PLANNING
COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 308
Thursday, May 26,
2005
Town Hall 7:00
p.m.
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Karl
Walton called the regular meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Members Brad Pellissier and Karl Walton,
and Alternate Greg Genlot (seated for Cliff Bordeaux) were present and
constituted a quorum. Town Planner
Patrice Carson was also present.
a.
Resubdivision Application #385:
1-Lot, 67 Franklin Woods Road, Boudreau – Reset Public Hearing
Date
Mr. and Mrs.
Boudreau have requested a new hearing date because their surveyor is not yet
ready for a hearing. Mrs. Carson
suggested June 9, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. as the new date. A motion was made by Brad Pellissier,
seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to reset the public hearing date
for Boudreau’s 1-lot resubdivision application #385 at 67 Franklin Woods Road to
June 9, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
b.
Other
No other old
business was presented.
III. NEW
BUSINESS
a.
Subdivision Application #386:
1-Lot, 191 Turnpike Road, O’Shea
Brian O’Shea
explained that his attorney, Bruce Tyler, has examined the Somers Land Records
and found no proof that the property was ever legally divided or designated as a
building lot.
The applicant,
Mr. O’Shea, presented plans prepared by J. R. Russo Associates for a one-lot
subdivision on the property. Mrs.
Carson explained that there really isn’t any area to take for open space, but
the application will be forwarded to the Open Space Committee in accordance with
proper procedure. The Town
Sanitarian has signed off on the application. Mr. O’Shea will need to get a permit
from the Department of Transportation for the driveway. He explained that he has already applied
for the permit and is currently waiting for a response from DOT. There are no wetlands on the
property.
Mrs. Carson
noted that in accordance with Commission policy meeting, there will be no need
for a public hearing. Mr. O’Shea
can expect to receive staff comments by next week and it is expected that any
changes will be housekeeping items.
b.
Zoning Referral: Special Use
Permit Application for Gravel Bank, South Road, Bordeaux
Farm
Applicant Cliff
Bordeaux presented plans of the site, explaining that the open areas have all
been restored. Phases 7 and 8 are
essentially complete and Phases 9 and 10 are where all the work is currently
occurring. They are about one year
away from completing this phase.
Discussion
followed about concerns expressed by the Zoning Commission regarding the
applicant’s future plans for use of the property. Mr. Bordeaux stated that eventually the
entire area will be planted with fruit trees. The whole idea behind the work being
completed is to make the area into a viable agricultural piece of property. Originally the land was used for
agriculture and the intent is to return it to that use. It would be possible to flatten out the
land rather than to leave it with a gentle, rolling landscape, but this would
not fulfill the purpose of useable agricultural land which the applicant is
aiming to achieve.
The Commission
reviewed Mr. Strauss’s letter to Mrs. Carson setting forth his comments on the
gravel pit. Mr. Strauss wrote that
work in the site was progressing as planned and in a proper manner. He proposed a bond value of
$28,844.00.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
recommend to the Zoning Commission approval of the Bordeaux Farm Special Use
Permit Application for a gravel bank with Merv’s approved bond amount of
$28,844.00.
c.
Zoning Referral: Special Use
Permit Application for Gravel Bank, Egypt Road,
Charter
Mrs. Carson
referred the Commission to Mr. Strauss’s comments on the application and
presented Mr. Charter’s plans for review.
Discussion followed and comments were made that it is good to see that
the applicant is more in compliance with regulations this
year.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
recommend to the Zoning Commission approval of the Charter Special Use Permit
Application for a gravel bank with the stipulation that the Town Engineer’s
requirements for grading work, covering slopes with topsoil and seeding and
fertilizing be met, as well as his approved bond amount of
$34,200.00.
d.
Zoning Referral: Special Use
Permit Application for Gravel Bank, Stafford/Root/ Wood Roads, Wood Gravel
Operation LLC
Mrs. Carson
presented the plans and explained that there is a problem with them regarding
the finished grades, which are shown to be above the already finished
level. She and Mr. Strauss have
discussed the situation with the applicant and are waiting to hear from
him. In addition, the applicant is
over value on the passbook amount.
The
Commissioners reviewed Mr. Strauss’s comments on the application. Mrs. Carson noted that the work appears
to be near completion on the site.
It was also noted that the pit is much more in compliance this
year.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
recommend to the Zoning Commission approval of the Wood Gravel Operation LLC
Special Use Permit Application for a gravel bank with Merv’s approved bond
amount of $25,886.00.
e.
Zoning Referral: Special Use
Permit Application for Gravel Bank, South Road, Pleasant View Farms
Realty
Mrs. Carson
referred the Commissioners to Mr. Strauss’s comments regarding the application,
including his concern about the pile of stumps. Discussion followed that mud had been
strewn across the state road, creating an unsafe condition. The state responded by visiting the site
and informing the applicant that the pit would be closed down if the mud was not
removed. The road was cleaned up
but Greg Genlot noted that the road seems to be getting muddy again and the
situation needs to be attended to once again.
The Commission
also was curious as to what Pleasant View Farms will be doing with the property
when the pit is finished.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
recommend to the Zoning Commission approval of the Pleasant View Farm Realty
Special Use Permit Application for a gravel bank with Merv’s bond amount of
$39,000.00.
f.
Other – Reconfiguration of Lots, 118 Watchaug Road, Map 10, Block 21 –
Sunset Partners
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
approve the reconfiguration of property of Sunset Partners at 118 Watchaug Road,
Parcels A-1 & A-2, as shown on a map entitled, “Property Survey Prepared For
Property at 118 Watchaug Road, Somers, Connecticut”. Although a new lot is created, this
reconfiguration does not constitute a subdivision because this reconfiguration
constitutes a first cut of property.
A very brief
discussion was held regarding the Joint Planning Commission and Zoning
Commission Meeting held on Monday, May 23, 2005.
Mrs. Carson
reported that she delivered the Whitaker Grant application to Dave Steiger at
the DEP on May 20. Additionally,
she has been working on the RFP for the mill with the DEP. Last week she attended Court on the
Worthington Pond Farms matter. The
new bakery has opened in the Plaza on South Road. In addition, Mrs. Carson has been
working on the Somersville Grammar School playground.
Mrs. Carson
presented a notice on a free seminar on Thursday, June 9, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. She also has been
informed of a CAZEO seminar on Open Space Subdivisions to be held on June 1,
2005, and requested that the Commission suggest to the Zoning Commission that
they pay the $20 fee for her to attend this timely seminar. A motion was made by Brad Pellissier,
seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to ask the Zoning Commission to
pay for Mrs. Carson to attend the CAZEO seminar.
A bill was
presented from the Journal Inquirer in the amount of $39.35 for the meeting of
April 14, 2005. A motion was made
by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to pay the
bill as presented.
It was the
consensus of the Commission to defer voting on the minutes of the April 28, 2005
meeting until the next meeting.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Greg Genlot and unanimously voted to
adjourn the May 26, 2005 Planning Commission meeting at 8:35
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Brad Pellissier,
Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL
AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.