REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Janis Esty called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.
ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty
Robert Missel
Cathryn Flanagan
Daniel Walden arrived at 7:10pm
David Shearer
Kenneth Soudan
Michael Urban, seated for Daniel Walden until 7:10pm
Members Absent
Kathleen Sugland
Approximately ten members of the public were present.
REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the Minutes of June 4, 2014 as amended, to show Janis Esty as absent, and Kathleen Sugland as seated for David Shearer; MADE: by R. Missel, SECONDED: by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None;
APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Correspondence
MOTION to pay invoice #36080 for $74.00 to Branse & Willis dated 6/10/2014 for legal
services rendered; MADE: by D. Shearer, SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Cathryn Flanagan attended a workshop of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce about Social Media and found it useful.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
None.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed section of the Town Plan of Conservation & Development“Scenic Roads: A Corridor Management Plan for Local and State Scenic Roads in Old Saybrook”
Chairman Esty opened the public hearing at 7:20pm and comments were heard from the audience.
Resident Barbara Maynard complimented the Commission for their work on the Scenic Roads plan, and would like to see follow through by the town on signage and other recommendations made within the plan. She remarked about Ingham Hill Road and Schoolhouse Road, and the importance of celebrating their history.
J. Esty acknowleged letters from Tedd Levy and from RiverCOG.
In response to a question about the effect on traffic as a result of the Scenic Roads designation, J. Esty explained that not a tremendous amount of traffic is expected.
The Commission also acknowledged a letter from the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, in support of both Scenic Roads and Mariner’s Way and agreed to incorporate the following points into the proposal:
- salt marsh restoration and dune stabilization
- stamping out invasive species and protection of natural vegetation
- coastal riparian vegetation and design of coastal buffers
MOTION to incorporate into the Proposed section of the Town Plan of Conservation & Development “Scenic Roads: A Corridor Management Plan for Local and State Scenic Roads in Old Saybrook” the following points: to include along Route 154 salt marsh restoration and dune stabilization wherever possible, to stamp out invasive species and protect native vegetation, to use coastal riparian vegetation design for coastal buffers, and to include natural and cultural information on The Preserve when it is approved and bought by the town, MADE: by D. Walden with an effective date of July 16, SECONDED: by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED:
None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to amend the motion to incorporate into the Proposed section of the Town Plan of Conservation & Development “Scenic Roads: A Corridor Management Plan for Local and State Scenic Roads in Old Saybrook” the following points: to include along Route 154 salt marsh restoration and dune stabilization wherever possible, to stamp out invasive species and protect native vegetation, to use coastal riparian vegetation design for coastal buffers, and to include natural and cultural information on The Preserve when it is approved and bought by the town; to close the public hearing at 7:30pm; MADE: by D. Walden with an effective date of July 16; SECONDED: by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Proposed section of the Town Plan of Conservation & Development “Mariner’s Way: A Vision to Improve the Route 1 East Corridor between Saybrook Junction town center and Ferry Point marina district”
Chairman Esty opened the public hearing at 7:35pm and comments were heard from the audience.
Mathew Rubin of 175 Ferry Road commented that he does not expect a big box tenant to move into Mariner’s Way because they need a minimum of 140,000 sq. ft. of space, and does not think it realistic that a grocer would move in.
Ron Baldi of 1 Ferry Road doesn’t want a big box store there, nor the traffic it would bring and wants to protect the existing businesses.
Ed Mosca of 5 Watch Hill commended the Chairwoman for her work on the proposal and asked if current property owners were interviewed; stated that he likes the preservation of some of the properties; does not want to see any unintended consequences, likes what he sees overall, and does not want a big box store there.
D. Shearer explained about the formation of the task force, that property owners were asked for their input. C. Nelson explained that many of the bigger property owners are represented by Attorney Royston and that they were consulted.
C. Nelson referenced an email from Suzy Beckman, who suggests some edits and inclusion of policies and formatting.
Gail Antoniac commented that big box stores would change the character of the town. She recalled a study that was done in 1985, that not a lot could be done due to wetlands in that area of Mariner’s Way, near the former location of Pat’s Country Kitchen.
D. Shearer addressed the concern of the establishment of a big box store, stating the wish of the Commission is to protect the character of the town, and that Mariner’s Way aims to protect and expand the character by not letting the area languish.
Sandy Roberts of 129 Springbrook Road would like to see business drawn to that part of town.
C. Flanagan asked about the term “boulevard;” D. Shearer explained about replicating the look of Main Street with the median, with the aim of creating connectivity and traffic calming.
J. Esty referenced a letter dated May 20, 2014 from the Lower Connecticut River Valley and the concern about access to I-95 and the fear of a potential negative impact to some businesses. She noted the Plan addresses this concern with a preference to keep traffic moving and be beneficial to Mariner’s Way.
The Commission acknowledged the June 3, 2014 memo from the Zoning Commission and agreed to review the B-3 and B-5 zoning regulations.
J. Esty noted a letter from the Historical Society dated May 9 and the comment to preserve the house at 40 Ferry Road. She also acknowledged letters from Tedd Levy, and the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
MOTION to close the public hearing at 8:15pm MADE by D. Shearer, SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN~FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
For the next meeting it was agreed to review S. Beckman’s email and the suggested edits to language and policy points and formatting changes, and to review the comments received tonight.
MOTION to continue the discussion to the next regular meeting of July 16, MADE by D. Shearer, SECONDED by R. Missel; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED:5-0-0.
Commission members approved hiring of a graphic designer to complete the layout of the Plan.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:38 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Planning Commission on July 16, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., 302 Main Street, Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE by D. Shearer, SECONDED by R. Missel, VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, D. Walden, D.
Shearer; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
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