PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Pasbeshauke Pavilion at Saybrook Point Park
155 College Street Extension
I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairman, Janis Esty, called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Attendant Members Absent Members
Janis Esty, Vice Chairman Robert McIntyre, Chairman
Robert Missel, Regular Member Salvatore Aresco, Reg. Member
Craig Cooke, Alternate Member Marilyn Milliken, Alt. Member
Bradford Thorpe, Alt. Member
Attendant Staff
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathy Noyes, Recording Clerk
C. Cooke was seated as a voting member for tonight’s meeting.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
Because only two of the members present at tonight’s Planning Commission meeting were present at the April 16, 2008 meeting, J. Esty postponed voting on the April 16, 2008 Planning Commission minutes.
B. Correspondence
Members’ packets contain the following: minutes from the Architectural Review Board, Zoning Commission and Historic District Commission, a bill from Geoffrey Jacobson, a copy of the budget, a notification of workshops for the CT Land Use Academy at Uconn, an article re: Stamford Traffic Calming, a copy of the Town of Brookline, MA Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures, the spring 2008 American Planning Association newsletter, a letter from Melissa Spear, CT State Director of The Trust for Public Land, a pamphlet entitled “Strategies for Funding Open Space” with information re: a workshop, and “The Legislative Requirement that Zoning an Land Use Controls Be Consistent with an Independently Adopted Local Comprehensive Plan: A Model Statute”.
MOTION to pay invoice #14536 for $56.50 dated 4/10/08 from Geoffrey Jacobson for general consultation (water storage tank research). MADE by R. Missel. SECONDED by C. Cooke. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, J. Esty, C. Cooke. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
C. Nelson updated the commission on a number of projects including a series of education stations around town which will conclude with a stop at Founders’ Park as part of the Natural Heritage Tour.
C. Nelson also talked about a project involving historic postcards of the area. Local camera club members have met with C. Nelson to discuss photographing places from the same vantage point as those depicted on the historic postcards.
The Conservation Commission and the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission are spearheading a project confirming vernal pools in town, and volunteer members are meeting and going out into the pools to count the eggs of certain invertebrates.
The Shellfish Commission has been meeting to discuss reseeding the Oyster River.
C. Nelson talked about the upcoming Design Excellence Awards for businesses and new construction.
MOTION to reconfigure the agenda to move “New Business” before “Old Business”. MADE by C. Cooke. SECONDED by R. Missel. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, J. Esty, C. Cooke. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Burger King” Modification to Special Exception (5,000 s.f.)-1.51 ac.
607 Boston Post Road (Map 40/Lot3), Shopping Center Business B-2District
Applicant: Burger King Holdings, Owner Agent: Charles Georgie, AIA
In their packets, commission members received a copy of the application for Certificate of Zoning Compliance, a copy of an Application for Site Plan or Special Exception Use, a Statement of Use, and plans and drawings.
Charles Georgie presented plans and drawings to the Commission explaining the proposed modifications and updates to the 25 year old building and exterior which would include: renovating the interior (walls, service counter, seating), changing the roof from blue to a copper color, painting the brick, upgrading the landscaping, adding a sidewalk along the Route 1 side, reconfiguring the parking area, adding curbs and replacing the fence.
C. Nelson asked about dumpster enclosures. C. Georgie said those were being redone.
C. Nelson also asked about screening in rooftop mechanics, and C. Georgie said he could screen the units themselves in.
C. Georgie also discussed the right of way easement for emergency vehicles and for utilities while the building is under construction, and how the parking lot reconfiguration would solve that issue. Two parking spaces would be removed for that easement and added in a different section of the lot.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission for “Burger King” Modification to Special Exception (5,000 s.f.)-1.51 ac. 607 Boston Post Road (Map 40/Lot3), Shopping Center Business B-2 District, Applicant: Burger King Holdings, Owner, Agent: Charles Georgie, AIA in that it is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development. MADE by R. Missel. SECONDED by C. Cooke. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, J. Esty, C. Cooke. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Municipal Improvement to Remove “Maynard Road Sidewalk”
North side of Maynard Road
Petitioner: Board of Selectmen
C. Nelson told Commission members that the Maynard Road sidewalk on the North side of Maynard Road is in disrepair, and that it was suggested that it be removed because there is a sidewalk on the South side of Maynard Road. Property owners within 100 feet were notified and were present at tonight’s meeting to speak on the matter.
Donald Sparaco of 45 Maynard Road stated that the sidewalk is in disrepair so he contacted the town to have this addressed. He said he was not necessarily suggesting removal of the sidewalk, but he wanted the town to take action to correct the situation.
Carol Wright Sweeney, who grew up at the home her mother still owns and lives in on 52 Lynde Street, stated that the area where Maynard Road meets Lynde Street has not been properly maintained. She said ice and snow pool there and it is also a very dangerous place to cross the street. The intersection of Lynde Street, Maynard Road and Ledge Road needs to be addressed for safety reasons.
Gretta Wright, of 52 Lynde Street, lives on the corner of Maynard Road and Lynde Street, and she stated that a tree had fallen at one point and in the winter, the snow plows plowed the snow, pieces of broken asphalt and pieces of broken tree into the grass. Maintenance is a concern. She would like to see the sidewalk fixed, not removed.
June Getchius, of 63 Maynard Road, said that the sidewalk on the North side of Maynard Road needs a lot of repair. She said many people walk on Maynard Road, and she would like to see the sidewalk fixed and repaired not removed.
Larry Hayden, of 59 Maynard Road, said he also would like the sidewalk to be refurbished not removed. He spoke of concerns regarding proper drainage. He said when it rains, water pools at the end of his driveway because the road is broken and the water cannot get to the catch basin. He also voiced concerns about townspeople parking on the residents’ lawns at town events because there is no sidewalk.
D. Sparaco, 45 Maynard Road, spoke about one particular catch basin that is very sunken into Maynard Road and is contributing to the drainage problems.
He also voiced concern about the grade of the area where the road meets the sidewalk on the South side of Maynard Road.
C. Nelson brought up the idea of “traffic calming”. Trees are brought in, and there are few street trees currently on Maynard Road. She suggested the Planning Commission members drive down Coulter Street, Dudley Avenue and Sheffield Street to look at the configuration of the sidewalks and street trees planted there.
D. Sparaco, of 45 Maynard Road, said he was concerned that large, mature trees could cause their own hazards growing into the power lines or hanging over the road in a bad storm. C. Nelson assured him that Guy Pendelton, Tree Warden, and William Peace, Selectman and Tree Committee member, would carefully chose the trees planted to be sure that those problems would not occur.
Based on the statements of the residents at tonight’s meeting, Commission members agreed that the consensus is that residents do not favor removal of the Maynard Road Sidewalk on the North side of Maynard Road, but that they would prefer that this sidewalk be upgraded, redone and refurbished.
MOTION to recommend that “Maynard Road Sidewalk”, North Side of Maynard Road, Petitioner: Board of Selectmen, not be removed, but that it be upgraded, redone and refurbished. MADE by C. Cooke. SECONDED by J. Esty. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, J. Esty, C. Cooke. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0
VII. WORKSHOP
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion, Saybrook Point Park, 155 College Street Extension. MADE by R. Missel. SECONDED by C. Cooke. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Missel, J. Esty, C. Cooke. OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
Recording Clerk
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