Planning & Zoning Commission

CITY OF TORRINGTON PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES February 12, 2025 Present: Greg Mele – Chairman Greg Perosino – Vice Chair Donna Greco – Member Diane Carroll – Alternate Starley Arias – Alternate Also Present: Jeremy Leifert - City Planner, Christine Altman – Recording Secretary and applicants 1. Call to Order: Chairman Mele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Attendance is by Zoom or in- person at City Hall Auditorium, Room 218, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT. 2. Attendance/Announcement: Chairman Mele opened the meeting at 7:00 pm and announced present and serving this evening in person are Members Donna Greco and Chairmen Greg Mele. Serving remotely are Vice Chair Greg Perosino, as well as Diane Carroll and Starley Arias, both seated. Also present in the auditorium is City Planner Jeremy Leifert, Recording Secretary Christine Altman and applicants. 3. Minutes for Approval: a. January 15 2025 Meeting MOTION by Commissioner Perosino to approve the minutes of January 15, 2025 as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Greco. Motion passed unanimously Public Hearings: a. Resubdivision Location: 53 McDermott Avenue Applicant: Scott Olson Proposal: 2 lot Resubdivision of a 2.41-acre property in Local Business Zone Chairman Mele opened the public hearing at 7:01 PM. Serving this evening in person are Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes – February 12, 2025 Page 1 of 4  Members Donna Greco and Chairmen Greg Mele. Serving remotely are Vice Chair Greg Perosino, as well as Diane Carroll and Starley Arias, both seated. Also present is City Planner, Jeremy Leifert. Commissioner Greco read the legal notice into the record. Galen Semprebon, from East-West Engineering, presented for the applicant. He reminded the commission that he appeared before them 18 months prior for the cannabis facility. They are now seeking a 2 lot resubdivision zoned for local business. For both lots to conform to zoning, the small brick building must be removed. Mr. Semprebon reported that he had received an Inland Wetlands permit from Assistant City Planner and Wetlands Enforcement Officer, Nate Nardi-Cyrus. The plans stipulate retaining 28 parking spaces for Lot 1, the cannabis facility, while the remaining parking lot, water quality basin and drainage easement will transfer to Lot 2. Commissioner Greco asked if the brick house must come down. Mr. Leifert answered that they just barely makes the 80 foot of road frontage for each lot. If the brick house isn’t removed, it creates a non-conforming building location. Chairman Mele asked if the house coming down would enable future development for lot number 2. Mr. Semprebon affirmed this. Commissioner Perosino asked if there would be any separation with fencing. Mr. Semprebon answered no, they are only looking to separate with subdivision. Mr. Leifert read the conclusion of his memo into the record stating that the Conservation Commission has a scheduled meeting on February 25, 2025 and will review the proposed combination of conservation easements and fee in lieu amount under applicable regulations. The Conservation Commission is waiting on updated plans from the applicant showing the proposed conservation easement boundaries and appraisal for fee in lieu value. Therefore, Mr. Leifert recommends continuing the public hearing until the February 26th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Chairman Mele asked if there was anyone from the public who wanted to speak for or against the application. No one from the public chose to speak. MOTION by Commissioner Perosino to continue the public hearing. Motion seconded by Commissioner Greco, carried unanimously. b. Special Exception SE-25-1 and Site Plan 1549 Applicant: Fabian Pallasco Location: 113 Richard Road Proposal: Retaining wall within the 50’ setback Chairman Mele opened the public hearing at 7:13 PM. Serving this evening in person are Members Donna Greco and Chairmen Greg Mele. Serving remotely are Vice Chair Greg Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes – February 12, 2025 Page 2 of 4  Perosino, as well as Diane Carroll and Starley Arias, both seated. Also present is City Planner, Jeremy Leifert. Commissioner Greco read the legal notice into the record. Mr. Pallasco presented the overview of his project for a group daycare. It requires the renovation of his basement. From a safety standpoint, having steps will make it more difficult to evacuate. A ground level exit will make that easier. If there are steps, the Fire Marshall requires a sprinkler system. They are on a well, the system would be too complicated and beyond their budget. This special exception of a ground level exit bordered by a retaining wall will alleviate those problems. Mr. Leifert asked what the depth of the retaining wall would be. Mr. Pallasco stated that at the tallest point it will be a little over 8 feet. Chariman Mele asked what the wall would be constructed with. Mr. Pallasco replied that it will be concrete block. Mr. Leifert read the City Planner memo into the record. Chairman Mele asked if there was anyone from the public who wanted to speak for or against the application. No one from the public chose to speak. Chairman Mele closed the public hearing at 7:26 PM. MOTION by Commissioner Greco to approve the Special Exception and Site Plan applications with conditions as read into the record. Seconded by Commissioner Perosino, carried unanimously. 5. Old Business: a. Site Plan #1551 Applicant: Keith Bodwell Location: 114 Old Winsted Road Proposal: Demolition of existing dwelling and garage and construction of a commercial warehouse building, driveway, parking lot and associated drainage. Keith Bodwell, Engineer, presented his proposal to demolish the existing garage and house to replace it with a single warehouse-type building. The parking area is an existing gravel lot. He led the commission through modifications since last month. There is a proposed dumpster pad, a lighting pad showing the lighting doesn’t go over any of the boundaries, the landscaping plan with trees and shrubs along the front property line to meet the regulations. Some trees on the property must be removed for the grading, which are shown on the plans. Chairman Mele asked about the shared entrance. Mr. Leifert said it was a wide entrance. Mr. Bodwell said that the current entrance was wide open but would be limited in the plan to one entrance. Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes – February 12, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Bodwell stated that he received a favorable report for wetlands from Assistant City Planner, Nate Nardi-Cyrus. Mr. Leifert read the City Planner memo into the record. MOTION by Commissioner Greco to approve the site plan application with conditions as read into the record. Seconded by Commissioner Carroll, carried unanimously. 6. New Business: a. Site Plan #1550 Applicant: Eric Spencer Location: 80 Whitewood Road Proposal: 400 sq.ft. accessory apartment in the basement Mr. Spencer explained the plan which includes removing some walls and adding others to make the living space part of the main house. In the basement, a hallway will be added with an exterior door that allows for an accessory apartment. Chairman Mele asked if there was an egress window in the basement bedroom. Mr. Spencer answered that there is not an egress window. Mr. Leifert noted that it would be addressed by the building department and any changes they make to the plan would be reported back to the Land Use Department. Mr. Leifert read the City Planner memo into the record. MOTION by Commissioner Greco to approve site plan application subject to conditions as read into the record. Seconded by Commissioner Carroll, carried unanimously. 7. Correspondence: a. Zoning and Blight Violation update Mr. Leifert said there was nothing new to report. b. Discussion – Solar Project, West Hill Road Mr. Leifert reported that the solar project applicant will give a short presentation at the next meeting. He encouraged commissioners to ask their questions at that meeting. He also noted that they moved their application with the Siting Council to March. 8. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Carrol to adjourn at 8:01 PM. Seconded by Commissioner Greco carried unanimously. Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes – February 12, 2025 Page 4 of 4