TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Planning Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-3125
MINUTES
Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park
155 College Street Extension
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman, Bob McIntyre, called the regular meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Robert McIntyre, Chairman James Conroy, Alternate Member
Judith Gallicchio, Vice Chairman William Voigt, Alternate Member
Richard Tietjen, Regular Member
Salvatore Aresco, Regular Member
Julius Castagno, Regular Member
Janis Esty, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Whitney McKendree Moore, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
Amendments to the meeting minutes of December 7, 2005
(Page 1): Revise the motion as follows: (1) omit the names of three alternate members who did not vote; (2) change the voting record from 8-0-0 to 5-0-0; and (3) correct the spelling of Tietjin to Tietjen.
(Page 2): Revise both motions to: (1) omit the names of three alternate members who did not vote; (2) change the voting record from 8-0-0 to 5-0-0; and (3) correct the spelling of Tietjin to Tietjen.
(Page 3): Revise the motion as follows: (1) omit the names of three alternate members who did not vote; (2) change the voting record from 8-0-0 to 5-0-0; and (3) correct the spelling of Tietjin to Tietjen.
(Page 5): Revise the motion as follows: (1) omit the names of three alternate members who did not vote; (2) change the voting record from 8-0-0 to 5-0-0; and (3) correct the spelling of Tietjin to Tietjen.
MOTION to approve the December 7, 2005 minutes as amended for errors and omissions. MADE by Judith Gallicchio. SECONDED by Sal Aresco. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, S. Aresco, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Correspondence
Members reviewed the budget, a memorandum from the Harbor Management Commission, some invoices, a list of newly elected officers for Town boards and commissions, an anonymous note suggesting trail configurations for the Preserve, several articles providing background (one on “wharfing out;” the other on parking); statutes regarding conflict of interest, and several announcements of events and gatherings. Deadlines for submitting articles to Saybrook Events were also reviewed, the consensus being that the Planning Commission try to submit one article per edition.
MOTION to pay $715.50 for open space subdivisions to the firm of Branse, Willis & Knapp, LLC, 148 Eastern Boulevard, Glastonbury, CT as per their Statement No. 11122 dated 12/01/05. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by Judith Gallichio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, S. Aresco, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay $73.02 (for legal services rendered) to the firm of Branse, Willis & Knapp, LLC, 148 Eastern Boulevard, Glastonbury, CT as per their Statement No. 11121 dated 12/01/05. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by Julius Castagno. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, S. Aresco, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay up to $1000 toward a bill from Planimetrics, 31 Ensign Drive, Avon, CT, the total burden of which is being shared among PC and other Town commissions; MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by S. Aresco. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, S. Aresco, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Town Planner, Christine Nelson, stated that the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission is entering its seventh or eighth public hearing on The Preserve and projected that it will probably take until April before the public hearings conclude. After that, the IWWC will enter into deliberations. If approved at that point, the matter will probably go to the Zoning Commission first, and then come to the attention of the Planning Commission.
Christine also suggested it might be time to look at PC goals for 2006. Road endings were mentioned for consideration, as were: the plans for Town sidewalks, the issue of improvement to Bokum Road, offering help to move forward the Downtown Parking Plan, and/or addressing some of the goals already articulated at the tail-end of the Commission’s existing plan. Another possibility: to work on another section of the plan. Judy Gallicchio suggested the members review their plans to see what they have already tasked out to themselves, and all agreed to discuss goals at the next meeting.
D. Election of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary
Chairman McIntyre opened up the session for elections of officers.
MOTION to elect Sal Aresco as Secretary. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by R. Tietjen. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, S. Aresco, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to elect Judy Gallicchio as Vice Chairman. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Castagno. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, S. Aresco, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to elect Bob McIntyre as Chairman. MADE by R. Tietjen. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, R. McIntyre, S. Aresco, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Petition to Amend Zoning Regulations: Setbacks (sec. 7.4) & Signs (sec. 64.5.3)
Petitioner: Max’s Place, LLC Agent: David M. Royston, Esq.
ACTION: Review consistency with Plan of C and D; report for 1/3/06 ZC PH.
Christine Nelson explained that the petitioner is asking for a postponement in consideration of this matter in order to amend the application and bring it back for the second meeting of this month instead of this one. The application will be discussed at the January 18th meeting.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
The Chairman excused Sal Aresco from the meeting and seated Alternate Member, Janis Esty, in his place at 8:38 p.m.
A. Acquisition of “Railroad Bed” as a Municipal Improvement (0.28 ac)
East of Main Street on South Side of U.S. Route 1
Petitioner: Board of Selectmen
ACTION: Review consistency with Plan of C and D; report for BOS meeting.
The Commission then reviewed a request from the BOS for approval to pursue the acquisition of this land, with Dick Tietjen expressing some concern over spending money on something we may not need and taking the parcel off the Grand List. Bob McIntyre suggested that it is probably better for the Town to acquire the land in order to position itself to make the rulings regarding its use. He felt it better to have the control rather than leave it vulnerable.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation that the Board of Selectmen pursue acquisition of the specified railroad bed as a municipal improvement and that such acquisition is not inconsistent with the plan for Conservation and Development. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, J. Esty, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VII. WORKSHOP
A. “Founders Memorial Park” Concept for Municipal Improvement & Coastal Site Plan
ACTION: Report to BOSFMP Committee for 12/20/o5 Informational Meeting
Chairman McIntyre stated that he felt the concerns of the residents over-ride those of the general populace and that the property should be designated more for active use than for passive use. He suggested horseshoes or bocce, as there is already plenty of passive land available to the public. Dick Tietjen felt that, with parking so limited, the proposed park seems mostly for nearby neighbors. He would like to see it made more widely available through more parking, and he would like its purpose to be oriented toward public recreation such as picnics, bird watching, and badminton. Christine Nelson clarified that this is being proposed as a passive park and the BOS is simply asking for suggestions. Therefore, the members defined three points for Christine to take to the BOS: (1) that
parking needs to be addressed; (2) that there should be provision for senior/adult types of activities in the field area; and (3) that no improvements that are made should prohibit those kinds of activity.
VIII. REVIEW OF COASTAL SITE PLANS
Christine then brought up two matters that would require amending the original agenda. The Commission heard the request and voted to take up two coast site plans for the Zoning Commission.
MOTION to amend the agenda, changing Item VIII to Item IX in order to expedite two Coastal Site Plans for the Zoning Commission. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, J. Esty, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
The two applications were from Chris Costa, who is asking a favor of the PC because of delays in the Zoning Commission. Christine emphasized that this request is legal and that both site plans were extremely straightforward. The members reviewed these applications to be sure everything aligned with Zoning Regulations.
MOTION to approve the Coastal Site Plan for the addition of a master bedroom suite, a patio, and a garage for David J. Koloski, 6 Fenwood Parkway (Map 9/Lot 30). MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, J. Esty, R. Tietjen.; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to approve the Coastal Site Plan for Paul W. and Irene C. Neal, 98 Maple Avenue dated July 6, 2005. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, J. Esty, R. Tietjen.; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED:
5-0-0.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn meeting until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion, Saybrook Point Park, 155 College Street Extension. MADE by R. McIntyre. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Gallicchio, J. Castagno, R. McIntyre, J. Esty, R. Tietjen; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Whitney McKendree Moore
Recording Clerk
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