TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT: Patrick Kennedy, Bart Pacekonis, David Sorenson, Elizabeth Kuehnel and Viney Wilson
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Mario Marrero, Frank Bonzani & William Carroll, Jr.
STAFF PRESENT: Michele Lipe, Town Planner
PUBLIC HEARING/COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Kennedy called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
APPLICATIONS OFFICIALLY RECEIVED:
- Appl. 10-47P, T’s Auto– request for a 2 year temporary and conditional permit (Section 2.13.a) to allow four vehicles for sale at 718 Ellington Road, RC zone
- Appl. 10-48P, Christine Cassettari, request for a 5-year renewal for a major home occupation “Chrissy’s Hair Studio” on property located at 1483 Ellington Road, RR zone
The secretary read the legal notice as it was published in the Journal Inquirer on Friday October 1 and Thursday October 7, 2010.
Kennedy appointed Marrero to sit for Abrahamson and Carroll to sit for Moriarty
- Appl. 10-45P, Doggone Beautiful Dog Grooming, request for renewal of a five-year major home occupation for a dog grooming business at 1162 Ellington Road, A-20 zone
Nancy Palauskas presented the application as follows. The application is for the renewal of a permit for a dog grooming business. There are no changes and the business continues to run the same way.
Lipe had the following Planning report.
This is an application for a renewal to the 5-year major home occupation for her dog grooming business known as “Doggone Beautiful Dog Grooming,” located at 1162 Ellington Road, A-20 zone.
The applicant specializes in the grooming of poodles and other small breeds. The hours of operation are three days a week; open some Saturdays with a maximum of four dogs per day.
The applicant utilizes a 13’ X 18’ room that has an existing entrance. The parking area has enough room on site for cars to turn around before exiting onto Ellington Road. She does have a sign in front of the property.
The applicant has indicated that there may be one other employee involved in the business during the holiday season.
Business generated waste and recyclable collection cannot be included with the residential trash pickup. Adequate arrangements must be made for business refuse disposal.
The State Dept of Agriculture regulates grooming facilities in homes and has standards including that the grooming area shall be kept disinfected, cleaned and sanitary at all times.
If this application is approved, the applicant would be required to return to this Commission upon expiration of the 5-year permit period.
There was no Engineering report.
Public participation was as follows.
Peter DeMallie, 35 Peterson Way, spoke in favor of this application.
Commissioners had questions, responses will be in italics.
- Commissioners reminded the applicant that this would be a good time to modify the hours of operation if needed.
The applicant responded that she operated by appointment only and did not have a need to change the hours of operation.
Meeting closed at 7:35 PM
- Appl. 10-47P, T’s Auto– request for a 2 year temporary and conditional permit (Section 2.13.a) to allow four vehicles for sale at 718 Ellington Road, RC zone
Richard Terascio presented the application as follows. Mr. Terascio is the owner of T’s Auto since 1989. The applicant is requesting a two year permit to display four vehicles for sale at 718 Ellington Road. The gas tank was removed from this location and there is a need to have more income generated.
Lipe had the following Planning report.
Request for a two-year temporary & conditional permit for the display of four automobiles for sale at T’s Auto Service on the corner of Ellington Road and Pleasant Valley Road (across from 7-ll), RC zone. This application was originally granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals in February 1989 to allow two vehicles for sale and renewed by this Commission every two years. This applicant has been faithfully resubmitting applications for renewal.
The original ZBA approval and the previous P&Z approvals included 3 conditions:
The permit is restricted to 2 automobiles and excludes vans or trucks;
The cars are to be no closer than 12 feet from the corner. No more than 12 cars in a single row with 2 other cars making a second row (as shown in the diagram submitted) are to be parked from the station to Pleasant Valley. This includes the automobiles for sale.
There will be no parking at any time in the front area of the parking lot.
3. With this request, the applicant is proposing to increase the number of vehicles for sale to four.
The regulations state that temporary & conditional permits may be granted by the Commission for a use, if the public convenience and welfare will be substantially served, and the appropriate use of neighboring property will not be substantially or permanently injured and traffic and other hazards will not result from such use.
If this application is approved, the planning department has no modifications to recommend.
There was no Engineering report.
There was no public participation.
Commissioners had questions as follows, responses will be in italics.
- A Commissioner asked if the applicant felt that he had enough room at that location to display four vehicles.
The applicant responded that he had enough room since the gas tank was no longer at that location.
The meeting closed at 7:40 PM.
- Appl. 10-44P, TOSW Firehouse #3 Zone Change – request for a zone change of approx. 2.05 acres from Industrial to Restricted Commercial for property located at 124 Sullivan Ave.
Matthew Galligan, Town Manager, presented the application as follows. In the past voters supported the sale of the property. The 2.05 acre parcel is currently zoned Industrial and would be more marketable if it was re-zoned to restricted commercial. The town would like to get as many bids for the property as possible and it would be more successful if the parcel were changed to restricted commercial. The Town Council has agreed and the Town Manager wanted to get the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission in order to go forward.
Lipe gave the following Planning report.
Request for a zone change from Industrial to Restricted Commercial for approx. 2.05 acres on the north side of Sullivan Ave, easterly of Route 5. The site is surrounded by industrially zoned land and there is a combination of industrial and commercial uses in the area.
The Plan of Conservation and Development proposed land use map shows this area as an “Economic Development Area,” which are characterized by a mix of older and newer commercial/industrial buildings. The plan indicates that, “The most appropriate uses are and will continue to be commercial and industrial uses that are in conformance with the Guiding Principles and Objectives of this plan.”
The minimum lot size in an RC zone is 30,000 square feet with 60% impervious coverage; minimum lot size in the Industrial zone is 30,000 square feet with 65% impervious coverage.
Uses allowed in the RC zone include: commercial, professional offices, retail stores, financial institutions and agencies, personal service shops; retail sales, hotels, assisted living facilities, municipal facilities and uses, day care facilities, etc., and other uses deemed appropriate after public hearing. Many of these uses directly service industrial areas around them.
Traffic impacts from the zone change should be easily handled by Sullivan Ave 5. There is an existing 60’ wide access easement along the easterly boundary of the property in favor of DL Caron (the property immediately adjacent). As these properties are developed, we would expect that all entering and exiting would occur through this access easement, to meet access management requirements.
Public water and sewer are currently servicing the site; there are no regulated wetlands on the site.
An application for site plan approval would have to be submitted for approval prior to any construction on the site.
If this zone change is approved, the Commission must state on the record that you have found the zone change to be consistent with the Town plan of conservation and development.
There was no Engineering report.
There was public participation as follows.
Dave Caron, 312 Deming Street, spoke in favor of the zone change.
David Patria, 564 Patria Lane, spoke in favor of the zone change. In the future Mr. Patria may have to approach the Planning Commission with a similar request.
Commissioners had questions as follows, responses will be in italics.
- Commissioners asked if the property had been offered to the adjacent property owners.
Mr. Galligan responded that the Town offered the property to one of the adjacent owners who was not interested. The Town has to put the property up for bid.
The hearing was closed at 7:45 PM.
- Appl. 10-46P, Kelley Zone Change – request for a zone change of approx. 40,000 +/- sf from Rural Residential to Restricted Commercial for property located at 1559 Sullivan Ave. and a portion of 29 Community Road
Per the applicants request the above mention application will be postponed until October 26, 2010.
REGULAR MEETING – MADDEN ROOM
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None
- Appl. 10-45P, Doggone Beautiful Dog Grooming, request for renewal of a five-year major home occupation for a dog grooming business at 1162 Ellington Road, A-20 zone
Commissioner Sorenson made a motion to approve the above mentioned application with the following conditions.
The business must be operated by the homeowner.
The permit will expire on October 12, 2015 and will have to be renewed at that time.
Only one non-resident employee can be hired.
Hours of operation are limited to four days a week (including Saturdays).
Refuse from the business cannot be disposed of with residential refuse. Adequate arrangements must be made for business refuse disposal.
Any new building, or alteration/additions to existing buildings and signage, requires a building permit prior to start of construction.
Business not to be open on Sundays.
Wilson seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
- Appl. 10-47P, T’s Auto– request for a 2 year temporary and conditional permit (Section 2.13.a) to allow four vehicles for sale at 718 Ellington Road, RC zone
Commissioner Sorenson made a motion to approve the above mentioned application with the following conditions.
1. This permit is for a two (2) year maximum period.
This permit is restricted to four (4) vehicles for sale with a standard auto marker and excludes vans or trucks.
The cars are to be no closer than 12ft. from the corner. No more than 12 cars in a single row with two other cars making a second row (as shown in the diagram submitted) are to be parked from the station to Pleasant Valley Rd. This includes the automobiles for sale.
There will be no parking at any time in the front area of the parking lot (triangle and near the dumpster).
The permit will expire in two years October 12, 2012 and will have to be renewed at that time.
Wilson seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
- Appl. 10-44P, TOSW Firehouse #3 Zone Change – request for a zone change of approx. 2.05 acres from Industrial to Restricted Commercial for property located at 124 Sullivan Ave.
Commissioner Wilson made a motion to approve the above mentioned application and that it conforms with the Town Plan of Conservation and Development. Kuehnel seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
- Appl. 10-46P, Kelley Zone Change – request for a zone change of approx. 40,000 +/- sf from Rural Residential to Restricted Commercial for property located at 1559 Sullivan Ave. and a portion of 29 Community Road
The above mentioned item did not go forward.
- CGS 8-24 Town Council referral regarding the purchase of easements for property located at 1862 Main Street A-40 zone
Matthew Galligan, Town Manager discussed the referral as follows. Most of the property is farm land, the land owners and the Town had concerns with what would happen in the future with the property. The Town would like to see it remain open space in the future and would like to work with the land owners by securing a conservation easement. The Town Council agrees and has brought it forward through a CGS referral for Planning Zoning to give their recommendations.
Commissioner Wilson made a favorable recommendation for the above mentioned item. Kuehnel seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
CGS 8-24 Town Council referral regarding possible sale of property located at 765 Sullivan Avenue GC
Matthew Galligan, Town Manager discussed the referral as follows. This property is located near the fire house and it was intended to be sold in the future, now that the fire house is complete this can be sold. Some of the land could be kept as open space. The Town Council agrees and has brought it forward as a CGS referral for Planning and Zoning to give their recommendations.
Commissioner Wilson made a favorable recommendation for the above mentioned item.
Kuehnel seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
CGS 8-24 Town Council referral regarding proposed wireless communication facility in the area of Pleasant Valley Road
Matthew Galligan, Town Manager discussed the referral as follows. Due to the lack of wireless communication there is very poor communication in the area of Pleasant Valley Road which makes it difficult for emergency services. Better coverage is needed in this area, especially since the town pool is located there and in the past it was vandalized. Under the agreement the first year would be paid up front by the carrier. It is the intent to use the funds for improvements. The tower will be maintained by the private company not the Town. The Town Council has approved the lease and is now being brought before Planning and Zoning for recommendations.
Pacekonis made a motion to make a favorable recommendation. Wilson seconded the motion.
The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
BONDS:
Commissioner Kuehnel made a motion to release the $25,000 E&S bond for Appl. 07-61P, Hillcrest. Pacekonis seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
MINUTES:
The minutes dated 9/14/2010 were approved by consensus with minor corrections.
OTHER BUSINESS:
ADJOURNMENT:
Sorenson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wilson seconded the motion. The motion carried and the vote was unanimous.
The meeting ended at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted
PZC Approved 10-26-2010
D. Maria Acevedo
Recording Secretary
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