Town of Willington
Planning and Zoning commission
40 Old Farms Road
Willington, CT 06279
Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2006
Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM by Vice-Chairman Tulis.
Roll Call:
Members Present: R. Tulis, Vice Chairman
A. Marco, Secretary
N. Gray
P. Latincsics
T. Murphy
P. Nevers
Members Excused: M. Ellis, Chairman
Also Present: Susan Yorgensen, Planning and Zoning Agent
No alternates seated.
New Business- Special Permit Renewals
Kenneth Uppling (Oil & Heating Company) issued July 21, 1992.
R. Tulis asked if there have been any issues with this business. S. Yorgensen said that there have not been any reported problems.
N. Gray made a motion to renew Kenneth Uppling’s special permit for an Oil & Heating Company, originally issued July 21, 1992, with, all original and any subsequent conditions still apply.
T. Murphy Seconded the motion, all members voted in favor, thus the motion passes.
New Business- Continued
File #2006-62 – Application for a Zone Change from R80 to DI on property at 76 Turnpike Road (Map 45, Lots 24 & 25, Zone R80) Owner: ~Irene Klei; Applicant: Herb Klei (Received 11/21/06, Public Hearing by 1/16/07)
A public hearing is scheduled for 1/16/06, thus no information can be discussed at this meeting.
File #2006-63 – Application for a 2 lot Subdivision on property at 57 Parker Road (Map 16, Lot 15B, Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Norman A. Wilson (Received 11/21/06, Public Hearing by 1/16/07
A public hearing is scheduled for 1/16/06, thus no information can be discussed at this meeting.
File #2006-64 – Application for Logging Permit on Balazs Road (Map 44, Lot 3) Owner: Barrie Robbins-Pianka; Applicant: Connwood Foresters, Inc. ~(Received 11/21/06, Public Hearing by 1/16/07)
John O’Donnell from Connwood Foresters was present to discuss the application. Mr. O’Donnell stated that what he is proposing will be a first cut of a ten year forest management plan. He stated that this is a 200 acre property which is being managed in order to increase the opportunity for shade intolerant oak to grow.
Mr. O’Donnell stated that he feels the timber trucks will not have any problems turning onto Balazs Rd from the property. He stated that site line may be an issue, but he would like to put up “trucks entering” signs on the road.
A. Marco said that there are trees and debris on the right side of the road where the trucks would be entering and exiting. He asked if the road will be improved before logging begins. Mr. O’Donnell said that the road will be improved, and the logging company that does the tree harvest will be required to sign a contract stating that they will repair any damage done to the road during logging.
N. Gray asked if there are any time restraints on the logging and can the logging company be held responsible for any damage that it done to the road. Mr. O’Donnell said that he will place a performance bond on the property.
S. Yorgensen said that in the past when this property was logged there were drainage and erosion control issues. She stated that she is concerned with logging trucks traveling on the roads within the property due to the problems in the past. Mr. O’Donnell stated that the roads can be passed by a front wheel drive vehicle. S. Yorgensen said that the roads may be passable but in the past just having a skidder on the roads cause erosion issues, much less a tractor trailer. Mr. O’Donnell said that the logging can not be done with out the use of the roads and he does not want to skid the logs as he feels it will ruin the timber.
R. Tulis asked what type of trucks will be entering to pick up the timber. Mr. O’Donnell said that it will either be tractor trailers or regular tri - axel trucks. R. Tulis stated that the road is over 12% grade; he asked if a semi-truck will have problems getting down that road. Mr. O’Donnell said that the logging company will need to put down stone to improve the access road.
Mr. O’Donnell stated that he will have the logging company sign a contract that will require them to do their logging in dry favorable conditions and that they must leave the roads in the same or better condition then they were found.
Mr. O’Donnell was asked if the logging can be done with just a forwarder. He said that it can’t be and only a few logging companies have forwarders.
Mr. O’Donnell said that he was hoping to work from 7:00am to 7:00pm seven days a week. The commission said that will not be allowed.
R. Tulis asked how many loads will be coming out of the property. Mr. O’Donnell said the there will be 100 truck loads of timber and about 50 truck loads of fire wood.
The commission told Mr. O’Donnell that other logging permits have been issued with the hours of operation as 7:00am to 5:00pm or sundown, which ever comes first, and 9:00am to 4:00pm or sundown, which ever comes first on Saturday, with no work being done on Sunday.
A. Marco asked what the time frame is for the project. Mr. O’ Donnell said that he will put it out to bid by January first and would be willing to except up to a two year contract as they need to cut in dry or frozen conditions. He said in optimal conditions the job could be done in fourteen weeks.
The commission stated that if logging goes into a second season then re-seeding needs to be done at the end of the first session as well as at the end of the second. The also added that the last time the property was logged the town placed a bond on it. They said that they would like the town engineer to look at the property to decide what type of bond needs to be placed on the property.
R. Tulis asked if the abutters had been notified. Mr. O’Donnell said that they had been. S. Yorgensen said that she has received all of the white forms saying that the notices were sent out.
Jim Poole asked if he was able to comment on the application. The commission said he could. Mr. Poole asked if this application has already been approved by IWWC. The commission said that it had. He asked if the IWWC had put any conditions on the application. He went on to state that Statute 1.1.1 states that Planning and Zoning has no jurisdiction over commercial logging permits. Statute 26.1A states that only IWWC has jurisdiction over logging permits and IWWC are to make all decisions regarding logging permits. Mr. Poole encouraged the commission to change its regulations to match the state statues. S. Yorgensen said that IWWC reviewed this as it relates to the wetland statutes, not forestry or logging.
The commission discussed the application and the need for bonding by the town.
A. Marco made a motion to approve File #2006-64 – Application for Logging Permit on Balazs Road (Map 44, Lot 3) Owner: Barrie Robbins-Pianka; Applicant: Connwood Foresters, Inc. with the following conditions:
1. The hours of operation are 7:00am to 5:00pm or sundown, which ever comes first, and 9:00am to 4:00pm or sundown, which ever comes first on Saturday, with no work being done on Sunday.
2. The applicant must follow all recommendations of the town engineer regarding signs, safety,
3. Bond shall be submitted (amount to be set by the town engineer) to cover drainage issues, erosion control and permanent stabilization.
4. The applicant must stabilize landings and haul and skid roads and any disturbed soils (in the event that the operation takes two seasons the property must be stabilized between seasons as well.).
T. Murphy seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, thus the motion carries.
Pre-Application
Pre-application to discuss modification of Special Permit for 141 Luchon Rd. Wayne Bellefleur Owner.
Wayne Bellefleur was present to discuss modifying his Special Permit for 141 Luchon Rd. He asked the commission what he can do to modify his application to be able to keep the trailer on the property as he feels it will be very costly to remove it. He stated that he would be willing to remove the kitchen and the bathroom only leaving a toilet and sink. He also stated that he presented the measurements of the new house incorrectly the first time, that the house is over 2400 sq. ft. so the trailer is not 50% of the house as stated in the original application.
The commission members explained to Mr. Bellefleur why his application was denied the first time. T. Murphy reminded Mr. Bellefleur that his permit for the new house was given on the condition that the trailer be removed when the new house was completed.
Mr. Bellefleur asked if he could attach the trailer to the house making it one large building. R. Tulis asked how he would connect them. Mr. Bellefleur said he would probably make a sunroom.
N. Gray said that if he connected the two buildings into one, then the new larger building would need to meet all town building codes.
T. Murphy asked if the well and septic from the trailer would need to be disconnected. Mr. Bellefleur said that he health department told him that they can remain connected to the trailer.
The commission reminded Mr. Bellefleur that if he were to connect the two buildings then he would need to meet with the building department and that the building would need to meet all of their regulations. They said that they would not issue a special permit for the home business until the two buildings were one unit.
Old Business
None
Minutes
A. Marco made a motion to except the minutes. Second by N. Gray. All in favor. Motion carried.
Correspondence
None
Sub-Committee Reports
None
Staff Report and Discussion
None
N. Gray made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM. Second by T. Murphy. All in favor, thus motion carries.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa McDonough
Recording Clerk
| 
