Planning & Zoning Commission

Chair Thom Pattavina (’23) Middletown Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Nicholas Nicholas Fazzino Fazzino (’21) Thom Pattavina (’23) (’25) Secretary Shanay Fulton (’25) Planning and Zoning Members Members ers Richard Pelletier (’23) Richard Pelletier (’23) Catherine Johnson (’23) Marcus Marcus Fazzino Fazzino (’21) Vacant (’21) (’23) Catherine Johnson (’23) Sebastian Giuliano (’25) Commission Alternates Alternates Kellin Kellin Atherton Atherton (’23) Shanay Fulton (’23) (’23) Hillary Thompkins (’25) James O’Connell (’21) Kelly Sweeney (’23) Ex- Officio Mayor Ben Florsheim Ex- Officio Mayor Ben Florsheim William Russo, Director of Public Works Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, Director of Land Use REGULAR MEETING REVISED MINUTES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021 Council Chambers & Virtual on WebEx 7:00 P.M. The meeting was held both virtually and in-person. Members of the public had access via https://webex.com, the WebEx application, and via telephone. Start: 7:00 PM End: 8:25 PM 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was made. 2. Roll Call Present: Commissioner Thom Pattavina Commissioner Shanay Fulton (Arrived at 7:09pm) Commissioner Catherine Johnson Commissioner Marcus Fazzino Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano Commissioner Kellin Atherton (Alternate) (Seated for Pelletier) Commissioner Hillary Thompkins (Alternate) (Seated for N. Fazzino) Absent: Commissioner Nicholas Fazzino Commissioner Richard Pelletier Commissioner Kelly Sweeney (Alternate) Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: Nine members of the public attended into the meeting. Commissioner Johnson was designated as secretary for the meeting. 3. Items removed from the Agenda Director Kozikowski reported that items 6.3 and 6.4 were postponed by the applicants so that they can address staff and department comments. 4. Public comment on items on the agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing None. 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. Page 1 of 5 5. Confirmation that all hearing signs have been properly posted Director Kozikowski reported that all public hearing signs have been posted. 6. Public Hearings 6.1. Special exception with site plan review for the construction of two residential buildings totaling 8 one -bedroom units for the elderly/disabled at Marino Manor located at 1361 Randolph Road in the R-15 zone. Applicant/agent William A. Vasiliou, Housing Authority SE2021-10 Tom Arcari, Architect, AQ+M Architecture, introduced the project for the additional eight apartments for the elderly and described the existing conditions for the property, which is currently improved with multiple buildings containing housing for the elderly and disabled. He later presented that each unit will be fully ADA accessible and he presented a typical floor plan. The proposed buildings will match the scale and vernacular of the existing buildings. Sue Watts, Landscape Architect, To-Design, LLC described the proposed conditions of the project including building location, parking, driveway, lighting, grading, drainage, utilities, retaining walls, fencing and erosion controls. Commissioner Fulton inquired about handicap spaces. Commissioner Johnson inquired about trees along the sidewalks, as the sidewalks can offer space for congregating. Ms. Watts stated that the plan includes an additional 2 handicap accessible spaces and noted that four trees are proposed along the sidewalks. Mr. Arcari noted that in the center of the development is a courtyard adjacent to the community center, common space between the buildings and rear patios behind each new unit that offer spaces for congregating. Stephen Devoto, 476 Country Club Road, encouraged the Commission not to waive the electronic vehicle charging station as the City has declared a climate emergency. Phyllis Sheehan, 114 Guarino Drive, inquired about drainage on the property and how it can impact here property. She also inquired about the future maintenance of the drainage system, and the installation of a fence along the property line. Tracy and Patrick Deegan, 102 Guarino Drive, expressed concerns over drainage at the rear of her property, which abuts the subject parcel, noting pooling that has occurred in the past on her property, and inquired about the removal of an ash tree the property. Erin Kinney, 92 Guarino Drive also expressed concerns over drainage and inquired about possibly installing a taller fence and extending the fence all the way down along the property line. She also inquired about the construction schedule. Ms. Watts and Mr. Arcari stated that the grade will be depressed on the housing authority property and a low retaining wall will be constructed to hold up the adjacent property, therefore there will be no flow of stormwater from the property onto adjacent land to the west. Furthermore, they were willing to pursue installing an 8 ft tall fence along the property line in good faith. They described Page 2 of 5 the tree clearing plan and could not confirm if the tree that was inquired about from the neighbor was to remain or be removed. Lastly, the anticipated start of construction would be in May or June and the project will take about 12 months to complete. The proposal includes a request for a waiver of the electric vehicle charging stations. Motion to close the public hearing Moved by Fulton, seconded by Johnson Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 Commissioner Johnson stated that she hopes that the housing authority will move away from one-story housing in the long term and supports mix-generation, multi-family housing in the future. Commissioner Atherton stated that he finds the proposal to be consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development, encourages the applicant to include the electric vehicle charging station, and supports additional trees and fencing in the plan. Commissioners Fulton, Giuliano, Thompkins and Pattavina were in support of the application but not in support of waiving the requirement for the electric vehicle charging station. Motion to approve the special exception with the condition that an electronic charging station be installed. Moved by Johnson, seconded by Fulton Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 Commissioner Fulton assumed the role of secretary. 6.2. Special exception for a new liquor retail store establishment to occupy a vacant tenant space in an existing building located at 613 Washington Street in the B -2 Zone. Applicant/agent Mitalben Patel SE2021-11 Vikhil Patel, for the applicant, introduced the proposal. He is looking to relocate his liquor retail store from 596 Washington Street directly across the street to the new location. He described the floor plan layout. Director Kozikowski described the existing site conditions as built under special exception approval from 2005. Motion to close the public hearing Moved by Giuliano, seconded by M. Fazzino Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 Motion to close discussion Moved by Giuliano, seconded by M. Fazzino Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 Motion to approve the special exception with the condition that the existing liquor retail store location at 596 Washington Street be closed Moved by Giuliano, seconded by Johnson Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Page 3 of 5 Passed 7-0 6.3. Special exception for a new farm winery located at 519 Miner Street in the R-30 Zone/ Applicant Agent, Joseph Defrancesco, Fallsbrook Farm, LLC SE2021-12 Postponed. No discussion. 6.4. Subdivision to create 18 lots, open space, and a road currently known as Military Road. Applicant/agent The Middletown Housing Partnership Trust, Inc./David E. Rosenberg, Esq. S2021-4 Postponed. No discussion. 7. Old Business None. 8. New Business 8.1. Request for a release of the Public Works bond reducing the amount from $60,000 to $0 for the Sunwood Development on Ridgewood Road and Mile Lane. Applicant/agent Robert Wiedenmann, Sunwood Development S2018-1 Director Kozikowski reported that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the Public Works and Water and Sewer Departments and recommends the release of the bond. Motion to approve the release of the bond Moved by Fulton, seconded by M. Fazzino Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 9. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been subject of a public hearing Stephen Devoto, 476 Country Club Road, noted that it would be helpful to the public if postponements were posted to the public as soon as possible. 10. Minutes, Staff Reports, and Commission Affairs 10.1. Minutes of the November 10, 2021 regular meeting Motion to approve the minutes of the November 10th regular meeting Moved by Giuliano, seconded by M. Fazzino Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 10.2. Minutes of the November 23, 2021 special meeting Motion to approve the minutes of the November 23rd special meeting Moved by Giuliano, seconded by Fulton Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 10.3. RiverCOG Report No report. Page 4 of 5  10.4. Staff Reports Director Kozikowski reported on administration, staffing, development, riverfront master planning, and updates on activity of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Commission on Conservation and Agriculture, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, and the Urban Forestry Commission. 10.5. Commission Affairs Commissioner Atherton notes that while the dialogue that happened between the applicant and the public worked out tonight, the Commission should not allow that back and forth moving forward. Chairman Pattavina welcomed Kelly Sweeney as the new alternate commissioner. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn Moved by Johnson, seconded by M. Fazzino Voting in favor: Pattavina, Fulton, Johnson, M. Fazzino, Giuliano, Atherton, Thompkins Passed 7-0 Submitted, Marek Kozikowski, AICP Department of Land Use Page 5 of 5