Planning & Zoning

Minutes
Meeting date: 
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Planning and Zoning

40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279

January 15, 2019

7:30 PM

Meeting Minutes

 

Roll Call

Members Present:

Walter Parsell – Chairman

Andy Marco – Secretary

Randy Belair

Joe Lucia

Joe Hall

Members Absent:

Doug Roberts – Vice-Chairman

Donald Courtois - Alternate

Also Present:

Mike D’Amato – Acting Planning and Zoning Agent

PUBLIC HEARING

PZC2018-27 Special Permit application for proposed recreation site (soccer fields) at 535 River Road (Map 39 Lot 5 Zone R80) (Received November 20, 2018 Public Hearing by January 15, 2018 decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)

Hugo DelRosso, of the Northeast United Premier Soccer Club, was present to speak and presented the Commission with an information binder on the club.  They are in their 20th year and were established in 1998.  They train 270 children per year and, at one time, their children were part of the club.  He said they are a registered non-profit and do not do it for financial gain.  The binder is available to view in the land use office.

Mr. DelRosso said they are good stewards of the town and read a letter of support from Chafik Rebai, Chairman of the CJSA Northeast District.  The letter from Mr. Rebai was submitted for the record as well as a letter from Mike Smida of Star Hill.

Karl Acimovic presented plans and said they are looking for approval of phase 1 only and have removed future phases from the plans.  He said they added an entranceway making the other exit only.  The added entranceway is placed where the existing driveway is and they have 94 parking spots.  K. Acimovic said they added islands in the middle and moved the building a little further away from the property line. He noted they are going to try to leave as many trees as possible for the buffer.

Mr. DelRosso said trash collection has been added and all trainers are First Aid and CPR Certified. He noted that they will also get the Team Managers certified. The applicant obtained the traffic report from CT DOT and 8,500 vehicles currently drive past the site per day.  They calculate an 8% increase in traffic and 1.1% increase in parking if all spots are filled.  Mr. DelRosso added that the families do a lot of carpooling.

A discussion was held on the “Right of Way” and Mr. DelRosso noted that on Feb.21, 1907 the Board of Selectmen discontinued the road known as “Old River Road” from its intersection with the Stafford and Willimantic Highway. 

The field will be used April to mid-June and then again in the fall from Labor Day to Thanksgiving and games will be played on the weekend.  Mr. DelRosso added that the hours diminish in the fall due to the decrease in daylight. He summarized by saying the soccer field will be a good asset to the town. 

M. D’Amato questioned the sight lines and K. Acimovic said they look good but they still have to survey that portion of the property.  They will provide the information to the Commission once completed. 

Comments from Joe Dillon, of Jacobson & Associates, were submitted for the record and K. Acimovic said he does not see complying with the changes as an issue. K. Acimovic added that the area between the current recreation field and this proposed field is town owned and they would like to add a walking path.  The applicant feels this would be a great asset to the town.

Joe Mellett, of 522 River Road, said he still has concerns on the exit only area as the elevation is about 5 feet and there is a bridge there.  K. Acimovic said they will create a fairly level area and will rectify the situation. 

Ralph Tulis asked if the town would lose taxes because they are non-profit and the applicant said they contacted the Assessor and are waiting to hear back.  R. Tulis said he also has concerns on the historical aspects of the site and suggested an architectural study or possibly walking the area with metal detectors.  K. Acimovic said the majority of the work is in the existing corn field which has been plowed throughout the years and a discussion was held.  Mark Palmer, the Town Historian, said an architectural study might be worth considering.

Mr. Mellet asked what the applicant is going to do with the existing house and they said it has not yet been determined. 

The Public Hearing was continued to the next meeting.

 

Regular Meeting

New Business

 

PZC2018-10 Sign Permit application for proposed commercial building at 22 Tolland Turnpike (Map 30 Lot 15 Zone DC) (Received December 18, 2018)

Robert Kuzpa was present for the applicant and presented the proposed signage.  He said there will be one free standing internally illuminated sign and one sign on the building.  W. Parsell said the lighting has to be dark skies compliant and a discussion was held on the illuminated sign.  The Commission requested a picture of the same proposed illuminated sign at another location and would also like more specific details on it. 

Discussion on proposed “Farming Regulations”.

M. D’Amato said he received comments from Atty. Mark Branse and has a draft done.  He suggested moving forward with the Public Hearing and going through the changes from the old proposal to the new proposal.  A. Marco said, since this is a new application being presented to the Public by the Commission, he would like more information on the proposal before the Public Hearing.  He suggested they discuss it at the next meeting so they have a better understanding and are prepared when it is time to set the Public Hearing. The Commission agreed.

A. Marco motioned to place Farming Regulations on the next agenda. W. Parsell seconded.  All in favor.  M. D’Amato will send the draft to the Commission prior to the next meeting.

Old Business

 

PZC2018-27 Special Permit application for proposed recreation site (soccer fields) at 535 River Road (Map 39 Lot 5 Zone R80) (Received November 20, 2018 Public Hearing by January 15, 2018 decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)

Public Hearing was continued to the next meeting.

Minutes

J. Hall motioned to approve the minutes of 12/18/18.  R. Belair seconded.  All in favor.

Correspondence

Information on the March 23rd Land Use Seminar

J. Hall and R. Belair would like to attend and M. D’Amato will send them the information.

 

Staff Report

327 Ruby Road Traffic Complaint-update

M. D’Amato said he spoke to Troop C and they said there are very few accidents at this location.  He went through the permit and the required signs are all there.  A. Marco suggested revisiting the permit due to changing needs over time. A discussion was held on the signage.

 

R. Tulis said he has concerns on congestion and suggested a gantry sign. 

M. D’Amato suggested they draft a letter to OSTA and include photos.  He will also send a copy of the letter to TA.

Public Comment

R. Tulis suggested the Commission look at what was approved for the illuminated sign at Dunkin Donuts.

 

Petitions to be Scheduled for Public Hearing:

PZC2019- 01 Text Amendment Application; Section 12, Willington Zoning Regulations. Owner: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store, Inc. Applicant: Gregory W. McCracken, Esq Jacobs, Walker, Rice & Barry, LLC (Received January 15, 2019 Public Hearing February 19, 2019 Decision within 65 day after close of P.H)

M. D’Amato explained the Petitions; he said once an application is complete and requires a Public Hearing, he would like to put it on the agenda so the Commission knows what is coming before them at future meetings. A discussion was held on the timing of receiving applications and scheduling a Public Hearing.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michele Manas

 

Michele Manas

Recording Clerk