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 REVISED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, April 10, 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: 7:07 PM End: 8:07 PM 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was made. 2. Roll Call Present: Commissioner Thomas Pattavina Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano (Arrived at 7:10pm) Commissioner Shanay Fulton Commissioner Rogers Pylant (Remotely) Commissioner Morgan Monarca Commissioner Elizabeth Emery Commissioner Nathaniel Spencer Commissioner John Carlson (Seated for Commissioner Giuliano until 7:10pm) Absent: Commissioner Tyler Eckstrom Commissioner Alan Cunningham Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: Sixteen members of the public. 3. Items removed from the Agenda Director Kozikowski stated that item 6.1 was postponed by the applicant until the May 8th meeting because they need Inland Wetlands approval first and item 6.3 was postponed by the application because they need Zoning Board of Appeals approval first. 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 All public hearing signs have been properly posted. 6. Public Hearings 6.2. Request for a special exception for an indoor and outdoor recreational facility located at 49 Randolph Road in the MXI zone. Applicant/Agent: Zachariah Eddinger/Vale Sports Club.SE2024-3. Zach Eddinger, 37 Clark Road, Haddam, presented the application. Mr. Eddinger explained that they are proposing constructing two outdoor artificial turf soccer fields as well as an indoor soccer field. Deb Heizman, 630 Bartholomew Road, expressed her support of this application. Commissioner Pattavina stated that they received a number of letters of support for this application as well as from businesses. Commissioner Giuliano asked if this facility will replace the facility on Newfield Street or is this an addition to the Newfield Street location. Mr. Eddinger answered that the long term plan is for this location to replace the Newfield Street facility. Jared Coggins, a tenant of 49 Randolph Road, stated that this is an appropriate use of this space. Commissioner Fulton expressed her support for this application. Commissioner Pattavina stated his support for this application. Director Kozikowski stated that there were thirty-four letters of support submitted. Director Kozikowski asked the applicant to address the traffic impact study by SLR. SLR recommends that the activities should have staggered start and end times and ground vegetation and low hanging tree limbs near driveways should be trimmed. Mr. Eddinger agrees to these recommendations. Commissioner Monarca stated that he will be supporting this application. Director Kozikowski asked the applicant how people can get to the outdoor soccer fields since they are elevated from the parking lots. Are they ADA compliant? Mr. Eddinger answered they added stairs towards the middle of the two fields and they have ADA ramps in that area. Mr. Eddinger added that they added landscaping to the location. Director Kozikowski stated items that need to be addressed before the issuance of permits and construction. Commissioner Giuliano asked if the applicant will be doing a pre-blasting evaluation. Mr. Eddinger answered yes. Ms. Heizman commented that there should be sidewalks along Bartholomew Road. Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Emery requested that installing sidewalks be required. Mr Eddinger stated that their facility isn’t close to that side of the property. Commissioner Giuliano stated that he doesn’t think they can require the applicant to install sidewalks on Bartholomew Road. Commissioner’s Pattavina and Carlson agree with Commissioner Giuliano. Director Kozikowski explained that the commission can request sidewalks and can make the approval contingent on the sidewalks, but you have to prove that this projects doesn’t work without the sidewalks. Commissioner Emery withdrawals her request for sidewalks. Motion to close the public hearing. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Passed unanimously: 7-0. Motion to approve the special exception. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 6.4. Petition for a zoning map amendment to rezone four parcels comprising of 51, 69, 77, and (Map-Lot: 14-0034) Boston Road from the R-15 zone to the B-2 zone and two parcels comprising of 41 and 47 Boston Road from the R-15 zone to the MXC zone. Applicant/Agent: City of Middletown/Department of Land Use. Z2024-2. (Item 6.4 was considered before item 6.2). Director Kozikowski presented the application. The purpose of this proposal is there is a current, established business in a residential zone that would like to expand. In 1951, this parcel was zoned commercial and then in 1971 it was rezoned residential. Commissioner Pattavina stated a point of order that Commissioner Giuliano is now seated at the meeting and Commissioner Carlson went back to being an alternate. Motion to close the public hearing. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano. Passed unanimously: 7-0 Commissioner Giuliano supports this application. Commissioner Pattavina supports this application because it supports the Plan of Conservation and Development. Commissioner Emery will be supporting this application. Motion to approve the application. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano Passed unanimously: 7-0 7. Old Business None. 8. New Business Page 3 of 4 None. 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 Commissioner Fulton commented that the minutes stated that Commissioner Giuliano served as Secretary at that meeting but she was present at that meeting. Motion to approve the March 13, 2024 regular meeting minutes as amended. Moved by Commissioner Spencer, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 10.2. RiverCOG Report Commissioner Emery informed the commission that the last meeting was on the State’s plan of conservation and development. RiverCOG has asked for comments on this document. 10.3. Staff Report Director Kozikowski informed the commission on upcoming public hearings. 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