Called to order by Chairman Stanton Simm at 6:10 pm. Other Commission members in attendance were B. Bell, J. Herbst, J. Swenarton, and S. Cole. B. Baldwin arrived at 6:30 pm during item 2a and took over minute taking from J. Swenarton. Members R. Dewire and S. Lyons were absent. Also present were Town Planner, Keith Byrnes, and one member of the public identified as a high school student.
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. The application was denied unanimously by PZC primarily due to concerns for loss of industrially zoned land and opposition of current business owners there. CC is considering submitting a new modified application. Most property owners in the zone were in favor. PZC members are in favor of review of the issue by the PZC Open Space Subcommittee can come up with a plan for regulation change and zone change. Paul Holland, a member of the PZC and subcommittee, wants to resubmit. There is a deed restriction on Dunklee’s property preventing development within 100 feet of property to south. MOTION: Pursue a modified reapplication using available A2 surveys;
Chairman Simm will follow up; Application to be reviewed by the Commission (Swenarton, Bell). Passed unanimously.
2b. Any other pending applications and new preliminary proposals. No other applications.~
Open Space Committee
3a. Open space plan update – discussion on parcels for preservation. List of highest ranking parcels could be expanded to include next highest list.~Cole suggested redoing ranking. Proximity to existing open space should be additional criteria.
3b. Discussion on parcels for preservation in Pawcatuck. Verzillo property (Burdick Lane) was described as the kind of property the state is interested in preserving because of its location close to development and adjacent to school grounds; it had a relatively poor Open Space Plan overall resource ranking. A minus is its high price. Most probably it would be acquired as part of a group purchase of multiple properties. Walsh property (Anguilla Brook Road): Owners’ representative John Hamilton asked about the feasibility study, but hasn’t given the “bottom line” sales price for land.
3c. Trust for Public Land feasibility study – review of draft document. Document received 12/22/2005 and distributed to Commission members. Herbst to coordinate comments to TPL; send to her by 1/9/2006. Simm questioned whether town’s outstanding responsibility for pensions was included.
Old Business
4a. Review of Conservation Subdivision option - update of cluster subdivision. ~To be reviewed by PZC’s open space subcommittee. Cole will attend next meeting (date to be set). PZC open space subcommittee currently consists of PZC members Holland and Young.
Town Planner Byrnes said that PZ0571ZC Town of Stonington – Zoning Map Amendment from Residential RR-80 to Residential RA-20 on Greenhaven Road and PZ0570RA Town of Stonington – Zoning Regulation Amendment to create a Neighborhood Marina (NM-80) Zoning District were both denied. He said that he would email the approved site plan of Admiral Cove (former Old Mystic Marina) showing the public access to be constructed.
New Business
5a. Mystic River Dam Committee. Cole will call a meeting. Dam has become a safety issue as water is passing underneath dam, possibly undermining it.
5b. Town list of critical locations: Streambelts, aquifers, historical sites, etc. Simm asked if a list of the data was available. Baldwin said that streambelts were mapped as part of the Surface Water Resources map for the Open Space Plan. Aquifer Protection Areas and the Aquifer Zone were mapped as part of the Drinking Water Resources map. Important Water Resources are also mapped on page 4-14 of the POCD (All available for download at Planning Department webpage). Data for mapping historic resources has been harder to find in an accessible form. Planning Department and Stonington Historical Society’s library will be called to find town's Historic Resource Inventory/Historic and Architectural Resource Survey.
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. Put off until Simm can meet with Planning Director Jason Vincent.
5d. Proposal for change of use and or bulk requirements in the LI-130 zone. Simm suggested limiting warehouse size within the LI-130 zone. MOTION: Work with Planning Department to determine the suitable maximum warehouse area (Bell, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
Simm announced the “Due Process” presentation on zoning issues by land use attorney Dwight Merriam and others to be held at Pine Point School 1/26/2006 at 7pm. Simm asked what is being done regarding a recent lawsuit that has brought about changes to how grandfathered properties are handled after a zone change, the impetus for the recent zone change application on Greenhaven Road.
Meetings in 2006 to be held on last Monday of the month (Next-to-last Monday in May and December) at 6pm in the Police Station community room.
6. Review of November 29, 2005 meeting minutes. MOTION: Approve as presented and amended (Bell, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
MOTION to adjourn (Bell). Meeting adjourned 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ben Baldwin, Acting Secretary
Approved at a special meeting of the Conservation Commission on 1/23/2006.
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