Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 09/10/10 10:00 AM MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Thursday, September 9, 2010 - 12:00 P.M. 23 UNION STREET NORWICH CONNECTICUT LOWER LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS A, B & C – CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, DETERMINATION OF QUORUM: Acting Chairman Frank Manfredi called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. Commission Members Present: Frank Manfredi, John Mathieu and Les King Absent: Ralph Page, P. Michael Lahan, Jeremy Booty, and Arthur Sharron Also Present: Peter Davis, Director, Michael Schaefer, City Planner and Corp. Counsel Michael Driscoll A quorum was present. D. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. C.G.S. 8-24 Council Referrals: Relative to the review of proposed ordinance. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ABATEMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES ON REAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS AND THE WAIVER OF BUILDING PERMIT FEES FOR THE HISTORIC REDEVELOPMENT AND/OR REUSE OF THE PONEMAH BUILDING #1 Acting Chair Manfredi reviewed the single agenda item, which was a C.G.S. Sec. 8-24 referral from the City Council relative to an ordinance providing for the abatement of real estate taxes on real property improvements and the waiver of building permit fees for the historic redevelopment and/or reuse of the Ponemah Building # 1. A brief presentation was made by Corporation Counsel Driscoll relative to the terms of the original agreement versus the terms of the subject agreement and a discussion on the authority and purview of the Commission on the City Plan. The current proposed agreement would extend the tax abatement to fifteen (15) years from ten (10) on improvements to the building. Justin Stein of Ponemah Riverbank, LLC stated that the economy has changed since the original approval. The institution of the sewer connection fee, since the original approval was also not anticipated. These factors are now significant impediments to the completion of the project, relative to compliance with the requirements of the Federal Historic Tax Credit program. 1 LAST REVISED 09/10/10 10:00 AM After additional discussion Les King made a motion, seconded by John Mathieu, that the Commission should forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council. Voted unanimously. The commission determined that without the tax abatement and waiver of building permit fees, the current level of taxation and other development costs could necessitate the modification of plans for the property that would be contrary to the intent of the Mill Enhancement Program. Renovations contrary to the requirements of the Federal Historic Tax Credits Program would also diminish the value of the historic resource to the community. E. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business before the Commission, a motion was made, seconded and voted unanimously to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Peter Davis, Director 2