REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2007 – 7:00 P.M.
New Town Hall
Conference Room
40 Main Street
North Stonington, CT 06359
Draft Minutes
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: Chairman G. Russell Stewart, III called the Regular Meeting of the North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission to order on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the New Town Hall, Conference Room.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: G. Russell Stewart, III, Chairman, Vilma Gregoropoulos, Vice-Chairman, Anne Nalwalk, Elaine Boissevain, Louis Steinbrecher (7:05 p.m.) and Alternate Members Duncan Schweitzer and Joseph Siner
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Susan Grufstedt
STAFF PRESENT: Sr. Planner & Zoning Official Craig Grimord and Administrative Assistant Cheryl Konsavitch
2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None
3. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
SPEC #07-047 (Special Permit) Application of Jonathan Edwards for Edwards Real Estate, L.L.C., 74/75 Chester Main Road, North Stonington, CT 06359 for a Special Permit to enlarge the winery/barn to include office, manufacturing/storage and tasting room spaces on property located at 74 Chester Main Road, on the easterly side of Chester Main Road approximately a ¼ mile north of the intersection of Chester Main and Wyassup Road, North Stonington, CT 06359. Tax Map #95/2733, Lot #90/0377 (PH set to open on 5/10/07; Received on 3/01/07 & PH must close on or by 6/12/07)
Vice-Chairman Gregoropoulos read the application into the record.
Seated: R. Stewart, V. Gregoropoulos, A. Nalwalk, E. Boissevain, J. Siner seated for L. Steinbrecher
Jonathan and Rachael Edwards and Architect David Duncan, were present for this application.
Mr. Edwards went over his application and stated the addition to the barn would be approximately 2000 square feet. Mr. Edwards stated they have owned the winery since 2001 and have run out of space and need to expand. Mr. Duncan went over the architecture for the new addition.
The Commission asked questions pertaining to parking, traffic and lighting.
Chairman Stewart asked if there were any questions or comments from the public. The following people spoke.
Bob & Esther Cooper, 30 Chester Main would like to see the winery more agricultural, the events are disruptive and the amount of traffic is a concern.
Craig Munzer, 20 Chester Main, stated the expansion can only help get more of the people inside.
Chairman Stewart asked if there was anyone speaking in favor of the application. The following people spoke:
Craig Munzer, 20 Chester Main
Linda Sample, Northwest Corner Road
Brian Rathbun, 263 Grindstone Hill Road
Michael Haney, Pawcatuck
Erica Robinson, Mystic
Robert Miner, Wyassup Road
Patricia Palmer, Chester Main Road
Don Sloski, 61 Chester Main Road
Karen Sloski, 61 Chester Main Road
Chris Anderson
Chairman Stewart asked if there was anyone speaking against the application. The following people spoke:
Bob Vuono, 66 Chester Main Road
Lisa Vuono, 66 Chester Main Road
Bob Cooper, 30 Chester Main Road
Esther Cooper, 30 Chester Main Road
Joan Blessing, 60 Chester Main Road
Jonathan & Rachael discussed the proposed expansion and stated that creating more inside space would allow for more indoor activities that may offset the need for outdoor events to keep the winery profitable.
The Commission discussed the noise issues and would like it to be measured in some way. The consensus of the public was that they liked the agricultural aspect of the winery, but not the events with loud music and traffic.
The Edward’s stated that they have the music at the events turned off promptly at 10:30 p.m and they do hire buses to bring the people to the winery to cut down on the traffic.
Chairman Stewart asked if there were any questions or comments from the public. The following people spoke:
Ronald Sobieraj, 38 Chester Main Road, stated the placement of the tents could help with the noise
Robert Miner, Wyassup Road, was concerned with a noise ordinance
Bob Vuono, 66 Chester Main Road, was concerned that they can change the number of weddings they have at the winery whenever they want.
Brian Rathbun, 263 Grindstone Hill Road, would like to see the noise ordinance pertain to only this application.
Karen Sloski, 61 Chester Main Road, stated it is not the level of the sound, but the thumping of the bass that you can hear.
Lori Post, stated that the music is from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 1 day of the weekend and believes the winery does a lot for the Town and would like to see the expansion.
Patricia Palmer, Chester Main Road, asked questions about the landscaping
Secretary Steinbrecher asked to be seated in place of J. Siner. J. Siner stated that would be fine with him.
Secretary Steinbrecher read letters into the record from Diana Urban, State Representative and Bob Vuono of 66 Chester Main Road into the record.
MOTION by V. Gregoropoulos, SECOND by A. Nalwalk to continue the Public Hearing on SPEC #07-047 to June 6, 2007. MOTION CARRIED.
Opposed: R. Stewart
5. COMMISSION REVIEW: None
6. PENDING APPLICATIONS:
SPEC #07-047 (Special Permit) Application of Jonathan Edwards for Edwards Real Estate, L.L.C., 74/75 Chester Main Road, North Stonington, CT 06359 for a Special Permit to enlarge the winery/barn to include office, manufacturing/storage and tasting room spaces on property located at 74 Chester Main Road, on the easterly side of Chester Main Road approximately a ¼ mile north of the intersection of Chester Main and Wyassup Road, North Stonington, CT 06359. Tax Map #95/2733, Lot #90/0377 (PH set to open on 5/10/07; Received on 3/01/07 & PH must close on or by 6/12/07)
7. NEW APPLICATIONS:
RC #07-074 (Regulation Change) Application of Milltown Commons, L.L.C., P.O. Box 183, North Stonington, CT 06359 amend the Town of North Stonington Zoning Regulations to create a “new” Section 409 to include regulatory language for the creation of New England Village Special Design Districts, and to modify existing Section(s) 304, 401, 501, 701 and Appendix “A” to conform to the new regulations. (Receive on 5/10/07 & Commission to set for PH on or by 7/12/07)
The Commission set the Public Hearing on RC #07-074 for June 14, 2007.
MOTION by V. Gregoropoulos, SECOND by L. Steinbrecher to amend the agenda to add Items 12 c & d under Planning Issues & Discussion. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. SENIOR PLANNING & ZONING OFFICIAL’S REPORT/ISSUES:
9. NEW BUSINESS: None
10. OLD BUSINESS:
A. SPEC #07-056 (Special Permit) Application of Joel Lamphere, P.O. Box 28, Hopkinton, RI 02833 for a Special Permit to remove more than 500 cubic yards of excavated material on property located at 112 Rocky Hollow Road, North Stonington, CT 06359 located on the west side of Rocky Hollow Road and approximately 4,700 feet south of Route 2. Tax Map #116/2731, Lot #78/7208. (NO ACTION NEEDED; PH set for 6/07/07; Received on 4/12/07 & PH must close on or by 7/10/07)
B. RC #07-060 (Regulation Change) Application of Garden Court, L.L.C., c/o James Ruskowski, 1420 Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281 to amend the Town of North Stonington Zoning Regulations to add new Housing Opportunity Development or “HOD” overlay district regulations. The regulations apply to housing development in which, for at least 40 years after initial occupancy of units within the proposed development, (1) not less than 15% of the dwelling units will be sold or rented as units of affordable housing, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. 8-30g, for persons or families whose income is less than or equal to 80% of the area or statewide median income, whichever is less; and (2) not less than 15% of the dwelling units will be sold or rented as units of affordable housing, for
persons or families whose income is less than or equal to 60% of the area or statewide median income, whichever is less. (NO ACTION NEEDED; PH set for 7/05/07; Received on 5/03/07 & PH must close on or by 8/07/07)
The Commission set the Public Hearing on RC #07-060 for 7/05/07.
B. ZC #07-061 (Zone Change) Application of Garden Court, L.L.C., c/o James Ruskowski, 1420 Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281 to amend the Town of North Stonington Zoning Map to add new Housing Opportunity Development or “HOD” overlay zone. The proposed zone consists of two parcels identified as Map/Block/Lot #118/2751/49/3006 & #119/2751/59/9950, totaling 97+/- acres of land. Located on the West side of Boom Bridge Road, North of I-95 and East of Cranberry Bog Road, approximately 1000’ Easterly of the intersection of Boom Bridge Road and CT Rte. 184. . (NO ACTION NEEDED; PH set for 7/05/07; Received on 5/03/07 & PH must close on or by 8/07/07)
11. PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:
A. Shunock River Non-Infringement Area ERT Study
B. NEMO Task Force Update
C. Inclusionary Zoning
The Commission discussed this zoning concept and would consider a Task Force to discuss and look into it future.
D. Floating Zones
Vice-Chairman Gregoropoulos stated she would like to have someone other than the Commission’s Planning Consultant from SCCOG Jamie Rabbitt give a presentation on Floating Zones so she can hear a different view on the subject.
ZEO Grimord contacted Ira Bloom to give a presentation on Floating Zones, but Mr. Bloom did not want to travel to North Stonington and gave the names of reputable speakers on the subject to ZEO Grimord.
The Commission will leave Inclusory Zoning and Floating Zones on the agenda to discuss as needed.
12. CORRESPONDENCE:
The Commission went over the correspondence in their packets.
13. REVIEW MINUTES:
Review minutes of Workshop and Regular Meeting of 5/03/07.
MOTION by L. Steinbrecher, SECOND by E. Boissevain to approve the workshop and regular meeting minutes of 5/03/07 with the necessary corrections. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
14. ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by V. Gregoropoulos, SECOND by L. Steinbrecher to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant
Planning & Zoning Office
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