MINUTES
Wednesday, June 1 2011 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
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
Robert Missel, Regular Member
Cathryn Flanagan, Alternate seated for Salvatore Aresco
Members Absent
Salvatore Aresco, Secretary
Richard Sullivan, Jr., Alternate Member
Cameron Evangelisti, Alternate Member
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Joanne Rynecki, Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
May 4, 2011 – Amend Page 5, Section IV, d & e to read “boat storage will be allowed at the discretion of the developer/marina owner on the entire lower parking lot located on the east side of Ferry Road, but shall not impede traffic to or from the condominium parking area.”
MOTION to approve the minutes from May 4, 2011, as amended; MADE by D. Ranaudo; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, C. Flanagan, J. Esty, D. Ranaudo, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to approve the minutes from May 18, 2011; MADE by D. Ranaudo; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, C. Flanagan, J. Esty, D. Ranaudo; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: R. Missel; APPROVED: 4-0-1.
B. Correspondence – Included in member packets is a letter from Benjamin Barnes, Secretary of CT Office of Policy and Management re-designating the Mid-State and Connecticut River Estuary Planning Regions into one new planning region to be known as the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports- C. Nelson met with the Nature Conservancy to discuss how Old Saybrook will benefit from becoming a pilot community for the Coastal Resilience Tool. Members look forward to updating the town’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan using the new Coastal Resilience Tool. The commission will also be working on updating fees at the next meeting. Also, installation of the sidewalks along the south side of Route 1, between Main Street and Staples, is almost complete. Bus stops and benches will be added along the route. Shrubs and trees to be planted in the fall
IV. REFERRALS
A. Petition to Amend the Zoning Regulations, Section 64.5.3d, Signs B-2 & B-4 Zones, to permit for multiple brand signs on a wall for motor vehicle dealers.
Petitioner: 255 Middlesex Turnpike, LLC Agent: Atty. William Childress
Attorney William Childress was present with Mr. John Lorenson, the principal of 255 Middlesex Turnpike, LLC. Attorney Childress explained that the amendment will benefit all commercial structures in the B-2 & B-4 district and all automotive dealerships with multiple brands. Current regulations limit the sign size to 20% of the wall width where the sign is located, up to 12’ in height. It does not include the square footage of any projections or indentations. Attorney Childress feels the current regulation discourages architectural detail in commercial structures. The amendment would allow facades which are interrupted by architectural projections or indentations to count as unbroken the full width of the wall. Also, many automobile dealerships sell multiple automobile
brands and each brand has its own sign requirements. The amendment would allow new motor vehicle dealers separate signs for each of the brands they sell. Attorney Childress added that the 20% maximum requirement would be split between all the signs.
This amendment is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development with respect to Town Image (Policy) Encourage quality design of commercial, industrial and municipal development sites…and visual linkages with adjacent areas. Economic Development (Goals) Diversified tax base in Old Saybrook; An enhanced image of Old Saybrook as an important, successful and enjoyable place for economic activity; and Retention of existing business and replacement of those that move on in the Central Commercial and Retail Complex, Auto Complex, North End and Saybrook Point Areas. (Policy) To encourage development of commercial…sites that is consistent with respect to scale, appearance and design…
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission to amend Section 64.5.3d, Signs, B-2 & B-4 Zones, to permit for multiple brand signs on a wall for motor vehicle dealers as it is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and development as stated above; MADE by R. McIntyre; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Esty, D. Ranaudo, C. Flanagan, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. NEW BUSINESS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. until the next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for, Wednesday, June 15, 2011 in the Old Saybrook Town Hall First Floor Conference Room 302 Main Street.; MADE by R. McIntyre; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, J. Esty, D. Ranaudo, C. Flanagan, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Planning Clerk
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