Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 5/20/10 10:20 am MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday May 18, 2010 - 7:00 P.M. 23 UNION STREET NORWICH CONNECTICUT LOWER LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM REGULAR MEETING AGENDA ITEMS A, B & C – CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, DETERMINATION OF QUORUM: Chairman Ralph Page called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Frank Manfredi, P. Michael Lahan, Art Sharron and Les King. A quorum was present. Absent: Jeremy Booty and John Mathieu Also Present: Michael Schaefer, City Planner, and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Frank Manfredi and second by P. Michael the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the 04/20/2010 Regular meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. SDP#995(A) – 93-99 Chestnut Street – 93-99 Chestnut St LLC posted bond and filed mylars. 2. SDP#1006 - 94-114 Crescent St – NFA posted bond and filed mylars. 3. SDP#981(B) – 23 Thermos Ave – Riverheights Development Inc. posted bond and filed mylars. 4. SDP#1000 – 2 Lathrop Ave. - Request of Dr. Terry Baksh and Dr. Yogesh Katechia to withdraw site plan for Healthcall Primary Care Center. Mike Schaefer read the list of communications and passed out a copy of the Code of Ethics that had been emailed in the day of the meeting to all members. Art Sharron made a motion to accept the communications, seconded by Frank Manfredi, unanimously ACCEPTED. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. SP#10-02 – 268-272 Franklin Street – CONTINUED from 4/20/10 Application of Stephen Stefano under Sec. 9.4.1 (A) (2) (a) MF residential in Chelsea Central. Site is located in CC zoning district and owned by Anthony Heft & Roseanna Heft. 1 LAST REVISED 5/20/10 10:20 am Mike Schaefer asked Mr. Page to open the hearing so that he could read a letter from Mr. Heft asking for a postponement to the June CCP meeting to get more information regarding the proposed easement for the staircase. The letter was entered as exhibit “R”. He also passed out a copy of faxed letter from Brown Jacobson regarding a meeting that was held with Mr. Heft outlining the steps to be taken which was entered as Exhibit “S”. Frank Manfredi asked if there was a legal opinion from Counsel. Mike Schafer stated Counsel was fine with cross easements and the concern was to be sure the stairs met with current building code requirements, and that the easements were configured to allow for such construction. Mr. Schaefer recommended to recess the hearing until next months meeting. Frank Manfredi made a motion to recess the hearing to the next CCP meeting, Les King seconded – unanimous APPROVED – HEARING CONTINUED. 2. SP#10-03 – 110 Broadway – Application of Lai Metzger under Sec. 9.1.5 (j) and Sec. 9.4.1 (A)(2) Multi-family residential in the Chelsea Central and Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts. Site is owned by the applicant. Mike Schaefer explained that Lai Metzger has been trying to rent the property as office space and has been unsuccessful. Mike read through section 9.4.1 (A) (1) regarding residential use on the first floor and requirements that must be meet to convert the building to residential units. Mike stated that a reasonably good floor plan could be accepted by the CCP in lieu of architectural drawings for a special permit. He also stated that the floor plans that were submitted were not to scale and left out a lot of details. Mr. Schaefer stated the rules of the public hearing and read in Exhibits A-L. Mr. Schaefer read the narrative in detail and passed around the proposed renderings of the floor plan. He entered a letter from Uncas Health as Exhibit “M” that had been received earlier in the day. Mike Schaefer also showed a property map from 1962 that showed what is still there today. Les King questioned parking requirements. Mr. Schaefer stated there are 8 spaces available and also on street parking to meet the requirements. There was discussion on whether or not a recreation area was required for 3 and 4 bedroom apartments. Art Sharron stated that Artspace was required to provide a play area for children. Mr. Schaefer looked in the zoning ordinances and could not find anything definite regarding a required recreation area. Lai Metzger apologized for the floor plan drawing and stated she did not want to spend money if the special permit was not approved and would get them done professionally if it was approved. She stated she has been unable to rent as commercial space for several months but had several calls for 3 and 4 bedroom apartments. Lai also stated there was a park within 1500 feet of the building which can be used as a recreation area. Michael Lahan asked if the property was listed with a real estate agent. Ms. Metzger stated she was a R/E agent and she has been unable to sell or rent as commercial property for several months. Ralph Page asked if any one wanted to speak in favor or opposition. No members 2 LAST REVISED 5/20/10 10:20 am of the public spoke in favor or opposition to the project. Mike Schaefer mentioned the request for waiver of the site plan and referred to section 17.2.3 regarding the character, traffic, and future development issues. His only concern was the detail lacking in the floor plans provided and that any work that will be done will need to conform to building and fire codes and that would be a condition of the special permit. Ralph Page closed the hearing at 7:27 pm. G. OLD BUSINESS: 1. SP#10-02 – 268-272 Franklin Street – Application of Stephen Stefano under Sec. 9.4.1 (A) (2) (a) MF residential in Chelsea Central. Site is located in CC zoning district and owned by Anthony Heft & Roseanna Heft. Includes waiver of site plan review under Sec. 17.1.11 (waiver approved at April 20, 2010 meeting). Mike Schaefer recommended tabling until next meeting due to the request for postponement from the Hefts. Frank Manfredi made a motion to TABLE the application to the next regular scheduled CCP meeting, seconded by Les King, unanimously TABLED. H: NEW BUSINESS: 1. SUB#420 – 103 Newton Street – Application of Richard S. Dean for a 2-lot Subdivision in an R-20 zoning district and owned by Ronald G. Dean et. al. JP Mereen from Gerwick & Mereen made a brief presentation on the site. He stated the applicants are proposing a front and rear lot and stated there were wetlands on the very back of the property and that an existing workshop may be removed. There is an existing gravel driveway to the back of the property and there would be underground utilities along the access drive with a 20 ft right of way for the sewer. Mr Mereen also stated no building or zoning permits would be issued until the sewers, which NPU is currently working on are installed. Mike Schaefer asked about the request for a waiver of sidewalks. Mr. Mereen stated there were no existing sidewalks within 1200 ft of the property. If sidewalks were put in a retaining wall would be needed due to the slope of the property. Mr.Schaefer stated that the plan had been approved by the IWWCC and there was also a request for a $1000 bond. There may be a new deed for a strip of land due to the 50 ft right of way if Public Works requires. Mike will confer with DPW. He also stated a copy of the deeds showing the proposed easements would be required before filing the mylars. Frank Manfredi made a motion to approve with waiver of sidewalks requirement, Les King seconded, unanimously APPROVED. 2. SP#10-03 – 110 Broadway – Application of Lai Metzger under Sec. 9.1.5 3 LAST REVISED 5/20/10 10:20 am (j) and Sec. 9.4.1 (A)(2) Multi-family residential in Chelsea Central and Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts. Site is owned by the applicant and includes waiver of site plan review under Sec. 17.1.11. Frank Manfredi made a motion to approve with submission of final plans that meet building and fire codes and waiver of site plan, seconded by Michael Lahan, unanimously APPROVED. I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SDP#1004 – 135-139 Yantic Rd – Request of Donald Cormier/DC Sheetmetal LLC for 2nd extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no reason to deny extension. Frank Manfredi made motion to approve extension, Art Shannon seconded – unanimously APPROVED. J: BOND RELEASES: 1. SDP#1000 – 2 Lathrop Ave – Request of Dr. Baksh & Dr. Katechia for release of remainder of bond in the amount of $13,322.00. Art Sharron made a motion to release bond, Frank Manfredi seconded - unanimous RELEASE BOND K. ZONING MATTERS: NONE L. OTHER BUSINESS: C.G.S. 8-24 Referral: Relative to the discontinuation of Burton Avenue as a through street. Mike Schaefer stated that comments from the Fire Department and Public Works had been emailed to members of the Commission and those of the Police were distributed at the start of the meeting. The Commission discussed the access for emergency vehicles if the street were closed and the one-way proposal suggested by the Fire Chief might be an option. Michael Lahan stated there was very little room for emergency vehicles to maneuver on dead end streets and that a one-way street was more reasonable than closure. If Burton Ave. were made a dead end street other City residents would request that their roads should also be closed. Art Sharron made a motion to send a NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATION to the City Council regarding the proposed ordinance with the consideration of making it a one-way street. seconded by Frank Manfredi, Unanimous. M. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Art Sharron, and second by Frank Manfredi, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7.48 p.m. 4 LAST REVISED 5/20/10 10:20 am Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 5