Planning & Zoning Commission

Chair Thom Pattavina (’23) Middletown Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Nicholas Vacant Fazzino (’21) Thom Secretary ShanayPattavina (’23) Fulton (’25) Planning and Zoning Members Members ers Richard Richard Pelletier Catherine Pelletier (’23) (’23) Marcus Marcus Fazzino Fazzino (’21) (’23) Catherine Johnson Johnson (’23) (’23) Vacant (’21) Sebastian Giuliano (’25) Commission Alternates Alternates Kellin HillaryAtherton Shanay Thompkins (’23)(’25) Fulton (’23) Kellin Atherton (’23) James O’Connell (’21) Kelly Sweeney (’23) Ex- Ex- Officio Officio Mayor Mayor Ben Ben Florsheim Florsheim Christopher Holden, Acting Director of Public Works Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, Director of Land Use REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022 Council Chambers, City Hall & 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: 7:01 PM End: 8:19 PM 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was made. 2. Roll Call Present: Commissioner Thom Pattavina Commissioner Shanay Fulton Commissioner Catherine Johnson Commissioner Richard Pelletier Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano Commissioner Marcus Fazzino (Arrived 7:03 PM) Commissioner Hillary Thompkins Commissioner Kellin Atherton (Alternate) Commissioner Kelly Sweeney (Alternate) Absent: None Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: Two members of the public attended into the meeting. Motion to move item 7.1 to after new business. Moved by Giuliano, seconded by Fazzino Passed unanimously, 7-0 3. Items removed from the Agenda Director Kozikowski noted that item 8.2 is postponed at the request of the general counsel’s office. 4. Public comment on items on the agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing None. Page 1 of 3 5. Confirmation that all hearing signs have been properly posted Director Kozikowski reported that no hearing signs were required for the items on the agenda. 6. Public Hearings None. 7. Old Business 7.1. Discussion on the Middletown Section of the Regional Housing Plan. Director Kozikowski presented and discussed some date regarding what units count as affordable units according to the State of Connecticut. Furthermore, he presented some information on a housing gap analysis with respect to various levels of low income residents. A discussion with the Commission ensued. 8. New Business 8.1. Request for site plan approval for the rehabilitation of the 46,000 SF building with commercial space and 48 residential apartments located at 339 Main Street in the B-1 zone. Applicant/ agent David Marasow, 339 Main, LLC. SPR2022-9 David Marasow and Fernando Pastor presented the application. The project includes a rehabilitation of the building with in its existing footprint and structure. The plan includes retaining the existing restaurant, creating a new retail tenant space and construct 48 residential apartments spanning the first, second, and third floors. Many apartments will have lofted spaces. The units on the first floor will be either ADA accessible or designed to be converted to an accessible unit. Public amenities for the residents will be located on the first floor and basement of the building. There are three means of egress for the residents. A chair lift will be installed to make the basement space fully accessible. The applicant also briefly described other similar rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of buildings throughout Connecticut. The project includes no onsite parking. The applicant is seeking an approval for requiring only 25 parking spaces when 50 spaces would be required according to code. The applicant will obtain 25 parking spaces. The Commission expressed concerns about ADA accessibility to the basement, lack of an elevator, egress from the building in case of an emergency, and availability of parking spaces in the area for residents. The Commission seeks more information on the availability and location of parking for the tenants and comments from the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business District. Furthermore, outstanding staff comments should be addressed. Motion to continue the application Moved by Johnson, seconded by Thompkins Passed unanimously, 7-0 8.2. Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 report for the conveyance of two parcels located at 395 Country Club Road and map-lot 07-0498 Country Club Road from the City of Middletown to Middletown Youth Soccer. Applicant/agent City of Middletown/Land Use Dept. GS 8-24 2022-6 No discussion. 9. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been subject of a public hearing Page 2 of 3 None. 10. Minutes, Staff Reports, and Commission Affairs 10.1. Minutes of the February 9, 2022 regular meeting Motion to approve the minutes Moved by Giuliano, seconded by Fazzino. Passed unanimously with one abstention, 6-0 (Pattavina abstained) 10.2. RiverCOG Report No report. 10.3. Staff Reports Director Kozikowski had nothing new to report. 10.4. Commission Affairs None. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn Moved by Johnson, seconded by Giuliano. Passed unanimously, 7-0 Submitted, Marek Kozikowski, AICP Director of Land Use Page 3 of 3