ZONING
COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 308
Monday, May 2,
2005
7:00 p.m. Town
Hall
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Peter
Klein called the regular meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Members Anita Calder, Peter Klein,
Robert Martin, Lise Wood, and Alternate Members Jill Conklin, and Wesley Smith
(seated for Peter Chipouras) were present and constituted a quorum. Town Planner Patrice Carson was also in
attendance.
A change was
made to the header on pages 2, 3 and 4 of the April 4, 2005 minutes to correctly
show the date of the meeting as April 4, 2005.
A motion was
made by Lise Wood, seconded by Anita Calder, and unanimously voted to approve
the Minutes of the April 4, 2005 meeting as amended.
The Commission
deferred voting on the Minutes of the April 25, 2005
meeting.
III.
OLD
BUSINESS
a.
Other
No
Old Business was presented.
IV.
NEW
BUSINESS
a.
Special Use Permit Application for Gravel Bank, South Road, Bordeaux
Farm
The
Commission reviewed plans showing the existing gravel bank on South Road. A Special Use Permit Application has
been received from Cliff Bordeaux.
In addition, Mr. Bordeaux has submitted the application fee and a bond
estimate of $24,037.00. The bond
estimate will be reviewed by the Town Engineer.
It
was noted that the gravel pit has a very steep slope, especially if the
applicant were to stop working where he currently is. Mr. Bordeaux indicated in the past that
he planned to keep a rolling, hilly terrain, but this slope would indicate
otherwise. A suggestion followed
that the applicant be asked to explain this at the public
hearing.
The
plan also indicated that the applicant is now in Phases 9 and 10 of his
operation.
Mrs.
Carson added that the Town Engineer and Zoning Enforcement Officer will be
inspecting each of the banks and will report the results back to the
Commission. She also mentioned that
copies of the plans for each gravel bank applicant are available for Zoning
Commission Members to review should they wish to do so.
The
applicant also noted in his discussions with Mrs. Carson that it would be much
better if the application date was moved to two weeks later than it is
currently. His reasoning is that
such a change would help ensure that the weather be mild enough to enable the
applicants to gain a better assessment of their situations prior to applying
with the Town. It was noted,
however, that such an extension of time would limit the time that the Town would
have to get things together.
A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Rob Martin, and unanimously voted to
accept the Special Use Permit Application for Bordeaux’s gravel bank on South
Road, refer it to the Planning Commission, and set a public hearing date for
June 6, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
b.
Special Use Permit Application for Gravel Bank, Egypt Road,
Charter
The
Commission reviewed the plans for Charter’s gravel bank. A Special Use Permit Application and fee
were received, as well as an a bond estimate in the amount of $34,200.00 which
will be reviewed by the Town Engineer.
A
motion was made by Rob Martin, seconded by Anita Calder, and unanimously voted
to accept the Special Use Permit Application for Charter’s gravel bank on Egypt
Road, refer it to the Planning Commission, and set a public hearing date for
June 6, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
c.
Special Use Permit Application for Gravel Bank, Stafford/Root/Wood Roads,
Wood Gravel Operation LLC
Lise
Wood recused herself from this item and Jill Conklin was seated for
her.
The
Commission reviewed the plans for Wood’s gravel bank. It was noted that the Special Use Permit
Application and fee were received, along with an estimated bond amount of
$21,572.00. This amount will be
reviewed by Town Engineer. Mrs.
Carson stated that the new bond estimate amount was lower than the bond amount
of $33,419.00 currently being held.
A
motion was made by Wes Smith, seconded by Rob Martin, and unanimously voted to
accept the Special Use Permit Application for Wood’s gravel bank on
Stafford/Root/Wood Roads, refer it to the Planning Commission, and to set a
public hearing date for June 6, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
d.
Special Use Permit Application for Gravel Bank, South Road, Pleasant View
Farms Realty
Lise
Wood returned to her seat as a member and Jill Conklin returned as an
Alternate.
The
Commission reviewed Pleasant View Farms Realty’s gravel bank plans and no issues
of concern were noted. Both the
Special Use Permit Application and fee had been received. The bond has been estimated at
$39,000.00, and will be reviewed by Merv Strauss.
A
motion was made by Rob Martin, seconded by Lise Wood, and unanimously voted to
accept the Special Use Permit Application for Pleasant View Farms Realty’s
gravel bank on South Road, refer it to the Planning Commission, and set a public
hearing for June 6, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
e.
Other
A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Rob Martin, and unanimously voted to
add to the agenda a DISCUSSION: ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S
HOURS.
Chairman
Peter Klein explained that Jim Taylor’s part-time hours as Zoning Enforcement
Officer have been reduced by the Board of Selectmen to 8 hours. Mrs. Carson checked her records and
found his salary set at $10,000.00.
These figures were compared with the 12-hour work week and $14,814.00
salary recommended by the Zoning Commission in its originally submitted
budget.
Anita
Calder stated that this was unacceptable and Lise Wood added that cutting back
Mr. Taylor’s hours was not good for the Town or the Zoning Commission. Since Mr. Taylor will no longer be at
Zoning meetings unless specific issues require his being there, Commission
Members will not be able to get immediate answers to questions they may have
regarding things that come up for discussion or are included in his
reports.
It
was noted that historically the Zoning Enforcement Officer was paid to work 12
hours, which generally seemed adequate.
However, reducing them would prove counter-productive and may not provide
an adequate amount of time in which to complete the Zoning Enforcement Officer’s
tasks.
It
was also discussed that a lot of time and energy has been invested in the
decisions and discussions of the Zoning Commission and Mr. Taylor’s continued
efforts are needed to enforce the results of that work throughout the
community. In addition, the joint
efforts of the Town have resulted in a strong Plan of Conservation and
Development and Mr. Taylor’s position is crucial to the successful
implementation of the Plan in terms of both the business and residential
communities.
After
discussion about how best to address this issue, it was the consensus of the
Commission to have Chairman Klein write a letter to the Board of Selectmen. The letter will explain the Zoning
Commission’s reasons for not supporting such a budgetary decision and its
negative impact on the Commission and the Town as a whole. Commission members will be emailed once
the letter is completed and leave the original with Mrs. Carson in the Planning
Office. Commission Members will
stop by and sign the letter before it is submitted to the
Selectmen.
V.
DISCUSSION: PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT
Patrice
Carson stated that the date for the next joint Planning & Zoning Commissions
meeting is May 23, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
This date has been confirmed with the Board of Selectmen and the Planning
Commission. In addition, the Granby
Town Planner will attend and will be giving a presentation at the
meeting.
VI.
STAFF/COMMISSIONER
REPORTS
No
reports were presented. Mrs. Carson
notified Commission members that the Zoning Enforcement Officer has written a
letter to the owners of 111 Main Street regarding a new tenant who is running a
business at that location without ever applying for a permit to do so. The tenant has responded and will be
coming in to make application. In
addition, the Planner, Town Engineer, Sanitarian, Building Official and Fire
Marshal will be meeting tomorrow with Mr. Vono about his
project.
VII.
CORRESPONDENCE AND
BILLS
No
correspondence was presented.
A bill in the
amount of $86.57 was received from the Journal Inquirer for the meetings of
March 7 and 21, 2005. A
motion was made by Lise Wood, seconded by Rob Martin and unanimously voted to
pay the bill.
VIII.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was
made by Lise Wood, seconded by Rob Martin and unanimously approved to adjourn
the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
A.P. Calder,
Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL
AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.