REGULAR MEETING    Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2008

EAST LYME PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

PRESENT:                 Lisa Picarazzi, Chairman, Francine Schwartz, Secretary, Chris Sandford, Tom Perron, Paul Dagle, Mike Bowers,

ALSO PRESENT:       Jack Hogan, Ex-Officio, Board of Selectmen

                                  Fred Finn, Applicant

                                 George McPherson, Alternate

                                 Sandy Mulholland, Alternate

                                 William Mulholland, Acting Planning Director

ABSENT:                   Drew Kenny, Alternate

Chairman Picarazzi called this Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:00 PM.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge was observed.

I.    Public Delegations

Public Delegations is the time when members of the public are invited to speak to the Commission about certain matters. Issues or concerns related to approved subdivisions under construction (Item IV.) and in-house proposals or general topics of discussion (Item VII.) are open to comment. Items, referrals, or applications subject to a decision by the Commission, a public hearing, or in litigation may not be discussed. The members of the Commission will not directly answer questions or make comment during delegations.

Ms. Picarazzi called for Public Delegations.

There were none.

II.  Approval of Minutes –  Regular Meeting Minutes of August 5, 2008

                                          Public Hearing I Minutes of August 5, 2008

Ms. Picarazzi called for any discussion or corrections to the Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of August 5, 2008.

Mr. Dagle asked that on Page 2, center of the page where Mr. Mulholland is speaking that dies is changed to ‘does’ and in the next paragraph that the is changed to ‘they’ at the end of the first line. On Page 3 in the third paragraph down, third sentence he asked that it be changed to ‘if’.

**MOTION (1)

Mr. Sandford moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of the Planning Commission on August 5, 2008 as amended.

Mr. Bowers seconded the motion.

Vote:  5 – 0 – 1.  Motion passed.

Abstained:  Ms. Schwartz

Ms. Picarazzi called for any discussion or corrections to the Planning Commission Public Hearing I Minutes of August 5, 2008.

Mr. Dagle asked that on the first page in the fourth line of the third paragraph that the word work be changed to read ‘word’.

**MOTION (2)

Mr. Sandford moved to approve the Public Hearing Minutes of the Planning Commission on August 5, 2008 as presented.

Mr. Bowers seconded the motion.

Vote:  5 – 0 – 1.  Motion passed.

Abstained:  Ms. Schwartz

Subdivisions (Approved and Under Construction)

(A list of approved subdivisions under construction will be posted on the Town web-site @ www.eltownhall.com under “Planning Commission”. The Active Subdivision List will also be available upon request in the Land Use Office. This agenda item shall be reserved for items requiring administrative action by the Planning Commission for already approved subdivisions.)

III.  Applications

1.       Application of Fred Finn Jr., Land Surveyor for a Subdivision Text Amendment to Section 7-3-7 regarding the number of lots allowed on a loop street. The proposed amendment would eliminate the word less and substitute it with the words not more.

Ms. Picarazzi said that they had closed this Public Hearing at the last meeting and were waiting on some information from staff.

Mr. Mulholland passed out a memo from Bill Scheer, Town Engineer and noted that the various sections could appear to operate independently of each other. He said that both he and Mr. Scheer had commented on how they could not see how this would be affected and that it is up to them if they want to make the change.

Mr. Perron said that it does not appear to look at the other issues such as of two entrances, etc.

Mr. Mulholland said that they also did discuss that in some detail. He noted that the Section 4 waiver does not apply to Section 7-3 as that Section 7 does not state that the waiver applies. While the section could be modified at some other time, he explained that the concept of the waiver applying needs to be cited as such.

Ms. Picarazzi said that she gathers from Mr. Scheer’s memo and her own thoughts that it was intended to be 20 rather than 19 as the number 19 is an odd number and other amendments within the regulations use 20 rather than 19. It makes more sense to have it be 20.

Mr. Perron noted that he still does not agree with that and thinks that they need more information before making a decision.

**MOTION (3)

Mr. Bowers moved to approve the application of Fred Finn Jr., Land Surveyor for a Subdivision Text Amendment to Section 7-3-7 regarding the number of lots allowed on a loop street. Specifically the last sentence in Section 7-3-7 would be changed to read:

‘The distance along the centerline from the mid-point of the loop street to the edge of pavement of the through street with which it intersects shall not exceed 1500 feet and the number of lots served shall be not more than twenty (20).’ (change the word less to not more)

Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion.

Vote: 5 – 1 – 0.  Motion passed.

Against:  Mr. Perron

2.       Request for 90-day extension of the period to file Mylars associated with approval of 11 lot subdivision of Benjamin Orvedal at 65 & 68 Holmes Road in East Lyme.

Mr. Mulholland noted that Mr. Sweeney was not able to be present this evening to explain this however, Mr. Orvedal; the applicant is present and could shed some light on this for them. He also noted that there is a letter in their packets that explains the request.

Ben Orvedal, applicant explained that it was a condition by the Fire Marshall that they install a 30,000 gallon water tank for fire fighting purposes and that the first time that he had seen or heard about that was at the meeting here. He said that he spoke with the Fire Marshal about the pond and his desire to use the pond for the fire fighting and the Fire Marshal said that could be done however, they would have to build a driveway to the pond and that required going to the Wetlands Commission which necessitated more time in order to get that approval. That pushed them out on the time line.

Ms. Picarazzi asked if there were any other questions or if they were ready to make a motion.

**MOTION (4)

Mr. Dagle moved to approve the request of Benjamin Orvedal for a 90-day extension of the time period to file Mylars associated with the approval of an 11-lot subdivision located at 65 & 68 Holmes Road in East Lyme.

Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.

Vote:  6 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

IV.   Zoning Referrals (CGS 8-3a)

There were none.

VI.   8-24 Referrals (Municipal Improvements)

There were none.

VII.  New Business

1.       Chairman’s Comments – Re: Scenic Road Plan

Ms. Picarazzi reported that they are moving forward with the Scenic Road Plan and that the Town Attorney has reviewed the Town of Washington’s and the Town of Lebanon’s documents on this and they should have a draft for the next committee meeting. They could have this project done in the next couple of months.

Mr. Mulholland noted that the Town Attorney wants to explain the Scenic Road components to the subcommittee members as it potentially involves a lot of landowners.

VIII.  Other Business

1.   Update of Subdivision Regulations – Stormwater Mgnt. – Preparing Final Draft for Peer Review

Ms. Picarazzi said that she spoke with Mr. Scheer and was told that they should expect to get a draft of the Stormwater Regulations emailed to them before their next meeting. She asked that they review them so that they can be discussed at their next meeting. It was discussed that they could potentially handle this during their workshop meeting that is scheduled for September 16, 2008.

Mr. Mulholland said that he would speak with Bill Scheer and coordinate this effort with him and Ms. Picarazzi.

2.   Open Space Plan

There was no report.

3.   POCD Update

Ms. Picarazzi said that she did not have any further update at this time.

Mr. Mulholland reported that he received an email from a student working for Mr. Miniutti who is doing research and that he will be meeting with her soon.

IX.   Reports

1.       Chairman

Ms. Picarazzi reported that they did conduct interviews for Town Planner and that they have interviewed six (6) people and made their recommendations.

2.       Zoning Representative

There was no report.

3.       Regional Planning Commission Representative – Christopher Sandford, Luane Lange, Alternate

Mr. Sandford reported that there is a meeting scheduled for September 15, 2008.

4.       Rte. 11 Greenway

There was no report.

5.       Ex-Officio – Jack Hogan

Mr. Hogan reported that the Planning interviews are over as Ms. Picarazzi has stated and that they are in negotiations with their top candidate and hope to know something by the end of the week. He noted that they were all impressed with the lead candidate.

Mr. Hogan also said that he wanted to address Mr. Gadbois regarding something that was written about the Public Hearing that was held at the last meeting. He said that Mr. Gadbois made a comment at the Board of Selectmen meeting that the discussion continued after the Public Hearing had been closed and that he wants to make it clear that the Public Hearing was closed legally and that the Commissioners then asked staff for further input which is something that they legally can do. The Public Hearing was conducted properly and they did not take any further comment from the public however, they do have the right to obtain information from staff to help them make the best decision possible.

6.       Staff/Communications

Ms. Picarazzi said that she would wait to hear from Mr. Mulholland regarding the meeting on September 16, 2008 to discuss the Stormwater Regulations draft.

Mr. Bowers asked about the UCONN general timeline on the POCD update.

Mr. Mulholland said that they are working with the GIS component to get the background down and that in the interim they are touching base with Mr. Miniutti pulling things together.

ADJOURNMENT

**MOTION (5)

Mr. Dagle moved to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the East Lyme Planning Commission at 7:42 PM.

Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.

VOTE:  6 – 0 – 0.   Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Zmitruk,

Recording Secretary