MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY November 17, 2010 at 7:30PM
Old Saybrook Town Hall 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman McIntyre called the regular meeting to order at 7:30PM. Five commission members were seated to vote.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members
Robert McIntyre, Chairman
Janis Esty, Vice Chairman
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
Cathryn Flanagan, Alternate seated for Salvatore Aresco
Robert Missel, Regular Member
Salvatore Aresco arrived at 7:55PM
Absent Members
Richard Sullivan, Alternate
Cameron Evangelisti, Alternate
Attendant Staff
Joanne Rynecki, Clerk
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Geoffrey Jacobson, Nathan L. Jacobson & Assoc., Town Engineer
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
Minutes – November 3, 2010 minutes.
MOTION to approve the minutes of November 3, 2010. MADE by Ranaudo, SECONDED by Missel; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
- Correspondence and Bills - Publication material included in the Member’s packets. A memo from the EDC regarding a possible future application to the Planning Commission.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports – Ms. Nelson reported that the Architectural Review Board will be awarding 2 Design Excellence Awards in 2010. The Historic District Commission will be updating their regulations, bylaws and handbook to add an exemption for routine maintenance on homes in the district and clarify when a survey is required. The Land Use Department hired Sandy Prisloe as the new Environmental Planner. Mr. Prisloe brings many years of experience to the position and we are delighted to have him as a part of this department.
MOTION to amend the agenda to move the Public Hearing to Item VI and New Business to Item V to allow the public hearing to begin at 8PM. MADE by McIntyre, SECONDED Flanagan; IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS ~~~~~~~~~
A. “Ferry Crossing” (Phase I) of the Ferry Point IH Zone
for the purposes of the State Housing for Economic Growth Program
Petition to re-adopt Sections 54 Incentive Housing IH Zone, 9 Definitions,
3 Certificate of Zoning Compliance,~ 7 Area, Location & Bulk Standards,~61 Performance Standards, 62 Access, Circulation, Parking & Loading, 63 Landscaping, Screening & Buffering, as well as a Preamble to Article VI.
Petitioner: Old Saybrook Zoning Commission
ACTION: Consider per Town plans, and report for 12/8/2010 ZC p.h.
Ms. Nelson explained that the Zoning Commission must re-adopt Sections 54, 9, 3, 7, 61, 62, 63 and the Preamble to Article VI to qualify for the State Housing for Economic Growth Program for Phase I of the Ferry Point 1H Zone and Ferry Crossing. These regulations were previously presented to the Commission with a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission for the re-adoption of Sections 54, 9, 3, 7, 61, 62, 63 and the Preamble to Article VI of the Zoning Regulations as they are consistent with the Towns Plan of Conservation and Development. MADE by McIntyre, SECONDED Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
B. Municipal Improvement for “Route 1 Sidewalks – Pond to Lynde Roads”
Town Ctr. B-1 and Shopping Ctr. B-2 Districts, Town Center Node
Petitioner: Board of Selectmen Agent: William A. Peace, Selectmen
ACTION: Consider per Town Plans and act; schedule design and permitting.
Ms. Nelson reviewed the letter from the State DOT with the Commission Members which required the town to provide a survey and engineering plans for the portion of the sidewalk plan from Pond Street to Lynde Street adjacent to the wetlands.
Selectman Pease explained that the sidewalk plan had to be “shovel ready” when the plan was submitted for Federal assistance. The portion of the sidewalk, approximately 500 feet, from Pond Street to Lynde Street was not part of the request because it would hold up the application to the state. The Members of the Commission were familiar with the project and the location of the additional 500 feet of sidewalk required to continue the span from Main Street to Staples along Route 1.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for the sidewalk improvements along Route 1 from Pond to Lynde as the improvements is consistent with the Towns Plan of Conservation and Development. The Planning Commission will oversee the Plans for this project. MADE by McIntyre, SECONDED Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
Selectman Pease added that there are future plans to add sidewalks to Schoolhouse and Great Hammock if funding is obtained. He is also hopeful that the paving of Old Post Road will allow for a bike lane.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
Public Hearing Opened at 8:00PM
A. Amendment of the Subdivision Regulations and
Proposed Regulations for Public Improvements
Petitioner: Board of Selectmen & Planning Commission
ACTION: Open public hearing, then continue or close; act & set effective date.
Ms. Nelson explained to the Members that an Amendment to the Subdivision Regulations is proposed to reduce inconsistencies and to make changes which will provide a more comprehensive and updated set of regulations. The Regulations for Public Improvements or “road regulations”, as is commonly referred, will replace the outdated regulations from 1974 called the Design and Construction Specifications.
The Board of Selectmen will vote on November 22, 2010 to enable the new regulations to become effective if they are approved by this Commission.
Referral responses were received from Attorney Branse of Branse, Willis and Knapp, Sandy Prisloe, the OS Environmental Planner, Torrence Downes the Senior Planner for CRERPA, and Kelli, McKeon of the OLISP CT DEP.
Mr. Jacobson explained that the Design and Constructions Specifications were being updated in order to stream line the review process of subdivision approval, update the 1974 document to allow the Planning Commission to approve Design and Construction Standards, and incorporate the BOS Low Impact Development Standards. The Subdivision Regulations are an update of an existing regulation
Selectman Bill Pease feels that reducing the width of the road, eliminating curbing, storm drains and generally updating to current trends, as proposed in the new Regulations for Public Improvements will reduce the cost of maintaining roads for the town.
There were no questions from the Commission Members and the Chairman opened up the Public Hearing for public comment.
Mr. Bob Fish, Chairman of the Conservation Commission who resides at 48 Obed Heights in Old Saybrook supports the new regulations and feels they are more environmentally friendly.
No further comments from the public. Chairman closed public portion of the Public Hearing.
Chairman McIntyre and the Members of the Commission reviewed the responses from the referrals and made the following changes to the Amendment of the Subdivision Regulations:
- As outlined in the letter from Sandy Prisloe, Section 4.3.2 and 4.3.3.4.c.
- As outlined in the letter from Mark Branse, Section 2, Section 3.6.2, Section 3.6.4, 5.3.2 and 5.4.
And, the following changes to the Regulations for Public Improvements:
- As outlined in the letter from Torrence Downes, Section 70A.1 Geological Features, Section 70I.6 Trees and 70Q.5 Bikeways and Multi-Use Trails.
MOTION to close the Public Hearing. MADE by Aresco, SECONDED Missel; IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to approve the Amendment of the Subdivision Regulations and Proposed Regulations for Public Improvements to include the changes discussed and submitted during the Public Hearing and to become effective concurrent with the effective date of the enabling ordinance Chapter 110 of the Town Code to be approved by Town Meeting but in no event later than 11/30/2010. MADE by McIntyre, SECONDED Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VII. WORKSHOP
A. “Accomplishments” Section of Plan of Conservation & Development
for discussion with the Conservation Commission
ACTION: Consider status of action items; account for progress; brainstorm next steps.
Mr. Fish, the Chairman of the Conservation Commission, joined the Members to explain what his commission has accomplished over the last 10 years. Ms. Nelson referred members to the Planning Commission 2010 status report handed out at the last meeting to begin writing accomplishments for the next town plan. She also asked the members to think about the goals for the next year, meet with other commissions to find their needs and to think about what people want from their town and the direction of the town over the next 10 years. Some ideas were regionalization of open space to connect with other towns, energy conservation and add infrastructure as a category in the next town plan.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:52PM until the next regular meeting at the Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room at 320 Main Street on December 1, 2010. MADE by Sal, SECONDED by Ranaudo; IN FAVOR: McIntyre, Esty, Flanagan, Ranaudo, Missel; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Clerk
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