PLANNING
COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 308
Thursday, August 4,
2005
7:00 p.m. Town
Hall
Vice Chairman
Cliff Bordeaux called the regular meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Members Cliff Bordeaux and Mike Collins
and Alternates Greg Genlot (seated for Brad Pellissier), 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.
II.
OLD BUSINESS
a.
Discussion/Possible Decision:
Subdivision Application #387:
1-Lot, 119 Parker Road, Buck Builders LLC
Sandy Aeschliman
presented plans for Buck Builders regarding the 1-lot, which was not subdivided,
situated on the east side of Parker Road.
The lot has approximately 22 feet of frontage. The lot is located behind another lot
and a variance was granted to put in a “road”, approximately 700 feet in length
and 22 feet in width, in order to reach the lot. This road will be considered a private
driveway for the home. The
applicant has already applied to the Conservation Commission and received a
permit, and they have spoken with Merv Strauss and addressed some of his
comments as well.
In accordance
with these comments, drains are to be installed in order to intercept water as
it comes down the driveway. In
addition a catch basin will be installed.
In addition a swale is to be installed to take care of the water as
well.
Mr. Strauss has
also suggested that the driveway be moved further south. Mr. Aeschliman commented that they are
somewhat restricted as to how much it can be changed, but it can be moved to
more align with what Mr. Strauss suggests.
Mrs. Carson
added that Sanitarian Steve Jacobs has approved of the plans. In addition, on her way to the meeting
she received a letter from Fire Chief Meier. In the letter, Chief Meier does ask for
a turnout.
Mr. Buck
expressed distress over this requirement because he had attempted to speak with
the Fire Chief three times during the past several weeks and has not been able
to make contact with him, so he was unaware of the definite requirement for a
turnout until this time, and therefore had not specifically included one in his
plan. In addition, he had asked for
the neighbor’s opinion but had not yet received a response from him
either.
In accordance
with the subdivision regulations, Mrs. Carson asked Mr. Buck for the receipts
from the certified letters to the abutting neighbors, but Mr. Buck said that he
had not been aware that he needed to mail anything. Mrs. Carson reviewed with him the notice
sent to him requesting that the letters be sent out within a specific time
frame. Since these letters have not
yet been sent, no decision regarding this application could be made by the
Planning Commission at this time.
Mrs. Carson will send notice to Mr. Buck again within the specified time
frame and Mr. Buck will send out the notices before the next meeting and return
the receipts to Patrice Carson.
The Bucks and
Mr. Aeschliman left the meeting briefly to see Chief Meier and returned with the
news that Mr. Meier was agreeable to having the turnaround placed at a position
located higher on the plan, which would enable it to be placed on the new lot
rather than on the neighbor’s lot.
b.
Other
No other old
business was presented.
a.
Subdivision Application #388:
3-Lots, 119 Parker and South Roads, Gessay &
Ludwig
Tim Coon from
J.R. Russo and Associates presented the plans for the applicant in connection
with 8½ wooded acres situated at the intersection of Parker Road and South Road
(Route 83). The parcel slopes
downward toward Route 83 and contains approximately 2 acres of
wetlands.
The 3 lots are
in a residential neighborhood, with land that is currently undeveloped abutting
it on the easterly side. The
smallest lot is to be just over 2½ acres in size. Parcel No. 2 and Parcel No. 3 on the
plan share a driveway, which is about 500 feet in length and 25 feet in width
and does not have a steep grade.
The Fire Chief has approved of the plans and there is no need to install
a turnout. Hesketh and Associates
has checked the driveway location for site distance and traffic speed and has
determined it to be in the most favorable position. The applicant has received a variance
for the common driveway from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The applicant
has also received a permit from the Conservation Commission. As part of the project, drainage
improvements will be made along Parker Road, including curb-side catch
basins. Sanitarian Steve Jacobs has
approved the septic and well plans.
The applicant is
suggesting a fee in lieu of land for open space. Mrs. Carson noted that the Open Space
Committee agreed with this suggestion and it was the consensus of the Planning
Commission to accept the fee in lieu of land to meet the open space
requirement. Mrs. Carson will
contact the appraiser for an appraisal of the property.
It was the
consensus of the Commission that there is no need for a public hearing because
there are only 3 lots and a public hearing was held for the variance
application. The applicant will be
notified accordingly.
b.
2004-2005 Annual Report
Mrs. Carson
distributed copies of the drafted 2004-2005 Annual Report and asked that
Commissioners review it and email comments to her prior to the next meeting so
that a revised draft may be presented at that time for
approval.
c.
Other
No other New
Business was presented.
The next Joint
Planning & Zoning Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 12, at 7:00
pm.
Patrice Carson
reported that she reviewed 5 subdivision applications in differing stages during
the past month. In addition, she
met with another party interested in the mill.
It is expected
that plans will be received for the Age Restricted Housing Project in the next
week or so for preliminary staff review.
As of July 15,
the Board of Selectmen appointed Mrs. Carson as Zoning Permit and CO
Officer. As such, she reviewed 21
Zoning Permits of which 19 were issued, and issued 5 C.O.’s. She also met with the EDC members
regarding the POCD.
She expects to
submit a fee schedule for ARH projects to the Zoning Commission at their
September meeting for hearing and approval.
Mrs. Carson also
noted that regarding the new budget year, a figure of $1,200.00 had been
requested by the Planning Commission for dues and seminars this year, but only
$700.00 was approved. As mentioned
at a previous meeting, she has been asked to make a presentation at the Regional
APA Conference which will be held in Rhode Island this year. The Planning Commission approved her
attendance to speak and the Board of Selectmen also approved her attendance with
the caveat that the budget does not get overspent. However, the cost for this will be
approximately is $350.00, which, when combined with the $300 dues that are paid
each year, takes up most of the $700.00 budget, and she has expressed concern
over this to the First Selectman.
She also noted
that Public Act 05-228 was passed which took effect July 1, 2005 allowing Towns
to establish a Land Acquisition and Development Authority which would assist the
Town when acquiring or developing any agricultural, recreational, or open space
land, easements or rights. The Open
Space/Trails Committee has met and feels that the town should establish this
Authority and the OST Committee would be willing to be that Authority if the
Planning Commission endorsed them.
This is an advisory board which would do basically what the Open
Space/Trails Committee does now.
The Planning Commission will always have a part in this type of work
because of the 8-24 Statutory review process required. It was the consensus of the Planning
Commission to endorse the Open Space/Trails Committee to be established as the
Land Acquisition and Development Authority and to recommend the same to the
Board of Selectmen.
Roger
Stedding, 153 Hampden Road, asked about activity at 164 Hampden
Road (Grower Direct). It is his
understanding based upon the recent Conservation Commission Meeting that Mr. Van
Wingerden is adding approximately 10 acres onto his business. However, Mr. Stedding is concerned that
much more material is being excavated from the area than just 10-acres worth and
is also upset because he believes a Special Use Permit should be required for
such activity. He was not certain
whose attention to bring this to within the Town and Mrs. Carson suggested that
he speak with or write to either the Wetlands Agent or the Zoning Enforcement
Officer and, should he chose to write a letter, also send a copy of the letter
to the Conservation and Zoning Commissions as well.
There will be a
free workshop entitled “Terrace Escarpment Slopes in your Town” at 7:00 pm on
September 15 at the East Windsor Town Hall.
A motion was
made by Georgeanne Kuzman, seconded by Mike Collins and unanimously voted to
approve the minutes of the July 14, 2005 meeting as
presented.
A motion was
made by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to
adjourn the August 4, 2005 Planning meeting at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Brad Pellissier,
Secretary
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL
AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.