Planning & Zoning Commission

Middletown Planning and Zoning Meeting of October 10, 2018 Page 1 REVISED REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT OCTOBER 10, 2018 1. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Devoto called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Roll Taking Present: Commissioner Stephen Devoto Commissioner Richard Pelletier Commissioner Elizabeth Emery Commissioner Tyrell Brown Commissioner Steven Kovach (seated for Commissioner Rossiter Commissioner Thom Pattavina (seated for Commissioner Fazzino) Commissioner Christopher Sugar (seated for Commissioner Salafia) Absent: Commissioner Nicholas Fazzino Commissioner Joyce Rossiter Commissioner Molly Salafia Staff: Joseph Samolis, Director of Planning, Conservation and Development Public: 4 members of public 3. Items removed from the agenda and why None 4. Public comment on items on agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing None 5. ZEO Certification that all public hearing signs have been properly noticed (when scheduled) None 6. Public Hearings (when scheduled) None 7. Old Business Middletown Planning and Zoning Meeting of October 10, 2018 Page 2 1) Request for release of a $3,500 bond for sediment and erosion control for the construction of a single family dwelling, attached garage and a freestanding barn 16' x 36' at 649 Atkins Street. Applicant/agent Richard Jakubiak SPR2016-27 Director Samolis explained that the project has been finished and the soil has been vegetated so there is no need to keep the sediment and erosion control bond and staff recommends releasing it. Commissioner Kovach reads and moves for approval for the release of a $3,500 bond for sediment and erosion control for the construction of a single family dwelling, attached garage and a freestanding barn 16' x 36' at 649 Atkins Street. Commissioner Pattavina seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative votes. 8. New Business 1) Proposed Zoning Map Amendment to rezone 2 parcels of land (R11604 & R00954) on Middlefield Street and West Street from R-15 (Residential), M (Multi-Family) and B-2 (General Business) Zones to an MX Zone (Mixed Use). A copy of the proposed map is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk. Applicant/agent Delfavero Associates, Inc. Z2018-7 Director Samolis gave a brief synopsis of the zone change. There are 2 different adjacent parcels with 3 different zones and it makes it difficult for anyone to do anything with these parcels. His recommendation is change to an MX zone which is still residential and allows some light commercial use that will work well. Commissioner Kovach reads and moves to schedule a public hearing for October 24th for a proposed Zoning Map Amendment to rezone 2 parcels of land (R11604 & R00954) on Middlefield Street and West Street from R-15 (Residential), M (Multi-Family) and B-2 (General Business) Zones to an MX Zone (Mixed Use). A copy of the proposed map is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk. Commissioner Pattavina seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative votes. 9. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been the subject of a public hearing Luke Green a junior at Wesleyan University and is part of an environmental group. They are compiling ideas for the next Plan of Conservation and Development which is due to be updated in the next few years. The group has been working on ideas of POCDs from other Connecticut towns and would like to help crafting a new one. They have been working on transportation, green building design standards, biking and parking and would like to work with the Commission. Luke would like the Commission to let them know the best way they could help with the update. Ingrid, a senior from Wesleyan University and is working with Luke spoke to the Commission. She asked the Commission what process and goals they may have and stated that they would like to be involved in it. Middletown Planning and Zoning Meeting of October 10, 2018 Page 3 Commissioner Emery thanked the students for coming and asked the name of the organization and how long it’s been in existence. Luke Green said it is called Climate Action Group. He is not sure how long it’s been around but being as student in his freshman year, he was interested in being an environmentalist so he joined the club. Ingrid said that she is working under the sustainability office through Wesleyan Administration so she also joined. Kahan, a senior at Wesleyan University said he has been working with Middletown Transit for the past 2 years is very interested in serving Middletown with accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly. He has also been working with RiverCog. Commissioner Emery said that although the Committee hasn’t been formed as of yet, all the meetings will be open to the public and is very interested in hearing other input from different groups. She feels the more ideas that they have the better. The student offered to help the Commission in any way they choose and will do the ground work. Director Samolis said he was excited to meet these students and his door is always open. 10. Minutes of the Regular Meeting, Transcripts, Staff Reports and Commission Affairs 10.1 Minutes of September 12, 2018 Commissioner Sugar reads and moves for approval of the minutes of September 12, 2018. Commissioner Brown seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes with 5 affirmative votes and 2 abstentions. 10.2 Other Commission Affairs a. River-Cog Report Commissioner Emery wasn’t able to make the last meeting so she has no report. Commissioner Emery reminded the Commission that it had formerly elected Commissioner Sugar as an alternate representative to the River Bog at a meeting in early summer. She asked Mr. Samolis if he had submitted Commissioner Sugar’s name to be appointed by the Mayor, noting that Commissioner Sugar could not represent the City until this happened. Mr. Samolis said he had not done so, but would do so soon. Director Samolis said that they are working on decommissioning the sewage facility on River Road. He said that he is getting a lot of interest in potential development at the Riverfront. He introduced Amy Vaillancourt of Tighe and Bond to let the Commission know what she is working on in terms of the Riverfront. He passed out copies of the floating zone language that was previously discussed by the Commission in the past. Amy stated that she has done a lot of brownfields for the City of Middletown. She said that the first brownfields grant issued by the Federal Government was given to the City of Middletown. The majority of the work focused on the Riverfront. There were 101 properties assessed grouped into 5 areas. Historically the riverfront was primarily industrial and was actually made out of fill material. It’s one of the areas that time forgot but is still one of Middletown’s greatest assets. She talked at length to explain how there is so much brownfields at the Riverfront. She said they were in the process of remediation for the boathouse. The plan is to look for funding sources for planning and assessing and eventually cleaning up. Middletown Planning and Zoning Meeting of October 10, 2018 Page 4 A lengthy question and answer dialog ensued. 11. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM Respectively submitted Joseph Samolis Director of Planning, Conservation and Development