MINUTES
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
1st Floor Conference Room
Town Hall, 302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman, Robert McIntyre, called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Robert McIntyre, Chairman
Janis Esty, Vice Chairman
Salvatore Aresco, Regular Member
Kenneth Soudan, Alternate Member (arrived at 7:35 – Seated for R. Missel)
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of July 8, 2009 as written; MADE by S. Aresco; SECONDED by J. Esty; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Esty, S. Aresco; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 3-0-0.
B. Correspondence
In their packets, members received a copy of a letter dated 5/13/09 to Congressman Joseph Courtney from Michael Pace, Chairman of the CT River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization (CREMPO) with an attached 11 page report re: Estuary North-South Commuter-Recreational Bikeway (Phases I & II).
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
C. Nelson reported that the Zoning Commission has adopted the Incentive Housing Zone Regulations, and the map has been amended. The Zoning Commission has also adopted the updates to the Town Wide Design Standards – Article 6 of the Zoning Regulations.
C. Nelson said the town has applied for stimulus money for roads specifically for the Boston Post Road town center node.
C. Nelson reported that the Estuary Transit District is putting up bus stops in the region.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Petition to Change the Name of “Fourth Avenue Extension” to “Channelside Avenue”
Petitioner: Pat, William & Gary Brink, 8 & 10 Fourth Avenue
In their packets, members received a copy of a letter received 4/26/09 from Patricia, William and Gary Brink requesting a name change for “Fourth Avenue Extension” to “Channelside Avenue”. They also received a copy of a letter dated 7/21/09 that was sent to Fourth Avenue Extension property owners notifying them of the Public Hearing re: this proposed name change with a map of the neighborhood, and a memo dated 7/21/09 sent to town department heads requesting them to report upon technical compliance and/or to recommend any modifications necessary to comply.
The following correspondence, which is in support of the name change from 4th Avenue Extension to Channelside Avenue, was received by C. Nelson after Planning Commission packets had been picked up by Commission Members and thus, was given to Commission members at tonight’s meeting: a letter dated 7/21/09 from Linda and Michael Sjogren of 10 Fourth Avenue Extension, a memo dated 7/22/09 from Chris Costa, Enforcement Officer, a memo dated 7/22/09 from Michael Pace, First Selectman, a memo dated 8/5/09 from Don Lucas, Building Official, and a memo dated 8/5/09 from Mary Jane Engle, Director of Health.
R. McIntyre opened the Public Hearing at 8:00 p.m., and he explained the Public Hearing process.
J. Esty and S. Aresco are both friends with the applicant but felt they could act fairly, therefore, they both decided they would vote on this matter.
C. Nelson explained that there is no state statute or process for this matter. She talked with town counsel who advised that it should be handled by the Planning Commission.
Pat Brink of 8 Fourth Avenue spoke of the many problems, that she has listed in her letter which was received by C. Nelson on 4/26/09, that have occurred because of the confusion that exists with the current situation with 4th Avenue and 4th Avenue Extension including oil and lumber being delivered to the wrong house, lost mail, pesticide being applied to the wrong lawn, and concerns with emergency responders going to the wrong address.
Gary Brink of 10 Fourth Avenue gave more examples of problems that have occurred because of the duplicate house numbers of Fourth Avenue and Fourth Avenue Extension, and he spoke of his concerns that the problems will only worsen as the lots on Fourth Avenue Extension are further developed with more houses being built.
Eleanor LaPlace of 4 Fourth Avenue, voiced her concerns about the problems caused by the confusion between Fourth Avenue and Fourth Avenue Extension, and she spoke in support of the road name change.
Sharon Wood of 15 Fourth Avenue Extension is against changing the name of Fourth Avenue Extension. The reasons for her objection are stated in her letter dated 7/26/09 that she wrote to M. Pace. S. Wood submitted this letter for the record as well as M. Pace’s response letter dated 8/1/06. She also submitted a letter she wrote to Norman Wood, Assessor, voicing her objections to the road name change, and a letter dated 7/24/06 addressed to “4th Avenue Extension Neighbor” from Eileen Russell, owner of 12 Fourth Avenue Extension requesting support in changing the name of Fourth Avenue Extension to Channelside Drive.
S. Wood said that although there have been problems because of the confusion between Fourth Avenue and Fourth Avenue Extension, she is against the name change because she is concerned about the difficulties involved in changing her address such as notifying Social Security, etc., and she’s concerned about the town’s costs for officially changing the name of the road.
G. Brink of 10 Fourth Avenue said that he understands S. Wood’s concerns, and he asked about the possibility of changing the house numbers of the homes on Fourth Avenue Extension so they are not duplicate house numbers of those homes on Fourth Avenue.
E. LaPlace of 4 Fourth Avenue said her understanding was that in Old Saybrook you need to have your house number and street name on your mailbox and your house number on your house.
R. McIntyre asked if anyone else from the Public had further comments, and as no one did, he closed the public input portion of the Public Hearing at 8:28 p.m.
K. Soudan asked C. Nelson for the number of households on Fourth Avenue and Fourth Avenue Extension. There are 18 lots on Fourth Avenue and 28 possible lots on Fourth Avenue Extension.
J. Esty asked C. Nelson if the Planning Commission could have more information about the numbers of medical emergency mixups that have occurred because of the road name confusion between Fourth Avenue and Fourth Avenue Extension.
S. Aresco asked C. Nelson about the process of renumbering a street. C. Nelson said the Assessor’s office establishes lot numbers and coordinates with the post office.
C. Nelson clarified the information the town requires as part of its house numbering ordinance. She also answered questions about the process of renumbering a street versus changing the name of a street.
Commission members asked C. Nelson if she could get more information for them regarding fees for deed changes and a possible waiver of fees for Fourth Avenue Extension residents who would be required to change their addresses as a result of this matter.
MOTION to continue the Public Hearing for Petition to Change the Name of “Fourth Avenue Extension” to “Channelside Avenue”; Petitioner: Pat, William & Gary Brink, 8 & 10 Fourth Avenue until the next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Planning Commission, Wednesday, September 2, 2009, in the 1st Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street at 7:30 p.m.; MADE by K. Soudan; SECONDED by J. Esty; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Esty, K. Soudan, S. Aresco; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. until the next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for, Wednesday, September 2 , 2009 in the 1st Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street.; MADE by S. Aresco; SECONDED by J. Esty; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Esty, K. Soudan, S. Aresco; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
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