REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, June 4, 2012 at 7:00 PM
1st floor conference room – Town Hall
302 Main Street
At 6:15 p.m. the Commission met at the Town Hall for annual gravel pit inspections. Those present for inspections were Chairman Friedmann, Mr. Sohl, Mr. Talbott, Ms. Steffen, Mr. Farnham and ZEO Costa.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Friedmann called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members
Robert C. Friedmann, Chairman
Charles E. Sohl, Regular Member
John T. Talbott, Regular Member
Madeleine B. Fish, Vice Chairman
Elizabeth D. Steffen, Alternate Member, seated for G. Lewis
Thomas C. Farnham, Alternate Member
Absent Members
Geraldine M. Lewis, Secretary
Robert E. Richards, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Christine Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Susan Graham, Administrative Clerk
Five members of the audience were present.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. MINUTES
It was noted that Ms. Steffen stepped down at 7:30 when Ms. Fish arrived at the last meeting. Ms. Fish had recused herself from the public hearing portion of the meeting.
MOTION to approve the minutes, as amended, from the May 21, 2012 Regular Meeting; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, J. Talbott, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. CORRESPONDENCE
None.
IV. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION
Honora Pearls, 899 Boston Post Road, Map 29/006, B-2 Zone
Antonio Carambat and Jack Jolly discussed plans to move the Honora business from 137 Mill Rock Road East to the former Boater's World location. The company is based in New York and sells fresh water pearls. The business will be open 6 days a week. The entire 12,000 sq. ft. building, located in front of Ocean State Job Lot, would be used for the following: retail (10%), warehouse (50%), offices and shipping (20%) quality control (15%) and employee lounge/restrooms (5%). The building was previously approved for retail use and has 26 parking spaces. Honora would require less parking since a smaller portion is to be used for retail. East Wharf Architects are designing the facade and landscape improvements and were present at the meeting. Mr. Jolly said that Joel Schechter, CEO of Honora, would be willing to improve
the sidewalk to the current pedestrian node standards.
Since the parking required is closer to compliance and there is no alteration to the building's footprint, the Commission found this to remain a special exception use and instructed the ZEO to handle the application administratively. The Commission would like to see updated plans showing sidewalk improvements to current standards and signs and lighting to meet regulations. Architect Tom MacDonald is willing to present the plans to the Architectural Review Board. Chairman Friedmann asked that any new landscaping not obscure the view of the businesses behind the building and that sign lights be on a timer to go off one hour after closing and that lighting be shielded. The pearl symbol on the sign is to fall within the sign guidelines in the regulations. Additional landscaping is not required in the parking lot since
there is already a limited amount of space.
V. WORKSHOP: “Sign Regulations” Section 64, reformatting existing sign regulations.
The Commission continued discussion with the ZEO regarding sign regulations. She provided an updated version of the rough draft and received suggestions for further editing. She asked that the Commission consider hiring David Wolfram to draw illustrations of some of the sign concepts that are not easily understood by the general public. The ZEO estimated that each drawing would be less than $100.
MOTION to authorize ZEO up to $600.00 for contractual services to be used in illustrating sign regulations; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, J. Talbott, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Susan Esty was present at the meeting representing the Chamber of Commerce and voiced concerns of local businesses regarding sign restrictions and fairness to competition. The Commission acknowledged her concerns. Ms. Esty also complimented the ZEO for her hard work in reformatting the regulations to make them more easily understood by the public.
It was the consensus of the Commission that the ZEO review the draft with the Town attorney and return for final approval before presenting for public hearing.
VI. RENEWAL OF GRAVEL PIT PERMITS:
1) Dibble: Ingham Hill Road (Map 35 / Lot 7)
MOTION to approve gravel pit permit for 2012-2013; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, J. Talbott, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED:5-0-0.
2) Pointkowski: Middlesex Turnpike (Map 52 / Lot 32)
MOTION to approve gravel pit permit for 2012-2013; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, J. Talbott, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED:5-0-0.
3) B & L Construction: Middlesex Turnpike, (Map 63 / Lot 3)
MOTION to approve gravel pit permit for 2012-2013; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, C. Sohl, J. Talbott, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED:5-0-0.
VII. COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE AND STAFF REPORTS
The ZEO reported the following:
907 Boston Post Road - An inquiry was made regarding the opening of a restaurant/bar at the combined former sites of McNulty's Cafe and Cup & Saucer. The Commission determined that this would be a special exception use to special exception use as long as the number of seating remained the same.
S&S Marine, 128 Essex Road - The boats have been removed from the property as required.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 1st floor conference room, 302 Main Street at 7:00 p.m.: MADE: by J. Talbott; SECONDED: by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, J. Talbott, C. Sohl, M. Fish, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Graham
Administrative Clerk
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