REGULAR MEETING

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 7:00 P.M.

 

New Town Hall

                                                                Conference Room

40 Main Street

North Stonington, CT  06359

 

 

MINUTES APPROVED ~ OCTOBER 6, 2016

 

1.   CALL MEETING TO ORDER:  Chairman Lou Steinbrecher called the Regular Meeting of the North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission to order on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 7:03 p.m. at the New Town Hall, Conference Room. 

 

       COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Lou Steinbrecher, Chairman, Elaine Boissevain, Vice-Chair, Joseph Siner, Secretary, Ann Brown and Alternate Member Pat Lewis

 

       COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Wayne Wilkinson and Alternate Members Ed McGowan and Julie Lanier

       

       STAFF PRESENT:  ZEO/Planner Tom Zanarini and Administrative Assistant Cheryl Konsavitch

 

2.   ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:  None

 

3.   PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 

4.  COMMISSION REVIEW:

 

A.  SPL #16-048 (Site Plan) Application of Farm to Gold Properties, LLC, c/o Kim Welch, 73 Pine Woods Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 for the construction of a building for Light Manufacturing (Commercial Kitchen for production of ghee); retail; office; hospitality (20 seat café) at property located at 81 Norwich-Westerly Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 in an ED/WSPO Zone.  Tax Map #122, Parcel #0956 

(Commission Review opened on 08/04/16 & continued to 08/11/16; Received on 07/14/16; Commission must act on or by 09/16/16)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

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

 

Demian Sorrentino, AICP, C.S.S. of Boundaries, LLC representing the applicant and co-founder Lynn Goodwin were present for this continued application.

 

Mr. Sorrentino went over the revised site plan again for the Commission members that were not present at the Commission’s August 4^th meeting.  The revised plan shows a modified access drive which they needed to address because of a comment from the DOT regarding the original entrance drive.  DOT was concerned with left hand turning movements from the north bound side of Route 2 and wanted a traffic study.  In lieu of that they contacted DOT District 2 Traffic Engineer Rick Chapman and discussed another option altering the entrance drive when the Phase 2 uses are implemented.

 

ZEO Zanarini went over his review pertaining to this application.

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by A. Brown to approve application SPL #16-048 as the application is supported by the Plan of Conservation and Development, conforms to the zoning regulations and fits the character of the Town of North Stonington.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

B.  SPL #16-052 (Site Plan) Application of DMJ, LLC, c/o David Malazzi, 359 East Main Street, Clinton, CT  06413 for the construction of a building to operate a retail propane company including a showroom displaying propane powered appliances such as fireplaces, grills, hot water heaters, etc. on property located at 552 Providence-New London Trpk., N. Stonington, CT  06359 in a HC Zone.  Tax Map #112, Parcel #5263 (Commission Review scheduled for 08/11/16; Received on 07/14/16; Commission must act on or by 09/16/16)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

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

 

Mr. Robert Grabarek of Osprey Environmental Engineering, LLC and David Malazzi were present for this application.

 

Mr. Grabarek went over the site plan for the new two story 5,000 square foot commercial building for a family-owned propane company.  Mr. Grabarek stated this is a previously developed site and was used as the McDonald’s Restaurant.  The first floor is proposed for the retail sales and the second story is proposed for an office and caretaker’s apartment.  Mr. Malazzi stated they propose to operate the store Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with half a days on Saturday but this schedule can vary.  He also stated the caretaker apartment will be used for employees making late night deliveries or during bad weather. Mr. Malazzi discussed lighting and Mr. Grabarek reviewed parking, signage and landscaping.

 

 

ZEO Zanarini went over his review of the application stating that the development has demonstrated that it meets the requirements of Section 1302 (Site Plan Application), Section 602 (Permitted and Special Permitted Uses) and Chapter 4 (Dimensional Requirements) of the Zoning Regulations.

 

MOTION by A. Brown, SECOND by E. Boissevain to approve application SPL #16-052 with the stipulations that the final plan be submitted to the ZEO for conformance to the regulations and that the existing landscaping be essentially maintained as it is now.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

5.  PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:   

 

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

 

ZEO Activity Report/July & August

 

ZEO Zanarini went over his activity report along with Farm Brewery regulations, Land Disturbance permits and Excavation permits.  Also discussed was the proposed EDD zoning district.

7.   NEW APPLICATIONS:  None 

 

8.  OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

9.  NEW BUSINESS:  None

 

10.  REVIEW MINUTES:

 

Review minutes of Regular Meeting of 08/04/16

 

The Commission accepted the minutes of 08/04/16 as written

 

11.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by J. Siner to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cheryl Konsavitch

 

Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant

Planning & Zoning Office