Planning and Zoning Commission
40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279
September 15, 2009 – 7:30 PM
Minutes
A. Call to Order
Chairman Matt Ellis called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Members Present:
Matt Ellis - Chairman
Andy Marco – Vice-Chairman
Edward Standish
James Poole seated for Peter Latincsics
Tom Murphy
Member Absent:
Peter Latincsics
Phil Nevers - excused
John Sullivan
Also Present
Gary Jones – Zoning Agent
Public Hearing
PZC2009-17 Application for Special Permit & Associated Site Plan Approval for Recycling Business for construction Material on the East side of Ruby Road (Adjacent to and north of #256, bus parking lot and Map 42 Lot 49A Zone DI) (Received July 21, 2009 Public Hearing September 1, 2009 continued to September 15, 2009 Decision within 65 days after close P.H.) Owner/Applicant: Ruby Road Development
M. Ellis read an email from Ruby Road Development withdrawing the application. The applicant does intend to re-file once all issues raised by staff have been addressed.
Darlene Chapdelaine, of Action Consulting & Associates, was present and submitted the following documents for the record.
1. A letter from Action Consulting & Associates confirming their knowledge of the withdrawal.
2. A copy of The State of Connecticut Solid Waste Management Plan.
3. A copy of The State of Connecticut Regulations regarding Solid Waste and Mandatory Recyclables.
4. A copy of the most recent Notice of Violation issued to Manchester Recycling & Materials.
5. A listing of CT DEP Regulations and CT DEP Statutes with MSW Recycling Requirements.
E. Standish motioned to close the Public Hearing. T. Murphy seconded the motion. All in favor.
Regular Meeting
J. Poole motioned to put the following application on the agenda under Old Business:
Section 8-24 Kechkes Road Bridge project and associated bypass. Kechkes Road Owner / Applicant: Town of Willington
E. Standish seconded the motion. All in favor.
Karl Acimovic was present for the applicant. Mr. Acimovic submitted the Temporary Easement and Right of Way agreement from Diane Becker for the record.
Mr. Acimovic explained Schedule A, in detail, which addressed the following items; brush removal, fill, & grading areas (2 locations), roots in the road, tree removal, road surface and installing two access gates.
Mr. Acimovic said the Inland Wetland Commission received a copy of the documents this afternoon.
A. Marco asked if the town road ends where the gate is to be installed. Mr. Acimovic said the town road ends at the house area and the town only plows up to the house. A. Marco asked who is paying for the gates and Mr. Acimovic said the town.
J. Poole asked if emergency looked at the plans and if they were comfortable. Mr. Acimovic said Tyler Millix and Mike Makuch were both at the last meeting, combined with the Bridge Committee, and walked the road. J. Poole asked about signage and Mr. Acimovic said it will be on or near the gates.
J. Poole motioned, under Section 8-24, to approve the Kechkes Road Bridge project and associated bypass for the specified time only, which is yet to be determined. T. Murphy seconded the motion.
K. Acimovic said the wetlands have been flagged and that they are off the road. He said he spoke to a soil scientist and he is comfortable with this. He said they will put silt fencing in. J. Poole asked if Troop C had been notified of the change. Mr. Acimovic said not as of yet, but he will.
All in favor. Motion carried.
Minutes
M. Ellis motioned to approve the minutes of September 1, 2009. A. Marco seconded the motion. All in favor.
Correspondence
1. Letter from the Fire Marshal, Dick Palmer, stating he would like to review all documents regarding PZC2009-17 prior to a final PZC decision.
Staff Report and Discussion
Signs
Dan Arnini, owner of the Hidden Dragon, was present representing Phelps Plaza to discuss a letter submitted to the commission on 8/13/09.
The first item addressed was the desire to change the location and position of the existing plaza tenant sign near the street. Mr. Arnini said they want to turn the sign. M. Ellis said the plaza owner will have to come in for a site modification plan. J. Poole said the DOT sets distance guidelines and they would need DOT’s review.
Mr. Anini said the plaza needs more exterior signage and they would like to have signs above or on the sides of the doors. J. Poole said they would need to submit an entire site modification and the landlord would need to come up with an entire new signage plan for the site. A discussion was held.
The owners of the Daily Grind were present and said people cannot identify the businesses in the plaza by the current signage. They said they need some help from the town to let their presence be known because the businesses are struggling.
M. Ellis said the landlord or owner could submit a new signage request that meets the commission’s requirements and, if that doesn’t address their needs, they could submit an application for a zoning regulation change. He explained that the regulation change could potentially take some time. A discussion was held on the time frame. G. Jones suggested they look at the last page and ½ of the sign regulations regarding Commercial and Industrial Signs.
Mr. Arnini asked about lighting and M. Ellis said lights are allowed but need to be the same type of down lighting, a lighting plan would be required and specifications would be needed.
A discussion was held on seating; tables and chairs. The commission said seating is a modification of their special permit. G. Jones said chairs and tables count as seating, according to the Health Dept, and could be an issue with the septic for restaurants. He said the Fire Marshal may also be concerned about seating on the sidewalk. A discussion was held on the businesses that currently have outdoor seating.
The commission provided the public with copies of the signage regulations.
Outside Seating
A discussion was held on seating and benches located on the outside of businesses. Willington Pizza, Track Nine and the American Eagle Café have received special permit and site plan modifications for outside seating.
Rte 320
J. Poole asked about the remaining gravel to come out of the Ruby Road Reclamation project. G. Jones explained the stakes in the ground and the 3 levels remaining. J. Poole asked staff to request an update on the remaining time and the amount of gravel left to be removed. J. Poole asked about a tracking pad and G. Jones said that would be up to the state.
Meeting adjourned at 8:18.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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