MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Marjorie Anthony, Barbara Murray and Joseph Carino
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Thomas Berstene sitting for Robert Warren
Stephen Wagner sitting for Joel Nadel
Chairperson Anthony called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The Recording Secretary read the legal notice as published in the newspaper.
Appl. #2495-01 – Kimberly J. Sullivan, request for a variance to section 11.2 to allow an expansion of the family room into the existing garage without adding a new garage (a garage is required for a single family house) at 105 Farmstead Drive, A-20 zone.
Ms. Kimberly Sullivan came before the Board to represent this application. She explained that she presently has a home daycare and does not have enough space. She uses both the upstairs and downstairs playrooms for different activities which she feels is not good for business. She feels it would be much easier to have one big room to have all the activities in, instead of going up and down stairs with the children. A bathroom would also be constructed in the lower level to accommodate the daycare. Ms. Sullivan told Board members that she and her husband plan to add a new garage onto the house within the next three years.
Ms. Sullivan said she feels the present situation is stressful on the children she watches a well as herself and this plan should eleviate that.
No one from the public spoke in favor or opposition to this appeal.
Answering questions from the Board, Ms. Sullivan explained that her daycare is licensed by the State of Connecticut. There are presently six children full time that come to the daycare and she is allowed three more children before and after school.
The current dimensions of the room is 11’ 2” x 17’ 4”. If this variance is approved, the room dimensions would be 22’ 2” x 17’ 4”.
Naptime is taken in the upstairs bedrooms and playroom. The extension of the downstairs playroom into the garage would allow naptime in the lower level only. There will be an exit/entrance from the downstairs to the outside.
Ms. Sullivan told members that she was advised by her teachers to open up the downstairs and then go for her CDA (Child Development Associate) which is a higher level of credential for a daycare.
DELIBERATIVE SESSION
ITEM: Appl. #2495-01 – Kimberly J. Sullivan, 105 Farmstead Drive, A-20 zone
Chairperson Anthony stated there is a safety issue and felt the expansion would allow more control and safety features.
Commissioner Carino stated there is no hardship on the property.
Motion to: Approve appl. #2495-01 – Kimberly J. Sullivan, a variance to section 11.2 to allow an expansion of the family room into the existing garage without adding a new garage (a garage is required for a single family house) at 105 Farmstead Drive, A-20 zone.
Was made by Commissioner Wagner
Seconded by Commissioner Berstene
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: 4 to 1 with Commissioners Anthony, Murray, Berstene and Wagner voting in favor of approval and Commissioner Carino voting against approval.
Hardship: The present house does not provide the safest configuration for a home daycare.
Condition: Approval is stipulated on the applicant adding a garage onto the house within the next three years.
ITEM: Minutes
Motion to: approve the January 4, 2001 minutes.
Was made by Commissioner Carino
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
ITEM: Old Business
Board members received a notice of the annual meeting for The Connecticut Federation of Planning and Zoning Agencies. It will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2001 at the Aqua Turf Country Club.
The Commission had a brief discussion on the Strategic Planning Session that was held on January 31, 2001.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Was made by Commissioner Murray
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows
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Deborah W. Reid, Recording Secretary
Zoning Board of Appeals
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