REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 17, 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 7:11 p.m.
Members Present: Janis Esty, Cathryn Flanagan, Kenneth Soudan, seated for R.
Missel
Members absent: David Shearer, Daniel Walden, Michael Urban, Robert Missel,
Kathleen Sugland
Staff: Christine Nelson, Town Planner, Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk, Carl Fortuna, First Selectman
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
MOTION to approve the minutes from August 6, 2014 as presented; MADE by C. Flanagan; SECONDED by K. Soudan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED:
3-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice #80010 for $330.87 to Nathan Jacobson & Associates,
Inc. dated 8/14/2014; MADE by K. Soudan; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty,C. Flanagan, K. Sugland; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 3-0-0.~
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Members reviewed two letters, one from the Economic Development
Commission regarding bike paths, and one from RiverCog a summary of their
work in 2014.
Daniel Walden provided a packet of articles to members pertaining to forests and
conservation.
C. Nelson reported that staff has been meeting to discuss sea level rise and how it may effect life in Old Saybrook. She asked if Planning Commissionmembers would review all town plans to review procedures and recommendations for dealing with sea level rise and report back to the Commission with their comments.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
None
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. “North Main Street Reconstruction” Municipal Improvement
Shopping Ctr. B-2 District, Incentive Housing IH-MF Zone, Pedestrian Node
Applicant: Town of Old Saybrook, Agent: Carl P. Fortuna, First Selectman
Town engineer Geoff Jacobson reviewed concept plans for improvements along
North Main Street to Route 1. The roadway will be 24 feet wide, with a
turning lane, sidewalks on both sides of street, lighting, landscaping, and
benches to name some of the improvements.
First Selectman Carl Fortuna is meeting with adjacent property owners for
their input. Overall he has heard positive comments. One property owner is
concerned about curb cuts.
G. Jacobson explained the subsurface infiltration system, and the need to
address runoff and ponding of water. He also explained that bike
lanes were considered but deemed not possible, in part due to telephone
poles and the insufficient width of the roadway.
The Commission finds the application consistent with the Town Plan of
Conservation and Development, and that it will enhance the Town Center and Main Street by:
1. Promoting Main Street and the village center as the focus for
community life in Old Saybrook,
2. Continuing to promote the aesthetic qualities that make the village
center an attractive, pleasant place to visit and also creating a positive
image of the community giving the community a sense of civic pride,
3. Encouraging a balance of commercial, civic and residential uses in the
Town Center to maintain vitality and character,
4. Providing adequate space in the village center for the present and
future conduct of local governmental business,
5. Assuring new development is compatible with the existing character
of the village center in terms of appropriate scale and style,
6. Establishing new public parking areas.
MOTION to send a favorable recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for
“North Main Street Reconstruction” Municipal Improvement Shopping Ctr. B-2
District, Incentive Housing IH-MF Zone, Pedestrian Node as it is consistent
with the Town Plan of Conservation and Development; MADE by C. Flanagan;
SECONDED by K. Soudan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan; OPPOSED none; ABSTAINED none; APPROVED 3-0-0.
B. “Frisbie” Spec'l Except. for Large Struct. in Gateway Conserv. Zone -
1.42 ac.(3,631 s.f.) 17 Whisper Cove Rd. (Map 53 / Lot 40-1)
Res. AA-2 Dist., Gateway Cons. Zone, Coastal Area Mgmt. Zone
Applicant: David & Earla Frisbie Agent: Edward M. Cassella,Esq.
Matthew White of Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe and Associates explained the
application. The owner of the property plans to remove the house that is
already there, and build a new home sited at a different location on the
property. Because the house will exceed 3,500 feet in a Gateway Conservation
Zone, the applicant must seek a special permit and a zoning variance because
part of the house will reside within the buffer. He noted that none of the
existing vegetation within the buffer needs to be removed.
MOTION to make a favorable recommendation to the Zoning Commission regarding “Frisbie” Spec’l Except. because the riparian buffer is deemed sufficient to prevent deterioration of the scenic quality of this area per Zoning
Regulation 58.2; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 3-0-0.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on October 1, 2014, at 7:00p.m., 302 Main Street, Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE: by C. Flanagan; SECONDED: by K. Soudan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 3-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
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