REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall – 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Janis Esty called the regular meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty, Chairman
Robert Missel, Vice Chairman
Donald Ranaudo, Regular Member
David Shearer, Regular Member
Members Absent
Cathryn Flanagan, Secretary
Kathleen Sugland, seated for David Shearer
Michael Urban, Alternate Member
Kenneth Soudan, Alternate Member
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
Invited guests present were Kathy Connolly, former chair of the Bikeways Committee, landscape designer, and long time past Tree Committee member; and Stephen Tagliatela, owner of Saybrook Pointe Inn.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
MOTION to pay invoice #77521 for $323.19 to Jacobsen & Associates dated 4/1/2013 for consulting work; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, D. Ranaudo, D. Shearer, OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. WORKSHOP
A. Scenic Roads
ACTION: Capture comments from Bikeways Committee, Emergency Management, Saybrook Point Inn, and Parks & Recreation Commission about physical improvements, programs or standards to protect or enhance natural, historical and other physical aspects of the town’s scenic roads – Ingham Hill Road, Schoolhouse Road, and portions of Route 154 along its coastal loop.
Kathy Connolly presented comments to the Commission regarding bikeways safety, road striping and lane widths. She presented some of the findings of the Bikeways Committee’s work from 2008-11 in support of the Planning Commission’s study of scenic roads as it pertains to safety. She referenced a letter to the Planning Commission dated March 20, 2013, noting the challenges of the 1.3 mile stretch of road along Schoolhouse Road from Luigi’s to Town Park. The Bikeways Committee had also examined Route 154/Village Area/Loop and their recommendations are summarized in the March 20, 2013 letter.
Another area of interest for pedestrian and bicyclist safety that K. Connolly spoke about is the stretch of Boston Post Road from approximately the train station, over the bridge to “Pat’s Corner”. Her Committee had noted varying lane widths making this a particularly challenging area. Her suggestion would be for the pavement to be brought down to grade, converting the allocated area into standard sidewalk or bike lane width. She noted that incorporating these ideas would require a great deal of advance planning and budgeting.
From her experience with the Tree Committee, K. Connolly gave a snapshot of planning for “safe” trees, noting that many trees had been damaged and taken down post storm Sandy. She provided the Commission with a list of 20 trees considered “storm worthy” by a University of Florida study. She also explained the practice of “pods”—planting a variety of tree species in a group, rather than an allee, which tend to withstand storm better than trees planted in a row. Members agreed it would be beneficial to identify areas in town where pods would be appropriate.
B. Coastal Access
ACTION: Discuss status of enhancing existing coastal access points and developing other road endings similarly.
Don Ranaudo reported that a survey of Soundview Avenue has been commissioned with Jacobsen & Associates. It will likely take three weeks to complete the survey.
C. Sidewalks
ACTION: Review the Sidewalk Plan in the context of pedestrian safety on Main Street; send report to Board of Selectmen and Police Commission.
Commission members discussed need to review the Sidewalk Plan to see if items needed to be emphasized, or if anything needs to be added as it pertains to pedestrian safety. D. Ranaudo noted that he’d like to see the angle of parking spaces adjusted in front of St. John's church. D. Shearer feels strongly that safety issues need to be addressed.
MOTION to continue the Coastal Access Plan and Scenic Road Plan to the second meeting of June, scheduled for June 19, 2013; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, D. Ranaudo, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED:
4-0-0.
MOTION to continue the Sidewalk Plan discussion to the next workshop meeting scheduled for June 5, 2013; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, D. Ranaudo, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission which will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, D. Ranaudo, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
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