MINUTES
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
1st Floor Conference Room
Town Hall, 302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman, Janis Esty, called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty, Acting Chairman
Catherine Flanagan, Regular Member
Robert Missel, Regular Member
Michael Urban, Alternate seated for Donald Ranaudo
Kenneth Soudan, Alternate seated for David Shearer
Members Absent
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
David Shearer, Regular Member
Kathleen Sugland, Alternate
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Mathew Seymour, Planning Commission Clerk
Joanne Rynecki, Land Use Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
MOTION to approve the minutes from February 1, 2011; MADE by M. Urban; SECONDED by K. Soudan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Legal Fees payable to Branse, Willis & Knapp Invoice #29503 in the amount of $16.50; Invoice #29504 in the amount of $957.00, and Invoice #29505 in the amount of $363.00.
MOTION to pay Branse, Willis & Knapp # 29503 in the amount of $16.50; MADE by R. Missel; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay Branse, Willis & Knapp #29504 in the amount of $957.00; MADE by R. Missel; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay Branse, Willis & Knapp # 29505 in the amount of $363.00; MADE by C. Flanagan; SECONDED by R. Missel; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Ms. Nelson informed the members that she will be attending the Midstate Regional Planning Agency workshop regarding the State Plan of Conservation and Development scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr. Ken Soudan attended a seminar given by Sea Grant and DEEP regarding the rise in sea level and coastal flooding. Mr. Soudan gave an overview to the members. Mr. Missel provided members a copy of the draft Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan that his committee is working on and invited Mr. Soudan to the next Natural Hazard Mitigation meeting to share the information from the seminar he attended.
IV. NEW BUSINESS - none
MOTION to amend the agenda to add Item V. B. “Scenic Roads”; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Old Saybrook Plan of Conservation & Development – Residential Development
David Fink, Policy & Communications Director, Partnership for Strong Communities
Mr. David Fink, Director of Partnership for Strong Communities, spoke about the current market and housing situation and where it is going in the future. There is a shortage of rental property, and home ownership is not affordable for the first time homebuyers and empty nesters in Old Saybrook. Affordable workforce housing should be located near transit lines and the elderly would benefit from housing near churches, doctors and shopping. Ms. Nelson and Mr. Friedman, Chairman of the Zoning Commission, are optimistic that the newly adopted incentive housing zone along Main Street will allow property owners to add a second floor for rental housing units above the existing retail establishments.
Ann Faust, Program Coordinator, Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness
Ms. Ann Faust, Program Coordinator of Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness, continued that Old Saybrook needs to attract the 25-35 year old populations to keep our town sustainable into the future. The town’s accessory apartment regulations are an affordable option that will benefit both the renter and the homeowners by allowing the rental income to cover some of the costs of maintaining the home. Ms. Faust also pointed out that, currently, Old Saybrook does not have a shelter for our homeless population. Even a warming center would benefit our homeless during the winter months.
Susan Consoli, Social Services Coordinator, Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services
Ms. Susan Consoli, Social Services Coordinator for the O.S. Youth & Family Services, gave some startling statistics for Old Saybrook residents in need of assistance. Ms. Consoli reports that annual requests for assistance have risen from 269 in 2009 to 1,720 in 2011. The current economic conditions have affected the working class and the elderly. Many homeowners have been forced out of their homes or are months away from foreclosure. The need for affordable housing is critical in Old Saybrook.
MOTION to continue the discussion on Residential Development to the regular meeting of March 21, 2012; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Scenic Roads
Members approved the article content written by Mr. Urban for the next Saybrook Events Magazine.
MOTION to approve the Scenic Roads article for publication in the Saybrook Events Magazine.; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by R. Missel; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, R. Missel, M. Urban, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. until the next regular meeting scheduled for March 7, 2012 at the Town Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street Old Saybrook, CT; MADE by R. Missel ; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; NO DISCUSSION. VOTED IN FAVOR: M. Urban, C. Flanagan, J. Esty, R. Missel, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Land Use Clerk
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