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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
Chairman Esty called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
II ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty
Daniel Walden
Kathleen Sugland, seated for Robert Missel
Michael Urban, seated for Cathryn Flanagan
Members Absent
Robert Missel
Cathryn Flanagan
David Shearer
Kenneth Soudan
Staff
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
Katelyn Monroe, Intern
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
MOTION to approve the minutes of July 16, 2014 as presented; MADE: by D. Walden; SECONDED: by K. Sugland; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, D. Walden, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED:
4-0-0.
Christine Nelson gave a brief update on status of hiring traffic engineers.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
C. Nelson stated that annual reports are due August 18.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
None.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. “North Cove Shops” Retail / Restaurant – 69,995 s.f. (1.61 ac.)
75 Main Street (Map 37 /Lot 36) Central Bus. B-1 Dist., Ped. Node, Coastal Mgmt. Zone
Applicant: 75 Old Saybrook, LLC, owner Agent: David Royston, Esq.
ACTION: Review per Town Plans; report for 9/2/2014 Zoning Commission public hearing.
Attorney David Royston, representing the owner and applicant, 75 Old Saybrook, LLC, reviewed plans and design of the proposed building. Also present were owner/applicant Anthony F. Izzo, and project manager Stephen Matic, AFI, Inc. The building at 75 Main Street will be renovated to accommodate multiple tenants, with 11,236 sq feet of retail space on the main floor. The basement will be used for storage by the tenants, and not for retail use. The footprint of the building will not be changed. It will have a new roof and façade. The hope is to sandblast the paint off the brick and maintain the brick front. At present, the owner has no committed tenants. He is seeking a special exception for potential use of the building, which may include a restaurant and convenience store. He is applying for a site plan that meets requirements for
prospective uses. The site plan would reconfigure parking, eliminate the backing of vehicles onto Elm Street, and add interior and perimeter landscaping. The applicant has made all modifications consistent with current zoning regulations, and meets parking requirements for a restaurant and convenience store.
A public hearing is scheduled for September 2. The applicant is seeking a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission for Special Exception, and cites the following points as consistent with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development:
- Town image: to strengthen commercial economic viability by incorporating structures designed to be in harmony with the Town’s historic structures and sites and the Policy of encouraging quality design for development sites with special regard for landscape and other site amenities, traffic safety and convenience, and functional and visual linkages with adjacent areas
- Economic Development: encouraging quality design for development sites with special regard for landscape and other site amenities, traffic safety and convenience, and functional and visual linkages with adjacent areas
- Town Center: encourages a balance of commercial, civic and residential uses in the Town Center to maintain vitality and character
- Transportation: to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, which particular emphasis on Main Street
J. Esty added the goal “to encourage reuse and appropriate renovation of existing buildings in keeping with the village character.”
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission for “North Cove Shops” Retail / Restaurant – 69,995 s.f. (1.61 ac.) 75 Main Street (Map 37/Lot 36) as it is consistent with the Town Plan of Conservation and Development. Applicant: 75 Old Saybrook, LLC, owner; Agent: David Royston, Esq. MADE: by M. Urban; SECONDED: by D. Walden; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, D. Walden, K. Sugland, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
VI. WORKSHOP
- Town Plan implementation review
The Commission members reviewed a revised document, “Town Center, Old Saybrook Plan of Conservation & Development” showing inventory of plans and projects undertaken by the Planning Commission, showing an inventory of tasks and initiatives, a snapshot of work undertaken, completed, or planned. The Commission acknowledged the hard work and dedication of intern Katelyn Monroe and her contributions to this Commission and to the Land Use office.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on September 3, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., 302 Main Street, Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE: by D. Walden; SECONDED: by K. Sugland; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, M. Urban, D. Walden, K. Sugland; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED:
4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
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