REGULAR MEETING

 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016 7:00 P.M.

 

New Town Hall

Conference Room

40 Main Street

North Stonington, CT  06359

 

 

MINUTES APPROVED ~ MARCH 3, 2016

 

1.   CALL MEETING TO ORDER:  Chairman Lou Steinbrecher called the Regular Meeting of the North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission to order on Thursday, February 4, 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, Wayne Wilkinson, and Ann Brown

 

       COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Alternate Members Ed McGowan, Pat Lewis 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.   PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:  None     

 

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

 

ZEO Activity Report/January

 

ZEO Zanarini stated he did not have his report ready and will have it for the March 3^rd meeting

 

ZEO Zanarini gave an update on Perkins Cease & Desist which is a use violation.  A. Brown recused herself from the discussion as she is an abutter.  ZEO Zanarini stated there is no improvement at the site and all equipment and trucks were still there.  The Commission consensus was to refer this to Atty. Avena.

 

ZEO Zanarini also stated the truck plaza will move the directional sign that was too high on the pole for the truck drivers to see, causing them to miss the truck plaza and getting stuck on roads that do not accommodate for tractor trailers and turnarounds.

 

6.   NEW APPLICATIONS:        

 

A.  EXP #16-005 (Excavation) Application of Mark Perkins, P.O. Box 437, North Stonington, CT  06359 for an excavation permit for property located at 586Z Lantern Hill Road, North Stonington, CT  06359 in and R-80 Zone. Tax Map #13, Parcel #7728-M       (Commission to receive on 02/04/16 & must act on or by 04/08/16)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

A. Brown recused herself.

 

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

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by J. Siner to deny application EXP #16-005 for being incomplete.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

B.  RC #16-007 (Regulation Change) Application of the Town of North Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission, 40 Main Street, North Stonington, CT  06359 to modify Zoning Regulation Sections 405.1 (Impervious Surface Coverage); 501 (Dimensional Requirements); 307 (Special Flood Hazard Area Requirements); 1400 (Zoning Board of Appeals); Chapter 16 (Flood Related Terms-Definitions); & Subdivision Regulations Section 6.5 (Flooding Considerations)

(Commission will receive on 02/04/16 & set for PH on 03/10/16)

 

The Commission set the public hearing on RC #16-007 for March 10, 2016

 

The Commission discussed omissions unintentionally left out of the new regulations pertaining to Section 1105.2 of the old regulations regarding the Seasonal Use Overlay Area and also application requirements requiring applicants to submit 15 copies of their application for Site Plan and Special Permit.

 

ZEO Zanarini will submit application to be received on 2/11/16.

 

C.  MOD SPL #16-008 (Site-Plan Modification)  Application of Petrit Marko, 19 Westwood Drive, Waterford, CT  06385 for property owned by the Town of North Stonington to expand the parking lot to add 14 spaces for overflow parking on property located at 386 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington, CT  06359 in and R-80/WSPO Zone.  Tax Map #101, Parcel #9642

(Commission to receive on 02/04/16 & must act on or by 04/08/16)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

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

 

Nicholas Mullane, Selectman, stated the applicant has already started the project without a permit and the job is almost 100% complete.  Mr. Mullane stated Mr. Marko wants to add 14 overflow parking spaces as shown on the hand drawn plan in a grassed area.  Mr. Mullane also stated the restaurant is a pre-existing, non-forming use and the expansion of the parking may be an issue.  The Commission asked ZEO Zanarini to contact Atty. Zizka for an opinion.  The Commission asked that the applicant submit a detailed plan of the parking area.

 

7.  OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

8.  NEW BUSINESS: 

 

A.  Letter from Stephen Holliday/tree maintenance

 

Mr. Holliday submitted a letter informing the Commission that the Town Highway Department is doing tree maintenance on all our Town roads including Hewitt, Grindstone and Fowler Road as time and Mother Nature allows.

 

The crew will be removing dead limbs and trees and any limbs that are overhanging the roads.

 

The Commission discussed and wanted clarification on how they determine what limbs to cut overhanging the roads.  Mr. Holliday was contacted and he verified that they cut the overhanging limbs to maintain a 14 ft. clearance.

 

B.  The Commission read the letter from the Conservation Commission to WPCA pertaining to the Sewer Avoidance Program

 

9.  REVIEW MINUTES:

 

Review minutes of Regular Meeting of 01/14/16

 

The Commission accepted the minutes as submitted

 

10.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION by J. Siner, SECOND by E. Boissevain to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cheryl Konsavitch

 

Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant

Planning & Zoning Office