Commission on the City Plan

MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday, July 15th – 7:00 PM 23 UNION STREET NORWICH CONNECTICUT LOWER LEVEL MEETING ROOM REGULAR MEETING AGENDA ITEMS A, B & C – CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, DETERMINATION OF QUORUM: Ralph Page, Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Commission Members Present: Ralph Page, Michael Lahan, Frank Manfredi, Les King, John Mathieu,and Daniel Daniska. A quorum was present. Absent: Arthur Sharron Also Present: Peter Davis, Director, Deb Delaporta, recording secretary D: APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Upon motion by Frank Manfredi and seconded by John Mathieu, the Commission voted unanimously to APPROVE the minutes of the June 17th, 2014 Regular Meeting. E: COMMUNICATIONS: Peter Davis stated communication items 1-6 would be dealt with as the Applications were presented and reviewed. F: PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1: SP#14-02-270 Broadway-Mount Crescent House Bed and Breakfast- Conversion of use from single family house to Bed and Breakfast in accordance with Sec. 7.4 Peter Davis read exhibit list A-M and stated the application is for a conversion of a historic home from a single family residence to a bed and breakfast. Since there are no exterior improvements, the applicant asked for a waiver of a site plan which is normally required with a Special Permit Application. Peter stated it would need a separate motion to be voted on. A floor plan is required and has been submitted. Also required and submitted were letters from the Health, Building and Fire Departments to the commission stating that the renovations comply with the State Building Codes. Although the plan was submitted with a sprinkler system included, Ms. Lee may apply to the State of Connecticut for a modification to keep from putting the sprinkler system in. Mr. Davis stated he advised Natalie Lee, the applicant to have Jason Vincent from NCDC assist her in presenting the application, based on his knowledge of the regulations. Jason stated that the size of the house was not adaptable as a single family home and the CCP has the tools to adapt it to reuse and repurpose it while preserving the integrity of the house and neighborhood. Mr. Vincent then discussed the floor plan of the Bed and Breakfast, stating since the building was three floors it presented fire code challenges. Ms. Lee has received several proposals to install a sprinkler system but due to the cost was looking for alternative options. Jason stated that the impact to traffic would be minimized as a van would be transporting guests participating in the tours proposed in Ms. Lee’s plan. Les King asked what the target group would be, and Natalie stated it would be Chinese and Taiwanese tourists. Dale Plummer, City Historian spoke in favor of the project. He stated it was a historic house built in the 1850’s and that this plan would preserve and control what happens to the building. Joanne Philbrick spoke in favor, but with reservations about the sprinkler system and/or fire escape. She also inquired as to whether a permit would be needed to convert it back to a single family home. There were no other people speaking in favor, and no one spoke in opposition. John Mathieu asked about the status of the house being located in the National Historic Registry, and Mr. Plummer stated in the National district any outside changes do not have to be approved as they do in the local Historic District. At this point, the public hearing was closed. 1 Michael Lahan asked if the neighbors had to be notified, and Mr. Davis stated they did not because there was no variance required. Frank Manfredi made a motion to suspend the order of business to take a vote on this application, seconded by John Mathieu. Motion by Frank Manfredi to approve waiver of site plan for SP #14-02, second by Michael Lahan- unanimously APPROVED. Motion by Michael Lahan to approve SP #14-02, second by Frank Manfredi-unanimously APPROVED. 2: SP#14-03-Norwich Public Utilities-168 West Town St + Wawecus St- Compressed natural gas filling station within a 100 year designated floodplain in accordance with Sec. 14.6 Peter Davis read Exhibit list A-M. He stated that a small portion of the access road for this project was in the floodplain, and that this plan proposed elevating the dispensing unit up above the flood area. According to the plan presented, there would be no impact to the Grange, and no access off of West Town St. There would be a slight increase in compensatory storage. This would be an unmanned station that NPU as well as other businesses and individuals could use. Michael Lahan asked if drivers know how to use the dispensing station, and John Mathieu stated it was safer to use than gasoline. Peter Davis stated the City Engineer, Patrick McLaughlin had several comments presented in a letter, and all of his concerns would be addressed and taken care of. The police department had not comment or concerns. No one spoke in favor or against, so the public hearing was closed. Frank Manfredi made a motion to suspend the order of business, and Michael Lahan seconded. Mr. Manfredi made a motion to approve SP #14-03, second by John Mathieu-unanimously APPROVED. 3: SP#14-04-Norwich Public Works-Montville Rd over Trading Cove Brook- Culvert replacement and road reconstruction within a 100 year designated floodplain in accordance with Sec. 14.6 Peter Davis read Exhibit list A-L. The Town of Montville was sent a registered letter (exhibit L) and did not respond. Everyone on the committee was in agreement that this should have been handled a long time ago. The bridge has been out for a number of years and the State of Connecticut has changed the plans several times delaying the construction. Mr. Davis stated the construction of the bridge will increase the capacity to handle flood waters, and all slopes will be reconstructed after the bridge is built. The City Engineer has reviewed the flood impact statement. Peter said this is the last local approval before going back to the State. John Mathieu asked how long the bridge has been out and was told seven years. Peter advised that the committee is dealing strictly with the flood plain application and the potential for flood impact. Montville citizen Richard Miller spoke in favor of the plan. He said he had spoken to the mayor of Montville and was told all permits are in place. The town has received $500,000 to help with the construction, which will be a joint project between Montville and Norwich. No one else spoke in favor, and there was no opposition. Ralph Page closed the public hearing. Frank Manfredi made a motion to approve SP#14-04, seconded by Michael Lahan-unanimously APPROVED. G: OLD BUSINESS: None H: NEW BUSINESS: 1: SP#14-02-270 Broadway-Mount Crescent House Bed and Breakfast- Conversion of use from single family house to Bed and Breakfast in accordance with Sec. 7.4-Unanimously Approved 2: SP#14-03-Norwich Public Utilities-168 West Town St + Wawecus St- Compressed natural gas filling station within a 100 year designated floodplain in accordance with Sec. 14.6- Unanimously Approved 3: SP#14-04-Norwich Public Works-Montville Rd over Trading Cove Brook- Culvert replacement and road reconstruction within a 100 year designated floodplain in accordance with Sec. 14.6- Unanimously Approved 2 I. EXTENSIONS: None J: BOND RELEASES: 1: 41 Wawecus St-Norwich Surety Bond Release of Remaining $5000 Freeport McMoRan Copper Norwich Operations Peter Davis said that $5000 had been held due to a portion of the property that had been hydro seeded and that the grass had not yet established itself. He has been back out to re-inspect the property and has no problem releasing the funds. Michael Lahan made a motion to approve the Bond release, second by Frank Manfredi. All members were in favor-Approved. K: ZONING MATTERS: None L: OTHER BUSINESS: Executive Session for pending litigation Frank Mandredi made a motion to go into Executive Session at 7:45 to discuss pending litigation, and invited Peter Davis to join the session, seconded by Michael Lahan-unanimously Approved. At this time, the public was dismissed and the meeting was closed to the public. There were no actions or votes taken during the executive session. The executive session was adjourned at 8:55. M: ADJOURNMENT: Upon motion by John Mathieu, and second by Frank Mandredi, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:00 PM. 3