Planning & Zoning Commission

Chair Thom Pattavina (’27) Middletown Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Nicholas SebastianFazzino Giuliano(’21) Thom Pattavina (’23) (’25) Secretary Shanay Fulton (’25) Planning and Zoning Members Members ers Richard Pelletier (’23) Rogers Pylant (’25) Catherine Johnson(’27) (’23) Marcus Fazzino (’21) Elizabeth Emery (’27) Vacant (’21)Spencer (’27) Morgan Monarca Nathaniel Commission Alternates Alternates Kellin Atherton (’23) Tyler Eckstrom (’25) Shanay Fulton (’23) James O’Connell (’21) John Carlson (’27) Alan Cunningham (’27) Ex- Ex- Officio Officio Mayor Mayor Ben Ben Florsheim Florsheim Marek Kozikowski, AICP, Director of Land Use REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, February 14, 2024 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: 7:06 PM End: 7:46 PM Commissioner Giuliano served as secretary for the meeting. 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was made. 2. Roll Call Present: Commissioner Thomas Pattavina Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano Commissioner Rogers Pylant (Remotely) Commissioner Elizabeth Emery Commissioner Morgan Monarca Commissioner Nathaniel Spencer Commissioner John Carlson (Seated for Commissioner Pylant) Commissioner Alan Cunningham (Seated for Commissioner Fulton) Absent: Commissioner Shanay Fulton Commissioner Tyler Eckstrom Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: One member of public. 3. Items removed from the Agenda None. Page 1 of 4 4. Public comment on items on the agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing None. 5. Confirmation that all hearing signs have been properly posted None. 6. Public Hearings 6.1. Petition for a zoning text amendment to Section 6.3.2 of the Middletown Zoning Code to allow for Indoor and Outdoor Recreational Facilities as special exception uses in the MXI Zone. Applicant/Agent: City of Middletown/Department of Land Use. Z2024-1. Director Kozikowski presented the application. Director Kozikowski explained that there has been a demand for this type of land use. There are some underdeveloped areas in the MXI zone that can support indoor and outdoor recreational uses. Zak Eddinger, 37 Clark Road, Haddam, CT, spoke in support of this text amendment. Commissioner Emery asked if hunting has a definition and if it allows the use of any kind of weapons. She expressed her concerns about the zoning code not having a definition. Director Kozikowski answered that the zoning code doesn’t have a definition of hunting. Commissioner Carlson asked about the serving of food and refreshments being limited to fee-paying patrons. Director Kozikowski clarified that the idea behind that regulation is that the food and refreshments in those facilities are not open to the public. It would be for people who are using the facility. Commissioner Monarca explained that hunting and fishing are clubs. They won’t have weapons at the club. Commissioner Giuliano added that there are regulations of weapons that are outside of the zoning codes. He explained that he would be cautious in adding a definition of hunting. It’s not what you say but what you didn’t say. Commissioner Cunningham asked if workout gym’s fall under this amendment. Director Kozikowski answered that falls under a different category of physical fitness centers. Motion to close the public hearing. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Passed unanimously: 7-0. Commissioner Giuliano will be supporting this text amendment. He doesn’t believe it will negatively impact the MXI zone. Commissioner Pylant left the meeting at 7:35pm. Commissioner Pattavina will be supporting this text amendment. Motion to approve the text amendment. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Page 2 of 4 Passed unanimously: 6-0. 7. Old Business None. 8. New Business 8.1. Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 report for a 9,439 SF electric distribution easement to Eversource located at 53 Washington Street. Applicant/Agent: City of Middletown/Department of Land Use. GS 8-24 2024-5. Director Kozikowski stated that Commissioner Pylant is back online at 7:36pm Director Kozikowski presented the application. This easement is for the north side of Melilli Plaza. This is so Eversourse can place equipment to support redeveloping buildings on Main Street in this area. Motion to affirm a positive GS 8-24 report. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 8.2. Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 report to review a new lease agreement for RIC Unlimited, LLC at R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Street. Applicant/Agent: Christine Marques/Economic and Community Development. GS 8-24 2024-6. Director Kozikowski presented the application. This is a new five-year lease. RIC Unlimited, LLC will be using the space as storage of inventory of electrical equipment. Commissioner Giuliano will be supporting this GS 8-24. Commissioner Pattavina announced that Commissioner Carlson will be seated for Commissioner Pylant who has left the meeting at 7:39pm. Motion to affirm a positive GS 8-24 report. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 9. Public comment on topics which are not or have not been subject of a public hearing None. 10. Minutes, Staff Reports and Commission Affairs 10.1. Minutes Motion to approve the January 24, 2024 minutes. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 10.2. RiverCOG Report Commissioner Emery stated that there is no report since there was no meeting. Page 3 of 4  10.3. Staff Report Director Kozikowski provided the public hearing notice for the next meeting to the commission. For next meeting, Attorney Christopher Forte will be here for a special meeting at 6:00pm to answer questions for the commission. Also, the Town Clerk notified Director Kozikowski that the Council Chambers will be used for early voting so this will force the commission to cancel two of its regular meetings. Commissioner Giuliano requested that Director Kozikowski provide the right-of-way as it is written on the land records for the public hearing scheduled for the next meeting. 10.4. Commission Affairs None. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano Passed Unanimously: 7-0. Submitted, Marek Kozikowski, AICP Director of Land Use Page 4 of 4