PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

TOWN OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT Town Hall 174 Main Street Deep River, Connecticut 06417

  1. A regular meeting of the Deep River Planning and Zoning Commission held on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at the Deep River Town Hall was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Kastner. Members present: Janet Edgerton, Nancy Fischbach, Thomas Griffin, Fred Hellmers, Jonathan Kastner, Tom Walsh, and Alternate Leigh Balducci. Absent: Jane Samuels, and Alternates John Attridge and Jan Deutsch. Also present: Cathie Jefferson (Zoning Enforcement Officer) and Nancy Howard (Recording Secretary), Norman Bouchard, and Jane Cavanaugh. Chairman seated Alternate Balducci for absent member Jane Samuels.
    1. Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Nancy Fischbach and seconded by Janet Edgerton to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 13, 2007 with the following amendments: Page 2, Election of Officers, add the following sentence: “An informal discussion was held regarding term limits of officers.”; and 11(c) “The updated and current regulations have been distributed to the members of the Commission, members of the ZBA, CIWC Chairman, First Selectman, Town Clerk, and Library”. Hellmers abstained. Approved. A motion was made by Nancy Fischbach and seconded by Tom Griffin to approve the minutes of the public hearing of December 13, 2007 with the following amendment: amend last sentence under Questions from Commission Members to read: “Mr. Paschall agreed to check and verify that the lighting from the parking to the entrance is adequate.” Hellmers abstained. Approved.
    2. A motion was made by Nancy Fischbach and seconded by Tom Griffin to amend the agenda to include after item #7 discussion on scheduling a joint training meeting with the P&Z and ZBA. Voted Unanimously.
  2. Payment of Bills: The following bills were received: Hartford Courant, legal advertising, $54.99; Nathan Jacobson & Associates, engineering services re: Walgreens and 190 Main Street, $505.05; Howard and McMillan, legal fees for Haynes-Lent Appeal $1,107.47, H.B. Enterprises $62.00, Prisley $294.50 for a total of $1,463.97; and Nancy Howard, clerical services 10 ½ hours. A motion was made by Nancy Fischbach and seconded by Leigh Balducci to approve payment of the bills as presented. Voted Unanimously.
  3. Correspondence: The following correspondence was received: (a) letter dated January 7, 2008 from John S. DeCastro, P.E., Dept. of Transportation Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations regarding proposed drainage connection at 211 Main Street (GDK Package Store). The ZEO will forward a copy of the letter to the Commission Engineer; (b) copy of letter dated 12/26/07 from the ZEO to Donald Stadolnik regarding construction taking place at 143 Winthrop Road with no applications for building or zoning permits; (c) Brochure on the Environmental Review Team program; (d) minutes of ZBA meeting of 12/18/07; and (e) letter dated 1/14/08 from Ron Prisley requesting a copy of the recording of the July 2006 meeting. Chairman noted that a copy of the recording is being prepared.
  4. Audience: Jane Cavanaugh inquired about placing the agendas on the web site. Further discussion regarding the web site will take place later in the meeting.
  5. Reports: (a) Attorney: Chairman Kastner noted that Attorney Howard estimates about a month for a decision from the Appellate Court regarding the Cumberland Farms gas station permit. The record of the Haynes/Lent appeal has been filed with the Court.
(b)
Engineer: No report.
(c)
ZEO: (1) ZEO Jefferson noted that some issues are being resolved at 189 and 190 Main Street. The columns behind Dunkin Donuts overhang into the parking lot by about six inches, which has already caused it to be hit by a vehicle. Handicap parking spaces are on an incline. The property owner has indicated that he would prefer not to install wheel stops for safety reasons and plowing. The installation of bollards would not change the length of the parking space. ZEO noted that the application for signs was submitted under the old sign regulations. Monument signs will be located at the Walgreens entrance on Main Street and the town property on Elm Street

Planning and Zoning Commission January 17, 2008 Page 2

and should be the same design. The design is being reviewed with the First Selectman. Members reviewed the plans and locations of the signs. The Walgreens sign on the Main Street side of the building is 24 sq. ft.

(2)
ZEO noted that she checked Planning sites on the internet for information regarding discussions at the last meeting and the results are as follows: (i) Truck idling is not included in Zoning Regulations, but addressed by ordinance. (ii) Terms of the Chairman are not limited. Some towns do limit the terms of membership from five to ten years.
(3)
Attorney Howard has offered to come speak on the procedures for public hearings and keeping a clear record.
(4)
Tom Walsh asked about the procedure for unregistered vehicles on properties. ZEO noted that pursuant to State Statute one unregistered vehicle is allowed on a property. Enforcement action would be started with the ZEO and pursued by the police.
(5)
ZEO noted that she sent a second letter to Paul SantaBarbara regarding the containers which are still being stored on the adjacent property in the Plattwood Industrial Park. ZEO noted that she has not yet met with Mr. SantaBarbara, but her understanding is that the intent is to combine the properties and amend the permit to include the adjacent parcel. An amendment to the approved plan would be required to be joint with the owner of the adjacent parcel.
(6)
Nancy Fischbach noted that during the recent heavy rains there was dirt coming off the hill onto River Road north of the Province property. ZEO noted that it was the Town drainage; and the First Selectman is aware of the situation. She noted that the Province property is stable at this time.
(d)
Regulations: The Committee reported on the status of the Village District Committee. The Village District Committee consists of Nancy Fischbach, Jane Samuels, Janet Edgerton, Cathie Jefferson, and the following members of the public: Sally Carlson-Crowell, Nancy Cohn, Paul Gurda, Peter Howard, John Kennedy, Richard King, Charlotte Lazor, Mary Luscomb, and Katie Russell. The Committee has been divided into three groups: District Boundaries, Design Regulations, and Uses. The groups have met and will be meeting as follows: Design Group 1/10/08 and 1/31/08; Boundaries Group 1/7/08, 1/14/08 and 2/18/08; and Uses Group 1/17/08 and 2/14/08. The next meeting of the entire Committee is scheduled for February 2, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. The purpose of the groups is to provide suggestions for preparation of the Regulations which will be prepared by Nancy Fischbach and the ZEO. A letter will be sent to the Merchants Association inviting them to attend the Committee meeting on 2/20/08 for any input they may wish to provide.

7. Other Business: Nancy Fischbach reported that she reviewed the Town’s web site and identified minutes that are not currently available on the web site. The list has been provided to the Clerk of the Commission, who will forward the minutes to be added to the web site. The Commission will check with the webmaster regarding including agendas on the web site.

Nancy Fischbach reported that she has inquired as to how the Commission should ask for funding for implementation of the Town Plan. A detailed request for the funding needed to implement the Town Plan should be submitted to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance with the new budget request.

Training Session: Discussion took place regarding scheduling a joint training session for members of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Chairman noted that he will contact Don Grohs, Chairman of the ZBA, asking if the ZBA members would be interested in taking part. The Commission members asked the ZEO to contact individuals and present three recommendations to the Commission consisting of the proposal and the cost involved for a presenter of the training session.

  1. Executive Session: A motion was made by Nancy Fischbach and seconded by Janet Edgerton to enter into Executive Session at 9:00 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and to invite the ZEO and Clerk to attend. Voted Unanimously. The regular meeting was reconvened at 9:07 p.m. Chairman noted that no action was taken.
  2. A motion was made by Janet Edgerton and seconded by Fred Hellmers to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. Voted Unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy J. Howard

Recording Secretary