TOWN OF SOMERS

PLANNING COMMISSION

P.O. BOX 308

SOMERS, CONNECTICUT 06071

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

Thursday, November 17, 2005

7:00 p.m.     Town Hall

I.          CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Karl Walton called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.  Members Cliff Bordeaux, Michelle Hayward, Brad Pellissier, Karl Walton, and Alternate Members Georgeanne Kuzman (seated for Michael Collins) and Greg Genlot were present and constituted a quorum.  Town Planner Patrice Carson was also present.

II.        OLD BUSINESS

a.         Subdivision Application #390:  6-Lots, Lacabana Road (off Mountain View Road), Jalbert

Sandy Aeschliman, of Aeschliman Land Surveying, presented revised plans for the applicant, Robert Jalbert, who was also present.  The subdivision, located on the southerly side of Mountain View Road, consists of 6 lots on 2 parcels, the front parcel consisting of 6 acres and the rear parcel consisting of 20 acres.

 

Comments from Town Engineer Merv Strauss have been received and the applicant is working to address these issues with the help of Mr. Aeschliman.  Both a traffic count and a speed count are being conducted.

 

Mr. Strauss’ letter asked if the road could be planned as a thru street.  Mr. Aeschliman did not think this was feasible because the land is extremely steep and there is not much additional areas for septic.  Changing from a cul-de-sac would result in over 800 feet of additional road with no lots.

 

Mr. Jalbert will be meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals to discuss a common driveway for two of the lots.  Mrs. Carson noted that both the meeting with the ZBA and addressing the issues of Sanitarian Steve Jacobs will have to happen prior to scheduling a public hearing.  Mr. Jacobs does not want Lot 4 designated as a building lot in its current state.  It will need to be reconfigured or a common driveway will need to be approved.

 

The open space appraisal has been requested and results should be received by December 1, 2005.

 

Mr. Jalbert granted the Commission an extension to January 12, 2006 in order for the Commission to begin the public hearing.  A motion was made by Cliff Bordeaux, seconded by Michelle Hayward, and unanimously voted to accept the extension granted by the applicant.

 

b.         Release of Maintenance Bond, Mountain View Estates, Miller Drive & Orchard View, Gingras

 

This item was deferred to a subsequent meeting.

 

c.         Other - No other Old Business was presented.

 

III.       NEW BUSINESS

 

A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Michelle Hayward and unanimously voted to add the following Items a. and b. to the agenda:

 

a.         Review/Adopt 2006 Meeting Dates

Mrs. Carson presented a proposed list of meeting dates for 2006.  A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to approve the proposed meeting dates for 2006 and file them with the Town Clerk.

 

b.         Reconfiguration of Lots 29 and 37, Isabella Drive (Map 9, Block 11, Lots 1 and 2), Leno

 

Sandy Aeschliman presented plans showing the proposed reconfiguration.  He explained that the driveway on one of the lots is situated too closely to the adjoining lot, yet cannot be moved because doing so would not allow access to the garage.  Mr. Leno would like to reconfigure the lots by taking some property from Lot 2 and adding it to Lot 1 to eliminate the problem.  Both lots will still meet the Zoning Regulations after the change is made and no new lots will be created.

 

A motion was made by Cliff Bordeaux, seconded by Michelle Hayward and unanimously voted to approve the reconfiguration of property of Richard W. Leno II and Kathleen A. Leno at 29 & 37 Isabella Drive (Map 09 Block 11 Lots 01 & 02), as shown on map entitled, “Lot Line Adjustment Summer Shade Subdivision Section II, Prepared for KRL Builders, Somers, Conn.” dated:  11/15/05, 1 sheet.  This reconfiguration does not constitute a subdivision because no new lot is created.

 

c.         Other - No other New Business was presented.

 

IV.       DISCUSSION:  PLAN OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT

 

The Commission discussed the last meeting with the Economic Development Commission and Zoning which they felt went very well.  The next meeting will be Monday, December 12, at which time subdivision plans under the Open Space scenario will be reviewed.

 

V.        STAFF/COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Mrs. Carson reported that the Town has received a $450,000.00 grant from the State to purchase the Whitaker property.

She has also been working on the Age Restricted Housing project.  The Town is still waiting to hear from the State with regard to the sewer.

 

Engineers have been selected to work on the Mill project.

 

She also noted that Ric Leno will soon be presenting an application for a 25-lot subdivision on Battle Street which will connect to Eleanor Drive.

 

VI.       AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - There was none.

 

VII.     CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS

 

Bills were presented from the Journal Inquirer as follows:  for the meetings of September 8 and 22, 2005 in the amount of $125.92 and for the public hearing of October 13, 2005 in the amount of $62.96.  A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to pay the bills as presented.

 

VIII.    MINUTES APPROVAL

 

A motion was made by Brad Pellissier, seconded by Michelle Hayward and unanimously voted to approve the Minutes of the October 27, 2005 as presented.

 

IX.       ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Cliff Bordeaux, seconded by Georgeanne Kuzman and unanimously voted to adjourn the November 17, 2005 Planning Commission meeting at 7:35 p.m. and go to the Firehouse for a long-range Planning meeting with the Fire Commission.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Brad Pellissier, Secretary                                              Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.