Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 2/17/2011 11:30 AM MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday February 15, 2011 – 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 pm. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Frank Manfredi, P Michael Lahan, Les King and John Mathieu. A quorum was present. Absent: Jeremy Booty and Arthur Sharron Also Present: Peter Davis, Director, Michael Schaefer, City Planner, and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Frank Manfredi and second by John Mathieu the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the 01/25/2011 Special meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE G. OLD BUSINESS: NONE Ralph Page asked for suspension of rules to take items out of order. Motion was made, seconded and approved unanimously. H: NEW BUSINESS: 1. SDP #999-A – Modification-153 Hunters Rd. & 115 Merchants Ave. – Request of Ponemah Villa Estates, LLC for Site Work Bond Modification for 90-Unit Active Adult Community located within R-20 and R-40 zoning districts and owned by the applicant. Mike Schaefer explained that the applicant was requesting Phase 1 to be subdivided into a smaller phase consisting of a model unit and its ancillary improvements. Joseph McMahon gave a brief history of the project and stated he and his brother had invested $1.4 million in the project. He explained that the model unit would be placed at the main entrance of Hunters Rd. in the parking lot for the proposed community center. Mr. McMahon stated this would enable them to obtain more financing and investors for the 1st Phase due to interest in the model home. He stated the mylars are printed and ready to 1 LAST REVISED 2/17/2011 11:30 AM go and they could post the reduced bond prior to the next CCP meeting on March 15. He stated that the engineer’s estimate included $10,000 for removal of the model home. Kevin McMahon stated that due to the economic situation of the country everyone needs to take a risk and that due diligence has been shown by them. He stated even with the worse case scenario if the project were to fail, there would be a paved driveway entrance into a building lot. Mike Schaefer stated that a special permit is on file and that will stay forever with the land. Mike Schaefer recommended the Commission read the comments from Public Works and stated that staff agreed with DPW comments. Mr. Schaefer suggested a separate escrow agreement for removal of the model home consisting of 100% of the $10,000 allotment. There was discussion on what type of precedence this would send to future developers and how the property could be developed or modified in the future. Frank Manfredi stated he had no problem modifying the phase into a smaller bond to enable progress on the site and that something was better than nothing and it does not harm the City in any way. Frank Manfredi made a motion to accept the smaller phase with $10,000 to be set-aside in a separate escrow account for demolition subject to agreement with Corporation Counsels review and passbook bond in the amount of $57,000 for site work. Seconded by Michael Lahan - unanimously APPROVED W/CONDITIONS. I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SUB #422 – 24 Hammond Ave. – Request of Hammond Ledge, LLC for the 2nd extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mike Schaefer said that Staff had no objection to the extension. Upon motion by Michael Lahan 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: NONE K: ZONING MATTERS: NONE L. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. City of Norwich 5-year Capital Improvements Plan review. Peter Davis explained the changes to the City’s process for submitting the 5 year Capital Plan which started last year as part of the Manager’s 20 Year Capital Programming effort. Last year the CCP determined that they would not substitute their judgment for that of the department heads relative to designating priorities. Further, the CCP determined that this year they would concur with planning staff and the Manager’s suggestion that capital expenditures for improvements to infrastructure and public safety be the general priorities. 2 LAST REVISED 2/17/2011 11:30 AM The CCP will not substitute their judgment for the department heads requests. Through the budget process, the City Manager and Council will decide what will and can be done depending on the City’s revenue stream. Les King made a motion to send a general recommendation for improvements to infrastructure and public safety seconded by Michael Lahan- unanimous. M. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Frank Manfredi, and second by John Mathieu, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 3