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, June 26, 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: 7:23 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 Nathaniel Spencer Commissioner Rogers Pylant (Arrived at 7:09pm) Commissioner Tyler Eckstrom (Seated for Commissioner Pylant until 7:09pm) Commissioner Alan Cunningham (Seated for Commissioner Monarca) Commissioner John Carlson (Seated for Commissioner Emery) Absent: Commissioner Morgan Monarca Commissioner Elizabeth Emery Staff: Marek Kozikowski, Director of Land Use Public: Four members of the public. 3. Items removed from the Agenda None. 4. Public comment on items on the agenda which are not currently scheduled for a public hearing Page 1 of 4 None. 5. Confirmation that all hearing signs have been properly posted Director Kozikowski stated that there are no public hearings on the agenda. 6. Public Hearings None. 7. Old Business 7.1. Decision: Request for a special exception for the proposed construction of a 99,000 SF manufacturing building with office space and a warehouse located at Middle Street (Map- Lot: 03-0209). Applicant/Agent: Gary Dayharsh. SE2024-1. Director Kozikowski informed the commission that the Inland Wetlands Agency denied their wetlands application. Director Kozikowski recommended that the commission deny this application. Motion to approve the special exception. Moved by Commissioner Tyler, seconded by Commissioner Giuliano. Motion Failed: 0-6-1 (Abstained: Commissioner Fulton) Denied. 8. New Business 8.1. Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 for the acquisition of property located at 195 deKoven Drive and leaseback to current occupant to A.D.T Realty, LLC (Attention to Detail). Applicant/Agent: Christine Marques/Economic and Community Development. GS 8-24 2024-13. Christine Marques presented the application. Director Marques explained that they are looking to purchase the ADT site and lease it back to them for eighteen months while they do the planning and design on the future garage and spectra development which includes apartments. Director Marques explained from the back of the police department to deKoven Drive will allow for a larger footprint of the garage. Attorney Brig Smith reiterated what Director Marques stated. Attorney Smith added that this is the first phase of this project. Commissioner Giuliano asked if this item has been before the Economic Community Development Committee and if they acted on this. Director Marques answered yes and the commission approved it. Motion to grant a favorable GS 8-24 review. Moved by Commissioner Spencer, seconded by Commissioner Cunningham. Passed unanimously: 7-0. Point of Order, Commissioner Pylant arrived at 7:09pm. 8.2. Request for an affirmative GS 8-24 report for a new lease to the Middletown Board of Education for storage space at the R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Page 2 of 4  Street. Applicant/Agent: Christine Marques/Economic and Community Development. GS 8-24 2024-14. Director Marques presented the application. She explained that the Board of Education needs space to store their items from various schools. They currently have storage at other locations that they would like to consolidate into one location. Commissioner Giuliano stated that by law the Board of Education does not have the authority to acquire real estate by lease or by deed. Commissioner Giuliano is all for the Board of Education saving money. He would like to get input from the Legal Department. Commissioner Giuliano made a motion to postpone this application to the July 10th meeting, seconded by Commissioner Pylant. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 8.3. Request for a letter of support for CT Port Authority: Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP) Grant for the installation of new public and public safety docks. Applicant/Agent: Christine Marques/Economic and Community Development. Director Marques explained that she is just looking for a letter of support from the Commission for this grant. Motion for a letter of support. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Carlson 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 May 22, 2024 regular meeting minutes. Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Carlson. Passed unanimously: 7-0. 10.2. RiverCOG Report Commissioner Spencer reported that the two items on the agenda were referrals. One was from Deep River regarding the Gateway Overlay zone. They were looking for a letter of support. The second item was from Westbrook for a height increase for a development. Commissioner Spencer also reported that RiverCOG is in its third round of drafting comments for the State’s Plan of Conservation and Development. 10.3. Staff Report Director Kozikowski reported that on June 10th there was a RiverCOG workshop discussing a central multi-use trail called the Central Connecticut Loop Trail. In the next few weeks, there will be another RiverCOG workshop related to a federal grant for a transit oriented development study in the region. Page 3 of 4  10.4. Commission Affairs Commissioner Giuliano discussed zone text and map changes. When there is a map amendment proposed, staff provides a detailed background and analysis report as to why this is being proposed. He would like to see this same kind of analysis report for proposed text amendment changes. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn Moved by Commissioner Giuliano, seconded by Commissioner Carlson. Passed Unanimously: 7-0. Submitted, Marek Kozikowski, AICP Director of Land Use Page 4 of 4