REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY February 4, 2013 – 6:30 P.M.
New Town Hall
Conference Room
40 Main Street
North Stonington, CT 06359
DRAFT MINUTES
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER: Senior Planning and Zoning Official, Juliet Leeming called the Regular Meeting of the North POCD Steering Committee to order on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 6:40 p.m. at the New Town Hall, Conference Room.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Boissevain (P&Z), Peter Bogoian and Marilyn Mackay (EDC), Mary Ann Ricker (NSAHC), Bill Ricker (CC), Mark Donahue and Nicholas Mullane (BOS), Mark Grigg (IWWC), Nita Kincaid and Ed Harasimowitz (Hewitt Farm), Madeline Jeffery (NS Land Alliance), Belinda Learned (Agriculture).
Public Present: Dick Cooper
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Julie Lanier (PZC), Tim Pelland (NSAHC), Joe Spano (CC) Brian Geer (EPTN), Peter Nimirowski and Dan Spring (BOF), Bob Testa (BOE), George Brown (IWWC), Duncan Schweitzer and Mac Turner (Avalonia), and Joseph Perry (EPTN)
There were no representatives from MPTN or Fire Department.
- Review Minutes: Commission unanimously approved minutes of 11/14/12 as written.
- ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None
- DISCUSSION:
Materials Presented:
Juliet Leeming presented each member present with a packet of information including:
- A copy of the 11/14/12 Draft Minutes
- A copy of the Draft Community Survey
The following topics were discussed during the meeting:
M. Jeffery gave an update on the Neighborhood Meetings. Four of the seven meetings have been held. Madeline clarified that participants were not hand-picked and that everyone in the neighborhood knew about the meetings and had the opportunity to participate. Meetings have been well attended with many people who do not usually come to town meetings. Discussion has been good and helpful despite scattered topics and no formal format. M. Jeffery explained that the meetings are for the people – to allow them to give a voice for a place – to give a fresh look at what we have. She feels that the presence of Board and Commission members in the audience at some of the meetings gave those meetings a different feel and may have influenced the discussion a little. Madeline feels the Neighborhood
concept works well and should be used carefully in the future. Possible future similar meetings could be held to address very specific topics. Notes on all the meetings will be published after the final session is held.
J. Leeming discussed the Community Survey. Elaine Boissevain, Bill and Mary Ann Ricker and J. Leeming worked on creating the survey based on a review of the 2002 survey and notes from the informal meetings that have been held. A draft of the Survey was then given to select people in Town hall to test the clarity of the survey. Dick Cooper was asked to take the survey and comment. Comments were received from various Board and Commission members and some changes were made to reflect those comments. J. Leeming explained the reasoning behind each section and what information she hoped to obtain from each question. Decision was made to add some additional questions about preserving rural character as some felt the survey was too heavy on development type questions and may therefore not be
received well by some residents. Survey will also include a very basic zoning map to help people locate the areas mentioned in the survey as well as information about open space and a picture of a traditional subdivision and conservation subdivision. Plan is to send survey to all registered voters and make it available on line. Some were concerned that people would take the survey more than one time if it was available on line as well. The surveys will not be numbered in any way.
J. Leeming gave an overview of the Visioning Session. Vision session will be a 4 hour event on a Saturday. Session will be held at the Elementary School to accommodate the number of people anticipated to participate. Session will be part educational and part formal visioning workshop. Mapping will be displayed and copies of the recent Housing Plan and ED Plan will be available. Summaries of relevant topics will be presented or provided in a display. Summaries of the neighborhood meetings and the eight informal meetings will be provided as well. The event will be catered by someone local. The Lake of Isles was considered as a venue, but some felt the school was more central and accessible. Visioning session will be either April 6th or 27th. An additional session will be held
with PZC, BOS and the Steering Commission to translate the vision into goals and objectives.
Session will be advertized with help of volunteers from the Steering Committee.
Data summary and analysis: Steering Committee will have to meet at least 4 times to review and analyze all the information we have received and prepare for the visioning session. Many felt it would be more efficient to break down into small groups to review the information (by topic) and then provide a summary to the full Committee. The first two topics will be Housing and Economic Development and possibly Open Space. Need to pull out the “story” that will be told in the community profile presented at the Visioning Session.
Discussion and reminder about the Feb 14th PZC meeting where the consultants from the NSAHC and EDC will present their plans.
Zoning revisions have to be timed with the completion of the POCD. Revisions can be started, but the regulations have to support the adopted goals and objectives of the POCD.
BOF have asked for an update of the POCD. J. Leeming to meet with them to give the update.
J. Leeming reported on a seminar she attended in Hartford about how to make Communities stronger and the changing trends and demographics. Notes will be given to members of Boards and Commissions.
J. Leeming discussed her perceived lack of communication between the PZC and BOS and their utilization of the POCD to guide their decisions or establish priorities for the Town. Leeming felt that this POCD needs to have a more strategic element with action steps and measurable outcomes. Mark Donahue and Nick gave their input about this and stated that they did in fact discuss the POCD in their meetings and that they have been attending POCD meetings and other meetings designed to gather input. Nick was concerned that non-commission people have not been involved enough with this POCD - that we were not hearing from the “silent majority.” Nick feels people are disinterested in the POCD update this time. What has changed in the last 10 years that would motivate the public to
participate… i.e. stagnant tax base or decrease in Grand List? Others felt the neighborhood meetings have given a voice to non-commission member residents. Nick feels that the common themes from all these meetings have to be brought forward as we go along and that this will spark participation in future meetings or in responding to the survey.
J. Leeming to meet with BOS to get information about future capital improvement projects to inform that section of the POCD.
B. Ricker reported that the Conservation Commission has reviewed their Plan of Conservation and Recreation Lands and have found that many of the goals and objectives laid out in that (2009) plan have been accomplished.
Marilyn Mackay announced that the ICONS group is sponsoring a social meeting at Buon Appettito on Monday Feb. 18th.
- NEW BUSINESS: None
- OLD BUSINESS:
- N. Mullane and J. Leeming to visit Senior Center to gather the Senior Citizens’ input about the future of NS. Meeting scheduled for 2/27/13
- J. Leeming and the Rickers to meet with Mr. Mann from the AP Government Class. Asked Candy Palmer to ask her son Asa to help with this.
- Arrange to meet with PTO or ICONS – Marilyn Mackay and Peter Bogoian will tackle this.
- Meet with the Historical Society about getting an inventory of historic buildings.
- ADJOURN: Meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Juliet Leeming
Juliet Leeming
Senior Planning and Zoning Official
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