Commission on the City Plan

LAST REVISED 8/21/13 3:27 PM MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday, August 20, 2013 – 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 7:00 pm. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Arthur Sharron, Michael Lahan, and Les King. A quorum was present. Absent: Frank Manfredi & John Mathieu Also Present: Peter Davis, Director and Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary D. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Arthur Sharron and second by Michael Lahan, the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the July 18, 2013 Regular Meeting. E. COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Davis stated he had received two pieces of correspondence on August 5, 2013 and August 20, 2013 regarding the POCD and passed them out to committee members for review. Mr. Davis asked for a suspension of rules to take old business first. Motion by Art Sharron to suspend rules, second by Les King – unanimous- RULES SUSPENDED. G: OLD BUSINESS: 1. Plan of Conservation and Development - Final Draft from Planimetrics. Mr. Davis stated that since the hearing had been closed there would be no public testimony. He stated that all the CCP members had been forwarded comments from Glenn Chalder of Planimetrics, Attorney Glenn Carberry, and himself regarding the final draft. Since no comments had been received from CCP members, Mr. Davis recommended adoption of the POCD with Glenn Chalders modifications as previously presented. Michael Lahan requested that Dodd Stadium be added as a resource. 1 LAST REVISED 8/21/13 3:27 PM Mr. Lahan made a motion to approve the Plan of Conservation and Development with modifications and adding Dodd Stadium as a resource, second by Art Sharron – APPROVED with AMENDMENTS – unanimous. There was discussion as to the effective date. Glenn Chalder recommended a Saturday or Sunday date in September to allow ample time for the POCD to be available on line. Committee members agreed on Saturday, September 21, 2013 as the effective date. Mr. Davis thanked Glenn Chalder, Jason Vincent and the POCD committee members for their work. Michael Lahan thanked the committee and the public for their participation and comments. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. SP#13-05 –222 West Main St. – Assessor’s Map 101, Block 1, Lot 47- Application of Gary Gross for modification of Certificate of Location under Sec. 6.2 and repair and sale of autos under Sec. 9.2. Site is located in GC zone and owned by West Main St. Inc. Includes waiver of site plan review under Sec. 17.1.11 Mr. Davis read in exhibits “A-N” explaining that there was a “Certificate of Location” on the property and a special permit had been issued on the adjoining property in December 2012. This would move the permit next door due to an issue with the landlord/owner selling the property. The owner lost and never filed the special permit and would be willing to surrender it. Attorney Mark Block,138 Main St., spoke on behalf of the applicant stating that in 1985 a vehicle repairer’s license had been issued but did not allow sale of used autos. He stated that the owner of the property and the neighboring property lost his tenant (Wonder Bread Store) and decided to lease and/or sell the premises to the new current tenant. Mr. Gross leased space at both locations but had to consolidate/move his business to 222 West Main Street. The owner of the property has signed an “Abandonment of Special Permit 12-04” which will be recorded upon this approval. He stated there is ample parking at the site. Ralph Page asked if anyone else wanted to speak in favor or opposition. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition. There were no comments from the Commission. HEARING CLOSED. H: NEW BUSINESS: 1. SP#13-05 –222 West Main St. – Assessor’s Map 101, Block 1, Lot 47- Application of Gary Gross for modification of Certificate of Location under Sec. 6.2 and repair and sale of autos under Sec. 9.2. Site is located in GC zone and owned by West Main St. Inc. Includes waiver of site plan review under Sec. 17.1.11 2 LAST REVISED 8/21/13 3:27 PM Motion by Art Sharron to approve SP#13-05 as presented with the “Abandonment of Special Permit “ for 200 West Main St to be recorded, second by Les King – unanimously – APPROVED W/CONDTION. 2. SDP 1024 - 79 Wawecus St. - Application of Wawecus 105 Associates, LLC for 12,000 sq ft. medical office building, associated parking spaces and site improvements. Site is located in BP zoning district and owned by the applicant. Peter Davis showed the plan stating the project had received IWWCC approval at their August meeting. He stated it was a single story building with associated parking and municipal utilities. He reviewed the drainage/storm water plan due to the location of Rt 2 & 32 stating that the 2 existing basins will be used for sediment during the construction period and will be cleaned before bond release. Art Sharron questioned the run off into the nearby brook and asked if the drains could accommodate the overflow during a flooding situation like the City experienced in July. Tom Cummings, CLA stated he was at the site for a meeting on the day of the flooding and there were no issues at the nearby brook. The flooding occurred at the bottom of Case St. Sholes Ave. and West Town St. Peter Davis stated the drainage system meets the States requirements and had also been reviewed by the City Engineer. Tom Cummings stated the site requires 58 parking spaces and 64 will be provided. Michael Lahan abstained from voting. Peter Davis stated that Public Works had approved the bond and the required amount would be $66,687. Motion by Art Sharron to approve SDP #1024 with bond in the amount of $66,687 second by Les King - unanimously – APPROVED W/CONDITION. I: EXTENSIONS: 1. SDP 1020 – 41 Wawecus St. - Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc. dba Freeport-McMoran Copper Products for the 1st extension of time to post bond and file mylars. Mr. Davis stated mylars had been received in the office but not recorded yet. Upon motion by Les King and second by Michael Lahan, the Commission voted unanimously to GRANT the request for the 1st extension of time to post bond and file mylars. 3 LAST REVISED 8/21/13 3:27 PM J: BOND RELEASES: 1. SDP 1013 – Norwichtown Commons - 36-40 & 42-44 Town St. – Request of Norwichtown Commons for final release of bond in the amount of $10,000. Mr. Davis stated the site was complete. Art Sharron made a motion to release full amount of bond, second by Les King -unanimous- BOND RELEASED. K: ZONING MATTERS: ZBA Referral; Use variance 1. V#13-17 – Application of Douglas Patenaude for property located at 10-12 South B St in a Multi-Family (MF) zoning district. In accordance with Sec. 8.3 permitted use to allow conversion to customer service/office; Sec. 4.3 Changes: to permit conversion of nonconforming use to another non-conforming use. Mr. Davis stated this was an advisory opinion and that staff had no problem with the request since it would be reducing the nonconformity. Peter Davis explained that the current use of the property was an auto body and the owner wanted to obtain a use variance to allow a service related business to purchase the property. Staff had no objection to the request since it was a less objectionable use of the property. Motion by Les King to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to ZBA, seconded by Art Sharron – unanimous. L. OTHER BUSINESS: NONE M. ADJOURNMENT: Upon motion by Michael Lahan and second by Les King, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jacquie Barbarossa, Recording Secretary 4