Skip Navigation
This table is used for column layout.
Zoning Commission Minutes 02/07/2011

I.              CALL TO ORDER
                Chairman Friedmann called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II.             ROLL CALL

Attendant Members                                     Absent Members         
Robert Friedmann, Chairman              David M. Shearer, Alternate Member                                   
Madeleine Fish, Vice Chairman           Geraldine Lewis, Secretary  
Charles Sohl, Regular Member                      Carl Garbe, Regular Member
John T. Talbott, Alternate Member    

                 Alternate Member John Talbott  was seated for Regular Member, Geraldine Lewis                  

Attendant Staff
Christina Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Sarah H. Lyons, Recording Clerk

III.     ELECTION OF OFFICERS

MOTION to nominate Robert Friedmann to continue as Chairman of the Zoning Commission; MADE: by J. Talbott; SECONDED: by M. Fish; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl and J. Talbott; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0

MOTION to close nomination and unanimously elect R. Friedmann as Chairman; MADE: by M. Fish; SECONDED: by C. Sohl; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl and J. Talbott; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.

MOTION to nominate Madeleine Fish to continue as Vice Chairman of the Zoning Commission; MADE: by  C. Sohl; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish,  J Talbott, and C. Sohl; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0

MOTION to close nomination and unanimously elect Madeleine Fish as Vice Chairman; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by C. Sohl; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl; and John Talbott OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.

MOTION to nominate Geraldine Lewis to continue as Secretary of the Zoning Commission; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by C. Sohl; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl; and J. Talbott; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.

MOTION to close nomination and unanimously elect Geraldine Lewis as Secretary; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl and J. Talbott; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0

MOTION to nominate Charles Sohl to continue as  Zoning Representative to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission., MADE:  by R. Friedmann, SECONDED: by M. Fish, VOTING IN FAVOR:  R. Friedmann, M Fish, C. Sohl and J. Talbott, OPPOSED:  none; ABSTAINING:  none; APPROVED: 4-0-0

MOTION to close nomination and unanimously elect Charles Sohl as Zoning Representative to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott, VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C Sohl and J. Talbott,  OPPOSED:  none, ABSTAINING: none, APPROVED: 4-0-0

IV.    REGULAR BUSINESS

        A.      MINUTES

MOTION to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2010 meeting as presented; MADE: by  J. Talbott; SECONDED: by R. Friedmann; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR:  M. Friedman, M. Fish, C. Sohl, and J. Talbott, OPPOSED:  none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.

           B.           CORRESPONDENCE

MOTION to pay Branse, Willis and Knapp invoices # 26801, 26805 & 26808 totaling the amount of $565.50. MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by  J. Talbott; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, and J. Talbott, OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED:   4-0-0.

MOTION to pay Nathan L. Jacobson and Associates for invoices # 73386, 73387 & 73385, totaling the amount of $585.85 . MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by M. Fish; no discussion on the motion; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, and J. Talbott ; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED:     4-0-0.

MOTION to pay Wolfram Design for invoice #3140 in the amount of $150.  MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott;; no discussion on the motion, VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C Sohl and J. Talbott:; OPPOSED: none, ABSTAINING: none, APPROVED:   4-0-0

V.    NEW BUSINESS

DISCUSSION – Informal Discussion Site Plan Review (Section 51.3) and Special Exception Requirements (52.3.5a) for Restaurant Use (former Kentucky Fried Chicken) 735 Boston Post Road, Map 36, Lot 099, Business B-2 District, Pedestrian Node.  Agent:  Attorney David Royston

Attorney David Royston appeared with the John and Anna Kanaras of Village Plaza LLC.  Mr. Royston and his clients realize that the site non-conforming and requires a public hearing which would occur, at the earliest, on March 21, 2011.  Mr. Royston stated that he recommended to his client that they come before the Zoning Commission for preliminary review of the Site Plan and to discuss possible waivers of the information required to be submitted under Section 52.3.5A.  They requested that they only be required to provide a Site Plan and Preliminary Architectural plans by eliminating the need for contours, detailed soil and erosion control measures and any written reports.  Additionally, the parties requested that the actual construction of sidewalks along the property frontage be initially limited to the corner of the Boston Post Road and Lynde Street.  They proposed that adequate space and grading would be established for future construction of sidewalks.  Their intention would be to put a mechanism in place to provide for the future installation of the sidewalks when they are notified that sidewalks are being constructed by abutting properties.  The parties also request that the existing ingress and egress curb cuts and general interior parking configuration be made part of the new Site Plan requirements.

The owner requests that the Commission approve a waiver of  landscape buffering requirements.  Specifically, they wish to eliminate the need to install landscaping to the west of the existing building or along the parking spaces adjacent to the property line.

Chairman Friedmann expressed that the intent of the sidewalk regulations is to establish sidewalks at the first opportunity and not to put it off to a later date. He pointed out other sites in town that are being held to the sidewalk regulations, even though these sidewalks don’t yet have abutting property sidewalks.  He stated that the Zoning Commission may require more than just grading and preparing the sidewalk area.  The ZEO expressed her concerns enforcement issues when deferring site plan improvements, and asked the Zoning Commission to be uniform in their decision.

VI.   WORKSHOP

A.   Review DEP State Mandated Aquifer Protection Area Regulations and Map Amendments to include new text requirements through Public Act 10-135 and to incorporate new Saybrook Aquifer Level A mapping.  DEP deadline for municipal adoption is April 2011.
B.  Review Draft Text and Map Amendments to Remove Saybrook Aquifer Level B mapping and associated regulations from the Zoning Regulations and Map.
The ZEO lead the discussion which merged subsections A and B.  The Commission reviewed the DEP State mandated Aquifer  Protection Area Regulations and Map Amendments.  The Commission also reviewed draft text and map amendments.  Chairman Friedmann asked the Zoning Commission to familiarize themselves with the map, to read the proposed new regulations and to look at the Aquifer Protection Agency Regulations which were given to them in 2007.

C.  Review Draft Text Amendments to Section 62.3.4 Off Street Loading Requirements and Section 53, Adult Day Care, per previous Zoning Commission discussions.

The Commission reviewed the Draft Text Amendments to Section 62.3.4/Off Street Loading Requirements and Section 53 Adult Day Care.  There was discussion and agreement that Section 62.3.4 be amended to permit a waiver for buildings with a gross floor area of less than 15,000 s.f.   Discussion regarding an amendment to Section 53, allowing 24 hour care at adult daycare facilities, brought concerns and questions regarding the amount of patients at the facility and having a minimum separation between facilities.  The Commission wants the facility to have less than 3 patients.  This proposed text amendment regarding adult daycare was tabled until more input could be gathered.

VII. COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE & STAFF REPORTS

  • ZEO Costa discussed the North Cove Crossing Walking Trail.   North Cove Crossing, LLC inquired as to whether the Zoning Commission would have any objection to an acceptance of the bond amount in lieu of having the work done on the trail as there are issues with permission to continue with portions of the trail.  The Commission decided to put the funds from the performance bond into a line item for construction of this portion of the pathway once permission is granted.
  • Following discussion on Greg Bessoni’s refusal to disassemble the apartment at 18 Denmore Lane , ZEO Costa will inform counsel to begin legal action.
        The CT DOT is building a new maintenance facility on Middlesex Tpke, across from the Rt.9 exit ramp.

  • ZEO Costa reminded Commission of a CBA Seminar being offered on March 12, 2011.  If interested, Commission members should register and they will be reimbursed by the LUD.
  • KIA of Old Saybrook, 275 Middlesex Avenue,  will be going to ZBA regarding their signage as they are requesting three signs rather than the one allowed..  The Commission will draft a letter to the ZBA stating that the business should only be allowed to have one sign and not three.
  • The North Cove Yacht Club submitted a letter to the Commission regarding their  CT DEP dock permitting application.  The Commission discussed the project and nothing is required as there is no change in use.  The Commission was pleased to be informed of the plans.

VIII.  ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Friedmann adjourned at 10:50 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Monday, February 22, 2011 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall First Floor conference room, 302 Main Street at 7:30 p.m.


                Respectively submitted,

 
Sarah H. Lyons
Recording Clerk