ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 6, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
First Floor Conference Room – Town Hall
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Robert Friedmann, Chairman Carl Garbe, Regular Member
Madeleine Fish, Vice Chairman John Duhig, Alternate Member
Walter Harris, Secretary
Geraldine Lewis, Regular Member
Charles Sohl, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Joanne Rynecki, Recording Clerk
The Chairman seated Alternate Charles Sohl for Carl Garbe
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. MINUTES
MOTION to approve the minutes of the June 15, 2009 meeting as presented; MADE: by M. Fish; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, W. Harris, C. Sohl, G Lewis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to amend the Agenda to add under New Business item V, C. Som Siam East located at 45 Mill Rock Road East request for outdoor service bar and entertainment; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by M. Fish; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, W. Harris, C. Sohl, G. Lewis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to amend the Agenda to add under Return of Landscaping Bonds, item IV, C. Island Cove Marina; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, W. Harris, C. Sohl, G. Lewis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
The ZEO sent a letter to the Old Saybrook Shopping Center regarding the Zoning Violation under section 11.2 prohibiting A-Frame sandwich board signs for several tenants.
The BOS elevated Geraldine Lewis to a regular member of the Zoning Commission at its June 18, 2009 meeting. Her term will expire 11/16/09.
The ZEO sent a letter to the property owner of 75 Bokum Road regarding repeated zoning complaints both verbal and written for the neighbor at 65 Bokum Road.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
A. PETITION TO AMEND SECTION 37 OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS SAYBROOK POINT SP-3 DISTRICT: to permit Hotel Suites as an accessory use to a permitted Hotel use not located on the same lot as the Hotel, under specified conditions.
Petitioner: Saybrook Point Marina, LLC By: David M. Royston, Its Attorney
Attorney David Royston spoke on behalf of Steven Tagliatela, the Manager of the Saybrook Point Marina, LLC. Jonathan Turley, Architect, was also present. Attorney Royston explained the Petitioner’s request to amend the current Zoning Regulations to allow hotel suites as part of a hotel either on the hotel lot or an adjacent lot under certain conditions in the SP-3 district.
The Saybrook Point Inn is located in the SP-2 district and the properties across Bridge Street are in the SP-3 district. Currently SP-3 allows single family and 2 family units. By adding hotel suites the Saybrook Point Inn would be able to accommodate both short term and long term rentals at its facility.
Attorney Royston has incorporated suggestions made by Attorney Mark Branse, however Attorney Branse’s most recent email was not available for review at tonight’s meeting.
Comment from the Office of Long Island Sound Programs, Planning Commission and the Connecticut River Gateway Commission were all favorable.
MOTION to continue Public Hearing to petition to amend Section 37 of the Zoning Regulations Saybrook Point SP-3 District: to permit Hotel Suites as an accessory use to a permitted Hotel use not located on the same lot as the Hotel, under specified conditions, until the next meeting scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2009 at 7:30 P.M. to be held at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, First Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, W. Harris, C. Sohl, G. Lewis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
KATHARINE HEPBURN CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
301 Main Street, (Map 30/Lot 36-1) Business B-1 Zoning District
Request to permit four municipal off-site parking lots at the following locations, per
Section 62.6.2, in addition to the minimum parking approved in Special Exception
Permit #05-213.
1. Willowbrook Properties (Porter Plaza), 196 Main Street
(Map 37/Lot 131), Business B-1 District
2. Parish of Grace Church (Grace Episcopal Church), 336 Main Street
(Map 30/Lot 70) Residence A District
3. Cove Investments, LLC (Corner Music Lot), 251 Main Street
(Map 30/Lot 52) Business B-1 District and 49 Sherwood Terrace
(Map 30/Lot 50) Business B-1 District
4. Anna Victoria, LLC (Sherwood School), 326 Main Street
(Map 30/Lot 49) Business B-1 District
Agents: Chuck Still, Executive Director
J. H. Torrance Downes, Trustee
Torrance Downes, Trustee and Chuck Still, Executive Director of The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, were present. Mr. Downes explained the locations of the proposed off-site parking lots and how vehicles will be routed to the alternate lots.
The Chairman asked how many handicap spaces are required. Mr. Downes will look into what the state of Connecticut requires for handicap parking spaces and may need to have the parking lot restriped to delineate any necessary handicap spaces. Volunteers working at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center may use the Board of Education and Middle School parking lots.
The Old Saybrook Police Department reviewed the parking plan and recommended approval of the plan with a request for the following conditions noted in the letter dated 7/6/2009 to the Zoning Commission: That the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center’s Executive staff meet with and provide a presentation to the Police Commission on the planned use and activities of the Center including a presentation on parking, vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. Allow a full vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow and parking site plan review to be held with the Police Commission in January 2010 understanding that the Center’s Executive staff will heed the recommendations should a more efficient plan be established. Allow for routine discussions between the Center’s Executive staff and the
Police Commission regarding upcoming performances/activities.
The Center will provide the ZEO with a schedule of events at the beginning of each year.
MOTION to approve the site plan review of the Town of Old Saybrook/Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – 301 Main Street (Map 30/Lot 36-1) Business B-1 District Request to permit four municipal off-site parking lots as indicated by the maps provided by Torrance Downes per Section 62.6.2, in addition to the minimum parking approved in Special Exception Permit #05-213 and incorporating the stipulations required by the Old Saybrook Police Department; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, W. Harris, C. Sohl, G. Lewis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
- PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION: Rock Martel, 78 Neptune Drive (Map 8/Lot 52) Residence A District. Discussion of pre-existing non-conformities and the need for variances. Agent: Attorney Edward Cassella
There were no representatives present at the meeting for the preliminary discussion therefore, this item is closed.
- DISCUSSION: North Cove Outfitters, Inc. 75 Main Street (Map 37/Lot 36)
Business B-1 District. Discussion of special events including tents and
parking lot demonstration pools. Agent: S. Zaid Hassan
Mr. Norman Cavallaro, owner of North Cove Outfitters, Inc., gave the Commission a copy of the parking lot event schedule for his business for 2009 and 2010. The Commission reminded him that any additional dates would have to be submitted to the ZEO for approval.
- Som Siam East 45 Mill Rock Road East (Map 42/Lot 30-1)
Business B-4 District. Request to allow the current bar in the screened patio area to be a service bar for the sit down restaurant. The commission received a letter stating that no seats will be at the service bar, but the area will have entertainment several nights of the week. The Commission has issue with the potential noise to the residential neighbors. All speakers for the entertainment must be located inside the building. No outside speakers will be allowed.
VII. RETURN OF LANDSCAPING BONDS
A. George Bessoni, Blue Point, Inc., 90 Ingham Hill Road
Map 35, Lot 12, Industrial I-1 District
Special Exception Use Application – CZC #06-068 – to construct warehouse
buildings
Remainder of Landscaping Bond: $5,000 (2nd year growth)
The ZEO inspected the property and found all landscaping to be acceptable.
MOTION to approve the release of bond to Blue Point, Inc. in the amount of $5,000.00 for landscaping; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, G. Lewis, W. Harris; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Essex Savings Bank, 155 Main Street, Map 37, Lot 42, Business B-1 District
Site Plan Application – CZC #08-059 – to replace existing drive-up teller and
add an ATM $500 two-year landscaping bond
The ZEO inspected the property and found all landscaping to be acceptable.
MOTION to approve the release of bond to Essex Savings Bank in the amount of $500.00 for landscaping; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: G. Lewis; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, G. Lewis, W. Harris; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
C. Island Cove Marina, 26 Fourth Avenue (Map 59/Lots 61, 62, 63) Marine Commercial District
Site Plan Application – CZC #08-059 – Two year landscaping bond
$18,800 two-year landscaping bond, $1,600 se/sc bond total $20,400.
Inspection performed by the ZEO and the first half of the landscaping bond may be released. The remaining $9,400.00 landscaping bond will be held for second year growth.
MOTION to approve the release 50% of bond to Island Cove Marina in the amount of $9,400.00 for landscaping; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: W. Harris; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, G. Lewis, W. Harris; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VIII. COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE AND STAFF REPORT
None
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 9:48 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Monday, July 20, 2009 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, First Floor Conference Room, 302 Main at 7:30 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Joanne Rynecki
Recording Clerk
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