.         Discussion/Possible Decision: Resubdivision Application #383:  8-Lots, Stafford and Rocky Dundee Roads, GCS Development

 

Greg Genlot asked if the applicant met all of the Subdivision Regulations and had satisfied all the planning staff’s requirements.  Mrs. Carson replied “yes” to both questions.

 

A motion was made by Greg Genlot, seconded by Brad Pellessier and unanimously voted to approve GCS Land Development Corp.’s 9-lot resubdivision, application #383, in accordance with the plans known as “Greystone Farm Estates”, Rocky Dundee Road & Stafford Road, Somers, Connecticut”, dated:  11-29-04, 2-21-05, 3-09-05, Revised:  through 03/16/2005, 15 sheets, which is conditional on the following:

 

            1.         The applicant has met the open space requirement by deeding 10% of the land in the subdivision to the Town of Somers under the Town Subdivision Regulations and State Statutes.

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

            3.         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.

            4.         A bond for road, utility and site improvements in the amount of $27,568.00 acceptable to the Planning Commission and Town Engineer and in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney shall be filed with the Planning Office as required by Section 213-54 prior to the commencement of any construction, including construction of any public improvements.  Applicant shall also submit a revised copy of the bond estimate.

            5.         The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses statement from Section 213-27 of the Subdivision Regulations shall be on the plans, preferably near the Soil Scientist’s signature, and shall be affixed to all subsequent plans for these lots.

            6.         In accordance with Section 213-46, the developer shall install streetlighting as required and approved by the Selectmen.

            7.         Amend the drainage easement on Lot #6 to remove the 40 X 30-foot tab of land that covers the driveway and culvert area, but leaving the access at the bar way.

            8.         The drainage easement language for the 5 culverts on Rocky Dundee Road shall be amended to read:  “Drainage easement for maintenance, repair and replacement of the culvert(s) in favor of the Town of Somers.  Each side of the easement(s) shall be 15 feet off of and parallel to the projection of the centerline of the existing culvert(s) onto the subject lot.  The easement shall extend from the street line to the southerly limits of the 25-foot conservation easement.”

            9.         The drainage swale detail shall be amended to show the rip rap being placed on filter fabric over a suitable compacted sub-base.

            10.       A detail of the detention basin outlet weir shall be shown on the plans.

            11.       Two deeds shall be provided to the town as follows:

                        A Warrantee Deed to the Town of Somers for the small strip of property frontage along lots 6, 7, and 8 on Stafford Road as shown on sheets 6, 7 and 7b of 15.

                        A Quit Claim Deed to the Town of Somers for the strip of land between the road pavement and the street line established by the subdivision plans running along the entire frontage of the property on Stafford Road and Rocky Dundee Road.

            12.       A note shall be added to the plans, “The culverts under the driveways for lots 6, 7, 8, and 9 shall be the sole responsibility of the property owners.”

            13.       The Commission waives the requirement in Section 213-22.C. of the Subdivision Regulations which requires, where practicable lot lines to be either at right angles or radial to street lines.

 

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

 

b.         Other

 

Chairman Karl Walton presented pins to members present.  He had accepted them in the members’ honor while attending the dinner for volunteers in December.

 

IV.       NEW BUSINESS

 

a.         Other

 

No new business was presented.

 

V.        DISCUSSION:  PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Discussion on this item was deferred to the next meeting.  It was noted that further information on a Design Review Board will be needed from the Board of Selectmen before a fruitful discussion can be started regarding the Somerville Village District.

 

VI.       STAFF/COMMISSIONER REPORTS

 

Mrs. Carson stated that a lot of time had been spent working on the GCS Development application.  In addition, she is about one-quarter of the way through the Whitaker Grant application with the First Selectman and NCLT and it is looking very good.

 

VII.     AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

 

There was none.

 

VIII.    CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS

 

A bill was received for the Hesketh Traffic Engineers Report in the amount of $953.76.  A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to pay the bill.

 

A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to send Mrs. Carson to the CCAPA Executive Committee Meeting on April 1, 2005.

 

IX.       MINUTES APPROVAL

 

A motion was made by Greg Genlot, seconded by Brad Pellissier and unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2005 meeting as written.

 

A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2005 meeting as written.

 

X.        ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to adjourn the March 24, 2005 Planning Commission meeting at 7:48 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Brad Pellissier, Secretary                                  Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.