PLANNING
COMMISSION
P.O.
BOX 308
Thursday,
June 22, 2006
7:00
p.m. Town
Hall
Chairman
Karl Walton called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members Mike Collins, Brad Pellissier
(arriving at 7:10), Karl Walton, and Alternates Georgeanne Kuzman (seated for
Michelle Hayward) and Greg Genlot (seated for Cliff Bordeaux) were present and
constituted a quorum. Town Planner
Patrice Carson, and Engineering Consultant Mervyn Strauss were also
present.
II.
OLD BUSINESS
a.
Subdivision Application #393, 24 Lots (Gillette’s Crossing), 180 Battle
Street & 7 Eleanor Lane, KRL Builders (07/13)
Mrs. Carson and Mr. Strauss
met with Mr. Leno on Tuesday to review the project and discuss some
reconfigurations to the proposed roadway connection into Bailey Lane. Mr. Leno had the changes made and a map
was presented to the Commission.
The new roadway would replace the initial proposed “z” formation of the
road with a gently curved road, which would improve the safety level, improve
emergency and large vehicle access, as well as decrease public works road
maintenance.
Mr.
Leno will meet with the two homeowners that would abut the road
reconfiguration. Mrs. Carson said
that she would be available to discuss the changes with the homeowners if
necessary.
Due
to the next meeting being scheduled for July 13th, 2006, and there
still being some outstanding items, Mr. Leno granted an extension to the
Commission until August 3rd, 2006.
A
motion was made by Mrs. Kuzman, seconded by Mr. Genlot, and unanimously voted to
accept the applicant’s extension of time to schedule a public hearing on
Subdivision Application #393, until August 3rd,
2006.
b. Zoning Referral: Site Plan Application for Shopping Center, 85 South Road, Somers Crossing LLC
The
Zoning Commission has received an extension from the applicant and has sent
another referral to the Planning Commission. Mrs. Carson spoke with the applicant,
Chet Ladd, and explained that all staff comments have been presented. Mr. Strauss received the traffic study
but is still waiting for a plan for the DOT submission from the applicant. Although some of Mr. Strauss’s questions
have been addressed, there are still many that have not. Mrs. Carson added that she will schedule
a meeting with town staff, the applicant and his professionals to make sure
everyone understands what is needed.
Mrs. Carson is hopeful that by the July 13th, 2006 meeting
that there will be some new information to review.
c. Reconfiguration of Lots, 57 & 51 Collins Road (Map 04, Block 63, Lots 27 & 26), Celotto & Hull
The Celotto’s are planning to
put on an addition and instead of trying to obtain a variance to do so, they are
trading property with their neighbors.
The original property lines will be altered, but the amount of land will
be an even trade.
A
motion was made by Mr. Pellissier, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman, and unanimously
voted to approve the reconfiguration of property of Andrew A. Celotto and James
M. & Kimberly K. Hull at 57 & 51 Collins Road (Map 04 Block 63 Lots 27
& 26), as shown on map entitled, “Lot Reconfiguration Improvement Location
Survey Prepared For Andrew A. Celotto, 57 Collins Road, Somers, Connecticut”,
dated: 5/24/2006, 1 sheet. This reconfiguration does not constitute
a subdivision because no new lot is created.
d. Subdivision Application #394, 3 Lots (Whitaker Property), Wells Road & Mountain View Road, Town of Somers (08/03)
Staff has sent their reviews
back to Gardner and Peterson. One
small issue involves the Land Trust on the area of the Main Street lot, but
other than that there are only small items that the engineers need to
address. By policy, the Planning
Commission will not hold a public hearing on this application since there are
less than three lots. Abutters will
be notified that at the next meeting there may be a possible
decision.
c.
Other – There was no other Old
Business.
A motion was made by Mr.
Pellisier, seconded by Mr. Genlot, and unanimously voted to take c. Other out of order and add First
Selectman Pinney’s presentation on Somersville Streetscape Master
Plan.
Mr. Pinney presented a
Streetscape Master Plan/Scope of Work to the Commission. He explained that the Town applied for
some grant monies to improve the streetscape on Main Street from Somersville in
the Business-zoned area to the top of the hill at Smith’s property. The money comes from the Small Town
Economic Assistance Program. Of the
grant money, $25,000 is to develop the master plan and the remaining $200,000 is
to take the first step and add sidewalks to the North side of Main Street. Mr. Pinney added than an RFP would go
out. He didn’t want one Commission
to take on the project alone and thought it would be best to comprise a strong
Advisory Committee (individuals from Planning, Zoning, the 190-Corridor Study
Committee, etc) and have them review applicants who bid for the project and also
give some feedback on the improvements and further improvements that could be
made in the future.
A motion was made by Mr.
Pellisier, seconded by Mr. Genlot, and unanimously voted to add under
c. Other a
Reconfiguration of Lots, 52 Scully Road & 59 Turnpike Road (Map 31
Blocks 18&16), White to the agenda under New
Business.
Mrs. Carson explained that this
is a trade of land between two lots owned by the same
owner.
A motion was made by Mr.
Pellisier, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman, and unanimously voted to approve the
reconfiguration
of property of Charles P. White, Jr. & Laurie R. White at 52 Scully Road
& 59 Turnpike Road (Map 31 Blocks 18 & 16), as shown on map entitled,
“Lot Reconfiguration Plan Prepared For Laurie White, Somers, Connecticut”,
dated: 5/02/06, 2 sheets. This reconfiguration does not constitute
a subdivision because no new lot is created.
a.
Extension of Time to File Approved Subdivision Map With Town Clerk: Subdivision Application #390, 6 Lots,
LaCabana Road (off Mountain View Road), Jalbert
A letter was received from the
applicant requesting an extension of 90 days to file the mylar of the
subdivision map with the Town Clerk.
A motion was made by Mr.
Genlot, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman, and unanimously voted to approve the applicant’s
request to extend the time to file a mylar with the Somers Town Clerk for
Jalbert’s 6-lot subdivision application #390 at LaCabana Road (off Mountain View
Road). This extension is granted
for an additional ninety (90) days from June 24, 2006 to September 22,
2006.
b. Zoning Referral: Zoning Commission’s Amendment to the Zoning Regulations Sections 214-4 Definitions, 214-84 & 214-85.B. of Article XV Flood Damage Prevention, To Update Flood Requirements
The Commissioners received a
handout of the amendments to the Zoning Regulations for Flood Damage
Prevention. She explained that the
town had sent out changes to the appropriate authorities when Somers changed the
flood regulations two months ago, and the town then received a five-page letter
with things that needed to be included in the regulations. The changes made have dealt a great deal
with liability verbiage. If the
changes mentioned in the 5 page letter are made, then the Town of Somers will
then be in full compliance. The
public hearing will be July 24, and the changes will be effective prior to the
new FEMA map changes.
A motion was made by Mr.
Genlot, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman, and unanimously voted to recommend to the
Zoning Commission approval of the proposed Zoning Regulation amendments to
update flood requirements.
IV.
DISCUSSION: PLAN OF
CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Mrs. Carson mentioned
that she would be unable to attend the meeting scheduled for Monday June
26th, 2006. Mr. Walton
added that he also would be unavailable.
It was suggested that the meeting be rescheduled. Mrs. Carson will check with the Zoning
Commission.
An inquiry was made as
to what type of structure was being built behind the Enfield Shade Tobacco
property on Shaker Road. Was it
going to be a dormitory? Although a
permit was taken for building a shed on the property, Mr. Walton thought the
structure appeared quite large and requested formally that Mrs. Carson look into
the situation.
V.
STAFF/COMMISSIONER REPORTS
– There was none.
VI.
AUDIENCE PATICIPATION
– There was none.
VII.
CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS
Mrs. Carson stated that a bill
will be submitted for Mr. Strauss’s services prior to the next Commission
meeting as well as other bills which may come in, and Mr. Walton will be on
vacation. The Commission requested
Mrs. Carson to pay the bills to close out the fiscal year.
VIII.
MINUTES APPROVAL:
June 8, 2006
Correction:
2nd page, Item c.,
last line “My Ric Leno“to be replaced with “Mr. Ric Leno”.
A motion was made by Mr.
Collins, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman, and approved by a vote of 3 in favor, 0
opposed, and 1 abstention (Pellisier) to approve the minutes of June 8, 2006
meeting as amended.
A
motion was made by Mr. Genlot, seconded by Mrs. Kuzman and unanimously voted to
adjourn the June 22, 2006 Planning Commission meeting at 8:20
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Brad
Pellissier, Secretary
Jennifer Boudreau, Recording Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT
MEETING.