Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 6/18/10 10:50 am MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday June 15, 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, Art Sharron and Les King. A quorum was present. Absent: Jeremy Booty, P. Michael Lahan and John Mathieu Also Present: Michael Schaefer, City Planner, and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Art Sharron and second by Les King the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the 05/18/2010 Regular meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: SDP#976A –133 Cedar St - Norwich Preston Development Co., LLC 3rd and final extension of time to post bond and file mylars expired. Communications accepted by the Commission, no action required. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. SP#10-02 – 268-272 Franklin Street – CONTINUED from 5/18/10 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. Mike Schaefer stated that the Building Official had submitted information to staff, which was turned over to Mr. Heft on June 7th. Mr. Schaefer asked for the hearing to be opened to read Mr. Heft’s request for more time and enter as an exhibit. Ralph Page opened the hearing and Mr. Schaefer read Mr. Heft’s postponement request to the July meeting so he could take care of the staircase problem. Mr. Schaefer explained that the public hearing must be closed in July. Frank Manfredi made a motion to recess the hearing until next CCP monthly meeting. Les King seconded – unanimous- APPROVED–HEARING CONTINUED. 1 LAST REVISED 6/18/10 10:50 am 2. SP#10-04 – 112 Taftville-Occum Rd – Application of Jeffrey Desrosier under Sec.14.6.2(a) living space addition in floodplain. Site is in Multi-family zone and owned by the applicant. Mike Schaefer explained rules of the Public Hearing and stated since there will be activity in the Flood Plain a Special Permit is required. Mr. Schaefer showed the proposed plans stating that the floor must be 1.5 feet above the Flood Plain. He read in Exhibits A-O. He stated that Gerwick-Mereen had provided technical information regarding compensatory storage and smart vents that would be used in construction of the addition. Mr. Schaefer stated there was justification for Waiver of Flood Impact Study and it would need to be referred to IWWCC before the CCP could act. Mike Schaefer recommended that the CCP grant the request for waiver of the site plan and referred to section 17.2.3 regarding the character, traffic, and future development issues. Mr. Schaefer felt a favorable recommendation with respect to granting the site plan waiver would be in order. Jeffrey Desrosier, the applicant stated he had a growing family and needed to increase the size of his house and was willing to follow the necessary regulations. Art Sharron made a motion to waive the Site Development Plan, seconded by Frank Manfredi, unanimous - APPROVED - WAIVER OF SITE PLAN. Ralph Page asked if anyone wanted to speak in favor or opposition. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition to the project. Les King made a motion to recess the hearing until next months meeting to allow the CCP to receive feedback from the IWWCC, seconded by Art Sharron - unanimous - APPROVED – HEARING CONTINUED . Motion by Les King to suspend rules to take items out of order, seconded by Art Sharron – unanimous – RULES SUSPENDED. 3. SP#10-05 – 555 Norwich Ave . – Application of HRP Associates, Inc. under Sec. 14.6. Excavation and filling in the Flood Plain. Site is located in Industrial zone and is owned by 555 South Mill LLC. Mike Schaefer read in exhibits “A-L” and stated property is located in a Flood Plain. Adam Fox from HRP Associates made a brief presentation on the site pointing out the 814 square feet of Flood Plain that would be filled at the corner of the proposed parking deck. He stated the historic mill has some coal ash on the property and they are following the CT DEP requirements for capping the soil and filling the area in one corner of the Flood Plain. Darren Lemire from HRP Associates stated the technical aspects of the filling of the flood plain to get the correct grade on the lower level of the parking deck. It would require 330 cubic feet or 15 cubic yards of fill. 2 LAST REVISED 6/18/10 10:50 am Mike Schaefer stated a referral to IWWCC was required and that he had not received comments from the City Engineer. Frank Manfredi recused himself from voting. Mike Schaefer recommended tabling until next months meeting. Motion by Les King to TABLE – seconded by Art Sharron, 3-0, Frank Manfredi recused – APPROVED – HEARING CONTINUED. 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). Motion by Les King to TABLE – seconded by Art Sharron, unanimous – APPROVED – TABLED. H: NEW BUSINESS: 1. SP#10-04 – 112 Taftville-Occum Rd – Application of Jeffrey Desrosier under Sec.14.6.2(a) living space addition in floodplain. Site is in Multi-family zone and owned by the applicant. Includes waiver of site plan review under Sec. 17.1.11 Motion by Art Sharron to TABLE – seconded by Les King, unanimous – APPROVED – TABLED. 2. SP#10-05 – 555 Norwich Ave . – Application of HRP Associates, Inc. under Sec. 14.6. Excavation and filling in the Flood Plain. Site is located in Industrial zone and is owned by 555 South Mill LLC. Motion by Les King to TABLE – seconded by Art Sharron, 3-0, Frank Manfredi recused – APPROVED – TABLED. 3. SDP#1007 – 555 & 575 Norwich Ave . – Application of HRP Associates, Inc. for the construction of 199 parking spaces/deck, drainage system and associated site improvements. Site is located in Industrial zoning district and owned by 555 South Mill, LLC/575 South Mill, LLC. Motion by Les King to TABLE – seconded by Art Sharron, 3-0, Frank Manfredi recused – APPROVED –TABLED. 4. SDP#921(B) – 607 Norwich Ave. – Modification of previously approved application. Application of HRP Associates, Inc. for construction of parking, drainage system and associated site improvements. Site is located in Industrial zoning district and owned by Ponemah Riverbank 3 LAST REVISED 6/18/10 10:50 am LLC. Walter Gancarz, Professional Engineer from HRP gave a presentation on the site explaining the previous approval in 2005. He stated it had been a very long process getting a State Traffic Permit due to realignment of the entrance to the North Mill and creating a 4-way intersection. He stated they also had to get approvals with the National Park Service since it is an historic building. The 2-story parking garage will be replaced with at grade parking. There will be similar drainage pattern with one major drain. The utilities were the same as before with a 50 ft. easement. Mr. Gancarz stated that NPU had several comments and many have been addressed. Mr. Gancarz stated there had been a question regarding site distances at the northerly exit and stated it was approx 445 feet and that would not be an issue since there would be no left turn per the State Traffic Commission. Art Sharron questioned the use of the parking lot across the street. Mr. Gancarz stated it would be reserved for future property development and the spaces were not needed at this point. Mike Schaefer stated the Police Department had requested sidewalks along the Northern Mill. Louis Capano, owner/applicant stated that if sidewalks were to be added they would have to get additional approvals and there was no benefit for a sidewalk on that side. He stated the commercial development is on the opposite side of the street and that is where the pedestrian activity would be. He also stated they would have to remove a portion of the iron fence if a sidewalk was required. The Police Department also questioned the signal light at Rt. 97 and Providence Street. HRP Associates stated it had been filed with the STC permit 9 months ago and was inadvertently left off the drawings. There was a brief discussion on the sidewalks. Art Sharron stated he did not feel a sidewalk was practical and did not want the fence removed. Frank Manfredi made a motion to approve with comments from NPU and the City Engineer to be addressed and Mr. Schaefer’s request to reduce and revise the bond amount to exclude utilities. Seconded by Art Sharron – unanimous - APPROVED W/CONDITIONS. I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SDP #999-A – 153 Hunters Rd. & 115 Merchants Ave. – Request of Ponemah Villa Estates, LLC for the 1st extension of time to post bond and file mylars. 4 LAST REVISED 6/18/10 10:50 am Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no reason to deny extension. Art Sharron made motion to approve extension Frank Manfredi seconded–unanimous - APPROVED. J. BOND RELEASES: NONE K. ZONING MATTERS: 1. V#10-11 – Appeal of Jason Huntley for property located at 45 Rogers Avenue located in a Residential R-20 zoning district. In accordance with Sec.8.2 Permitted Use in a Residential R-20 zoning district to allow construction of an apartment above proposed garage. Mike Schaefer stated there was no justification under the Plan of Conservation and Development for appeal to add another residence to the lot. Les King questioned the parking requirements. Mike Schaefer stated he did not look into that since he was satisfied that there was no justification for a favorable recommendation. Frank Manfredi made a motion to forward an unfavorable recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Les King seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward an UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to the ZBA. L. OTHER BUSINESS: Les King questioned the tabling of the evenings applications. Mr. Schaefer stated the proper procedures were followed and that the order for referrals to the IWWCC is correct. M. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Frank Manfredi, and second by Art Sharron, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 5