Planning and Zoning Commission
40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279
March 16 2010 – 7:30 PM
Meeting Minutes (2)
Roll Call
Members Present:
Andy Marco – Vice-Chairman
Tom Murphy – Secretary
Edward Standish
John Sullivan
Walter Parsell
Phil Nevers
J. Poole
Member Absent:
Matt Ellis – Chairman - excused
Also Present:
Gary Jones – Zoning Agent
Public Hearing
A. Marco called the Public Hearing to order at 7:30.
J. Poole was seated for M. Ellis.
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.)
Town Engineer Karl Acimovic, Selectman Christina Mailhos, Lynn Nicholls of Public Works and Mike Pinatti from the Recreation Commission were present for the applicant. K. Acimovic presented the plans to the commission. He said Phase 1, the asbuilt, is complete. Mr. Acimovic provided the following information; Phase 2 will be constructing the walking path, volleyball court, basketball court, playscape and pavilion. The town does have funding from a Steep Grant in the amount of $150,000 to be used for Phase 2 and the well. Phase 3 will be the tennis courts. Phase 4 is the proposed kitchen, bathroom, mechanical room and leaching system. Phase 5 will be the community center.
Mr. Acimovic explained the construction of the well and said the mechanicals for the well will be in the chambers. A discussion was held on the current shed. T. Murphy asked about lighting and Mr. Acimovic said they have not done anything yet.
J. Sullivan asked the length of time for the project and the sequence. Mr. Acimovic said they would like to put the project out to bid in the near future to encompass all items in Phase 2.
A discussion was held on the materials for the walking path and the necessary maintenance. A discussion was held on the proposed playscape. T. Murphy asked about electricity at the pavilion and Mr. Acimovic said they haven’t discussed that yet but it is a possibility.
A discussion was held on the distance between the ball field and the playscape and safety concerns were discussed regarding the balls from the ball field reaching the playscape. Mr. Acimovic said if it becomes an issue, they can put up poles and netting.
A. Marcos asked if all items previously discussed as in the moving of the shed and the construction of the dugouts were part of the plans. Mr. Acimovic said yes, he believes so. A discussion was held on the movable bleachers.
A. Marco asked G. Jones if he review the plans and he said yes, no problems.
P. Nevers motioned to close the Public Hearing. E. Standish seconded the motion. All in favor. Hearing closed.
Regular Meeting
A. Marco called the regular meeting to order at 7:40.
Pre Application
Town of Willington Ruby Road (Map 42 Lot 49 Zone R80)
Karl Acimovic was present for the applicant and presented maps. He said, behind the bus parking lot, material is being stored by Public Works. He said they would like to put the parcel of land in the Reserved Land Zone per section 5.10 and Mr. Acimovic read this section to the commission. He said he believes the Public Works Department has been and is operating within their scope on this site. J. Poole said the Special Permit was for Sand and Gravel, not storage.
A discussion was held on the items being stored. Lynn Nicholls, of Public Works, was present and said they need a storage area. A. Marco said he understands the needs of the town but they want it to be done properly per the regulations.
A discussion was held on whether or not the town can use the site as storage and remove a small amount of gravel if needed. J. Poole said they can’t do both. A. Marco said he would like to see if they can find a way for both of these to work together. Mr. Acimovic said he thinks the gravel operation is covered under the proposal to move the parcel into the Reserved Land Zone as it has been in that use for a long time.
Mr. Acimovic said, in the near future, they will need a sand and salt shed; probably 5 years out. He also said the Public Works garage is sitting on 1 ½ acres and they should have 10 acres. They do not have room on the current site.
J. Poole asked G. Jones about the reclamation plan and if it had to be done prior to the change to the Reserved Land Zone. G. Jones said he did not know and would look into. Mr. Acimovic said the Public Works Department needs to maintain the storage operation right now and they could come back for the sand and gravel permit. Mr. Poole said they need to make sure one does not exclude the other.
A. Marco asked the commission to read through the regulation and, if necessary, they will get a legal opinion. A. Marco would like this put on the agenda for the next meeting. J. Poole said, under the Cease and Desist Order, they cannot store materials right now. A. Marco said to leave what they have there, don’t bring anything else in and they will put this on the agenda for the next meeting.
Old Business
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.)
A. Marco asked staff to put this on the next meeting agenda.
New Business
Renewal of Special Permit for Dance Studio Leaps & Dreams Performing Arts LLC.
Owner: Laura Cheverier
G. Jones said he hasn’t been able to get a hold of the business owner. This item was tabled for this meeting.
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 April 6, 2010 Decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)
Public Hearing is scheduled for April 6, 2010.
PZC2010-3 ~Application for Modification to Special Permit ~Final Site Development Plan to add 8’X20’ storage container and in the future 25’X35’ 3 sided pole building at 49 Hancock Road (Map 38 Lot 20 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Town of Willington (Received March 16, 2010 Public Hearing by April 20, 2010 Decision within 65 days after P.H.)
Karl Acimovic was present for the applicant. He said the location of the proposed container is on a slab that was constructed for that reason. Selectman Mailhos said the container will be a material swap shed for left over building materials and it would encourage recycling as well as keep items out of bulky waste. She said she would like to find a volunteer to monitor the shed. A discussion was held on the signage. Selectman Mailhos said she would talk the attorney and make sure the town is covered. J. Poole said he is worried about staffing and said they currently don’t have the time and now they will have more work. A discussion was held on the staff’s ability to stop the contractors from dumping.
Selectman Mailhos said organizations like Habitat for Humanity might come in if the shed gets overloaded. Mr. Acimovic said, in terms of safely, the shed will cut out scavenging in the bulky waste.
J. Poole said, in recycling, there are rules and regulations and asked if the town was subject to the same regulations. John Patton said people will be putting some things in and taking back out in an approved transfer station. It is not changing anything.
A discussion was held on municipal entities verses personal entities in regards to what is and is not allowed. A discussion was held on posting what can and cannot be stored in the shed. Staff will contact DEP.
The commission asked staff to put this item on the next agenda for the next meeting.
8-24 Review Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2011-2012, 2011-2015
J. Poole explained the 8-24 review. He said when a plan comes before the commission; they review the plan to see if it fits with the town Planning and Conservation and if it fits with what the town is trying to do.
A discussion was held on funding and planning. A. Marco asked if there was a way to see the plan before the funding is completed. John Patton said you look at it from a planning perspective and whether or not it makes sense. A discussion was held on the process for the 8-24 Review. The commission agreed to put this item on the agenda for discussion at the next meeting.
Minutes
T. Murphy motioned to accept the minutes of March 2, 2010. J. Sullivan seconded the motion. P. Nevers and J. Poole abstained. All others in favor.
Discussion
Subdivision Regulations
The Subdivision Workshop has been changed to March 30, 2010 at the library. The time is 7:00.
A discussion was held on the mock runs done by Teri Haun.
Correspondence
1. Complaint submitted to the Land Use Department regarding a tree service on 29 Liska Rd.
2. Emergency Incident Report for a diesel fuel spill at 350 Ruby Rd.
3. Complaint submitted to the Town of Willington regarding a shed in the wetland at 18 Latham Rd.
4. A copy of the Special Permit Renewal Application for Wilderness Lake Campground.
A discussion was held on a site walk. The site walk was scheduled for March 27, 2010 at 9:00 am.
5. Emergency Incident Report for a chemical spill at 350 Ruby Rd.
Discussion
A. Marco brought up a point of discussion. He said when the town comes in and asks about play areas, the commission asks the cost and what it is made of. He said he is guilty of this too but the commission is supposed to see how the plan fits with the zoning regulations. He said he feels they get off track. J. Poole said they are planning and zoning. A discussion was held. J. Poole said the Recreation Commission came before them 5 years ago and now they are changing the plan. A. Marco said once a plan gets to the commission, the funding is already secured and with the 8-23 and 8-24 Review, the commission needs to get their voice heard earlier.
A discussion was held on the 8-23 and 8-24 Review and the role of Planning and Zoning. A discussion was held on the questions P & Z should be asking. J. Sullivan said he would like to be more informed prior to the meeting with items relating to applications on the agenda. E. Standard said they need to set up more of a format. A discussion was held on the process and a timeline to follow. G. Jones said that staff does not always know the questions that are going to be asked of the commission on a pre-application or an application.
A discussion was held on an applicant coming before the board prepared. A discussion was held on the applications the Town of Willington brings before the board. J. Poole said the current plan for 511 River Rd. is the best the Town of Willington has brought before the commission.
A. Marco said we have to do something to reduce the adversarial relationship between the boards and towns. J. Poole said he wants the town to stop getting a “free pass”. Selectman Mailhos said she has heard a lot of positive feedback tonight. A discussion was held.
Selectman Mailhos informed the board of the Town Meeting scheduled for March 23, 2010 on Wilderness Way. She said a petition was passed to call another town meeting and the Board of Selectman accepted the petition.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk
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