Planning & Zoning Commission
Regular MeetingMiddletown, CT · May 12, 2021
Minutes
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT
MAY 12, 2021
The Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of
Middletown was held remotely via WebEx.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:12 PM.
1. Roll Taking
Present: Commissioner Stephen Devoto
Commissioner Richard Pelletier
Commissioner James O'Connell
Commissioner Catherine Johnson
Commissioner Kellin Atherton (seated for Nick Fazzino)
Commissioner Shanay Fulton (seated for Marcus Fazzino)
Commissioner Quatina Frazer (seated for Thom Pattavina)
All members are full voting members.
Absent: Commissioner Nicholas Fazzino
Commissioner Thom Pattavina
Commissioner Marcus Fazzino
Staff: Marek Kozikowski, AICP, City Planner
2. Items removed from the agenda and why
Item 5.1 is postponed until the June 9th meeting. They will be coming in with revised plans and
still need IWWA approval.
Item 5.2 has been postponed at the request of the Public Works Dept.
3. Public comment on items on agenda which are not currently scheduled for a
public hearing
None
4. ZEO Certification that all public hearing signs have been properly noticed (when
scheduled)
All public hearing sign have been properly noticed and the abutters have been notified.
5. Public Hearings (when scheduled)
1
1) Continued: Request for a special exception for expansion of the truck/trailer
parking area and employee parking area at the existing FedEx distribution
facility located at 49 Fedex Drive Applicant/agent Fedex Ground Package
System, Inc. SE2021-2
SEE ITEM 2 – POSTPONED UNTIL 6/9/21.
2) Proposed Subdivision Regulations text amendment to Section 15.19.12
regarding driveway aprons pursuant to Section 1.08 of the Middletown
Subdivision Regulations. Applicant/agent City of Middletown/ PCD & PW
Departments Z2021-4
SEE ITEM 2 – POSTPONED BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPT.
3) Proposed Special Exception to convert a 2-family dwelling to a 4-family
dwelling at 143 Eastern Drive. Applicant/agent David Coleman SE2021-3
David Coleman introduced the application. The property is in the MX Zone with approximately 1
acre of land. The property currently has two 2-bedroom units and he is looking to convert the full
walk-out basement to a 294 sq. ft. garden apartment with its own private entrance. He is also
proposing to convert the garage to a carriage house studio apartment which would be 594 sq. ft.
There are no changes to the footprint of the building.
Commissioner Kellin Atherton to close the public hearing. Commissioner Richard Pelletier
seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to close public hearing with 7
aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative votes.
Commissioner Richard Pelletier moves for approval for a Special Exception to convert a 2-family
dwelling to a 4-family dwelling at 143 Eastern Drive. Commissioner Kellin Atherton seconds the
motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to approve with 7 aye votes. The chair states
the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative votes.
6. Old Business
1) Revisions to the Bylaws of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Pelletier gave a history of the bylaws revisions. Initially this began a year ago.
The language was antiquated and needed to be cleaned up. There was a lot of changes although
no changes to duties of the Commission members. The last version was made on March 9, 2021.
Commissioner O’Connell said that it’s a good start but there are some additional cleanups that
are necessary. Commissioner Johnson feels that the Chairperson should be consulted in the
agendas. Commissioner Pelletier said that he agrees with Commissioner Johnson and when he
was Chair, he spoke once a week with the Planner about the agendas.
Marek asked the Commission if they should change the bylaws in regards to how the meeting
have been run in the past year (from the COVID pandemic). Commissioner Johnson said that as
much as she likes less paper, she would really like the site plans in her hands as opposed to
looking at them on the website. She would be ok with 11” x 17” size plans. Commissioner Pelletier
stated that he likes everything to be electronic. Commissioner Devoto said that all materials
should be online not only for the Commission but also for the public. He also said that any
Commissioner who would like paper copies should be able to get them. This is not by-law related.
It is in the Zoning Codes. Marek suggested that the sub-committee meet one more time to
address these issues.
2
Commissioner James O'Connell moves to table until after the By-laws Committee has a change
to meet for the Revisions to the Bylaws of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Catherine Johnson seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is
unanimous to table with 7 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 7
affirmative votes.
7. New Business
None
8. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been the subject of a public
hearing
No members of the public present.
9. Minutes of the Regular Meeting, Transcripts, Staff Reports and Commission
Affairs
a. Minutes of the April 14 & 28, 2021 Regular Meeting
Commissioner Richard Pelletier moves for approval of the April 14, 2021 regular meeting.
Commissioner Johnson seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to
approve with 7 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative
votes.
Commissioner Catherine Johnson moves for approval of the April 28, 2021 regular meeting.
Commissioner Richard Pelletier seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous
to approve with 6 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 6 affirmative
votes and one abstention from Commissioner Frazer.
b. River-Cog Report
Commissioner Atherton said that there has not been a meeting of the RiverCog since the last
meeting.
A discussion ensued regarding recent activity at the legislature concerning zoning.
c. Staff Reports
Marek gave a brief power-point presentation on the split within the PCD Department.
d. Commission Affairs
10. Adjournment
Commissioner Richard Pelletier moves for adjournment. Commissioner Kellin Atherton seconds
the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to adjourn with 7 aye votes. The chair
states the matter passes unanimously with 7 affirmative votes.
Respectfully submitted,
3
Marek Kosikowski, AICP
City Planner
4
Agenda
Chair Stephen Devoto (’21)
Middletown Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair
Secretary
Nicholas
Nicholas Fazzino
Thom
Fazzino (’21)
(’21)
Secretary Thom Pattavina
Pattavina (’23)
(’23)
Planning and Zoning Members
Members Richard Pelletier (’23)
Richard Pelletier (’23)
Catherine
Marcus
Marcus Fazzino
Fazzino (’21)
(’23)
Catherine Johnson
Johnson (’23)
(’23) Vacant (’21)
James O’Connell (’21)
Commission Alternates
Alternates Kellin
Kellin Atherton
Shanay
Atherton (’23)
Shanay Fulton
(’23)
Fulton (’23)
(’23)
James O’Connell (’21)
Quatina Frazer (’21)
Ex-
Ex- Officio
Officio Mayor
Mayor Ben
Ben Florsheim
Florsheim
William Russo, Director of Public Works
Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, City Planner
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021
7:00 P.M.
Meeting to be held online. Members of the public may view/listen to the meeting as
follows:
1. Going to https://webex.com and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting number
and password
2. Launching the WebEx application and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting
number and password
3. Via telephone at 1-408-418-9388 and the appropriate access code
Meeting Number/Access Code: 1736341251
Event Password: Planning
Alternatively, members of the public can attend the meeting by following the following link:
https://middletownct.webex.com/middletownct/onstage/g.php?MTID=e3a140a822f728a4f799223804322f042
Any written comments should be delivered to the PCD office or emailed to the City Planner at
marek.kozikowski@middletownct.gov at least 24 hours before the public hearing.
1. Roll Taking
2. Items removed from the agenda and why
3. Public comment on items on agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing
4. ZEO Certification that all public hearing signs have been properly noticed (when
scheduled)
5. Public Hearings (when scheduled)
1) Continued: Request for a special exception for expansion of the truck/trailer parking area and
employee parking area at the existing FedEx distribution facility located at 49 Fedex Drive
Applicant/agent Fedex Ground Package System, Inc. SE2021-2
(Postponed to June 9, 2021)
2) Proposed Subdivision Regulations text amendment to Section 15.19.12 regarding driveway
aprons pursuant to Section 1.08 of the Middletown Subdivision Regulations. Applicant/agent
City of Middletown/ PCD & PW Departments Z2021-4
3) Proposed Special Exception to convert a 2-family dwelling to a 4-family dwelling at 143
Eastern Drive. Applicant/agent David Coleman SE2021-3
If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638-4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812
(TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.
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6. Old Business
1) Revisions to the Bylaws of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission.
7. New Business
8. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been the subject of a public hearing
9. Minutes of the Regular Meeting, Transcripts, Staff Reports and Commission Affairs
a. Minutes of the April 14 & 28, 2021 Regular Meeting
b. River-Cog Report
c. Staff Reports
d. Commission Affairs
10. Adjournment
Alternates: 1) Kellin Atherton; 2) Shanay Fulton; 3) Quatina Frazer
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