Sound View Commission
Meeting Minutes — Unapproved
22nd May, 2017
7.30 pm
Shoreline Community Center
Present: Frank Pappalardo (Chair), Joann Reis Lishing, Michaelle Pearson (Secretary), Jackie Miano (Alternate), Harry Plaut, Sandra Ziemba (alternate), Frank Maratta (Alternate)
Also Present, Ex-Officio: Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, First Selectman Bonnie Reemsnyder;
Absent: David Kelsey
7.35 pm Meeting called to order by Chairman Frank Pappalardo.
Frank Maratta seated for the absent David Kelsey
Approval of April Minutes: Joann Lishing motioned to approve, Harry Plaut seconded.
All in favor. Minutes approved.
7.40 pm: Sound View Improvements
Project is nearly complete. Road will be milled and paved this week. All should be completed by the end of this week including paving and striping. Banner posts and signposts are on order.
Jackie Miano asked about streetlights. Frank Pappalardo explained that streetlights are not part of this project. Decorative streetlights are planned as part of the townwide LED replacement.
Need banners designed for the poles. Possibly could offer sponsorships for businesses.
FP will research costs. 4 poles in total. Will email the commission members to decide on the content, probably something like: Welcome to Sound View— America’s Oldest Public Beach, Est. 1892.
New street signs: Frank Pappalardo to ask about obtaining brown Historic District street signs.
Location of 30-minute business spaces on Hartford Avenue: 4 on upper Hartford, 4 on lower Hartford. 2 in front of Community Center will also accommodate Soundview Market, 2 in front of Waffle Bar. 3 alongside the town lot across from Vecchitto’s, one in front of Sugar Shack.
Trash Cans: Still need to be painted. Dave Kelsey will work with Ed Adanti to match beach sand color.
7.50 Miami Beach - Clean Beach Pass
Miami Beach Association is providing beach passes for Sound View Beach owners and residents. Passes are $5 each, and are valid for 5 years. Owners may purchase up to 4 passes per property, and/or 2 for rental properties. Lori Carlson of the SVBA has volunteered to distribute the passes at the Community Center. Hours will be 7-10 am this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Bring proof of property ownership, or if you are a year-round resident, your drivers’ license will suffice.
There are several status meetings scheduled with Miami Beach Association, Sound View Beach Association, Sound View Commission and Board of Selectmen. The dates are as follows:
5/25 (via conference call), 6/1, 6/29, 7/6, and 8/31.
Frank Pappalardo said he’d received an email from a resident who had difficulty getting on the beach. Will pass the info on to Miami Beach Assn. to respond. He has also received a number of calls regarding this, some very irate and concerned about the fence, public access, etc.
Frank has explained that the town doesn’t believe they have standing to take any legal action, so any actions must be undertaken by individuals. Kathleen Tracy of 76 Hartford ave (860 778 4888) has stated that she was willing to spearhead a legal action. Anyone interested may contact her.
Tani Faenza, Portland Avenue asked how many people will be admitted on one pass. Frank Pappalardo said the passes are good for a single group, entering the beach at the same time. Wristbands may be issued if individuals wish to leave the beach and return later in the day.
8.04 pm Zoning Board of Appeals Variance Approvals Information:
UMARS, 281 Shore Rd., Public Hearing: June 12, 2017
Previously, Umars went to the Zoning Board of Appeals for variances, some of which were granted. SVC spoke against many of the variances.
1800 sq ft building approved. Now going to Zoning Board for special permit. Lighting, signage, hours of operation and sidewalks are of concern to the SVC. Dark sky lighting, no gigantic signs, sign height. Public Hearing is June 12.
Frank Pappalardo will submit to Zoning Board a detailed list of the SVC’s concerns regarding this project.
Ms. Pearson made a motion that Frank Pappalardo shall attend the Zoning Board public hearing on behalf of the SVC to raise the issues of concern discussed. Joann Lishing seconded.
All in favor. Motion carried.
Lenny’s on the Beach liquor permit:
Lenny’s has applied for a revised liquor permit to include “duo acoustic performers amplified through a restricted PA system. Lenny Corto, Jr. Stated that the performances will be outdoors, and would not confirm the hours.Frank Pappalardo said he’s contact the ZEO Keith Rosenfeld to get ZEO letter defining hours of music.
FP will contact ZEO to get the info.
Any Objections must be received by 4-08-2018
DCP Liquor control division by
450 Columbus Blvd, Suite 901
8.31pm Other Business
Osprey Festival: Postponed till 2018. SVBA all you can eat pancake breakfast will take place that morning.
Report on Incident (Fight at Beach, Police Response)
Frank Pappalardo read a Letter from the First Selectwoman regarding the incident and police response. ATTACHMENT.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder explained that police resources were requested quickly and response time was impressive. She stated that she had warned the Police to check the inland weather for an idea of what to expect at the beach that week. She also returned that evening at 9pm and witnessed a trooper clear out the parking lot. Overcrowding was definitely a factor.
The Police have installed Jersey barriers. If Police deem the beach is at capacity, they can close the beach. Frank Maratta stated that the new Miami fence is the problem, and the Town cannot close access to the beach in front of the Pavilion Bar or Lenny’s. Frank Pappalardo answered that the Fire Marshal can, if it is at capacity. Must allow roughly 15 square feet per person.
Any other town with public facilities closes when at capacity.
Lenny Corto, Jr said the reason for the indent was that people were all crowded into the Sound View section because of Miami’s fence, creating a public safety issue. He asked why the town was able to remove the fence in years past. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reiterated that according to the Town attorney and the State Attorney General, the Town has no jurisdiction over the fence.
Frank Maratta said Miami Beach Association has opened a commercial business in a residential zone. They should be subject to the different rules, and also the State of CT entertainment tax.
8.40 SVVD/ Hartford Avenue Vacant Properties:
A letter has been sent to the Owners of the dilapidated buildings on Hartford Avenue, Frank Noe (Former Dance Hall, etc) and Bill Randazzo (former El Morocco, etc.) Mr. Randazzo responded via telephone saying that he is working with the Town Buildings Department and would like to turn the El Morocco building into a weekend antiques market.
Will fix windows and paint.
David Kelsey will be meeting with Mr. Randazzo and Mr. Noe. Mr. Noe has expressed that he might be willing to tear down the Dance Hall building if given some time beyond one year to build on the footprint. Would be contingent on sewers going in. Clock wouldn’t start ticking until sewers are in.
Joann Lishing asked about the green building (former Post Office).
Selectwoman Nosal said the Town Building Official is in contact with the owners. The broken window was boarded up this week. Frank Pappalardo added that the owners seem very intent on fixing it up but there is an issue with probate, etc., so they are limited in what they can do right now.
Swim Lines: Harry Plaut said the swim lines will be installed this week, as soon as weather permits.
Plantings: Sandra Ziemba has completed the plantings. New planter for upper Hartford avenue.
Flagpole: Thanks to Harry for flag. Has been installed.
Frank Pappalardo said he had prepared a handbook for the new State Trooper advising her of various Sound View issues and situations. Mrs. Reemsnyder said she had given the handbook to the Resident Trooper.
Mrs. Reemsnyder added her thanks to the Sound View Beach Association for taking on the expense of redoing the sidewalk in front of the Community Center, saying that it looks beautiful and enhances the whole area.
Frank Maratta returned to the subject of beach access stating that the Jersey barriers are ugly. Ms. Pearson agreed, asking they could be replaced with boulders, as in other areas of town. Boulders would serve the same purpose, but are much more aesthetically pleasing and appropriate for the beach environment.
Mrs. Reemsnyder agreed, saying she didn’t like the way the Jersey Barriers look either, and also didn’t like the hardening of access to the beach, but it was a quick response solution, and we will look at it again in future. Joann Lishing expressed that we need to support the police decision to restrict access if it’s a public safety situation. She also stated that the Miami fence is causing a problem.
Frank Lishing asked if the fence had been shortened at all at the high tide line. It appears to have been pulled back 3-4 feet. Frank Pappalardo said the fact that the fence has seaweed all over it tells me that its below the tide line. The town sent a photo to the DEEP. DEEP responded that the photo “didn’t change their minds.”
Harry Plaut said the Town spends a lot of money cleaning the beaches. The town has a stake in what goes on. We have to live with the barriers for at least one season. Lenny Corto, Jr., responded that the barriers will be graffitied and attract garbage.
8.58pm: Adjournment:
Joann Lishing motioned to adjourn. Harry Plaut seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9.01 pm.
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