East Hampton Economic Development Commission
Approved Meeting Minutes
October 16, 2007
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room, Town Hall
1. Call to order
Chair Mary Ann Dostaler called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
Present: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Commissioners Patience Anderson, Brian Jackowitz, Rich Leone (arrived 7:06); Linda Parquette, Craig Stevenson and Christopher Edge, CTC
Not Present: Commissioners Jon March and Cindy Rooth
2. Approval of Minutes:
a. Regular meeting: September 19, 2007
Ms. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2007 minutes. Mr. Jackowitz seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, and Mr. Jackowitz. Yes votes: 4. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
b. Special meeting: October 2, 2007
Ms. Anderson said the minutes should read: Ms. Anderson said under General Administration, the third bullet, the wording is "Provide assistance… at his discretion or the discretion of the EDC," and it should be amended, "Provide assistance… at the discretion of the EDC."
Ms. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2007 minutes as amended. Mr. Jackowitz seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, and Mr. Jackowitz. Yes votes: 4. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
3. Announcements & Communications Read by Chair Dostaler except where noted.
a. The application to nominate the Brownfields Committee for consideration for an award from the CT Chapter of the American Planning Assn. has been submitted.
b. EDC received with regret the resignation of David Terry from the Brownfields Steering Committee and the Redevelopment Agency. Chair Dostaler asked EDC to encourage applicants to the vacated positions on the two committees
c. 1000 Friends of CT first annual statewide Smart Growth conference will be held 11/14/07 in New Haven. A registration fee is covered by EDC if member wishes to attend.
d. Communications from CERC were passed to CTC.
e. Copies of newsletters from CT Mainstreet Program are available.
f. CT Real Estate Journal is available.
g. EDC submission for 2006-07 Town Annual Report Chair Dostaler will have the report by the next EDC meeting. Mr. Stevenson will assist by writing a draft.
h. EDC received a phone call from Ann Baldwin who heads effort on public information on the public information on water system. She is looking for help at the Q & A sessions. Chair Dostaler will attend 2 sessions.
4. Special Presentations
a. Connecticut Energy Expo: summary from representative from the East Hampton Library Mr. Art Conklin will present at the 11/07 meeting. He has much information on underutilized programs available. On 10/17/07 there will be a presentation on energy with information useful for residences and businesses, at the library 6:30 - 8 PM.
b. Belltown Festival of Lights: Monica Kangley Ms. Kangley, a board member of the Goff House, which sponsors the Festival of Lights, said the festival will be 12/8-9/07. It will include an Opera Express performance, a scavenger hunt, a parade with Santa on a fire truck, a ceremony to honor the troops, possibly a family ginger bread craft event, and more. Ms. Kangley said support is needed to upgrade publicity, replace lights, pay for a craft person, and pay for refreshments. Mr. Edge will work with Ms. Kangley.
Mr. Leone made a motion to consider as item 9d the request for support for the Festival of Lights from Monica Kangley. Mr. Jackowitz seconded the motion. The motion carried (5-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, Mr. Jackowitz and Mr. Leone. Yes votes: 5. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
c. Extension of Air Line to Watrous Street: Ruth Plummer
Ms. Plummer will attend the 12/07 meeting and share the Park & Rec. vision for the trail. Ms. Parquette will contact Ms. Plummer.
5. Public Comments None
6. Town Manager’s report
a. Main Street Bridge project
After engineering issues are taken care of, Mr. Drewry will meet with EDC on aesthetics and goals. Chair Dostaler said funds for this project are local and bonded.
b. Water tower demolition
c. Other
7. EDC Budget / Consultant / Liaison / Committee Reports
a. Connected to Connecticut: summary of activities and work plan Mr. Stevenson spoke on preliminary activities while awaiting the final contract.
• He had made a write up to submit written reports at each meeting.
• He had met with Chair Dostaler to discuss chief economic development projects and the thrust and focus of EDC, which are chiefly redevelopment issues
• CTC became familiarized with initiatives such as the Redevelopment Agency, Brownfields initiatives, Belltown and Middle Haddam historic districts, and the Streetscape Steering Committee. CTC will help EDC manage the initiatives.
• Mr. Stevenson will be overall project manager; Mr. Edge will be in charge of real estate and business retention, including the work on a catalogue of businesses. Ms. Parquette will work with historic district commissions and with Streetscape Steering Committee. Mr. Stevenson will also assist Streetscape Steering Committee, helping TPA and getting the project into a finished plan and ready for DOT. Ms. Parquette will also help with the Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Edge will manage business visits, the first of which will be American Distillers. He will be attending meetings of the Middlesex Chamber and the Aragoni Bridge Alliance. The scope from the 10/2/07 meeting will be attached to the contract. CTC will work with EDC on a month to month basis.
• CTC will assist the Town Clerk on a welcome package.
• CTC will make preparations for the next Meet & Greet, which will afford an opportunity for the business community to meet CTC and to hear a speaker on small businesses.
• East Hampton is now a member of Site Finder at the expense of CTC. Mr. Edge will populate the data base. Chair Dostaler said EDC must maintain ownership of data.
Ms. Parquette said she was impressed with Val Ferro' presentation. There was a discussion of the property on N. Main Street and Rte. 66. Chair Dostaler said two important properties for out reach are Theatre Square for an update, and the Roadside Deli Parcel, which is up for sale with approvals in place. Mr. Edge will look into those properties and he will reach out to the owner of the burnt-out building and Pocotopaug Motors. There was a discussion of the next Meet & Greet.
EDC agreed by consensus that the next Meet & Greet will be held on November 29, 2007 from 5:30 - 7:30 at the Goff House, pending availability.
Vice-Chair Hesen and Mr. Edge will go together to the dance studio, the electric car manufacturer and Pocatapaug Motors. There was a discussion of day care facilities.
b. EDC budget Please see ATTACHMENT.
Vice-Chair Hesen said the numbers will change when the budget is encumbered with funds for CTC.
c. Report from EDC liaisons to: Redevelopment Agency; P & ZC; WPCA
• Chair Dostaler attended the Redevelopment Agency organizational meeting. Bylaws were adopted. A walking tour of the Village Center will take place 10 - 12 noon on 10/20/07. Chair Dostaler invited all to attend the walking tour and see the potential of the VC.
• P & Z meeting was not attended.
• Vice-Chair Hesen reported on the WPCA. He said work on the viaducts is proceeding. At that meeting there was a discussion of the Marlborough sewers and much discussion regarding the water system. Funds from CEED for a public informational effort for the proposed water system were held up. There will be public informational meetings and Chair Dostaler will email times and dates.
• Vice-Chair Hesen said that a veteran's group wants to erect a veteran's memorial in a pocket park and would like to know about available possibilities.
d. Streetscape Steering Committee
The Streetscape Steering Committee will meet 6:30, 10/17/07.
e. Brownfields Steering Committee
Town Council supported all 3 recommendation on the Village Center properties end uses. There are legal snags on the water tower demolition. There is a need for more assistance with the resignation of Mr. Terry. Chair Dostaler will meet with remaining members to learn what capacities and expertise will be needed in Mr. Terry's replacement, because three large grants are in process and will need to be implemented. Two Licensed Environmental Professionals are still on the committee, as well as a member that carefully documents the grants, Kay Wilson.
EDC agreed by consensus that Chair Dostaler will send a letter of thanks to David Terry for his service on the Brownfields Subcommittee.
8. Business Updates
a. Business outreach & items of interest
• EDC is invited to attend a business visit with Mr. Edge at American Distilling on 10/23/07 at 10 AM.
Mr. Jackowitz left the meeting at 8:25. There was a 5-minute recess.
9. New Business – Consider, discuss and take possible action on the following:
a. Village Center zoning regulations analysis and recommendations
Chair Dostaler will forward Mr. Chalder's revised recommendations for EDC consideration. She asked for a discussion of the presentations of Planimetrics and TPA at the previous meeting. Mr. Stevenson was informed that this project was commissioned by EDC and is part of the to do list under the POCD. Mr. Stevenson asked if it is intended to be folded into a redo of regulations as part of POCD or will it be submitted as an application to P & Z. Chair Dostaler said that after a previous study of home based businesses with Planimetrics, a draft recommended regulation was submitted to P & Z. There was a workshop with P & Z on the topic, and it was not presented as application. Mr. Stevenson said it would be better as an application, but there is no need to be adversarial. Chair Dostaler said EDC's initial intent was to be
collaborative. If here is no action eventually EDC would go ahead as an applicant. There was a discussion of procedure for making recommendations to P & Z. Mr. Stevenson suggested an informational meeting to ask what P & Z would prefer. Chair Dostaler said, so that EDC can move forward, members can read Mr. Chalder's revisions, discuss at the next meeting, and figure out how to move forward. Ms. Anderson said she had a problem with maps in the presentation. There was a discussion of mapping. Chair Dostaler suggested that Ms. Anderson attend the walking tour and she gave her a Belltown Historic District map.
b. Design Development Zone economic analysis
Chair Dostaler read Mr. Chalder's recommended next steps:
1. Share the economic development assessment with the PZC and others. It may help others to know that age-restricted housing can be fiscally (and economically) good for East Hampton.
2. Initiate a dialogue about how to improve the DD zone / age-restricted regulations. I think the DD zone provisions can be improved by reducing the minimum lot size to 2.5 acres (what the age-restricted regulations require to be left for business development) and eliminating the minimum first floor square footage requirements for buildings (or reducing well below the 10,000 SF minimum currently).
3. Initiate a dialogue on how to make the age-restricted housing be the best it can be for East Hampton. This might occur by encouraging (or requiring) public amenities such as pools, golf courses, public open space, greenway trails, sidewalks, trails to downtown, transit, etc. Chair Dostaler said Mr. Chalder appreciated the MA study forwarded by Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson said an initiative in Middlesex County promotes affordable housing for the workforce, and many people over 55 continue to work. There was a discussion on age restricted housing. Chair Dostaler said the focus for EDC is to develop a position on the best use of DDZ land. Economic analysis provided by Planimetrics reported that there are economic benefits of age restricted housing. Ms. Parquette said that basically it is because of the absence of school children in such
housing. Mr. Stevenson strongly urged EDC to look at marketability assessments. Mr. Stevenson said active adult is beyond saturation point, and do not to assume that the units will be filled. Ms. Anderson read the original intent of the Planimetrics study. Chair Dostaler said that as regulations stand they make no sense, and the study was commissioned to get facts on the table. Mr. Stevenson said he sees mixed use. There was a discussion of reframing the vision for the DD Zone, compatible uses, how age restricted would affect the town, and highest and best use. Ms. Parquette said a mix of uses that might include artist's studios might be a better draw. Mr. Stevenson described a dynamic between the state and developers and planners that can create dysfunctional environments. Chair Dostaler asked members for full attendance at the next meeting, to review the study, and to attend with ideas to make an make an EDC policy statement for a coversheet on the Planimetrics document.
c. EDC Meet & Greet See item 7a.
CTC will coordinate invitations, press releases, and secure the location.
d. Festival of Lights
Vice-Chair Hesen made a motion to produce an ad for the Festival of Lights for $150 and also to contribute $150 to the Festival of Lights Committee, to be managed at the discretion of the chair. Mr. Leone seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, and Mr. Leone. Yes votes: 4. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
10. Old Business – Consider, discuss and take possible action on the following:
a. Examine zoning re: day care centers
Chair Dostaler made a motion to table item 10a. Ms. Anderson seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, and Mr. Leone. Yes votes: 4. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
11. Public Comments None
12. Adjournment
Ms. Anderson made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Leone seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0-0). (Yes votes: Chair Dostaler, Vice-Chair John Hesen, Ms. Anderson, and Mr. Leone. Yes votes: 4. No votes: 0. Abstentions: 0.)
The meeting adjourned at 9:50.
Respectfully submitted
Kathleen Wright Recording Clerk
Attachments referenced in these minutes can be viewed at East Hampton Town Hall.
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