Called to order by Chairman Stanton Simm at 6:13 pm. Other Commission members in attendance were B. Bell, J. Herbst, J. Swenarton, S. Lyons, B. Baldwin, and S. Cole. Member R. Dewire was absent. Also present were Town Planner, Keith Byrnes, and three members of the public: Donald & Lesley Walsh, owners of 34 Anguilla Brook Road, and their representative John Hamilton.
Motion to move item 3c to head of agenda (Bell/Herbst) Passed unanimously.
3c. Meeting with John Hamilton on Walsh property – Review of Conservation Commission walk of property. Lesley and Donald Walsh and their representative John Hamilton discussed the sale of their property for conservation purposes.~ They would like to carve out a ~4 acre lot containing their homestead from the 32.6 acre parcel.~ They would need 350 feet of frontage for their lot in the GBR-130 zone.~ Mr. Hamilton said that they would provide the Conservation Commission the net dollar amount that they need from the Town or land trust (i.e., Avalonia Land Conservancy) to preserve the land and a sketch of the property containing the lot to be subdivided out. The Conservation Commission Land Acquisition Committee will pursue possible funding sources in addition to working on the bonding campaign for Open
Space acquisition. Trust for Public Land told Herbst that they could assist the Conservation Commission in taking this on as a project. The Walshes will determine a net number and the retained land.
2a. Application PZ0562ZC Conservation Commission application for Taugwonk Rd. Zone Change – LI-130 to GBR-130 and GBR-130 to LI-130 and additional uses in LI-130. PZC will decide at 12/6/2005 hearing. The Dunklee property, as presented as LI-130 adjacent to GBR-130 to the south, would have an increased setback requirement. One alternative would be to keep 50 feet of the adjacent property as LI-130. The application’s approval looks unlikely at this point.
2b. PZ0570RA Town of Stonington – Zoning Regulation Amendment to create a Neighborhood Marina (NM-80) Zoning District.~ The proposed amendment includes modifications to other sections of the regulations to reflect these changes. The Town Planner distributed a staff report on the application. MOTION: In general we are in agreement with this, with the proviso about not creating more nonconforming uses. The exclusion of single family residential use from the new zone should be made clear. (Cole, Bell) Passed unanimously.
The Town Planner will investigate the status of the public access easement at Admiral Cove and report at next meeting.
2c. PZ0571ZC Town of Stonington – Zoning Map Amendment from Residential RR-80 to Residential RA-20 for properties located on the east side of Greenhaven Road (305-343), Carnot Court (all), Fallon Road (all), River Crest Drive (24-110), Lee Drive (all), Cowell Court (all), Rene Drive (all), Arnie Drive (all).~ Assessor’s Map 27, Block 1, Lots 3-29 and 38-57; Map 26, Block 1, Lots 30-37; Map 12, Block 16, Lots 46A-46M, 46P, 46Q; Map 12, Block 14, Lots 47A-47Z and 48A-48D, 48N, 48O. The Town Planner distributed a staff report on the application. Its maps were not consistent as to which parcels are included. MOTION: The Conservation Commission does not see any major conservation issues in this application (Swenarton, Cole) Passed. All in favor except for abstention by Lyons.
2d. PZ0574SD & GPP Dean & Shirley Avery (Gary Winalski) - Application for 3-lot subdivision (three 3 acre +/- lots) of a 10.00 acre parcel. Property located at 128 Wolf Neck Road, Stonington.~ Assessor’s Map 142, Block 2, Lot 1, Zone RR-80. The Conservation Commission covered this application at the last meeting.
3. Open Space Committee
3a. Open space plan update – discussion on parcels for preservation. Nothing new to report. The Conservation Commission discussed the Board of Selectman’s rejection of an offer of dedicated open space on Bittersweet Lane to the town.~~~~
3b. Discussion on parcels for preservation in Pawcatuck. Awaiting feasibility study draft.
4. Old Business
4a. Review of Conservation Subdivision option - update of cluster subdivision. ~Cole spoke with Planning Director Vincent. PZC is reviewing the regulation. It may be phased in allowing the lot yield to be the same as in the conventional subdivision, but going forward the lot yield can be made better than conventional as an incentive. Double engineering costs are a disincentive. The Town Planner distributed a memo on Buildable Land Regulations / Open Space Subdivisions.
4b. The Trust for Public Land feasibility study. A draft is expected soon.
5. New Business
5a. Mystic River Dam Committee. Cole will call a meeting.
5b. Town list of critical locations: Streambelts, aquifers, historical sites, etc. Baldwin distributed a list of the 10 highest ranking vacant parcels in town.
5c. Review of town procedures in regard to creation of non-conforming uses and changes in set back requirements, resulting from town mandated zone and regulation changes.
Baldwin obtained the new minutes book. Baldwin will send Chairman Simm a copy of the invoice. The book cost $122.75.
6. Review of October 25, 2005 meeting minutes.
MOTION: Approve as presented (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
MOTION to adjourn (Lyons). Meeting adjourned 9:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ben Baldwin, Acting Secretary
Approved at a regular meeting on December 27, 2005.
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