REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, November 4, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 302 Main Street
1st floor conference room
I. CALL TO ORDER
R. Friedmann called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members
Robert Friedmann, Chairman
Madeleine Fish, Vice Chairman
Geraldine Lewis, Secretary
John Talbott, Regular Member
Thomas Farnham Jr., Alternate Member
J. Colin Heffernan, Alternate Member
Absent Members
Elizabeth Steffen, Regular Member
Robert E. Richards, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Chris Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Melanie Roberts, Administrative Clerk
There were 9 members of the audience present.
MOTION to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes from October 7, 2013 MADE: by G. Lewis; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to approve the Special Joint Meeting Minutes from October 21, 2013 MADE: by G. Lewis; SECONDED: by M. Fish; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice # 78514, 78515, 78529 & 78530 from Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. totaling $405.60; MADE: by G. Lewis; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice # 3418 from Wolfram Design totaling $225.00; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
A. “Saybrook Village Senior Housing” Application for Site Plan/Coastal Site Plan Review to construct 15 Affordable Housing Units pursuant to CSG 8-30g.
57 Sheffield Street (Map 30/ Lot 62) Residence A District, CAM Zone, Pedestrian Node.
Applicant/Owner: Old Saybrook Senior Housing, Inc.
Agent: Attorney Alexander Tighe
ACTION: Open Public Hearing, Continue or Close by 12/2/2013 (NLT 12/08/2013); Deliberate and Act.
Atty. Tighe and architect Bob Wendler presented site plans which entailed construction of 17 one bedroom elderly housing units. Fifteen of these units will be brand new construction and the other two will replace an existing residence which is planned to be demolished.
Daniel Kroeber, P. E from Milone & MacBroom, Inc. verbally addressed all comments/concerns in a November 4, 2013 letter to ZEO Chris Costa from Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. and reassured the commission that these concerns will be taken care of. The Commission discussed and agreed that these concerns can be a condition of approval.
C. Costa stated that referrals were sent out on October 10, 2013. Various concerns raised by Marcy Balint of the Office of Long Island Sound Programs and the Old Saybrook Building Official and Fire Marshall were addressed in a document dated October 30, 2013 prepared by Milone & MacBroom.
R. Friedmann asked for comments from the public.
Carol Manning of 442 Main St. spoke in favor of expanding senior housing.
Diane Arnold, Vice President, Board of Directors, Old Saybrook Senior Housing spoke on behalf of the Board and expressed their commitment to improving existing and the addition of new elderly housing in Old Saybrook and further expressed the need by stating there are over 100 people on the waiting list.
Bruce Whitaker, consultant for the applicant who has been working on funding for the current project discussed the time constraints involved in order to secure funding for this project and asked that the Commission provide a timely decision if possible.
MOTION to close “Saybrook Village Senior Housing” public hearing; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to approve “Saybrook Village Senior Housing” Application for site plan/Coastal Site Plan Review with the following conditions: 1.)Concerns raised by Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. in a letter dated November 4, 2013 be addressed; 2.)Construction of sidewalks be 5ft wide; 3.)Fire Marshall’s concerns be addressed; 4.)Legal documents will meet with Attorney Knapp’s approval; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by G. Lewis; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, M. Fish, G. Lewis, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
M. Fish & G. Lewis excused themselves from the remainder of the meeting. Seated for M. Fish was J. Colin Heffernan.
V. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. 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: Deliberate and act.
B. 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: Deliberate and act.
Chairman Friedmann opened both of the above mentioned public hearings. R. Friedmann asked the ZEO if there had been any referrals. No new referrals were given. She also stated that she has called and emailed Chief Spera but has not heard back.
After discussion amongst commission members it was agreed upon that information regarding traffic in this area would be most useful in making a more informed decision.
Public comments were taken at this time.
Carol Manning of 442 Main St. asked who developed the overlay and suggested that the Planning & Zoning Commissions have a joint meeting on this matter. R. Friedmann stated that the Zoning Commission came up with the overlay and C. Costa addressed concerns and gave a historical background regarding this project and the referral process between Commissions.
MOTION to continue both public hearings until the next Regularly Scheduled meeting of the Zoning Commission on November 18, 2013; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Colin Heffernan; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr., J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. 2014 Meeting Calendar
MOTION to approve 2014 Zoning Commission Meeting Calendar dated November 1, 2013; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Talbott; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr., J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
VII. COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE & STAFF REPORTS
167 Elm Street
ZEO C. Costa states there is currently some partial car storage. A direct mail letter shop which will occupy 31,000 sq ft. which does not trip a special exception. Total number of employees will be 8 and they will be open 7am – 5pm.
Between the Bridges
C. Costa gave a history of the applications, time lines, and extensions regarding this matter. The Commission discussed the request for extension concerning this applicant.
MOTION to extend special exception and coastal management permit application #11-054 until October 18, 2014 ; MADE: by J. Talbott; SECONDED: by R. Friedmann; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, J. Talbott, T. Farnham Jr., J. Colin Heffernan; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Max’s Place
C.Costa explained there is a conservation easement along the property line in the wetlands area. Currently the plan shows the fence running right through the wetlands area. It is suggested that the fence be wrapped around the conservation easement. The Commission agreed that this matter can be handled administratively.
22 Denmore Lane
House was converted into a two-family house and exceeded the square footage permitted to have it as an accessory apartment. It cannot be converted into a two- family house because it was built after zoning regulations came into effect. In 2011 Atty. Knapp wrote a letter to the property owner regarding this matter. The property owner responded and asked that more time be given for tenants to find a new rent. It is now 2013 and no one has vacated the premise. The Commission agreed that there has been more than adequate time to iron this out and this matter be referred back to
Atty. Knapp.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 p.m. until the next Regularly Scheduled meeting of the Zoning Commission which will be Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street at 7:00 p.m.; MADE: by R. Friedmann; SECONDED: by J. Colin Heffernan; VOTING IN FAVOR: R. Friedmann, J. Talbott, J. Colin Heffernan, T. Farnham Jr.; OPPOSED: 0; ABSTAINING: 0; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melanie Roberts, Recording Clerk
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