Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 9/24/10 11:35 am MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday September 21, 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 p.m. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Arthur Sharron, P. Michael Lahan, Les King and John Mathieu A quorum was present. Absent: Jeremy Booty and Frank Manfredi Also Present: Michael Schaefer, City Planner, and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by John Mathieu and second by Les King the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the 08/17/2010 Regular meeting and the 9/9/2010 Special Meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Schaefer stated that an Environmental Land Use Restriction and Grant of Easement had been received from Attorney Glenn Gordon between Backus Hospital and the State. Motion made by Art Sharron to accept communications as received, seconded by John Mathieu – unanimous. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. SUB #421 – 59.7 acres of land comprised of the following three parcels: South side White Plains Road, Map 17, Block 1, Lot 9, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner; 115 Hansen Road, Map 22, Block 1, Lot 10, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner; West side Scotland Road, Map 23, Block 1, Lots 1-3, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner;– Application of Norwichtown Development LLC for 16- lot Re-Subdivision in an R-80 zoning district and owned by the owned by the applicant. Mr. Schaefer informed the CCP that Peter Davis recommended not opening the Hearing since the pending reports from the Police Department and Public Works had not been received and that the Hearing should be tabled to the next regularly scheduled CCP meeting. Art Sharron made a motion to table hearing until next CCP monthly meeting, seconded by Les King – unanimous- APPROVED–HEARING TABLED. 1 LAST REVISED 9/24/10 11:35 am G. OLD BUSINESS: NONE H: NEW BUSINESS: 1. SUB #421 – 59.7 acres of land comprised of the following three parcels: South side White Plains Road, Map 17, Block 1, Lot 9, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner; 115 Hansen Road, Map 22, Block 1, Lot 10, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner; West side Scotland Road, Map 23, Block 1, Lots 1-3, Norwichtown Development LLC, owner;– Application of Norwichtown Development LLC for 16- lot Re-Subdivision in an R-80 zoning district and owned by the owned by the applicant. Mike Schaefer recommended to table to next month’s meeting. Motion by Art Sharron to TABLE – seconded by John Mathieu, unanimous – APPROVED –TABLED. 2. SDP #1008 – 372-378 West Main St. & 234 Mount Pleasant St. – Application of Gershman Brown Crowley, Inc. for the construction of a 12,900 sq. ft. retail pharmacy with drive-thru and associated parking, access drives, retaining walls and other site improvements. Site is located in a GC zoning district and owned by Olympic Realty Development, LLC. Bill Sweeney, Attorney for Gershman Brown Crowley Inc. made a presentation on the site stating his client has entered into an agreement with the current property owner to buy and demolish the existing buildings and redevelop the existing site. He pointed out the buildings are showing their age and that the site is very steep at this point. He stated there would be a major change to the elevation of the current site, which would include significant re-grading which would create a level development site and provide 66 parking spaces, which exceeds the current requirements. Mr. Sweeney stated they had worked with DOT to create safer access to the site with right egress only when exiting the site on West Main and adding a signal light on Mount Pleasant St., which will also allow a secondary entrance. Mr. Sweeney stated there would be significant upgrades to the storm water management system that includes an underground detention system and a vortex type water quality unit. Mr. Sweeney stated the site would now become more ADA assessable due to lowering the existing elevation. Retaining walls will be constructed which will be 25 feet high in some spots on the property. Mr. Sweeney stated his client had received variances from the ZBA, which allow the retaining wall within the yard setbacks and reduced landscape buffer to 0 feet. He also stated that a 6-foot high stockade fence for screening would be added to the top of the retaining wall. Mr. Sweeney stated that preliminary plans have been submitted for the retaining wall and approved by the City Engineer in their preliminary state. Final wall design must be sealed and stamped by licensed professional engineer and approved by DPW. Mr. Sweeney showed renderings of the site and stated it would be very similar to the CVS on Route 32 in Montville and stated the signage would be similar to existing signs at its current location down the street. He stated a photometric plan and a full erosion and sediment control plan had been submitted. Mr. Sweeney stated the plans depicted a stop sign at the intersection of Mount Pleasant and Peck St. but the Police Department had recommended it be removed from the plan. 2 LAST REVISED 9/24/10 11:35 am There was a brief discussion on the elevation of the proposed building and the retaining wall. Mike Schaefer stated that the removal of the stop sign should be reviewed with the Chief of Police and he would also like to discuss the possibility of adding a pedestrian crossing sign in the southeast corner of the parking lot due to the lack of a crosswalk. Mike Schaefer stated there should be a pre-blast survey and recommended bond amount in the amount of $989,250. Motion by Michael Lahan to approve with bond amount of $989,250, preblast survey and Police Chief to review the stop sign recommendation, seconded by Les King, unanimously APPROVED W/CONDITIONS. I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SDP#921(B) – 607 Norwich Ave. – Request of HRP Associates, Inc. for the 1st extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Upon motion by Art Sharron and second by John Mathieu, the Commission voted unanimously to GRANT the request for the 1st extension to post bond and file mylars. 2. SDP #999-A – 153 Hunters Rd. & 115 Merchants Ave. – Request of Ponemah Villa Estates, LLC for the 2nd extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Upon motion by Art Sharron and second by John Mathieu, the Commission voted unanimously to GRANT the request for the 2nd extension to post bond and file mylars. J: BOND RELEASES: 1. SUB #420 – 103 Newton St. – Request of Ronald Dean for release of bond in the amount of $1,00.00. Mike Schaefer explained that the City Engineer had originally requested the bond due to the possibility of some minor roadwork and that staff was not averse to releasing the $1,000. Michael Lahan made a motion to release bond, John Mathieu seconded-unanimous RELEASE BOND. K. ZONING MATTERS: 1. V#10-25 – Appeal of Carol Blatchford for property located at 89 Flyers Drive located in a Residential R-40 zoning district. In accordance with Sec.8.1 Permitted Use in a Residential R-40 zoning district to allow (continued) construction of second unit in walkout basement. Mike Schaefer recommended to forward an unfavorable recommendation to the ZBA since the City has no provision in the regulations regarding in-law apartments. There was a brief discussion among the members regarding legitimate requests for in-law apartments. Mike Schaefer offered to check with other towns to see how they handle the 3 LAST REVISED 9/24/10 11:35 am requests. Art Sharron made a motion to forward an unfavorable recommendation to the ZBA, John Mathieu seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward an UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to the ZBA. H. OTHER BUSINESS: NONE M. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Ralph Page, and second by Art Sharron, Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 4