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, April 24, 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: 7:00 PM End: 7:44 PM 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was made. 2. Roll Call Present: Commissioner Thomas Pattavina Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano Commissioner Shanay Fulton Commissioner Morgan Monarca Commissioner Elizabeth Emery Commissioner Nathaniel Spencer Commissioner Tyler Eckstrom Commissioner John Carlson Commissioner Alan Cunningham Commissioner John Carlson (Seated for Commissioner Pylant) Absent: Commissioner Rogers Pylant Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: Seven members of the 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 All public hearing signs have been properly posted. 6. Public Hearings 6.1 Request for a special exception for an 8,665 SF addition to the YMCA facilities located at 85 Union Street in the MXC zone. Applicant/Agent: Richard D. Carella/Updike, Kelly, & Spellacy. SE2024-4. Attorney Rich Carella presented the application. He explained this addition will be to the south end of the building. This addition will provide handicap accessibility and accessibility as a whole from the parking lot. There will also be an elevator in the addition to provide access to the second and third floors. Michelle Rulnick, CEO of the Middlesex YMCA, continued with the presentation. She explained that the addition will modernize the facility and bring it up to code. They will be renovating the wellness space. They will also be renovating the basement to create a youth center. Attorney Carella continued with describing the site plan for the commission. He pointed out the six thousand two hundred square feet of proposed playground space as part of the addition. Rocco Patito, QAM Architecture, 195 Scottswamp Road, Farmington, showed the elevations of the building and described what the exterior look of the addition will be. Mr. Patito also went over the floor plans. Atty. Carella spoke about the expansion of the childcare program. Atty. Carella stated that he doesn’t know how many additional children there will be. It depends on the State. Atty. Carella addressed the parking requirements. They need one hundred and seventy and they only have one hundred and forty- six. Atty. Carella pointed out the shared parking lot amongst the YMCA, the hospital, and the church that he is hoping the commission will approve for the additional parking that is needed. Kate Montgomery, discussed the landscaping and parking lot lighting. Commissioner Emery will be supporting this application. She asked about bicycle parking. Atty. Carella showed where the bicycle parking will be on the site plan. It will be covered by a tree however they will consider a covered structure. Commissioners Giuliano, Monarca, Pattavina, and Fulton will be supporting this application. Director Kozikowski stated that he would like to see a maintenance plan for the permeable pavers submitted as part of the permit package. Also, coordinate with the Public Works Department to move the tree and street light. If the commission approves this application tonight, it would be part of a shared parking plan. The Design Review and Preservation Board reviewed and approved their concept and requests that the applicant return to the Design Review Board for final approval of colors and materials, façade and fencing. Commissioner Pattavina asked the applicant if they were ok with those suggestions. Atty. Carella answered yes. Page 2 of 4 Motion to close the public hearing. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Fulton. Passed unanimously: 7-0. Motion to approve the special exception. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Spencer. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 7. Old Business None. 8. New Business Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 report for a 5-year lease of multiple properties to Dee’s Crafty Bees, LLC consisting of 6 parcels on Miller Street and 1 parcel on Hartford Avenue. Applicant/Agent: City of Middletown/Economic and Community Development. GS 8-24 2024-11. Brian Gartner, 309 South Main Street, Middletown, presented the application. Mr. Gartner explained that the applicant would like to use the property as a community garden while maintaining the pre- existing park that is there. The applicant has proposed several improvements to the park which will be their responsibility to fund and to get required city approvals. All activities on this property are subject to the landlord, The City of Middletown and they would have to be submitted in writing. The applicant wants to introduce farming to the next generation. Commissioners Giuliano, Fulton, Monarca, and Pattavina will be supporting this application. Motion to affirm the GS 8-24. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Spencer. 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 Commissioner Carlson commented that the minutes stated that Commissioner Cunningham is listed as both present and absent from the meeting. Motion to approve the April 10, 2024 regular meeting minutes as amended. Moved by Commissioner Emery, seconded by Commissioner Spencer. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 10.2. RiverCOG Report None. 10.3. Staff Report Page 3 of 4 None. 10.4. Commission Affairs None. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn Moved by Commissioner Fulton, seconded by Commissioner Emery. Passed Unanimously: 7-0. Submitted, Marek Kozikowski, AICP Director of Land Use Page 4 of 4