Planning and Zoning Commission
40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279
March 2, 2010 – 7:30 PM
Meeting Minutes
Roll Call
Members Present:
Matt Ellis – Chairman
Andy Marco – Vice-Chairman
Tom Murphy – Secretary
Edward Standish
John Sullivan
Walter Parsell
Member Absent:
Phil Nevers
J. Poole – excused
Also Present:
Susan Yorgensen – Zoning Agent
Regular Meeting+
M. Ellis called the meeting to order at 7:30.
PZC2010-2 Application for Special Permit for Light Repair on Fed Ex Trucks at 672 River Road (Map Lot 1 Zone DI) Owner: Russ Boehle Applicant: Dennis M Lavaller (Received March 2, 2010 Public Hearing by May 4, 2010 Decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)
J. Sullivan motioned to set the Public Hearing for April 6, 2010 with a site walk conducted prior to the Public Hearing at 6:30 on April 6, 2010. E. Standish seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried.
PZC2010-1 Application for Modification of Final Site Development Plan to include Phases 2 thru 5 and Amendment to Special Permit ~at 511 River Road (Map 39 Lot 6 Zone DR) Owner/Applicant: Town of Willington (Received February 16, 2010 Public Hearing March 16, 2010 Decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)
Public Hearing has been set for March 16, 2010.
Minutes
M. Ellis motioned to approve the minutes of February 16, 2010. T. Murphy seconded the motion. All in favor.
A discussion was held on annually renewable permits. A discussion was held on fees.
Discussion
Subdivision Regulations
M. Ellis thanked the commission for attending the previous workshop. The next Special Meeting Workshop is scheduled for March 30, 2010 at the library.
Discussion
M. Ellis said the Board of Selectmen revamped the goals so as not to say Willington is a unfriendly town. He said the BOS would like to talk to the commission regarding businesses. A discussion was held on various businesses in town.
S. Yorgensen said the biggest request she gets from businesses wanting to locate is that they want to know the rules. J. Sullivan said, in his network of friends and neighbors, he hears the town is an unfriendly. Ed Standish said all towns hear that. M. Ellis said he does not know of a business they have turned away. J. Sullivan suggested a survey be sent out to businesses in town on what the commission is doing well, what they are not, and where they can improve. J. Sullivan suggested getting together with Economic Development.
A. Marco said they are still working of the regulations from 1975 and in 1976, business was good. J. Sullivan said he does not think the rules are clean. He suggested providing a list of rules to start a business and a checklist for existing businesses.
A discussion was held on the roles of Planning and Zoning Commission and the perception of Planning and Zoning throughout the years.
E. Standish said every town you drive through has empty businesses due to the economy. He said he does not feel they are doing that bad in comparison.
A. Marco said he felt they are too invasive at times by telling a business where to put counters, etc. He said they should be more concerned with the outside and not so much with the interior.
J. Sullivan said the point he is trying to make is friendly environment, are we or are we not. He asked how the commission can work collectively with the Board of Selectmen and the Economic Development Commission. S. Yorgensen said the board has to be objective. E, Standish said the P & Z commission takes the initiative to help direct the people in the right direction.
M. Ellis said he has never seen a business denied other than Smoke and Leather and he has never seen people not get what they are asking for other than signs and lighting. Those items reflect our rural character.
The commission set a meeting with the Board of Selectmen and Economic Development for March 16, 2010 at 6:00.
Staff Report
S. Yorgensen reported the following items. The owner of Leaps and Dreams still has to renew their permit as well as the Package Store. The Plaza files are still being researched. CIP is on the agenda for March 16, 2010 and the board has to review the plan for approval. Another business at 511 River Rd may be added to the Public Hearing scheduled for April 6, 2010. S. Yorgensen asked the commission for consent to do so and they said yes. Mr. Love asked about putting up the opening soon banners. She said that typically for new businesses the office gives a lot of latitude towards those sort of temporary things as well as grand opening ones. The Commission agreed.
S. Yorgensen commented on the review of the proposed Subdivision Regulations done by LADA. On the mock run through with the current regulations, Ms. Haun came up with 38 lots. On the second run through using the proposed Subdivision Regulations, Ms. Haun came up with 38 lots but the third time; she used the Zoning Regulations and came up with 30 lots. The commission will discuss this at the next workshop.
Meeting adjourned at 8:42.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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