REGULAR MEETING

 

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016 7:00 P.M.

 

New Town Hall

Conference Room

40 Main Street

North Stonington, CT  06359

 

 

DRAFT MINUTES

 

1.   CALL MEETING TO ORDER:  Chairman Lou Steinbrecher called the Regular Meeting of the North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission to order on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 7:02 p.m. at the New Town Hall, Conference Room. 

 

       COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Lou Steinbrecher, Chairman, Elaine Boissevain, Vice-Chair, Joseph Siner, Secretary and Wayne Wilkinson

 

       COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Ann Brown and Alternate Members Pat Lewis, Ed McGowan and Julie Lanier

 

        STAFF PRESENT:  ZEO/Planner Tom Zanarini 

 

2.   ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:  None

 

3.   PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 

4.  COMMISSION REVIEW:

 

A.  SPL #16-046 (Site-Plan) Application of Carl R. Johnston, Jr., 8B Reutemann Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 for property owned by Ronald Lewis Trustee for an accessory use of a nano brewery to produce & sell small batches of beer on the premises of the Village General Store, Hardware & Café located at 2 Wyassup Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 in and R-40 Zone.  Tax Map #109, Parcel #2795

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

Seated:  L. Steinbrecher, E. Boissevain, J. Siner, W. Wilkinson

 

Peter Gardner, representing the applicant was present and went over the plans with the Commission.

 

ZEO Zanarini went over his review of the application with the Commission which consisted of a request to establish an accessory use of a nano-brewery within an existing retail (hardware) store.  ZEO Zanarini stated that no exterior changes or expansions are requested in this application.  The floor plan includes areas for a general store and hardware area, café area and a nano-brewery, including a sampling area, staff area and brewing tank area.  The hardware area is approximately 924 square feet, the café area is approximately 216 square feet and the sampling area is 128 square feet.  No additional parking areas are proposed for this application and the hours of operation are proposed as 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

ZEO Zanarini went over the primary issue to address with this application is the establishment of a nano-brewery as an accessory use.  ZEO Zanarini stated the proposed nano-brewery is located in the rear of the hardware store which consists of a 3 barrel system for brewing and a sampling area with a standing area for patrons in between.  No bar seats are proposed as this is strictly a sampling area for the brews.  ZEO Zanarini stated the applicant states that beer will be sold as samples, pints and into growlers for off-site consumption.  Areas of the basement will be used for the storage of grains and other brewery supplies with possible areas for brewing equipment, depending on the equipment requirements and area constraints of the main floor. 

 

In summary, ZEO Zanarini stated the re-establishment of the Watermark Café and the existing hardware store are the existing primary uses for this space.  The nano-brewery is being proposed to supplement the operation, as the owner has stated that profits for the existing uses have shown to be less than what is necessary for a sustainable business. 

 

ZEO Zanarini stated that the information provided within the record by the owner, the POCD, and the Zoning Regulations favor approval of the nano-brewery as an accessory use within an existing retail/café use and that the Commission should look at the POCD as the guiding vision for supporting this application.

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by J. Siner to approve SPL #16-046 (Site-Plan) Application of Carl R. Johnston, Jr., 8B Reutemann Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 for property owned by Ronald Lewis Trustee for an accessory use of a nano brewery to produce & sell small batches of beer on the premises of the Village General Store, Hardware & Café located at 2 Wyassup Rd., N. Stonington, CT  06359 in and R-40 Zone.  Tax Map #109, Parcel #2795 with the following modification:

 

Sign posted inside limiting tasting to rear area

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

5.  PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:   

 

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

 

ZEO Activity Report/June

 

ZEO Zanarini will present his report in August

 

7.   NEW APPLICATIONS: 

 

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 scheduled for August 4, 2016

 

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 August 11, 2016

 

8.  OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

9.  NEW BUSINESS:  None

 

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 scheduled for August 4, 2016

 

10.  REVIEW MINUTES:

 

Review minutes of Regular Meeting of 06/09/16

 

The Commission accepted the minutes of 06/09/16 as written

 

11.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by J. Siner to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cheryl Konsavitch

 

Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant

Planning & Zoning Office