TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Draft
Minutes 1 April 7, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Stephen Wagner, Tom Berstene, Sandy Jeski, Teri Dickey-Gaignat, James Kupchunos
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Phil Koboski, Karen Patterson
STAFF PRESENT: Michele Lipe, Town Planner
Pam Oliva, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Donna Thompson, Recording Secretary
The following are motions made during the April 7, 2011 Public Hearing/Regular Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairperson Wagner called the public hearing to order at 7:30 pm.
The recording secretary read the legal notice into the record as it was published in the Journal Inquirer on Saturday, March 26, 2011 and Saturday, April 2, 2011.
Appl. 2748-11 – Paul LaChance, 97 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT - request for a 10 sq ft variance to Table 6.5.8A to allow commercial building signage to be 26 sq ft in size (16 sq ft allowed), at 465 Buckland Road, RC zone.
Paul LaChance and Chris Rosa presented the application. Mr. LaChance and Mr. Rosa are partners in the business Professional Barber Shop. They are moving the barber shop from a location oo Ellington Road because of extremely poor visibility – no one knows they are there or cannot readily find them. The Buckland Road location will increase their visibility, but due to safety concerns with heavy traffic and at times trees possibly blocking the view of the building, they feel a 3 ft high sign versus the allowed 2 ft high sign on the building above the entrance to their shop would be better. The larger sign would also blend in with the other signs on the building, making a more uniform appearance and look better.
Jeski: Business would be handicapped by not having an adequate size sign.
Chairperson Wagner closed the public hearing at 8:11 pm.
Appl. 2749-11 – Osprey Associates, LLC, appeal of the Zoning Enforcement Officer’s issuance of an enforcement order dated 10/29/2010 alleging: 1. Outdoor commercial and industrial storage of equipment in violation of Section 2.11.A of the zoning regulations; and 2. Changes in the use of the site without approvals in violation of Section 8.5.D.2, on property located at 310 Nutmeg Road, I zone. Applicant requested postponement to next meeting on May 5, 2011.
Chairperson Wagner read letter from Attorney Lobo into the record.
Motion to: postpone Appl. 2749-11 to the next meeting on May 5, 2011.
Was made by: Commissioner Jeski
Was seconded by: Commissioner Berstene
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
ITEM: Deliberative Session
Appl. 2748-11 – Paul LaChance, 97 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT - request for a 10 sq ft variance to Table 6.5.8A to allow commercial building signage to be 26 sq ft in size (16 sq ft allowed), at 465 Buckland Road, RC zone.
Jeski: Feels variance should be granted. Hardship is due in part to size of property under current rules, prior to this time they would have been allowed more without a variance.
Commissioners agreed that the larger sign would allow for a more uniform appearance on the building, making it more aesthetically pleasing and allow the barber shop to be identified more quickly, easily and safely.
Motion to: approve Appl. 2748-11 – Paul LaChance, 97 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT - request for a 10 sq ft variance to Table 6.5.8A to allow commercial building signage to be 26 sq ft in size (16 sq ft allowed), at 465 Buckland Road, RC zone as shown on the plans submitted, with the following condition: any further signs need zoning approval. This variance applies only to the unit with a 16ft frontage.
Hardship: The placement of the building in the lot and the distance of the building from the road, the speed of traffic on Buckland Road and the ability to locate, read and react in a safe driving distance to the sign.
Was made by: Commissioner Berstene
Was seconded by: Commissioner Jeski
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
REGULAR MEETING
ITEM: Minutes
Motion to: approve the minutes of February 3, 2011.
Was made by: Commissioner Berstene
Was seconded by: Commissioner Dickey-Gaignat
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous, with Chairperson Wagner abstaining due to his absence.
ITEM: Correspondence: Invitation to 2011 Board and Commission Volunteer Reception
ITEM: Other Business: Michele Lipe introduced the new Zoning Enforcement Officer, Pam Oliva.
ITEM: Adjournment
Motion to: adjourn the meeting at 8:41 pm
Was made by Commissioner Jeski
Seconded by Commissioner Dickey-Gaignat
The motion: carried
The vote was as follows: unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Thompson
Recording Secretary Approvoed: May 5, 2011
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