REGULAR MEETING

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 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, April 7, 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, Ann Brown, Wayne Wilkinson and Alternate Member Pat Lewis

 

       COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:  Alternate Members Ed McGowan and Julie Lanier

 

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

 

2.   ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by A. Brown to hear CGS 8-24 #16-023 before ZC #16-009.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 

 

3.   PUBLIC COMMENT:  None 

 

4.  COMMISSION REVIEW:

 

CGS 8-24 #16-023 (CT General Statue 8-24), On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, First Selectman Shawn P. Murphy requesting Planning & Zoning Commission review, in accordance with CGS 8-24, on the following item:  The North Stonington Ad Hoc School Building has requested that their presentation be placed on the 04/07/16 agenda.

 

Michael Urgo, representing the North Stonington Ad Hoc School Building gave a power point presentation highlighting the following:  Objectives of the Ad Hoc Building Committee, Educational Upgrades, Maintenance/Energy, and Safety which led the Committee to the approach that makes the most sense educationally and fiscally for the Town with the school modernization plan.

 

MOTION by E. Brown, SECOND by J. Siner to support the presentation the Ad Hoc School Building Committee has put together.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

A. Brown - Opposed

 

5.  PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

ZC #16-009 (Zone Change) Application of Watrous Associates, Inc., 5 Pierce Ave., Bridgeport, CT  06604 for a change to the zoning map of 7 parcels (84-9158, 85-6201, 84-6538, 84-3316, 84-6166, 84-3703, 84-9612,  from an R-80 zone to Commercial.  (PH opened on 03/10/16 & continued to 04/07/16; Commission received on 2/11/16 & PH must close on or by 4/13/16)

 

Secretary Siner read the application into the record.

 

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

 

Mr. Bill Schwartz was present for the continued application for a change to the zoning map of 7 parcels from the R-80 zone to residential.

 

The Commission asked questions pertaining to the application.

 

Mr. Schwartz presented an Ariel map of the parcels (Exhibit B) and a Town map showing the parcels (Exhibit C).

 

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

 

Vilma Gregoropoulos

Brad Borden

Mimi Borden

 

Chairman Steinbrecher asked if there was anyone from the public speaking in favor of this application.  There was none.

 

Chairman Steinbrecher asked if there was anyone from the public speaking against this application.  The following people spoke:

 

Anne Nalwalk

Vilma Gregoropoulos

Brad Borden

 

Mr. Schwartz asked the Commission to act wisely when making their decision.

 

MOTION by E. Boissevain, SECOND by J. Siner to close the Public Hearing on ZC #16-009.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

6.  PENDING APPLICATIONS:

 

ZC #16-009 (Zone Change) Application of Watrous Associates, Inc., 5 Pierce Ave., Bridgeport, CT  06604 for a change to the zoning map of 7 parcels (84-9158, 85-6201, 84-6538, 84-3316, 84-6166, 84-3703, 84-9612,  from an R-80 zone to Commercial. 

 

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

 

MOTION by A. Brown, SECOND by L. Steinbrecher to deny ZC #16-009 for the following reasons:  (1) It is not consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development (2) It will have a deleterious impact on all the other residential properties included in the proposed zone change and the surrounding residential properties (3) Map is not consistent with the parcels shown in the zone change (4) The application is not in compliance with Section 1305(4)(b) of the zoning regulations and (5) There was not enough information submitted on the quality of the land.  MOTION CARRIED

 

In Favor – L. Steinbrecher, E. Boissevain, A. Brown

 

Abstained – J. Siner

 

7.  COMMISSION REVIEW:

 

A.  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 received on 02/04/16 & must act on or by 04/08/16)

 

The applicant granted a 65 day extension to 6/12/16

 

B.  EXP #16-014 (Excavation) Application of Mark Perkins, P.O. Box 437, North Stonington, CT  06359 for an excavation permit to disturb 357,800 +/- sq. ft. 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 3/10/16 & must act on or by 5/13/16)

 

The Commission set the review for EXP #16-014 for their April 14^th meeting.  ZEO Zanarini stated he has received a narrative from Jim Rossman of Stadia Engineering and in the description it states that the activity will not result in the removal of more than 500 cubic yards of earth products or filling more than 500 cubic yards of earth products for each parcel in any calendar year.  ZEO Zanarini stated with that it meets the requirements of a Land Disturbance Permit which is a zoning permit and not a site-plan for the Commission which would be an excavation permit and will be taken off the agenda.  ZEO Zanarini stated he will work with Mr. Rossman and also have it reviewed by the Town Engineer if needed to see that it meets the zoning requirements for a Land Disturbance Permit.

 

8.   PLANNING ISSUES & DISCUSSION:   

 

Site Plan & Special Permit Application submission procedures & storage shed on vacant non-conforming lots within the Seasonal Use Overlay Area

 

ZEO Zanarini will submit an application for the Commission’s April 14^th meeting.

 

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

 

ZEO Activity Report/March

 

ZEO Zanarini went over his activity report with the Commission.  The ZEO gave an update on Perkins Enforcement and stated that trucks belonging to someone else are accessing thru the Perkins property to gain access to their property in Stonington.  Chairman Steinbrecher stated this is not an allowed use.  The Commission asked questions pertaining to the report and the open enforcement cases, such as Tillinghast and also how Richard White’s reclamation plan was coming.  ZEO Zanarini stated he has not been to Richard White’s and has driven past Tillinghast property.

 

10.   NEW APPLICATIONS:  None       

 

11.  OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

12.  NEW BUSINESS: 

 

13.  REVIEW MINUTES:

 

Review minutes of Regular Meeting of 03/10/16 & Site-Walk of 03/19/16

 

The Commission accepted the minutes as submitted

 

14.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION by J. Siner, SECOND by W. Wilkinson to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cheryl Konsavitch

 

Cheryl Konsavitch, Administrative Assistant

Planning & Zoning Office