Minutes of a Special Meeting held on March 26, 2007
Stonington Police Station Meeting Room, 173 South Broad Street, Pawcatuck, CT
1. Call to order: Called to order by Chairman Simm at 7:15 PM. Commission members also in attendance were Cole, Swenarton, Baldwin and Herbst. Bell, Lyons and Dewire were absent. Applicants and about a dozen members of the public were present. Bell is attending the Route One POCD Study public input meeting.
2. Review of Town Developments and Proposals.
2a. PZ0705RA Lattizori Development - Regulation Amendment to create a Mixed Use Transitional District (MUTD) in Section 1.1, add proposed MUTD Regulations (Article VII), and add Projecting Wall Signage language (Section 7.12). Attorney Heller answered questions regarding the continued regulation amendment application saying that a master plan is required, setting access, for example. Swenarton stated that he was not comfortable giving up regulatory power to Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) discretion. Members of the public made comments, followed by Attorney Heller. MOTION: The Conservation Commission will not support any zone change or regulation amendment that is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of recommendations cited on pages 6-8 and 6-9 of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD)
for the property at the intersection of Jerry Browne and Pequotsepos Roads, formerly known as the Perkins Farm. This proposal clearly would allow a level of development that goes well beyond uses and intensity recommended in the transitional zone for this area of town in the POCD and therefore we recommend this application be denied (Swenarton, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
MOTION: Move to item 2c (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
2c. PZ0718ZC Edward & Andrea Besky – Zoning Map Amendment from Residential RC-120 to Residential RM-20 for property located at 83 Noyes Ave., Stonington, CT. Assessor’s Map 129 Block 9 Lot 3. Zones RC-120 & RA-20. Mr. Besky presented his zone change request; he wishes to expand his house. The Planning Department has been unable to determine how when and why the zone changed at his property. MOTION: Due to the change in law at the State level which requires pre-existing houses/development to follow new regulations in areas where the zone has been changed, the only recourse a resident has is to request the zone be changed back within the boundaries of his/her property. We support this change for Mr. & Mrs. Besky, and that the fee charged the Beskys for this application be
refunded.
MOTION: Move to item 4e (Baldwin, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
4e. Discussion on DEP’s Coastal Land Assessment Methodology (CLAM) Project. David Kozak of CT DEP OLISP described the CLAM project methodology and evaluation criteria. CLAM “is a computer assisted coastal land conservation planning tool to assist in identifying coastal Connecticut’s larger remaining unprotected parcels with significant conservation value.” He distributed a map of Stonington showing 5 high scoring parcels and asked the Commission if we knew about the status of the parcels and whether we could initiate discussions with property owners so that owners know that there may be a conservation option if they must sell. Kozak described a number of land acquisition and acquisition costs funding sources: DEP Open Space & Watershed grant program, LI Sound Futures Fund (US
F&WS), CELP Fund, the federal Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program and LI Sound License Plate fund ($25,000+/- max). He asked that we study House Bills 7305 and 7275 (“Faces of Connecticut”). He asked that we send him a copy of the Open Space Plan, recently adopted as an amendment to the POCD by the PZC.
MOTION: Move to item 5a (Swenarton, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
5a. Discussion of areas of joint interest with Westerly Conservation Commission. Sarah Whalen of the Westerly Conservation Commission was our guest and stated that the Westerly Conservation Commission would be willing to have a joint meeting in the future to include discussions on the Pawcatuck watershed. They meet the second Tuesday of the month; Joe MacAndrew is chairman.
MOTION: Move to item 2b (Swenarton, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
2b. PZ0707ZC Town of Stonington – Zoning Map Amendment from Residential RR-80 to Residential RA-20 for properties located on the eastern side of Greenhaven Rd., approximately 242 feet south of Renie Drive, then heading southeast 1137’± to a point; then heading in a northeasterly direction 381’± to a point; then heading in a north direction 478’± to a point; then heading in a northwesterly direction 782’± to a point; then heading in a northerly direction 333’± to a point; then heading in a westerly direction 374’± to a point; then heading in a southerly direction 512’± to the point of beginning. Said area being approximately 15.65 acres and the subject of this application. Involving Map 11, Block 2, Lots 1-4; Map 12, Block 16,
Lots 2-5. The Commission has no comment at this time.
2d. Any pending applications and new preliminary proposals. None.
3. Open Space Committee
3a. Open space plan update – discussion on parcels for preservation. Herbst reported that the Walshes are with a real estate broker until April and that TPL is working on a contract. Chairman Simm will investigate the CLAM-identified property east of Palmer Neck Road.
3b. Discussion on parcels for preservation in Pawcatuck – Ben. Baldwin and Dora Hill to meet re: Verzillo property
3c. Discussion on possible referendum for open space bonding. Bonding Committee to go to Board of Finance in May.
4. Old Business
4a. Discussion on Open Space Plan. Status of the Open Space Plan is unclear. Herbst did not hear the amendment wording on the PZC hearing recording.
4b. Mystic River Dam Committee. Meeting proposed.
4c. Discussion on grant and matching funds for trails program. Will wait for Planning staff.
4d. Discussion on procedure for Town’s acceptance of conservation easements and open space. Deferred to April.
5. New Business
5b. Discussion of Tsunami Alert and Evacuation Program. Cole has NOAA Storm Ready and Tsunami Ready applications; he will meet with Jim Phetteplace, Emergency Coordinator.
5c. Discussion of roadside pesticide use. Chairman Simm reported herbicide use on a scenic road where the Town Tree Warden allowed trimming. He will request that the Warden come to a meeting. Baldwin noted that Amtrak has also used herbicides.
6. Review of February 26, 2007 meeting minutes. MOTION: Approve as distributed (Swenarton, Cole). Passed unanimously.
7. Adjournment
7a. Motion to Adjourn (Baldwin). Meeting adjourned at 11:20 PM.
Approved at a regular meeting of the commission on April 23, 2007
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