TOWN OF WILLINGTON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2002 REGULAR MEETING
A. Call to Order
St. Louis called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. at the Town Office Building, 40 Old Farms Road, Willington, CT.
B. & C. Roll Call/Seat Alternates
Members Present: A. St. Louis, Chairman
R. Tulis, Vice-Chairman
S. Trueb, Secretary (arrived 8:00 p.m.)
N. Gray
T. Radell
Members Absent: M. Ellis (alt.)
W. Goodale (alt.)
D. Lytwynn
P. Nevers
D. Palumbo (alt.)
Also Present: G. Jones, Assistant Planning-Zoning Agent
S. Nimerowski, Recording Clerk
No alternates were seated.
D. New Business
The order of the Agenda was changed since the Commission was waiting for First Selectman John Patton to join the meeting for discussion of the Scenic Road Ordinance.
1. Michael Schwarz to present his Eagle Scout project to refurbish the nature trail behind
Hall School.
St. Louis said he had received a letter from Michael requesting to speak at this meeting.
Mr. Schwartz said he is a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 82 of Willington, and to earn his final rank of Eagle Scout he would like to refurbish the nature trail behind Hall School. He showed photographs of the trail and gave details of what he would do to improve the trail, including fixing the trail sign with a new map and Plexiglas, grass trimming, mulching, getting rid of poison ivy, fixing stairs, removing trash and debris, building a new picnic table, removing a dead tree and using it along the trail, moving piles of brush, fixing the drainage and erosion problems, and color-coding and renewing trail markers. An estimated 180-200 man-hours will be required for the project. Mr. Schwartz said that funding and equipment for the project will be taken care of, so no town money will be
requested for the project.
St. Louis asked if there was a curb in the back of the parking lot near the trail, and Mr. Schwartz replied no, that water just runs off. There is no drain. St. Louis suggested that Mr. Schwartz approach the Board of Selectmen to have a curb installed. Several Committee members made comments concerning other trails in town, including the possibility of posting them on the town website. St. Louis suggested that Mr. Schwartz contact the Land Use Office for suggestions before he presents his project to IW&W.
MOTION: To endorse Michael Schwartz’s Boy Scout Eagle Project to refurbish
the nature trail behind Hall School.
By: Tulis Seconded: Radell
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
2. File #2002-34 – Application for a (2) lot Subdivision off Latham Road (Map 9,
Lot 32, 24.6 Acres.) Michael Nogas, Owner/Applicant. (Received on 8/20/02,
Hearing on 10/1/2002, Decision on 12/3/02.)
MOTION: To set a Site Walk for Saturday, September 28, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.
By: Tulis Seconded: Radell
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
3. File #2002-38 – Application for a Special Permit to operate a small engine repair
shop on property located at 11 Battey Road (Map 9, Lot 5, 1 Acre). Timothy Norman,
Owner/Applicant. (Received 8/20/02, Site Walk on 9/14/02, Hearing on 9/17/02,
Decision by 11/19/02.)
St. Louis said this application is pending. He said he would not be able to attend the next meeting on September 17, although he would be able to attend the site walk on September 12.
E. New Business
None.
F. Approval of Minutes
Assistant Agent Jones requested a change in the August 20, 2002 minutes. On page 1, the second paragraph, the last sentence should read: “One of the abutters was present to voice concern that if this application is approved, it might create a precedent and then all of his neighbors would be applying for back lot permits.”
MOTION: To approve the August 20, 2002 minutes as amended.
By: Tulis Seconded: Gray
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
G. Staff Report
Assistant Agent Jones said that Mr. Passardi was requesting a 90 day extension and if the Commission granted the extension it would go to December 15 before his subdivision plans would have to be filed. Another 90-day extension could be granted at that time if necessary.
MOTION: To grant a 90-day extension to Jeffrey Passardi to file subdivision
plans for Potter School Road.
By: St. Louis Seconded: Radell
Result: Motion passes 4-0-1 (Gray abstains).
H. Correspondence
Correspondence was discussed.
D. New Business
1. Scenic Road Ordinance
First Selectman John Patton and citizen Kathy Demers were present for discussion.
St. Louis said that ordinances have to be presented at a town meeting for approval; Atty. Branse has looked at the wording of the ordinance but has not gotten back to us with his comments.
Mr. Patton stated he was not in favor of another “layer of regulations.”
St. Louis asked if the town really wanted to adopt a Scenic Road Ordinance (SRO), saying that if so, P&Z regulations would have to supercede it. He said there are a lot of unanswered questions.
Mrs. Demers explained the value of having an SRO.
A discussion ensued concerning dirt roads, their advantages and disadvantages, and the wording of the SROs of nearly towns as well as how their SROs were enacted.
St. Louis said that some kind of a public forum would be required to pass an SRO. Mr. Patton said the Board of Selectmen would have to receive a petition bearing a minimum of 20-25 signatures in order to call a public meeting. St. Louis said a legal opinion should be rendered first from Atty. Branse, then P&Z should review it, and then Mrs. Demers can take the final wording and attach it to her petition. St. Louis said that if Atty. Branse approves the SRO wording, P&Z will discuss it at the next meeting on September 17. Mr. Patton said he would put it on the agenda for the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting.
I. Discussion
None.
J. Adjournment
MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 8:53 p.m.
By: Tulis Seconded: Radell
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan S. Nimerowski
Recording Clerk
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