Commission on the City Plan

COMMISSION ON THE CITY PLAN Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting / Public Hearing 23 Union Street - Lower Level Conference Room - NORWICH, CT 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Frank Manfredi called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL AND SEATING OF ALTERNATES: Present: Frank Manfredi, Chairman, Deane Nason, Ella Myles, Jason Courter (Alternate), Nicholas Fortson (Alternate) Absent: Kathy Warzecha, James Quarto and Tracy Burto (Alternate) Staff Present: Director of Planning and Neighborhood Services Deanna Rhodes, City Planner Dan Daniska Due to absence of Commission Members, Jason Courter and Nicholas Fortson were seated as Regular Members. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ella Myles made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 28, 2025 Regular Meeting. Jason Courter seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATIONS: None 5. NEW BUSINESS: None 6. OLD BUSINESS: Public Hearings and Potential Action on the Following Re-Subdivision & Special Permit Application(s) Postponed on 01/28/2025: b. SP#24-13: 131 Providence Street. Request for a Special Permit for a child care center. Application of Wilmer Castillo Reyes. Property of Jehu and Deidra Leconte. Assessor’s Map 39 Block 1 Lot 30. Zone NC. Deane Nason made a motion to postpone the Public Hearing for SP #24-13 to the March 18, 2025 Meeting. Nicholas Fortson seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. a. SUB#439: 40 Connecticut Avenue. Request for a two (2) lot Re-Subdivision on a parcel that includes an existing private educational institution building. Application of Gregg Fedus, Fedus Engineering, LLC. Property of Frama Realty Corp. Assessor’s Map 50, Block 1, Lot 53. Zone BP. Deane Nason made a motion to open the Public Hearing for SUB #439 at 7:03 PM. Nicholas Fortson seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Chairman Manfredi invited the applicant and/or representatives to speak on behalf of the project. Gregg Fedus, P.E. of Fedus Engineering, LLC reviewed the plan for the Commission and requested a sidewalk waiver due to the absence of existing sidewalks in proximity of the project location. Ms. Rhodes reviewed her Memorandum #2 dated February 20, 2025 detailing requirements for conditions of approval, and asked Mr. Fedus to discuss utility easements. Frank Nocito confirmed that the project would not interfere with current utility easements, and that NPU would be involved in any development impacting utilities on the property. Mr. Nocito also responded to Ms. Rhodes question about blasting, confirming there would be no blasting on the property and topography will not be changed. Ms. Rhodes asked that a “no blasting” condition be added. Ms. Rhodes made note of all the exhibits that were part of the application. Hearing no further questions from the Commission or comments from the applicant or staff, Chairman Manfredi called for comments from the public in favor of the project. Hearing no comments, Chairman Manfredi then called for comments from the public opposed to the project. Hearing none, he called for a motion to close the public hearing. Nicholas Fortson made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Jason Courter seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the Public Hearing closed at 7:26 PM. Deane Nason made a motion to approve the waiver of the sidewalk requirement. Ella Myles seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Reason: There are no abutting sidewalks, and they are not necessary. Nicholas Fortson made a motion to approve SUB#439 with the following conditions: • That a final revised plan set, which incorporates comments in this memo and those outstanding ones from other City Staff, be submitted to the Planning Dept. • That the Letter of Approval (size 8”1/2X 11”) be placed on the final plan set and mylar, which shall include the stamped seal and signature of the licensed professional. The letter of approval should be located on a new cover sheet for the subdivision. • That the sheet pages of the subdivision be renumbered so there are not two sheets “1 of 1”. • That an erosion and sediment control bond estimate be provided for the silt fencing and anti- tracking pad shown on the subdivision map. The City Engineer will review the estimate, determine whether the amount is sufficient, and increase if deemed necessary. The bond must be submitted in a form acceptable to the City prior to the filing of the mylars. The erosion and sediment control bond may be released if requested by the applicant only after a bond is posted for the future approved development on Lot B. • That two (2) mylars and four (4) prints of the plan must be submitted to the Planning Department for endorsement by the Chairman of the Commission on the City Plan. The mylars must include the red indelible ink certification, which includes the name of producer and process used. • That prior to filing the mylars, the applicant submit payment in the form of a check for $200 ($100 per lot) to the City of Norwich for the fee in lieu of open space, in accordance with SR Section 19-24.2(1).  • That written certification by a licensed land surveyor is submitted to indicate that the installation of all property boundary markers has been completed in accordance with the subdivision plan prior to the filing of the mylars. • That the mylars for the approved subdivision must be filed on the Norwich Land Records at the Office of the City Clerk within ninety (90) days of the official date of approval. The State of Connecticut Statue allows for a maximum of two (2) ninety (90) extensions that must be granted by the Commission. • That no blasting shall occur on this property prior to a development plan being approved. Deane Nason seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Reason: The proposed project conforms to the City of Norwich Subdivision Regulations. 7. EXTENSION REQUESTS: None 8. BOND REDUCTION/RELEASE REQUESTS: None 9. OTHER BUSINESS: None 10. STAFF REPORT: Ms. Rhodes provided an update on the status of the zoning regulations, and mentioned there are several legislative updates to be reviewed by her office. She also informed the Commission that representatives from Work-Live-Play will be presenting information at the March CCP Meeting. 11. ADJOURNMENT: Ella Myles made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Nicholas Fortson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously ending the meeting at 7:36 PM. Respectfully submitted, Jeanne Kurasz – CCP Recording Secretary