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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
1st Floor Conference Room
Town Hall, 302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty, Chairman
Cathryn Flanagan, Regular Member
Michael Urban, alternate member seated for Robert Missel
Kathleen Sugland, alternate member seated for Donald Ranaudo
Kenneth Soudan, alternate member seated for David Shearer
Members Absent
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
Robert Missel, Regular Member
David Shearer, Regular Member
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
MOTION to amend the agenda to add under V. NEW BUSINESS, “Saybrook Point Marina, LLC, Special Exception Application –“to allow 12 apartment units to be used as hotel suites at Marina Point Drive” (M 24/ L55) Saybrook Point SP-3 District, CT River Gateway Conservation (GC) Zone, Coastal Area Management (CAM) Zone; Applicant: Saybrook Point Marina, LLC; Agent: David Royston, Esquire, and to move V. NEW BUSINESS before III. REGULAR BUSINESS; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Soudan, C. Flanagan, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED:
5-0-0.
“Saybrook Point Marina, LLC” Special Exception Application –“to allow 12 apartment units to be used as hotel suites at Marina Point Drive”, (M 24 /L55) Saybrook Point SP-3 District, CT River Gateway Conservation (GC) Zone, Coastal Area Management (CAM) Zone; Applicant: Saybrook Point, LLC; Agent: David Royston, Esquire
Attorney David Royston, agent, presented, and Steve Tagliatela, Manager of Saybrook Point, LLC, was also present.
D. Royston explained that this application came before the Planning Commission in 2009, and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations because they were consistent with The Plan of Conservation and Development. The Zoning Regulations were changed to allow suites on another lot to be used and administered as part of the hotel. The ZC adopted that regulation in section 53 with conditions: the suites would be administered as part of the hotel operation, they would have to be a certain distance from the hotel, parking had to be the same ratio as that of the hotel, and there would not be a suite (short term rental) above an apartment (long term rental). Those conditions taken into consideration by the PC at that time are repeated in this statement. The applicant
is coming before the Planning Commission now because Saybrook Point Marina, LLC is moving ahead with the proposed plan to allow the use of 12 of the apartments as hotel suites under the conditions specified in Section 53 of the Zoning Regulations.
The Saybrook Point Inn is in a SP 2 District on the east side of Bridge Street. On the west side of Bridge Street, there are 24 apartment units, 3 buildings-8 units per building with a 2- family house at 19 Bridge Street.
There will not be any change in the site plan. There is no additional parking required. No other function of the hotel will be on the separate lot other than the suites. There will be no changes in the buildings or in the landscape. There will be no external changes, and there will be little interior changes. The occupants of the suites will be treated as hotel guests; they can use the hotel pool, restaurant, fitness areas, etc. These are apartments, not condos. They are all lower floor units.
K. Soudan expressed concerns about the mixed use, having long -term renters and short -term renters in the same building especially in terms of noise.
M. Urban asked about pedestrian traffic. There are sidewalks on both sides of the street. There are handicapped crosswalks on the corner of College and Bridge Streets.
MOTION to recommend approval of “Saybrook Point Marina, LLC, Special Exception Application” –“to allow 12 apartment units to be used as hotel suites at Marina Point Drive”, (M 24 /L55) Saybrook Point SP-3 District, CT River Gateway Conservation (GC) Zone, Coastal Area Management (CAM) Zone; Applicant: Saybrook Point, LLC; Agent: David Royston, Esquire to the Zoning Commission and to find it consistent with The Plan of Conservation and Development specifically under the following goals, “: A diversified tax base in Old Saybrook”, and “A balance between commercial, retail, office, and light industrial development and the capacity of supporting public infrastructure and the integrity of the town’s small-town character, natural resources and
cultural heritage.”; MADE by C. Flanagan; SECONDED by M. Urban; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Soudan, C. Flanagan, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of May 16, 2012 with the following corrections: Bob Lorenz is spelled without an “e” at the end, on page 2, in the third paragraph, it should read, “Chalker Mill Pond is located across from Great Cedars “West” instead of Great Cedars “East”, and lastly, in the second to last paragraph, the second sentence should read, “there are still bars on the windows” instead of “there are still windows on the bars”; MADE by C. Flanagan; SECONDED by K. Sugland; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Soudan, C. Flanagan, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Correspondence
Commissioners received the following correspondence: a letter dated 6/4/12 from R. Lorenz detailing the Chalker Mill Pond ownership history, as told by Dave Brooks, a letter dated 4/27/12 from the CT River Gateway Commission regarding tonight’s public hearing on the revision of subdivision regulations: public improvements, bonding and lot line revisions, a letter dated 5/17/2 from David Fink, Policy Director for Partnership for Strong Communities regarding their free forum on 6/15/12 on “Developing Connecticut’s Transit Future: Strategic Placemaking and Economic Opportunity”, and a budget status update dated 5/29/12.
MOTION to pay invoice #30221 from Branse, Willis & Knapp dated 6/1/12 for $165.00. MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by M. Urban; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Sugland, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice #30223 from Branse, Willis & Knapp dated 6/1/12 for $214.50. MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Sugland, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Commissioners agreed to table invoice #30222 dated 6/1/12 for $264.00 until the next meeting of the Planning Commission on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. J. Esty will speak to Sara Lyons, Administrative Assistant in the Land Use Office, to get clarification on the previous balance.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
The IWWC will meet on 6/21/12. Hunters Ambulance will be coming before the IWWC with an application for a regulated activity.
Town Hall Staff has been meeting on a weekly basis to finish the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan before the end of the fiscal year, 6/30/12.
The Design Standards for signs are being worked on. Data has been collected, and the goal is to give the applicant more direction. Photographs will be included in the margins with examples of signs that use good lettering, lighting, color and overall design to give applicants suggestions for things to consider.
C. Nelson reported that this summer, there will be a new online map on the town’s website. The town has recently switched vendors, and this new vendor has been organizing aerial flyovers of the state. Other surrounding towns are also utilizing this service, which costs $16,468.00 in total. The flyover has been done, and now it has to be processed which involves reading light reflection and taking measurements of how much light is coming back. It’s a digital elevation model, a planimetric metric model that is good for planning. C. Nelson stated that she needs $1,049.43 to pay the remainder of the $8,000.01 fee, and the Planning Commission agreed to pay it.
MOTION to pay $1,049.43 from line item 1-100-4 towards the 2012 flight for the aerial flyover. MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, K. Sugland, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
- “Bonding for Public Improvements” & “Lot Line Changes”
- Subdivision Regulations and Regulations for Public Improvements
- Petitioner: Old Saybrook Planning Commission
C. Nelson read a letter which she received this evening from Attorney Eric Knapp regarding Public Act 12-182.
Commissioners had a lengthy discussion about how Public Act 12-182 would affect surety bonds for subdivisions. If the governor signs this legislation, which would be effective 10/1/2012, some of the proposed text changes may not be necessary. They decided to continue the public hearing on this matter until they know whether or not the governor signs this act.
MOTION to approve the text as presented for “Bonding for Public Improvements” & “Lot Line Changes” Subdivision Regulations and Regulations for Public Improvements until October 1, 2012 with the contingency that the governor signs the Public Act 12-182 on October 1, 2012 with the exception of 3.10.1B eliminating the surety for the performance of work and the elimination under 6.14.13 assurance of completion of work bonding for final approval. Subparagraph C line 3 will be eliminated if the governor signs the act. If the governor does not sign the legislation, than the text stands as is with an effective date of 7/1/2012. MADE by J. Esty.
MOTION to withdraw the preliminary motion and to continue the public hearing until July 18, 2012 for “Bonding for Public Improvements” & “Lot Line Changes” Subdivision Regulations and Regulations for Public MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Commissioners discussed the scheduling for the next few Planning Commission meetings. At their next regular Planning Commission meeting of Wednesday, 6/20/2012, Commissioners would like to meet on Ingham Hill Road. M. Urban suggested that Barbara Maynard meet with the commission to share all of the historic information she has about Ingham Hill Road. Commissioners can then walk the upper stretch of Ingham Hill Road, and if it rains, the meeting will be cancelled.
At their regular, Wednesday, 7/18/2012 Planning Commission meeting, Commissioners plan to invite First Selectman, Carl Fortuna, and Director of Public Works, Larry Bonin to talk about scenic roads and public improvements to scenic roads such as trees, drainage, width of the road, pavement, program for tree replacement and maintenance, and the town’s policy on bike lanes.
At their regular, Wednesday, 8/15/2012, Planning Commission meeting, Commissioners would like to hold a field walk meeting along the lower end of Schoolhouse Road near Town Park
C. Nelson asked Commissioners how they would like to use the information they will be collecting about scenic roads. They said they would like to use a GPS to mark certain locations and use that data to make a map. They would then like to devote a section of the Plan of Conservation and Development to scenic roads with that map adding historical notations, tree notations, stonewall notations, etc. They also would to create a list of action items and goals to preserve the 3 scenic roads in town.
J. Esty offered to send Bob Lorenz a thank you from the Planning Commission for the detailed letter he sent with all of the historic information about Chalker Mill.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 6:30 P.M., at 155 Ingham Hill Road (Map / Lot ; MADE by C. Flanagan; SECONDED by K. Soudan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Sugland, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
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