OLD LYME PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
AUGUST 14, 2006
Present were: Chairman Harold Thompson, Connie Kastelowitz, Chris Kerr, Steve Ross and Alternate Nancy Strohla seated for Rob McCarthy. Also present were: Attorney John Bennett, Tony Hendriks, Lee Rowley, Frank Martone, Tim Griswold, John Forbis, and Kim Groves.
MUNICIPAL REFERRAL – 50 LYME STREET – MALCOLM SPIERS PROPERTY – RECOMMENDATION FOR PURCHASE TO ALLOW EXPANSION OF TOWN HALL PROPERTY
Mr. Thompson stated this is a municipal referral to the Planning Commission for the purchase of the Malcolm Spiers property. He reported this purchase is to support the proposed expansion of the Town hall. Mr. Thompson stated the presentation given at the Town Forum noted that the final designs are not complete because the town does not know about the interaction or the participation of Regional District #18. He stated the expansion shown on the left side of the building, which will contain the large meeting room and presentation area, will be included in the renovation regardless of whether District #18 moves its administrative offices to the Town Hall.
Mr. Griswold introduced John Forbis, Chairman of the Town Hall Expansion Committee, who then reviewed the proposed drawing with the commission. Mr. Griswold stated the Board of Selectmen will vote on whether to proceed with obtaining all the necessary approvals to recommend a Special Town Meeting be held on August 20, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting the town would vote on the appropriation of funds. Mr. Griswold further stated the property is being offered at $350,000 and the town has an option at $1,000 a month ending in November 2006.
Nancy Strohla asked Mr. Forbis if this would cover all the foreseeable needs of the town. Mr. Forbis stated there are areas incorporated into the plan for additional personnel. He also noted the plan includes two large conference rooms, two small conference rooms, as well as handicapped accessibility to all four floors. He also stated the town is seeking a special grant that will fund all the ADA improvements. Connie Kastelowitz asked if there were drawings that showed the interior layout as proposed. Mr. Thompson stated the design is not complete because the participation of Regional District #18 has not been defined. Mr. Griswold offered to show any of the commission members that were interested the interior drawings of the buildings that are proposed at this time.
Mr. Ross asked what period of time this plan would satisfy the anticipated space needs for the town hall. Mr. Griswold stated there would be some flex space in the building as well as the use of computers shrinking the needs for filing cabinets and also regionalization of some of the departments. Mr. Griswold concluded by stating he felt this proposal would satisfy the town’s needs for at least the next twenty years.
Harold Thompson made a motion to recommend the support of the purchase of the Malcolm Spiers Property to allow for the expansion of the town hall. Connie Kastelowitz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Robert McCarthy will be seated for the remainder of the meeting. Nancy Strohla will be seated for Chris Kerr who will be leaving the meeting.
SUBDIVISION – 5 LOTS – FMTM, LLC (BROAD BROOK ESTATES) – 254 BOSTON POST ROAD
Attorney John Bennet was present to represent the applicant on the proposed subdivision. Mr. Bennet stated this is a 5-lot subdivision located on the Boston Post Road in the area of Stone’s Ranch. He presented the survey of the existing parcel. Bennet noted the Inland Wetlands commission has approved the application. The parcel is approximately 50 acres that will service 5 lots by a common driveway. Attorney Bennet noted the plans include a provision for a firewell at a stream crossing which has been approved by the Old Lyme Fire Department. A deeded right of way/easement will access the open space.
Chairman Thompson asked Attorney Bennet to review the comments made by Mr. Metcalf in his letter of August 3, 2006. Bennet noted that many of the issues raised in this letter have been addressed in the revised plans dated August 9, 2006.
Comments will follow in order of Mr. Metcalf's memo:
Attorney Bennet indicated Mr. Metcalf stated he had not met with Lee Rowley to go over the drainage report. However, Bennet indicated the June 3rd comment states the overall matters with the sizing of culverts and drainage ditches that were raised during reviews by the Old Lyme Inland Wetlands appear to have been addressed. Any changes as a result of further revisions to the Drainage Report will be minor as they relate to our overall review and consideration of wetland issues. Should you consider approval of the application, I suggest you do so with a condition that the Drainage Report be revised to clarify the outstanding items. Attorney Bennet stated that he felt the outstanding issues have been addressed and any approval could be
conditional upon a final sign off by Mr. Metcalf on the Drainage Report. Mr. Thompson asked if the Drainage Report has been updated. Lee Rowley stated the last revision on the report was May 2, 2006. He further stated there are no major outstanding items. He also stated the report is now done in a computerized format that Mr. Metcalf is not familiar with, therefore he has requested a meeting to review the information contained in the report.
Bennet stated the drawings have been amended to comply with this comment regarding driveway access markers.
Bennet stated he has requested a waiver with respect to monumenting all of the open space and the reason for this request is that it is surrounded by open space and it is difficult to get into the wetlands to mark it, therefore the applicant has requested that the commission consider the corner markings to be sufficient. Mr. Thompson asked what percentage of the open space is wetlands. Mr. Hendriks indicated it was approximately 50 percent. He further stated the waiver request is for the boundary line that immediately adjoins the Stone Ranch property. Bennet also noted the easement would be monumented.
Security bonding for the monument is fine and will be a part of the project bonding.
e. Bennet noted he has submitted a proposed draft deed to town counsel for his review. He
noted they are not final drafts until the plan is finalized.
Bennet stated the comment with regard to curve data has been addressed.
Sheet 4 of 12
Lee Rowley stated the plan has been modified to show the footing drains around the houses.
Lee Rowley stated the plan has been modified to show the drywells.
Bennet comment has been addressed.
Bennet stated Lee Rowley has made the changes to address this comment.
Sheet 10 of 12
a. Bennet noted this comment has been addressed on the plans.
b.& c Bennet noted these comments have been addressed on the plans.
Sheet 12 of 12
Lee Rowley stated they had proposed a type of catch basin that was not familiar to Mr. Metcalf, therefore this detail has been removed from the plans and replaced with a standard catch basin.
Lee Rowley stated the specific locations where the drywells are proposed are where the soils have an acid runoff from the roof leeders. He stated therefore a note has been placed on the plan that states where it is applicable drywells will be used and where it is not applicable then it would be discharged over land. Mr. Hendriks stated it is not known at this point exactly where the houses will be located on the lots and whether they will or will not require footing drains. Mr. Thompson asked if the note specifies how far the drywells should be from the structure. Lee Rowley stated the plan shows they are located approximately 10 or 15 ft away from the corner of the house.
Lee Rowley stated “turf reinforcement mat detail” was mislabeled and has been relabeled as slope stabilization detail.
Attorney Bennet clarified to the commission that the maps before them are dated August 9, 2006 and are in response to these comments.
General Comments
Attorney Bennet stated that sidewalks and bikeways are not appropriate for this type of 5-lot subdivision. He further stated this property does not posses any historical elements.
Attorney Bennet stated the phasing of construction is all provided for in the wetlands
permit.
Lee Rowley stated Mr. Metcalf has stated because more than 5 acres is being disturbed an
application needs to filed with the DEP.
Attorney Bennet stated as soon as the applicant receives approval from the Planning Commission an application will be filed with the DOT. Mr. Hendriks indicated the application has already been submitted.
Attorney Bennet stated the applicant is willing to provide any bonding that the commission determines to be appropriate.
New Comments
Attorney Bennet stated there was an errant bit of drainage that ended up on the previous set of maps, but it has been removed.
Attorney Bennet concluded by stating he felt the plans comply with all of the regulations, with the exception of the waiver request with regard to bonding.
Robert McCarthy asked if the driveway would be paved. Attorney Bennet indicated the driveway would be paved.
Steve Ross stated given the type of land he felt the waiver request was appropriate.
Harold Thompson made a motion to approve the application of FMTM, LLC (Broad Brook Estates) pending resolution of comments by staff, approval of legal documents by counsel, waiving the request for the boundary monuments along the open space and that the bond amount be set at the September meeting of the Planning Commission. Nancy Strohla seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Groves
Land Use Administrator
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