MINUTES
Wednesday, October 19, 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
Robert Missel, Regular Member
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
Members Absent
Cathryn Flanagan, Alternate
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
MOTION to approve the minutes from September 7, 2011; MADE by R. Missel; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, D. Ranaudo, J. Esty, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. Correspondence
MOTION to approve the payment of Branse, Willis & Knapp invoice #28790 for $726.00; MADE by R. McIntyre; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: R. McIntyre, D. Ranaudo, J. Esty, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none: APPROVED: 4-0-0.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Commission member Robert Missel reported that the Hazard Mitigation Committee has been meeting with CRERPA to complete the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and is on target for completion in early 2012.
Ms. Nelson explained a new initiative the Conservation Commission is working on called Sustainable Saybrook. Ms. Nelson is also following up on the incentive-housing grant for both Ferry Road and the proposed Main Street incentive-housing zone.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
None.
V. OLD BUSINESS
None.
VI. REFERRALS
- Petition to Amend Zoning Regulations Sections 31 & 53
Petitioner: Old Saybrook Zoning Commission
ACTION: Review and report to Zoning Commission for 9/19/2011 Public Hearing.
Ms. Nelson explained to the members how amending Section 31 & 53 of the Zoning Regulations would allow for accessory apartments in a mixed-use zone on Main Street. Section 9 amends the definition of Gross Floor Area to exclude wetlands when calculating gross floor area. The is concerned for allowing apartments on Main Street without revisiting the Town Rental Code, which has not been updated recently. The Commission supports accessory housing on Main Street and feels it will enhance and add vitality (as well as in the Ferry Point IHZ), but there is a need to have a companion method to control occupancy so that zoning’s regulation of septic, parking, personal space and safety issues is sufficient for what is permitted. Non-conforming apartments, in particular, will not be subject to
changes in Zoning Regulations, and so the Zoning Commission needs to initiate a concurrent update of the Town Code to address enforcement situations.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission to amend the Zoning Regulations Sections 31 & 53 and Section 9 as consistent with the Plan of Conservation & Development in conjunction with a strong recommendation that the Zoning Commission take the lead on a simultaneous review and update to the Town Code’s Rental Housing chapter to regulate a maximum occupancy, maintenance of Code-compliant septic system, adequate parking, private outdoor space, and review of defensible space to protect personal safety; MADE by R. McIntyre; SECONDED by R. Missel; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Ranaudo, J. Esty, R. McIntyre, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM until the next regular meeting scheduled for November 2, 2011 at the Town Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street Old Saybrook, CT; MADE by R. McIntyre ; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Ranaudo, J. Esty, R. McIntyre, R. Missel; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Planning Clerk
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