Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED12/23/10 10:00 am MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday December 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: Ralph Page called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Les King, and John Mathieu. A quorum was present. Absent: Jeremy Booty, Arthur Sharron, Frank Manfredi, & P Michael Lahan Also Present: Peter Davis, Director, Michael Schaefer, City Planner (recused from Item G.1.) and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Les King and second by John Mathieu, the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the 11/16/2010 Regular meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE G. OLD 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. Peter Davis stated that the hearing had been closed at the last CCP meeting but the vote was postponed to give CCP members that were not present a chance to review the file in its entirety. Ralph Page missed last months meeting but had reviewed the letter regarding the sight-line issue prior to tonight meetings. Mr. Davis stated that staff suggested a bond in the amount of $601,685 and that the City Engineer sign off on the infrastructure approvals prior to a zoning compliance certificate being issued. Motion by John Mathieu to approve with suggested bond amount and for the City Engineer to approve the infrastructure improvements, seconded by Les King, unanimously APPROVED W/CONDITIONS. 2. SDP#897C - Modification - 285 Taftville-Occum Road- Hills at Riverview LLC 1 LAST REVISED12/23/10 10:00 am for construction of residential units located in an MF zoning district and owned by the applicant. Michael Schaefer stated this was a modification of an existing plan that had been approved several years ago but only the first portion had been bonded and that Darwin and Alex Gebbie had recently purchased the property. Brandon Handfield of Anchor Engineering Services gave a brief presentation on the site. He stated that the original project had been approved in 2004 and 2006 but only building 1 & 2 had been built and building 3 & 4 were never started. Building 1 will consist of 5 units and building 2 will consist of 14 units, 7 units on each level. There will be a total of 48 parking spaces, which meets current zoning requirements. The main access drive will be reconfigured to accommodate future development. He explained the drainage, utilities, erosion control and landscaping plans which were similar to the original site plan. He stated that retaining walls would be built ranging from 6 feet and up to 20 feet. Any wall over 4 feet will require a chain link fence. Mr. Handfield stated that a pre-blast survey note has been added to the plans and that the Fire Marshall needed to see the sprinkler plans for building 2 before final approval for construction. Uncas Health had no comments. Mr. Schaefer asked Mr. Gebbie if as the units were rented when the next phase would start. Mr. Gebbie stated they are working on submitting the next phase in January. Les King was concerned about the private road, recreation space, lack of sidewalks and bus shelter for school aged children. Peter Davis suggested that since it would be on the SEAT bus route that the developers contact the company that built the existing bus shelters throughout the City to see if there was any interest in putting a shelter at the site. Mr. Gebbie agreed to do so. Michael Schaefer recommended bond amount in the amount $253,255, adding bus shelter and installation of sidewalk. Les King made a motion to approve with bond in the amount of $253,255, adding a bus shelter, and sidewalks to the south side of the access road. John Mathieu seconded, unanimously APPROVED W/CONDITIONS. 3. Appointment of two CCP members to the Plan of Conservation & Development Update subcommittee Peter Davis explained that the POCD was almost 10 years old and that the prior plans needed to be updated. Two members of the CCP need to be appointed to participate in the process. Ralph Page and Les King volunteered and were subsequently appointed. H: NEW BUSINESS: NONE 2 LAST REVISED12/23/10 10:00 am I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SDP#921(B) – 607 Norwich Ave. – Request of HRP Associates, Inc. for the 2nd extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no reason to deny extension. Les King made motion to approve extension, John Mathieu - seconded–unanimous 2. SDP #999-A – 153 Hunters Rd. & 115 Merchants Ave. – Request of Ponemah Villa Estates, LLC for the 3rd extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no reason to deny extension. Les King made motion to approve extension, John Mathieu - seconded–unanimous 3. SDP #1008 – 372-378 West Main St & 234 Mount Pleasant St. - Request of Gershman Brown Crowley, Inc., for the 1st extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no reason to deny extension. Les King made motion to approve extension, John Mathieu - seconded–unanimous J: BOND RELEASES: Michael Schaefer asked for a suspension of rules to discuss SDP #846-Norwich Woods. Motion by John Mathieu to suspend rules, seconded by Les King – unanimous – RULES SUSPENDED Mr. Schaefer stated that he would like to release the original bond of $348,735 for work that has been completed at the site and to replace that bond with a passbook or other liquid form. He said there had been significant progress at the site in the past 6 months since new management took over the project. NPU Bond will be separated from the original bond and will take a warranty bond for the sewerage pump station. He said he had discussed replacement bond with Corporation Counsel. The new bond would be between $70,000 and $80,000 to finish pavement, landscaping, grading and as-built survey. Mr. Schaefer was waiting to get the final figure from the City Engineer. Motion by Les King to replace bond, seconded by John Mathieu, unanimously APPROVED-REPLACE BOND. K. ZONING MATTERS: 1. V#10-28 – Appeal of Peter Charron for property located at 520 Boswell Ave. in a Residential R-20 zoning district. In accordance with Sec.8.2.1; Permitted use to allow conversion of portion of existing single-family residence to retail bake shop. Michael Schaefer stated that he found nothing in the POCD to support request. Peter Davis recommended sending a negative recommendation since there was no hardship 3 LAST REVISED12/23/10 10:00 am and it is not consistent with the POCD or Comprehensive Plan. John Mathieu made a motion to forward an unfavorable recommendation to the ZBA, since it is inconsistent with the POCD, Les King seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward an UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to the ZBA. H. OTHER BUSINESS: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 17.1.7 AND 17.1.9 OF APPENDIX A, ZONING, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT Peter Davis stated there had been issues with collecting on insurance bonds and had discussed with Corporation Counsel. He said that many other municipalities where changing to cash bonds so the City could have better access to the funds if a problem occurred with a project. He discussed the proposed change with the City Treasurer who holds the bonds and he was agreeable to the cash bonds. Mike Schaefer stated there would also be a 5-year time limit on most Site Development Plan approvals. It would give the City more flexibility in a down economy for control over abandoned projects. Motion by Les King to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to the City Council regarding the proposed ordinance seconded by John Mathieu - unanimous. M. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Les King, and seconded by John Mathieu, Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 4