APPROVED
OLD LYME ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING
Monday, September 12, 2005
The Old Lyme Zoning Commission held its Public Hearing on Monday, September 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of Memorial Town Hall. Members present were Jane Marsh (Secretary, arrived at 7:50 p.m.), Tom Risom (Member), Steven Ames (Alternate - seated), and Howard Tooker (Alternate - seated). Also present was Ann Brown, Zoning Enforcement Officer.
Acting Chairman Marsh called the Public Hearing to order at 7:59 p.m.
1. Site Plan/Special Exception/Coastal Site Plan Application to construct an office building/showroom, 4 Huntley Road, Robert Giannotti, applicant.
Tony Hendriks was present to represent the application. Ms. Marsh read the list of exhibits for the record. She read Exhibit N, referral comments from the Conservation Commission. Ms. Brown noted that comments on the revised site plan have not been received from Mr. Metcalf or Ms. Balint.
Mr. Hendriks stated that the proposed building is 6,000 square feet. He noted that the site is located behind the old Texaco Station. Mr. Hendriks stated that the parcel has been in existence since the mid 1950’s. He noted that it is located in a C-30 Zone and meets the 30,000 square foot requirement. Mr. Hendriks displayed the existing conditions survey of the site. He explained that the site is currently used for the parking of trucks. Mr. Hendriks stated that Mr. Giannotti plans to use the building for an office building for his business and a kitchen cabinetry showroom. He indicated that a portion of the building would be used for the storage of hardware, cabinets and tools, along with an area for a workshop.
Mr. Hendriks pointed out that Huntley Road is a one-way street. He indicated that in order to protect the wetlands they are proposing a paved area in the front of the building only, with diagonal parking. He noted that in this way the cars will be oriented to back out and turn out onto Huntley Road. Mr. Hendriks stated that there will be another gravel parking area on the right side.
Mr. Hendriks stated that there have been several sets of revisions to the plans. He explained that the building has been moved twenty feet to the right of the site and the building size was reduced by 20 feet. Mr. Hendriks noted that some of the underground detention basins have been relocated and the level spreader has been moved further away from the wetlands. He noted that these changes were made in response to the wetland review process. Mr. Hendriks stated that Sheet 3 of 8 demonstrates the subsurface drainage system. He indicated that the site will contain the first inch of rain.
Mr. Hendriks explained that the surface plan focuses on plantings and screening of the residential and adjoining commercial properties. He indicated that the fence is 6’ high other than in the street setback where it is 4’ high. Mr. Hendriks noted that the remaining area will be planted lawn. He stated that the proposed loading zone is not required by the Regulations but there a loading area shown on the plan. Mr. Hendriks noted that the site is not visible from Halls Road. Ms. Marsh questioned the need for a fence and questioned whether additional plantings could be used for a buffer from Halls Road. Mr. Hendriks noted that there is not enough room for plantings in that area of the parcel. He noted that a fence would also provide some security.
Mr. Hendriks stated that one parking space for every two hundred square feet of showroom was used for the parking calculation. He noted that the storage area and office area were calculated with 3.2 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. Mr. Hendriks stated that there is 1,125 square feet of retail/public area and 4,875 square feet of private/storage/office area.
Mr. Hendriks stated that there are very good soils on the site, in the 3.5 to 3.3 range. He noted that the rear elevation has been added to the drawings, as requested. Mr. Hendriks stated that the Public Hearing before the Wetlands Commission has been kept open and he requested that this Public Hearing be kept open in order to provide the Zoning Commission with a report from the Wetlands Commission.
Mr. Giannotti explained that he would not be building cabinets at the site, but would be displaying cabinets, doors and windows. Mr. Tooker questioned whether he would be painting or varnishing at the site. Mr. Giannotti replied that he would not be. Mr. Hendriks stated that there will be some shop work. Ms. Marsh questioned the number of employees. Mr. Giannotti stated that there will be four secretarial people upstairs and one, possibly two, full time people working downstairs.
Mr. Hendriks stated that the employees will be parking in the gravel parking area and the front parking will be available for customers. He noted the proposed lighting as shown on the plan. Mr. Hendriks stated that Mr. Giannotti is anxious to start constructing the building and they would like to time it so that the critters are not hatching in the vernal pool during the construction. Mr. Risom questioned whether the building is on a slab. Mr. Hendriks replied that it is on a slab.
David Kus, 5 Huntley Road, stated that he attended the Wetlands Meeting. He noted that the project looks good to him. He questioned the size of the sign that will be in the front. Mr. Hendriks replied that the sign will be 30” x 48” and 42” off the ground. Mr. Hendriks stated that the sign is located so that the Kus’ will not see it.
Blair Hoxby, 7 Huntley Road, stated that he is concerned about lighting and parking. He questioned the need for the number of proposed parking spaces and indicated that it might be appropriate for the Commission to relax the parking requirements. He noted that having the parking area unpaved would be more in keeping with a residential area. Mr. Hoxby stated that he would appreciate hedges of some sort, such as boxwoods, to partially obscure the parking area. Mr. Hendriks pointed out that there are plantings along the front, although they are not proposing a hedge. Ms. Marsh indicated that a hedge along the back side of the paved area may obscure the parking from the neighbor across the street.
Hearing no further comments, Ms. Marsh noted that the Public Hearing is continued to the October Regular Meeting.
2. Site Plan/Special Exception Modification Application to construct a walkway from residence to dock, 17 Sandpiper Road, Patricia and Robert Volland, applicants.
Ms. Marsh read the Exhibit List for the record. She noted that the legal notice was published in the Main Street News on Thursday, September 1 and Thursday, September 8, 2005. Ms. Marsh read the health approval letter from Ron Rose, Sanitarian and a letter from the Town Engineer, Tom Metcalf.
Sloan Danenhower was present to represent the Vollands. He indicated that the owner would like to have electricity out to the end of the dock, although he is not looking to have lights on the dock.
Ms. Brown stated that the Vollands did not file their Certificate of Decision or Mylar for the Site Plan approval for the dock. She indicated that this approval has expired and the Vollands will now need to reapply in order to construct the dock.
Mr. Tooker questioned whether any clearing has been done on the site. Mr. Danenhower replied that they have not done any clearing. Mr. Tooker stated that he believes there has been some clearing as one can see a big swatch of clearing from the end of Ferry Road. Mr. Danennhower stated that he has not been on the site recently but was not aware of any clearing on the site. He indicated that he believes the clearing was on another property.
Mr. Risom stated that he would like it clearly stated that any future lighting on the dock would have to come back to the Commission for approval. Ms. Marsh stated that she would like to see a site plan showing the limits of clearing as suggested by Tom Metcalf. Mr. Risom noted that the work is being performed by hand. Ms. Marsh stated that if the applicant changes his mind and decides to take equipment on the site, he must put up silt fencing and show it on the plan. Ms. Marsh suggested that the site plan be revised to show the electricity and the other comments of Tom Metcalf. The Commission agreed to continue this Public Hearing to the October Regular Meeting.
A motion was made by Howard Tooker, seconded by Tom Risom and voted unanimously to adjourn the Public Hearing at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan J. Bartlett
Recording Secretary
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