TOWN OF WILLINGTON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF JUNE 15, 2004
A. Call to Order
Latincsics called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Members Present: P. Latincsics, Vice-Chairman
M. Ellis, Secretary
M. Dinallo
D. Lytwyn
P. Nevers
D. Ridzon (alt.)
A. St. Louis
R. Tulis
Members Absent: None
Members Excused: N. Gray (alt.)
Also Present: G. Jones, Assistant Planning and Zoning Agent
S. Nimerowski, Recording Clerk
C. Seat Alternates
Ridzon was seated for Lytwyn.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. File #2004-10 – Application for a 3-lot subdivision on Mihaliak Road (Map 45, Lot
1). Owner/Applicant: Mary Litwinczyk. (Received 5/4/04, Hearing on 6/15/04,
Decision by 8/17/04.)
Ed Pelletier of Datum Engineering gave out updated plans as well as return receipts from abutters. He said a site walk was done last Tuesday, the piece is fairly flat except for one section, and he has an approval letter for a 3-lot subdivision from the Health Department. He handed out smaller versions of the map posted on the easel. He said the 3 lots are in excess of 2 acres, with the smallest just 2 acres.
Mr. Pelletier said that Lot #1 has the majority of the slopes on it. He pointed out where the driveway will be. He said this was the only lot that didn’t require any fill for the septic. He said he had to prove to the health department that no ledge exists. He said some blasting will be required in order to put the house in. He said the driveway slope is less than 10%. He said the buildable area is marked out.
Dave Lytwyn arrived at 7:36, at which time Ridzon was unseated.
Mr. Pelletier pointed out the catch basins and culverts on the lot.
He said that Lot #2 has an existing house that is half fallen down; it will be removed before construction begins. He said the existing driveway location will be used but it will conform to requirements. He said the septic will require fill. He said the standpipes are down 45-50 inches and only held water for one week.
Mr. Pelletier pointed out Lot #3’s septic system, driveway, and well locations. He said the lot has a number of pine trees and other evergreens. He said the septic there does require fill.
He said that Parcel A has been submitted to the Building Department and the Health Department. He said there has been the “slightest change” in driveway location. He said the septic area is now defined. He said a curtain drain has to be installed on Lot 3. He said the septic systems are for 4-bedroom houses; the houses may or may not be smaller. He said that Parcel A has been in existence since 1951, and the highway was built in 1984.
Frank Malack of 22 Polster Road said he is concerned about drainage onto his property and into his wetlands from Parcel A. He said he thought 2 houses were enough.
Robert Hisey of 67 Timber Lane said he is either for or against the proposed subdivision, depending on whether or not it fits into the town plan.
St. Louis asked who owns Parcel A, and Mr. Pelletier replied that the Estate of Walter Litwinczyk and Mary Litwinczyk owns it. He said it is not part of this application, and that Ray Crossen will be purchasing it.
Tulis said that Lot #3 has frontage on 2 roads, and that under our regulations a rear yard has to be shown. He said they should be showing 4 lots to be in complete compliance. He said whatever is considered a rear yard should be on the application.
Mr. Pelletier said he will designate one area as such.
Tulis questioned if Parcel A completely conforms to zoning regulations. Tulis said that Mr. Pelletier is asking the Commission to approve a division of property without demonstrating that the remaining land is consistent with zoning regulations. Tulis said he believed it to be a 4-lot subdivision, not a 3-lot one. He said he wanted to see how all lots – Parcel A, Lots #1, 2, and 3 – meet the requirements.
St. Louis said he was not able to attend the site walk. He asked if Parcel A was part of the original parcel, and Mr. Pelletier explained. St. Louis asked why it was called Parcel A instead of Lot 4, and Mr. Pelletier said it was the free cut.
Tulis said that the current PoCD would designate most of this area as commercial.
Latincsics asked if Mr. Pelletier believed the application to be complete at this time except for the building setback on Lot #3, which can be changed, and Mr. Pelletier replied yes. He indicated he would like the Public Hearing to be closed
MOTION: To close the Public Hearing on File #2004-10.
By: Nevers Seconded: Tulis
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
D. Election of Officer(s)
MOTION: To nominate Tulis for Chairman.
By: St. Louis Seconded: Lytwyn
MOTION: To nominate Latincsics for Chairman.
By: Ellis Seconded: Nevers
Lytwyn said he felt that Tulis had more experience, and that Latincsics would be ready to assume the position of Chair after accumulating another year or so of experience.
Tulis said he would be ready to do the job as Chairman. He said the PoCD will soon come to the Commission and this would make for some continuity. He said he has certainly been through some “interesting” applications in the past.
Latincsics said that Tulis’ experience was a real asset to the Board. He said he thought that technical expertise in a particular field was not necessary. He said he liked some changes that have recently been made, and would like to move further in that direction. He said he would probably differ from past chairs in that he would refer technical things to staff more often, and also make the regulations concur with the PoCD. He said he would like to see sub-committees established.
Tulis said that subcommittees have worked out well with regulations, but there are still areas that need to be improved. He said the key thing about subcommittees is that the idea alone doesn’t work – the committees have to be aggressive in getting things accomplished.
Latincsics said it has been his experience that boards don’t want to accept the recommendations of subcommittees, something he doesn’t want happening here.
MOTION: To close the nominations for Chair.
By: Tulis Seconded: Nevers
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
St. Louis quoted Section 1-222 of the Freedom of Information Act, saying that the votes of members have to be recorded in the minutes. Tulis said he didn’t think that a ballot would be illegal if the voter’s name was on it.
Voting in favor of Tulis for Chair: St. Louis, Ellis, Tulis, Lytwyn.
Voting in favor of Latincsics for Chair: Nevers, Dinallo, Latincsics
Latincsics will continue to serve as Vice-Chair and Ellis as Secretary.
Tulis chaired the rest of the meeting.
E. New Business
1. File #2004-15 – Application for Regulation Change to Sections 11.01.02.01 and
11.01.02.03 of the Town of Willington Zoning Regulations. Applicant: Dorian
Farmiglietti. (Received 6/1/04; Hearing on 7/20/04; Decision by 9/21/04.)
The Public Hearing for this application is scheduled for July 20.
F. Public Comment
The Commission will hear brief comments at this time from anyone wishing to
speak. No business can be conducted here nor can any comments be made about
any Public Hearing item.
Robert Hisey of 67 Timber Lane said he submitted a letter to the Commission, addressed to each member of the Commission, and it appeared to be lost at the last meeting. Jones said that the communication did make its way into the Correspondence folder, but that Yorgensen is looking into the matter. It will be deferred until the next meeting.
G. Old Business
1. File #2004-10 – Application for a 3-lot subdivision on Mihaliak Road (Map 45, Lot
1). Owner/Applicant: Mary Litwinczyk. (Received 5/4/04, Hearing on 6/15/04,
Decision by 8/17/04.)
Tulis recommended that this application be continued to the next meeting.
MOTION: To continue File #2004-10 to the next meeting on July 20.
By: Nevers Seconded: Dinallo
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
H. Minutes
One correction was requested: on the first page, remove (alt.) next to M. Dinallo’s name.
MOTION: To approve June 1, 2004 minutes as amended.
By: Latincsics Seconded: Nevers
Result: Motion passes 7-0-1 (Ellis abstains).
I. Correspondence &
1. Letter dated June 15, 2004 to Jones from Karl Acimovic
re: Litwinczyk Estates
2. Letter and attachments dated 5/27/04 from Robert Hisey to IWC, P&Z, ZBA
re: Dock Violation
J. Staff Report/Discussion
There was discussion about the marketability of land in Willington. Tulis said he would like to see signs required to be posted both for public hearings and zone changes. Jones said they should be bigger than the ones we have now, and showed a sample. Tulis said the sign needs to stand alone, not wrapped around a telephone pole. He said the sign should at least say, “Public Hearing – Land Use Application Pending.” He said that other people besides abutters should know about proposed activity. A size of about 22” x 34” was discussed. Jones said that colored signs could be made. Tulis said he would work with staff on this and e-mail the proposed signs to Commission members.
Dinallo asked if the minimum acreage would be raised. There was a brief discussion about what other towns require.
Very briefly discussed.
Halchek’s and Crossen’s properties were discussed briefly.
K. Adjournment
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
By: Tulis Seconded: Ellis
Result: Motion passes unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan S. Nimerowski
Recording Clerk
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