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The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Avon held a Special Meeting at the Avon Town Hall on Thursday November 4, 2010. Present were Duane Starr, Chairman, Carol Griffin, David Cappello, and Alternates Elaine Primeau, Donald Bonner, and Christian Gackstatter. Absent were Douglas Thompson, Vice-Chairman/Secretary, Edward Whalen, Linda Keith, and Marianne Clark. Also present was Steven Kushner, Director of Planning and Community Development.
Mr. Kushner called the meeting to order at 5:10 pm.
Presentation of Master Plan for Avon Center including Low Impact Development Techniques (LID)
Mr. Kushner introduced Vincent McDermott, FASLA, Milone & MacBroom; Steven Cecil, AIA & ASLA, The Cecil Group; and Michael Looney, AICP, Milone & MacBroom.
Mr. Kushner explained that in 2005 the Planning and Zoning Commission adopted the Avon Center Study, which is a plan for the village center. He noted that the Town Center has potential and the goal is to make it a more vibrant and pedestrian-friendly, bicycle-friendly place. He commented that the village center is already a special place and possesses many important attributes such as history and quality architecture and design in such places as the Town Green, the Town Hall, Old Avon Village, Riverdale Farms, and the Avon Congregational Church. He noted that additional housing could possibly be incorporated into the Village Center for young professionals and empty nesters looking for alternative forms of housing within walking distance to restaurants and retail. He explained that Avon Park North
is located in the village center and was created in the 1970’s as a joint venture between Ensign Bickford and the Town. He added that there is approximately 50 acres of undeveloped land in Avon Park North.
Mr. Kushner commented that sidewalks improvements along the north side of Route 44 in the area of the Town Green have been underway for the past year, as a result of a $500K STEAP Grant received from the State. He noted that decorative street lights have also been installed as part of this project. He added that the Town is the recipient of another STEAP Grant in the amount of $200K, which will be used to continue the sidewalk improvements on the south side of Route 44. He explained that in the spring the Farmington Valley Greenway trail that runs through Avon Park North will be extended to Avon Park South (under Route 44) along Security Drive utilizing a small State Grant in the amount of $43K. He concluded by noting that the following presentation is a State-funded study of the Town’s
options regarding the potential development of the 50 remaining acres in Avon Park North as well as recommendations for implementation of some of the goals in the 2006 Plan of Conservation and Development, including Low Impact Development techniques (LID).
Mr. McDermott noted that the Town’s Regulations, the Plan of Conservation and Development, road standards, and wetland standards have been studied to understand what is currently permitted and what changes/improvements could be made with regard to future land development.
Mr. Looney explained that the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations have been studied and proposed changes are currently being drafted as a result of feedback from Town Staff. He noted that the critical natural resources in Town have been identified via GIS and guidelines for both the Town Center and the Town, as a whole, will be created. He commented that adding language to the Subdivision Regulations for grading, drainage, streets, and impervious pavement will encourage LID Development and help to maintain natural storm water runoff conditions. He noted that modifications to the Zoning Regulations are being studied in connection with potential lot coverage bonuses in the commercial retail and commercial specialized zones; landscape requirements for parking lots; and general parking requirements. He
noted that the last step would be to adopt LID regulations; the changes would happen incrementally, over time, beginning with the more dense zoning districts. Mr. Looney concluded by noting that while the existing land use regulations are quite good some benefit could be realized from some additional regulatory language.
Mr. McDermott displayed an aerial photograph of the village center and pointed out Route 44, Route 10 and Old Farms Road, the Farmington River and the large area of undeveloped land located in Avon Park North.
Mr. Cecil displayed a power point presentation and noted that one of the challenges in Avon involves a question about where the Town Center is located. He explained that Avon does not have a typical town center and didn’t grow around the Town Green but rather developed a series of layers over time; a crossroads located in a valley that runs north to south. He noted that because much of the land owned by Ensign Bickford has not yet been developed, the Town has the opportunity to shape the future of the center. He noted that the traditional village areas that currently front a street are difficult and the Town Green could never have a village around it; it is challenging to find a place to create a center. Mr. Cecil explained that there is a substantial amount of land and it is not reasonable
to expect it to fully develop in a short period of time. He noted that it his understanding that Ensign Bickford has indicated that they are considering a mixed-use district with retail shops, residential uses, and small businesses. Mr. Cecil com-mented that the area located to the west of the town hall complex could contain a mixed-used area of buildings oriented along sidewalks with concealed parking along a proposed new connecting road. He noted that the majority of demand, over time, is likely to be residential. Mr. Cecil concluded by noting that phasing is an important aspect of any master plan develop-ment program, as well as design standards and guidelines.
A question and answer period followed the presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Sadlon, Clerk
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