PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman, Robert McIntyre, called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Attendant Members Absent Members
Robert McIntyre, Chairman Janis Esty, Regular Member
Judith Gallicchio, Vice Chairman Bradford Thorpe, Alt Member
Salvatore Aresco, Regular Member
Robert Missel, Regular Member
Marilyn Milliken, Alternate Member
Craig Cooke, Alternate Member
R. McIntyre stated that at tonight’s meeting, M. Milliken will be seated for J. Esty.
Attendant Staff
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathy Noyes, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
J. Gallicchio suggested that voting on the November 7, 2007 minutes be held until all 3 members present at that meeting, R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio and J. Esty, are present to vote. All members agreed.
MOTION to approve the minutes of the December 5, 2007 meeting. MADE By J.Gallicchio. SECONDED by S. Aresco. VOTED IN FAVOR: S. Aresco, J. Gallicchio, R. Missel, M. Milliken OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: R. McIntyre; APPROVED: 4 -0-1.
B. Correspondence
Members’ packets contain the following: minutes from the Architectural Review Board, a bill from Branse, Willis & Knapp, scheduled meeting dates for 2008, a copy of the budget, a roster of PC Members with contact information, and an article from the CT Technology Transfer Center from December 2007 entitled “On-street Parking: An Untapped Resource for Downtowns”.
MOTION to pay bill # 17079 from Branse, Willis & Knapp, LLC for $72.50. MADE By S. Aresco. SECONDED by J. Gallicchio. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, S. Aresco, J. Gallicchio, R. McIntyre, M. Milliken OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5 -0-0.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
C. Nelson suggested to members that they subscribe online for town boards and commissions agendas and minutes by logging onto www.oldsaybrookct.org.
C. Nelson informed the commission that it is time to put in budget requests for next year.
R. McIntyre had nothing new to report from the IWWC.
J. Gallicchio reported that the Road Regulations Committee is moving forward and is doing well.
D. Election of Officers
R. McIntyre suggested, and members agreed, to postpone the election of officers until J. Esty is present.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Max’s Place” Resub. of Land & Coastal Site Plan – Center Rd West
Petitioner: Ron Lyman Agent: David M. Royston, Esq.
Portion of Center Road West; Gateway Business B-4 District
(Map 25 / Lots 29, 32, 32-1 and Map 26 / Lots 6-10, 6-11, 6-12)
In their packets, commission members received a letter dated 12/13/07 to the OS Planning Commission from Atty. David M. Royston re: Max’s Place Resubdivision Application, Portion of Center Road West, Resolution 06-001, and a copy of the settlement agreement dated 9/15/07 between Ralph Gometz and Max’s Place, LLC.
Atty. Royston explained to the commission that the extension is being requested by the applicant, in part, because a lawsuit had been filed. It has since been settled and withdrawn, but this had to be resolved before papers could be filed with the Town Clerk. Also, certain approvals specifically from the State Traffic Commission and the Dept. of Environmental Protection, have not yet been received and this process could hold up the paperwork as well. Two 90 day extensions have been requested because the first 90 day extension expires on 1/20/08.
MOTION to grant the 180 day extension period requested to the applicant for “Max’s Place” Resubdivision of Land & Coastal Site Plan – Center Road West, Petitioner: Ron Lyman; Agent: David M. Royston, Esq., Portion of Center Road West; Gateway B-4 District (Map 25 / Lots 29, 32, 32-1 and Map 26 / Lots 6-10, 6-11 6-12). MADE by S. Aresco. SECONDED by M Milliken. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, S. Aresco, R. McIntyre, M. Milliken, J. Gallicchio. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5 -0-0.
B. Adoption of “Aquifer Protection Area” Regulations
And Amendments to Zoning Regulations
Petitioners: Old Saybrook Aquifer Protection Agency & Zoning Commission
In their packets, members received a copy of a memorandum dated 11/19/07 from Robert Friedmann, Chairman, OS Zoning Commission to the OS Planning Commission re: the proposed changes to the Aquifer Protection Regulations with attached draft.
C. Nelson noted that this item was continued from the last PC meeting of 12/5/07. She explained that there is an aquifer protection area around the Saybrook Well as well as an aquifer protection area that extends into Old Saybrook around the Westbrook Well known as the “Holbrook Well”. The state has updated its mapping and regulations. At this time the new mapping and regulations have been completed for only one of these wells, the “Holbrook Well”, and the Planning Commission needs to tell the Zoning Commission, which is also serving as the Aquifer Protection Agency, if these changes in the regulations are consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development in order to adopt the new mappings and new regulations.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission for the Old Saybrook Aquifer Protection Agency and the Zoning Commission to recommend adoption of the proposed changes to the Aquifer Protection Area Regulations and Amendments to the Zoning Regulations in that the changes are consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development specifically in the Conservation and Open Spaces Section, page 9, goal 1, “Development, conservation, supervision and regulation of natural resources.”, page 9, goal 5, “Protection of land that includes or contributes a prime natural feature of the Town’s landscape, including a shoreline, a river, its tributaries and watershed, an aquifer, mountainous territory, ridgelines, an island or coastal wetland, a significant littoral,
estuarine, or aquatic site or other important geologic feature.”, and page 10, policy 6, “To give a high priority to multiple functions of conservation, such as water quality and supply protection, scenic preservation, and farmland preservation.” MADE by S. Aresco. SECONDED by R. Missel. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, S. Aresco, M. Milliken, R. McIntyre, J. Gallicchio. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5 -0-0.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Sound Manufacturing” Special Exception For Light Manufacturing – 33.63 ac. (58,283 s.f.)
50 Schoolhouse Road (Map 27 / Lot 31), Industrial I District
Coastal Management Zone
Applicant: W.S. Old Saybrook Realty; Agent: David Royston, Esq.
In their packets, members received a memo dated 11/20/06 from Walter Harris, Secretary, Old Saybrook Zoning Commission re: the Special Exception Application: Sound Manufacturing with attached copies of applications and plans.
Monika Simonelli, the Project Manager for the property was present to answer any questions the Commission may have had regarding the building or its occupancy.
Atty. David Royston presented for the applicant and explained that Sound Manufacturing is the current tenant of the building and has been since April 2006. This is a change of use in an existing building. The reason the special exception request is being made at this time is because the zoning regulations changed in that any use that occupies 40,000+ s.f. would require a special exception, and Sound Manufacturing uses 58,283 s.f.
MOTION to approve the special exception for “Sound Manufacturing” Special Exception for Light Manufacturing – 33.63 ac. (58,283 s.f.) 50 Schoolhouse Road (Map 27 / Lot 31), Industrial I District, Coastal Management Zone, Applicant: W.S. Old Saybrook Realty, LLC; Agent: David M. Royston, Esq. in that it is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development specifically under Economic Development goals 1 & 2, “Diversify tax base in Old Saybrook.”, and “Employment Choice for local residents.”, and Economic Development policies 2 & 3, “To proactively promote and attract appropriate and diverse commercial and industrial development.”, and “A balance between seasonal activity and jobs in manufacturing and commercial
distribution.” MADE by S. Aresco. SECONDED by M. Milliken. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, S. Aresco, R. McIntyre, M. Milliken, J. Gallicchio. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5 -0-0.
VII. WORKSHOP
A. Orientation to State Planning Statutes
C. Nelson explained that she would like the Planning Commission to spearhead the process to be sure that Old Saybrook is represented properly in the State Plan, and that the Planning Commission will respond to the request from the State Office of Policy Management. The Office of Policy Management needs a draft by this commission for their review by September 2008.
C. Nelson reviewed the similarities and differences between state, regional and town planning, and the differences between planning and permitting.
C. Nelson handed out the following items to board members for their review: Chapter 297 CT Development and Future, State Conservation and Development Policies Plan from the Office of Policy Management, CT Conservation and Development Policies Plan 2005-2010 Locational Guide Map, Chapter 127 Regional Planning Agencies, and Chapter 126 State Statute For What Towns Have to Adopt For a Plan.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn meeting at 9:37 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion, Saybrook Point Park, 155 College Street Extension. MADE by M Milliken. SECONDED by S. Aresco. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Gallicchio, R. Missel, M. Milliken, R. McIntyre S. Aresco. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
Recording Clerk
| 
