PLANNING
COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 308
Thursday, May June 9,
2005
Town Hall 7:00
p.m.
I.
PUBLIC HEARING
a.
Resubdivision Application #385:
1-Lot, 67 Franklin Woods Road, Boudreau
Vice Chairman
Cliff Bordeaux opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Town Planner Patrice Carson read the
legal notice. Mr. Boudreau and his
Engineer, Len Norton, were present and reviewed the plan changes with the
Commission. Staff was satisfied
with the plans.
Patrice Carson
explained that this was the first time using a new appraiser for the open space
donation and the appraisal was higher that what she had been seeing as well as
the appraiser’s fee which went up to $850.00 from $300.00. She reviewed the appraiser’s comments
with the Commission and the Commission felt the appraisal figure was
appropriate. The Commission was
asked whether or not they would consider a second appraisal from another
appraiser and felt that they would if:
(1) the Commission would have to approve of the appraiser, (2) the appraisal would have to be
within 30 days of the hearing, and
(3) the applicant would have to pay the second appraisal
fee.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman, and unanimously voted to
close the public hearing at 7:39 p.m.
II.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairman
Cliff Bordeaux called the regular meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Members Cliff Bordeaux, Mike Collins and
Brad Pellissier, and Alternate Members Greg Genlot, Georgeanne Kuzmann (seated
for Michelle Hayward), and Joe Iadarola (seated for Karl Walton) were present
and constituted a quorum. Town
Planner Patrice Carson and Town Engineer Merv Strauss were also
present.
a.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Resubdivision Application #385:
1-Lot, 67 Franklin Woods Road, Boudreau
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Joe Iadarola and unanimously voted to
approve Kevin Boudreau’s 1-lot resubdivision, application #385, in accordance
with the plans known as “1-Lot Resubdivision, #67 Franklin Woods Road, Lot #20,
Somers, Connecticut”, dated:
3-31-05 and April 4, 2005, Revised:
through 6-6-05, 2 sheets, which is conditional on the
following:
The Planning Commission finds with these
conditions the plan meets the requirements of the Somers Subdivision
Regulations. It was also noted that
if the applicant wishes to return to the Planning Commission with another
appraisal, (1) the Commission would
have to approve of the appraiser,
(2) the appraisal would have to be within 30 days of the hearing,
and (3) the applicant would have to
pay the second appraisal fee.
b.
Subdivision Application #386:
1-Lot, 191 Turnpike Road, O’Shea
Mrs. Carson
reported that she never received revised plans from J.R. Russo Associates. She sent all of the comments to Mr.
Russo earlier in the week. All of
the issues were fairly minor, but do need to be addressed.
Mr. O’Shea was
given copies of each staff member’s reports. David Askew has requested erosion
comments on the plan. Steve Jacobs
has requested that the existing drainage outlet needs to be properly
graded. Mr. Strauss confirmed that
the existing swale on the northern property line needs to be cleaned and
defined.
Mrs. Carson said
that she is waiting for the open space appraisal.
No public
hearing will be necessary but Mr. O’Shea will need to notify the abutters within
200 feet by way of sending a notice provided by the Town Planner. The notice is to be sent via certified
mail and the receipts are to be returned to the Planning Office in accordance
with the Subdivision Regulations.
c.
Other
No other old
business was presented.
IV. NEW
BUSINESS
a.
Release of Performance Bond/Acceptance of Maintenance Bond and Road,
Bittersweet Hill, Bittersweet Hill Subdivision,
Leaska
Mrs. Carson
pointed out that there was a mistake on the agenda and this item should have
been for a a.
Release of Performance
Bond/Acceptance of Maintenance Bond and Road, Isabella Drive, Summer Shade
Subdivision, Leno
Mr. Strauss and
the Public Works Department have reviewed the finished road work and found it to
be satisfactory.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to
approve the release of Richard W. Leno II’s performance Bond of $29,100.00 and
accept a maintenance bond in the amount of $24,250.00 and accept Isabella Drive,
the road in the Subdivision known as “Summer Shade Subdivision”, and recommend
the same to the Board of Selectmen for their approval and Town Meeting, in
accordance with the recommendations of the Town Attorney, Town Engineer and
Public Works Department that all work in the subdivision has been completed
according to plan. This release is
contingent upon the presentation of a maintenance bond in the amount of
$24,250.00 in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney.
b.
Other
No other New
Business was presented.
a.
Design Review Ad Hoc Study Committee – Appoint
Representative
Mrs. Carson
presented a letter from the First Selectmen which stated that the Board of
Selectmen are looking for a representative from the Planning Commission to serve
on a Design Review Ad Hoc Study Committee.
The Committee will review what other towns have done and report what they
think would be right for Somers.
Both Greg Genlot and Joe Iadarola were interested in serving on the
Committee. It was the consensus of
the Commission to submit both of their names to the Board of
Selectmen.
The next joint Commission meeting is Monday, June 13, 2005, at 7:00 p.m.
Mrs. Carson
reported that she has been working with Art Christian of the DEP on the RFP for
the mill, the age-restricted housing project, items on the agenda and year-end
budgets and reports.
In addition, she
has passed the real estate class with a final grade of 98. She found the class to be hard but very
informative. Since completion, she
has discovered that what she has learned is very helpful in her work as Town
Planner, especially recently with the Boudreau appraisal. The cost of the class was
$350.00.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously approved
to reimburse Mrs. Carson for the cost of the class.
Mrs. Carson
explained that her current term on the Connecticut Chapter of the American
Planning Association Executive Board is expiring in October. She has been asked to serve another
2-year term from October 2005 to October 2007. She has talked to David Pinney and told
him she would speak to the Planning Commission about continuing her
service.
The Commission
felt this had been very worthwhile and that continued service on the CCAPA
Executive Committee was warranted.
A motion was made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Brad Pellissier and
unanimously voted to recommend that the Board of Selectmen allow Mrs. Carson to
continue to serve on the CCAPA for another term.
Mrs. Carson has
also been contacted by the Presentations Committee of the Regional American
Planning Association requesting that she give a presentation at the Fall
Regional APA Conference.
Particularly her presentation would be on the Town of Somers’ recent
experience with their POCD process, including the use of the web and public
access television during the process, the “cluster subdivision” exercise and
other recommendations about flexible and open space development, and how the
town has been doing with implementation.
The presentation would take place on November 9 and 10 in Newport, Rhode
Island. Typically, Mrs. Carson has
attended the Regional APA Conference and education credits would be
awarded.
A motion was
made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Brad Pellissier and unanimously voted to
recommend that the Board of Selectmen allow Mrs. Carson to attend the Regional
APA Conference and make a presentation with their full support. The Commission was honored that the
town’s process was being recognized regionally.
There was
none.
There were
none.
A motion was
made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman, and unanimously voted to
approve the minutes of the April 28, 2005 as presented.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Cliff Bordeaux, and unanimously voted to
approve the minutes of the May 26, 2005 as presented.
A motion was
made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to
adjourn the June 9, 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.