REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, September 16, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 302 Main Street
1st floor conference room
I. CALL TO ORDER
M. Fish called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members
Madeleine Fish, Vice Chairman
Elizabeth Steffen, Regular Member
John Talbott, Regular Member
J. Colin Heffernan, Alternate Member (arrived 7:05 p.m.)
Robert E. Richards, Alternate Member
Absent Members
Robert Friedmann, Chairman
Geraldine Lewis, Secretary
Thomas Farnham Jr., Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Chris Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Melanie Roberts, Administrative Clerk
There were 14 members of the audience present.
MOTION to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes from August 19, 2013 with the following correction: pg. 3, 2nd paragraph from the bottom, change transient to transit. MADE: by E. Steffen; SECONDED: by M. Fish; VOTING IN FAVOR: M. Fish, E. Steffen, J. Talbott, R. Richards; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice 34150 from Branse, Willis & Knapp, LLC. totaling $382.00; MADE: by E. Steffen; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: M. Fish, E. Steffen, J. Talbott, R. Richards; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. DISCUSSION: All Test Pro, LLC., Relocation & Permit Requirements
813-817 Boston Post Road (Assessor’s Map 36, Lot 5),
Shopping Center Business B-2 District, Pedestrian Node
Applicant/Agent: Jorgen Bjorkman
Jorgen & Mike Bjorkman addressed the commission in regards to the daily activities that will be taking place at 813-817 Boston Post Rd. Shipping, delivery, and retail concerns were addressed by the applicants. A discussion amongst commission members took place and the commission was in agreement that there is no change in use at this location and handed the matter over to C.Costa for further administrative duties.
V. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Petition to Amend the Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations Section 9.1, Definition of Developable Land (Incentive Housing Zone) Section C, to exempt land proposed to be conveyed or proposed to be conveyed from a third party from the definition of developable land prior to Zoning Commission endorsement of site plan, per Section 51.10.
Petitioner: Eastpointe, LLC
Agent: Edward M. Cassella, Esquire
ACTION: Open Public Hearing, Continue or Close by 10/7/2013 (NLT 10/20/2013); Deliberate and Act.
Atty. Cassella addressed the commission and asked that consideration be made in regards to proposed text changes to section 9.1. These changes would enable the applicant to propose building fewer units because the developable land to be considered would be less. He feels this change not only makes sense for this application but would benefit the town on a more global basis as well. The Petition for text amendment to Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations proposed by Eastpointe, LLC. was reviewed by commission members.
C.Costa stated that positive feedback regarding this text change was received by the Planning Commission, Marci Balint of the CT DEEP, & Atty. Branse. Referrals were sent to others on August 13, 2013 and are still awaiting responses, if any.
M.Fish asked members of the public to comment.
Bud Shurtleff of 36 Maple Avenue asked questions regarding the current zoning status, parking, and what % of units is incentive housing.
Maureen Auger of 21 Lord Place had concerns and questions regarding # of areas in town that are zoned for incentive housing. C.Costa distributed the Town Center Proposed Incentive Housing Zone map that was prepared for the public hearing of 8/19/2013 and gave an overview of the proposed IHZ Zone.
Carol Manning of 442 Main Street wanted to know if this change applies to all IHZ or just multi-family and stated that she is in favor of reducing the # of units.
Eleanor LaPlace of 4 Fourth Avenue asked commission members to vote no to the proposed text changes to section 9.1.
Bob Mordes of 73 Coulter Street presented the train schedules and informed the commission of the number of inbound and outbound trains at this location.
MOTION to continue public hearing until the Zoning Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting of October 7, 2013; MADE: by E. Steffen; SECONDED: by M. Fish; VOTING IN FAVOR: M. Fish, E. Steffen, J. Talbott, R. Richards, J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. Petition to AMEND the Old Saybrook Zoning Map to create a Town Center Incentive Housing Zone and Mixed-Use (MU) Subzone that overlays that portion of the Shopping Center Business B-2 District and Gateway Business B-4 District known as Boston Post Road (Assessor’s Map 39, Lot 9 and Map 40, Lots 4, 15, 16, 18-1, 40, 43, 44, 45, & 46), North Main Street (Assessor’s Map 40, Lot 5, 6, 6-1, 7, 10, 12-1, 43-1, 45-1, 45-2 & 70), Stage Road (Assessor’s Map 40, Lots 12, 13, 14).
Petitioner: Old Saybrook Zoning Commission ACTION: Close by 9/16/13 (NLT 9/22/13); Deliberate and act.
C. Petition to AMEND the Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations to add Section 54.1.3.E.2 to describe the proposed map change to create the Saybrook Junction Town Center Incentive Housing Zone and Mixed Use Sub-Zone that overlays that portion of the Shopping Center Business B-2 District and Gateway Business B-4 District known as Boston Post Road (Assessor’s Map 39, Lot 9 and Map 40, Lots 4, 15, 16, 18-1, 40, 43, 44, 45, & 46), North Main Street (Assessor’s Map 40, Lots 5, 6, 6-1, 7, 10, 21-1, 43-1, 45-1, 45-2 & 70), Stage Road (Assessor’s Map 40, Lots 12, 13, 14)
Petitioner: Old Saybrook Zoning Commission ACTION: Close by 9/16/13 (NLT
9/22/13); Deliberate and act.
M. Fish opened both the petition to amend the Old Saybrook Zoning Map and the petition to amend the Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations public hearings. The commission informed the public that changes to section 54.3.5 was reworded for grammatical purposes only. Section 54.1.3 was changed for organizational purposes and 54.1.3.E2 speaks about the map that will accompany the text amendment.
Maureen Auger of 21 Lord Place asked if the property use will remain the same and if by amending these regulations will it help Old Saybrook stay out of court. C.Costa and the commission gave a brief education to the public regarding the dropping of the IHZ overlay over the current map.
The Commission stated to the public that by addressing this matter now we are being proactive and only complying with what will be forthcoming. By allowing the IHZ overlay, zoning regulations can guide developers to areas of town in which this type of development is preferable.
Mary Hansen of 2 Tudor Court West had concerns regarding quality of life.
Eleanor LaPlace of 4 Fourth Avenue asked what % of housing has to be affordable in Old Saybrook. C. Costa stated 10%. She also asked why the commission was still discussing these amendments given that Eastpointe, LLC. didn’t meet the zoning regulations previously.
Jane Sypher of 44 Great Hammock Road had concerns regarding apartments being built over commercial establishments on Main Street.
Dick Goduti of 3 Gregory Place asked the commission what other towns are doing to address this issue and is being proactive regarding this matter advantageous for the town. M.Fish stated that all towns are trying to save the characteristics of their towns and those towns not addressing this issue now will have to at some point. Westbrook and Clinton were discussed in regards to what they’re doing but the commission stated that they would investigate further.
MOTION to continue both public hearings until the Zoning Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting of October 7, 2013; MADE: by M. Fish; SECONDED: by E. Steffen; IN FAVOR: M. Fish, E. Steffen, J. Talbott, R. Richards, J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
VI. COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE & STAFF REPORTS
1450 Boston Post Road
C.Costa informed the commission that the owners of the Days Inn purchased this property and are starting to lease it out. They would like to put in a small Indian restaurant. Based upon the history of this property the commission agreed that operating a restaurant from these premises would be considered a use to use.
Max’s Place
The zoning officer informed the commission that work is currently underway at this site and bonding has been secured. Flooding issues have always been a concern in the Chalker Beach area and in an effort to be proactive regarding these matters she has spoken to Bob Friedmann and Atty. David Royston and all are in agreement that Jeff Jacobson be hired to do periodic inspections. Atty. Royston agreed to contribute funds to cover the costs that will be incurred.
S&S Marine
C.Costa states the signage on the building is in compliance with zoning regulations.
IWWC Representative
Elizabeth Steffen stated that the next meeting will be on September 19, 2013 and gave an overview of the agenda.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. until the next Regularly Scheduled meeting of the Zoning Commission which will be Monday, October 7, 2013 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street at 7:00 p.m.; MADE: by M. Fish; SECONDED: by J. Colin Heffernan; VOTING IN FAVOR: M. Fish, E. Steffen, J. Talbott, R. Richards, J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melanie Roberts, Recording Clerk
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