Planning & Zoning
Planning and Zoning
40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279
April 2, 2019
7:30 PM
Meeting Minutes
Roll Call
Members Present:
Doug Roberts – Vice-Chairman
Andy Marco – Secretary
Joe Lucia
Randy Belair (arrived at 8:10)
Joe Hall
Members Absent:
Walter Parsell – Chairman - excused
Donald Courtois - Alternate
Also Present:
Mike D’Amato – Zoning Agent
Emily Perko – Assistant Zoning and Wetland Agent
Regular Meeting
Old Business
PZC2019-01 Text Amendment Application: Section 12. Willington Zoning Regulations. Owner: Loves Travel Stops & Country Store, Inc. Applicant: Gregory W. McCracken, Esq.(Received January 15, 2019 Public Hearing February 19, 2019 Decision within 65 days after close of P.H.)
The Public Hearing was closed on 3/19/19. The Commission reviewed the modification and a discussion was held on the timeline of the application and approvals. A. Marco said the PoCD encourages them to build along the I-84 corridor so he believes they need to be more mindful of the time it takes for an application to get approval and begin construction. M. D’Amato said they are able to monitor future applications by flagging them with an expiration date.
A discussion was held on the Clerk of the Works and M. D’Amato said Staff can monitor small projects and it was agreed a Clerk of the Works may be necessary for larger scope projects.
A. Marco motioned to approve PZC2019-1, Text Amendment Application, and added that the document was revised based on comments from Town of Willington’s Land Use Attorney. J. Lucia seconded the motion. All in favor.
Farming Regulation Informal Discussion
The Commission reviewed the Revised Proposed Zoning Regulation Amendment. After input from Attorney Mark Branse, the Commission and Staff, the following sections were revised; Event Facility Uses, Operation, Waste Facilities and Duration. Under Waste Facilities, the wording of operation plan will be changed to event facility plan. A discussion was held on parking and expansion and M. D’Amato said in regards to expansion, any changes first require approval from the Commission. He noted that the amendment keeps everything with the Commission. A. Marco said with everyone’s input, it is a pretty solid document.
A discussion was held on the site plan and adhering to Class D Standards. M. D’Amato said they can make changes in the wording and get it on the agenda for a Public Hearing.
J. Lucia motioned to move the Farming Regulations to Public Hearing. J. Hall seconded the motion. All in favor.
Minutes
J. Lucia motioned to approve the minutes of 3/19/19 with the following amendments; Kathy Demers was in attendance speaking as a Willington Resident and not on behalf of the Conservation Commission and page 2 should read “A. Marco motioned to close PZC2019-01.”
J. Hall seconded the motion. All in favor.
Correspondence
Letter from Michael Nogas requesting a Sub-division Approval Extension for Latham Rd.
M. D’Amato said Mr. Nogas is still working with potential buyers and requesting a 90 day extension.
A. Marco Motioned to grant the extension for the Latham Rd. Sub-division. J. Lucia seconded the motion. All in favor.
Public Comment
Ralph Tulis, of Village Hill Road, presented pictures of the Dollar General Construction to the Commission. He said he has doubts about one of the stipulations in the approval which stated “Façade facing Phelps Way to mimic the 74 side (i.e. façade windows”. M. D’Amato said Staff is scheduled to go out to the site and they will look into it.
Staff Report
A discussion was held on moving the April 16th meeting to April 23rd. It was agreed to keep the meeting scheduled for April 16th for the time being.
Burial of Construction Debris in Residential Zones
M. D’Amato said this came up at the last IWWC. The question was asked on what happens to the old concrete when a foundation is replaced. He said Contractors are saying it can be buried on site. The building inspector said this has come up before and S. Yorgensen determined there were no violations.
Bolton has an ordinance on burying the concrete and M. D’Amato said he will look at their ordinance and see if any other surrounding towns have an ordinance in place. R. Belair questioned if it is a hazard for the future and noted that the statutes do not require full disclosure when a property sells.
Mr. Tulis said he knows of one home where this has happened and said future subsistence could be a problem. He said he believes it has to be done on a site by site basis and needs to be buried correctly. He referenced the River Road Recreation Center where I-84 debris was buried and said they could see problems there in the future.
D. Roberts said some homeowners are putting the foundations in a different area on their property, moving the house and backfilling the old foundation. He said this could be a problem if they now have to dig up the old foundations.
M. D’Amato said they could request info through the permitting system which would allow tracking but he doesn’t know what authority Staff has. He will get back to the Commission with more information.
Update: 535 River Road, Recreation Facility
M. D’Amato said the conditions of approval have been satisfied and the plans are ready to go.
Special Permit Renewal Process – Sand and Gravel Operations
M. D’Amato said previously Special Permit Renewals were approved by Staff but the regulations require them to be approved by the Commission. He said they have sent letters to all the Sand and Gravel Operations with the new procedures. He has heard back and they are working on it but it is going to take more time. A discussion was held on the timeline and M. D’Amato will request response by May 1st.
M. D’Amato said he received a memo from the Board of Selectmen regarding PA 490 designation. Selectman Wiecenski said the criteria is referenced in the PoCD but nothing was ever formally adopted by the town. M. D’Amato said they can look at the PoCD and put it on a future agenda.
Meeting adjourned at 8:47.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk