EAST LYME PLANNING COMMISSION
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REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, DECEMBER 11th, 2007
EAST LYME PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
PRESENT: Lisa Picarazzi, Chairman, Francine Schwartz, Secretary, Michael Bowers, Paul Dagle, Christopher Sandford
ALSO PRESENT: Donna Palumbo, Alternate
Meg Parulis, Planning Director
ABSENT: Sandy Mulholland, Alternate, Tom Perron, Alternate
Chairman Picarazzi called this Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:02 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge was observed.
Ms. Picarazzi congratulated Paul Formica, First Selectman on his recent election to the position of First Selectman and said that he has indicated to her that he wanted to say a few words to the Commission and that he would Chair the meeting for the purpose of the election of the position of Chairman of the Commission.
Paul Formica, First Selectman welcomed all of the new people to the Commission and said that he wanted them to know that he is there to help out and that his door is open to them.
I. Election of Officers
ΰ Chairman
Mr. Formica called for nominations for the position of Chairman of the Planning Commission for 2008.
**MOTION (1)
Mr. Dagle moved to nominate Lisa Picarazzi for the position of Chairman of the Planning Commission for 2008.
Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion.
Mr. Formica called for any other nominations
Hearing none
Mr. Formica called for a vote on the nomination of Lisa Picarazzi for the position of Chairman
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
Mr. Formica congratulated Ms. Picarazzi and turned over the chairing of the meeting to her.
ΰ Secretary
Ms. Picarazzi called for nominations for the position of Secretary of the Planning Commission for 2008.
**MOTION (2)
Mr. Dagle moved to nominate Francine Schwartz for the position of Chairman of the Planning Commission for 2008.
Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.
Ms. Picarazzi called for any other nominations
Hearing none
Ms. Picarazzi called for a vote on the nomination of Francine Schwartz for the position of Secretary
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
II. Appointment of a Regular Member to fill the Vacancy left by John Hogan
Ms. Picarazzi said that she has spoken with the Alternates and asked them if they are interested in filling the regular member vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Hogan as he was elected to the Board of Selectman recently. She said that Ms. Mulholland indicated that she is not interested at this time however; Ms. Palumbo and Mr. Perron have indicated that they are interested in the position and have submitted letters of interest outlining their experience. These letters have been given to the Commissioners to review.
Ms. Picarazzi called for nominations to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Hogan -
**MOTION (3)
Mr. Bowers moved to nominate Thomas Perron to fill the regular member vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Hogan.
Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.
Ms. Picarazzi asked if there were other nominations
**MOTION (4)
Ms. Schwartz moved to nominate Donna Palumbo to fill the regular member vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Hogan.
Mr. Dagle seconded the motion.
Mr. Bowers said that he has worked with Mr. Perron for many years and that he is an engineer and a long-term resident of the Town.
Mr. Dagle said that Ms. Palumbo is also a long-term resident of the Town and has many affiliations and that either of the candidates would be an asset and as both are republicans, either can fill the vacancy.
Ms. Picarazzi called for a vote on the nomination of Thomas Perron (Motion (3)) and noted to the Commissioners that they could only vote for one person
Vote: (for Mr. Perron MOTION (3)) 3 2 0. Motion passed.
For: Ms. Picarazzi, Mr. Dagle, Mr. Bowers
Against: Mr. Sandford, Ms. Schwartz
Due to the results of Motion (3), there was no necessity to vote Motion (4).
Ms. Parulis said that she has chosen an effective date for Mr. Perron to assume the regular member position of December 21, 2007 so that he has the time to resign from the alternate position that he currently holds. He can resign from it so that they can then advertise for it and find someone else to fill it.
III. 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 no delegations.
IV. Approval of Minutes Public Hearing Minutes of November 13, 2007
Regular Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2007
Ms. Picarazzi said that because they had just received the copies of the minutes that she would like to table approval of them until the next meeting of the Commission so that they can read them over.
V. Subdivision Applications
1. Application of Walnut Hill Chase, LLC for a 25-lot Re-Subdivision of properties located at 40 & 44 Grassy Hill Road and 89 Walnut Hill Road including road construction (Assessors Map 52, Lots 57, 57-1, 123 & 123-1)
Ms. Parulis said that they should schedule the Public Hearing on this for their January 15, 2008 meeting and that they would also need to schedule a time for a site walk.
**MOTION (5)
Mr. Dagle moved to schedule the Public Hearing for the Application of Walnut Hill chase, LLC for a 25-lot Re-Subdivision of properties located at 40 & 44 Grassy Hill Road and 89 Walnut Hill Road including road construction for January 15, 2008.
Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
Ms. Picarazzi suggested that they schedule a site walk for January 5, 2008, weather permitting at the site, with further details to follow.
VI. 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.)
1. The Orchards at East Lyme Subdivision East Lyme Housing Ventures Request for Bond Reduction Phase I & Phase III including sewers on Boston Post Road.
Ms. Schwartz recused herself from discussion on this item and left the room.
Ms. Parulis said that the Engineer submitted a letter dated 11/21/07 indicating that he has reviewed this work and recommends a reduction of the bond from $3M to $1.75M.
**MOTION (6)
Mr. Dagle moved to grant a reduction to the public improvement bond for the Orchards at East Lyme Subdivision, currently valued at $3 million, to $1.75 million based on the recommendation from the Town Engineer.
Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 0 0. Motion passed.
Mr. Sandford asked if there was any downside to approving that reduction.
Ms. Parulis said no, as the Town Engineer has reviewed the work and made the recommendation.
Ms. Schwartz rejoined the meeting and was seated at the table.
2. Nottingham Hills Subdivision Niantic Real Estate LLC Request for release of Erosion Control Bond for Phase IIA & Phase III.
Ms. Parulis said that the applicant here is looking for a release of the bond however; Engineering has indicated that they would like to keep some of the monies as Phase IIA takes it to the end of the property and both Phases would have to be accepted together. Based on this, the bond is combined and Engineering has indicated that they would be comfortable with a reduction of the bond from $20,000 to $10,000.
**MOTION (7)
Mr. Dagle moved to grant a reduction to the Erosion & Sedimentation control bond for Phase IIA & Phase III of the Nottingham Hills Subdivision, currently valued at $20,000 (combined), to $10,000 based on the recommendation from the Town Engineer.
Mr. Sandford seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
3. Nottingham Hill Subdivision Niantic Real Estate LLC Request for reduction of Public Improvement Bond for Phase IIA and Phase III.
Ms. Parulis said that the Town Engineer has recommended that this bond remain in place and not be reduced at this time based upon the amount of work that still has to be completed. There is still some paving and drainage work that has to be done.
**MOTION (8)
Mr. Sandford moved to deny a reduction to the public improvement bonds for Phases IIA & III of the Nottingham Hills Subdivision, currently values at $10,000 and $110,000 respectively based on the recommendation from the Town Engineer.
Mr. Dagle seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
VII. Zoning Referrals
Ms. Parulis noted that they have copies in the packets that they received this evening of a Government Buildings public hearing that would be held next month in Zoning that is initiated by the Zoning Commission and that they should review the information and be prepared to make comments at their next meeting.
VIII. 8-24 Referrals (Municipal Improvements)
There were none.
IX. Other Business
1. FY 08/09 Budget Request
Ms. Parulis noted the new sheet and format for the budgets and explained what she was asking for. She indicated that they were looking for lean budgets and that she has cut the items as far as she feels that she can. She also explained that there would be a capital request that would come forward and that it would probably be in the $20,000 range and she would task out how this would be utilized.
**MOTION (9)
Mr. Sandford moved to approve the proposed budget for FY 08/09 as presented.
Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
2. FY 07/08 Annual Report
Ms. Parulis said that she had included this in their packets that were presented this evening and that she would like them to review the information so that they can vote on it at their next meeting and she can submit it. She noted that this was a format that they have been following for years and that the information is updated each year.
3. Update of Subdivision Regulations
Ms. Parulis said that the moratorium has been appealed and that it would be traveling through the court appeal process however; the update of the road standards is a priority item and she hopes to have something for them to look at for their next meeting. She said that she has spoken to NEMO and that she has to put in an application with them for help on this. She has the information to look over and will be putting in the application.
Mr. Dagle asked about a schedule to work on this.
Ms. Parulis said that it will involve other entities and that there is a priority placed on this to life the moratorium as soon as possible. Engineering will be involved heavily and she will discuss their time availability with them.
4. Open Space Plan
Ms. Parulis noted that Mr. Carlson is taking his presentation on the road and that he will be going to water & Sewer next and giving them the presentation. They have indicated that they are looking forward to it.
5. POCD Update Formation of POCD Committees
¨ Conservation Issues
ΰ Guiding Appropriate Development
ΰ Addressing Community Needs
Ms. Parulis noted the outline on how she is going to cover this. She said that the key goal of the POCD is to guide input from everyone towards the overall planning for the Town. The phone survey is going well and they only have about 50 more surveys to get. Once this is done, they will go to the paper surveys for all the people who want to fill one out. The results will be kept separate from those of the phone survey. She said that she expects to have something for them to look over as far as results go, at their February meeting. She noted that the Day has not returned her calls and that the press release regarding the phone surveys did not get into the paper.
The Commissioners suggested that she try to get hold of them again and that she also try the Lyme Tymes and utilize the Town website to get the information out.
Ms. Picarazzi asked about the committees.
Ms. Parulis said that she will get them together as she has interested people and that she will email the list to them.
6. Appointment of Regional Planning Commission Representatives
Ms. Parulis said that they would need two people, one from the Commission and one from the public at large who serves as an Alternate in the event that the regular member cannot go. She recalled that the Regional Planning Commission meets six (6) times a year, every other month; is comprised of members from Towns in the region and discusses regional issues such as transportation, open space, Route 11, etc.
Ms. Picarazzi asked if anyone was interested in serving as the representative from the Commission
Mr. Sandford indicated that he would be interested
**MOTION (10)
Ms. Schwartz moved to appoint Mr. Sandford as the Regular Member Representative to the Regional Planning Commission.
Mr. Dagle seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
Ms. Parulis said that there was a person in the audience that she believed was interested in being appointed as the alternate member representative to the Regional Planning Commission.
Luane Lange, from the audience indicated that she was interested in serving as the alternate representative to the Regional Planning Commission.
**MOTION (11)
Mr. Sandford moved to appoint Luane Lange as the Alternate Representative to the Regional Planning Commission.
Mr. Dagle seconded the motion.
Vote: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
X. Reports
1. Chairman
Ms. Picarazzi congratulated the new members of the Commission.
Ms. Parulis said that she has given them a packet with general information and information on the roles and responsibilities of the members. She suggested that they read it and that they keep it together for reference in the future.
Ms. Picarazzi said that she has also spoken with Mr. Peck of the Zoning Commission and has reached out to them to work together and improve communication. She said that Mr. Peck indicated that he did not support combining the Commissions due to legal issues and that he thought that it would be better if perhaps they attended the meetings with respect to the referrals so that they could better understand the nature of them. She said that she would continue to discuss these issues with Mr. Peck.
Ms. Parulis said that they could listen even if they could not speak. She noted that they could not speak as a representative of the Commission. She said that she has supplied them with a list of the Zoning meetings if they should wish to attend any of them. She said that she would also provide everyone with a copy of the main Statutes that pertain to land use so that they will garner a better idea of what they can and cannot do.
Ms. Picarazzi asked Ms. Parulis to add: Planning Commission liaison to Zoning to the agenda under Reports.
Mr. Bowers said that he would attend the first Zoning meeting in January 2008 and listen.
Mr. Dagle said that he thought that he would be able to attend the second Zoning meeting in January 2008.
2. Zoning Representative
There was no one present from the Zoning Commission.
3. Regional Planning Commission Representative Christopher Sandford, Luane Lange, Alternate
There was no report.
4. Rte. 11 Greenway
Ms. Parulis said that they have probably read that they have closed on another piece of property.
5. Ex-Officio John Hogan
Ms. Parulis said that Mr. Hogan was newly appointed to them.
6. Staff/Communications
Ms. Parulis said that she did not have anything further to report.
ADJOURNMENT
**MOTION (12)
Mr. Dagle moved to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the East Lyme Planning Commission at 8:35 PM.
Mr. Bowers seconded the motion.
VOTE: 5 0 0. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Zmitruk,
Recording Secretary