REGULAR MEETING

 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014 7:00 P.M.

 

New Town Hall

Conference Room

40 Main Street

North Stonington, CT  06359

 

 

MINUTES APPROVED ~ DECEMBER 12, 2014

 

 

1.    CALL MEETING TO ORDER:  Chairman Lou Steinbrecher called the Regular Meeting of the North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission to order on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the New Town Hall, Conference Room. 

 

       COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Lou Steinbrecher, Chairman, Elaine Boissevain, Vice-Chair, Joseph Siner, Secretary, Ann Brown (left at 8:58 p.m.) and Alternate Member and Julie Lanier   

 

       COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Wayne Wilkinson & Alternate Members Pat Lewis and Ed McGowan   

  

        STAFF PRESENT:  Sr. Planner & Zoning Official Juliet Hodge and Administrative Assistant Cheryl Konsavitch

 

2.  ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:  None       

 

3.  PUBLIC COMMENT:  None       

 

4.  PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

SPEC #14-079 (Special Permit) Application of HSB Partners, LLC, P.O. Box 98, North Franklin, CT  06254 for the construction of a 27,221 square foot warehouse distribution facility on property owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe at 41 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington, CT  06359 in an OR/AP Zone.  Tax Map #122, Parcel #0574 (PH scheduled to open on 12/04/14; Commission received on 11/06/14 & PH must close on or by 1/07/15)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

Seated:  L. Steinbrecher, E. Boissevain, J. Siner, A. Brown, J. Lanier

 

Atty. William Sweeney representing the applicant gave an overview of the proposal.  Atty. Sweeney went over the revised site plan and stated the application entails the construction of a 27, 221 sq. ft. warehouse distribution facility on the front portion of a 27+/- acre parcel located at 41 Norwich-Westerly Road which was the former site of Randall’s Ordinary, a historic inn and restaurant which has been closed since 2006. 

 

Atty. Sweeney stated the proposed warehouse distribution facility encompasses 22,991 sq. ft. of designated warehouse space for the storage and shipping of various organic food products and 4,230 sq. ft. of administrative offices, storage, and mechanical rooms.  Access and egress to the facility would be provided from the existing reconfigured curb-cut on Route 2.  The proposed site plan provides for the installation of a dedicated well and septic system and based on the limited anticipated water usage of the facility and minimal number of employees, both the well and septic system should be sufficient for the needs of the project.

 

Atty. Sweeney stated the traffic generated from the site would be minimal for a facility of this type and size, and the facility will initially employ approximately 14 persons split evenly between the warehouse and the office

 

Atty. Sweeney stated the applicant has submitted an application to the Inland Wetlands Commission and has received approval at the Commission’s November 12^th meeting^.  A. Brown read the approval into the record.

 

Mr. Don Gerwick, of Gerwick Mereen, LLC, Civil Engineers & Land Surveyors went over the stormwater management plan and traffic.

 

Ms. Megan Gardner, Landscape Architect went over the landscaping and lighting.

 

Mr. Friedrich St. Florian, Architecture & Planning went over the building design and the floor plan.

 

The Commission had questions pertaining to the lighting on the building.

 

ZEO Hodge went over her review and Sergio Cherenzia, Consulting Engineer for the Commission stated all concerns he had, had been addressed, and he would review the surety for this project.

 

Chairman Steinbrecher asked if there were any questions or comments for the public pertaining to this application.  The following person spoke:

 

Shawn Murphy

 

Chairman Steinbrecher asked if there was anyone from the public wishing to speak in favor of this application.  The following person spoke:

 

Shawn Murphy

 

Chairman Steinbrecher asked if there was anyone from the public wishing to speak against this application.  There was none.

 

MOTION by J. Siner, SECOND by E. Boissevain to close the public hearing on SPEC #14-079.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

5.  PENDING APPLICATIONS:

 

SPEC #14-079 (Special Permit) Application of HSB Partners, LLC, P.O. Box 98, North Franklin, CT  06254 for the construction of a 27,221 square foot warehouse distribution facility on property owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe at 41 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington, CT  06359 in an OR/AP Zone.  Tax Map #122, Parcel #0574

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

Seated:  L. Steinbrecher, E. Boissevain, J. Siner, A. Brown, J. Lanier

 

FINDINGS

 

The Commission has considered the special permit criteria in reviewing the application as presented by the applicant in the application packet.

 

The Commission finds that:

 

1.       the Special Permit Application is in conformance with the applicable provisions of these Regulations;

2.      the applicant has demonstrated, in the sole discretion of the Commission, that the application as proposed satisfies the applicable Special Permit criteria in Section 1602 of these Regulations; and

      

3.      the Special Permit Application is in harmony with the purposes and intent of these Regulations.

 

COMMISSION ACTION

MOTION by A. Brown, SECOND by E. Boissevain to approve SPEC #14-079 (Special Permit) Application of HSB Partners, LLC, P.O. Box 98, North Franklin, CT  06254 for the construction of a 27,221 square foot warehouse distribution facility on property owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe at 41 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington, CT  06359 in an OR/AP Zone.  Tax Map #122, Parcel #0574 with the following conditions:

 

1.      The lighting is not to extend over the roof of the building on the south side

       

2.       Abandon the country inn use (note on plan)

 

3.      Surety is to be submitted prior to issuing a zoning permit

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.  PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:   

 

Zoning Regulation Update

 

ZEO Hodge went over the proposed zoning handouts she gave to the Commission

 

7.  SENIOR PLANNER & ZONING OFFICIAL’S REPORT/ISSUES:   

 

ZEO Hodge updated the Commission on Richard White and the installation of a 2K gallon AST containing diesel exhaust fluid tank at Tinaco Plaza, which the Commission consensus was that the tank was accessory and could be handled administratively by the ZEO.

 

8.  NEW APPLICATIONS:  None     

 

9.   OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

10.  NEW BUSINESS:  None   

 

11.  REVIEW MINUTES:     

 

Regular Meeting of 11/13/14

 

The Commission accepted the minutes of 11/13/14 as submitted.

 

12.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION by J. Siner, SECOND by E. Boissevain to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Cheryl Konsavitch

 

Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant

Planning & Zoning Office