Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Planning and Zoning
40 Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279
May 16, 2017 7:30 PM
Meeting Minutes

Roll Call

Members Present:
Andrew Marco – Chairman
Doug Roberts – Vice-Chairman
Walter Parsell
Brittany Skorupski-Williams
Joe Lucia
Randy Belair - Alternate

Members Absent:
John Sullivan – Secretary
Ed Standish

Also Present:
Susan Yorgensen

Public Hearing

Chairman Marco called the meeting to order at 7:31.  R. Belair was seated for E. Standish.

PZC2017-9 Application for Special Permit for a Farm Stand at 419 River Road (Map 34 Lot 8 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Aaron Bassett (Received April 18, 2017 Public Hearing May 16, 2017 decision with 65 days after close of P.H.)

Aaron Bassett was present and would like to open a farm stand at 419 River Road.  He said he would have pumpkins, an orchard and Christmas trees but mainly pumpkins.  He said there is already a shack on the site where he would like the stand and showed the area of the shack.  Mr. Bassett added that it is approximately 300 feet off the road.

S. Yorgensen asked about parking and said she does not see any conflicts within the regulations.   

R. Belair asked if the pumpkins would be “pick your own” and Mr. Bassett said he is unsure at this time but thinks he will do most of the picking.  S. Yorgensen said, when the applicant gets to the point that he wants to take water from the pond, he will have to get an IWWC Permit.  Mr. Bassett said that will probably be 3 to 4 years down the road.   B. Skorupski-Williams asked how he will water the plants in the beginning and Mr. Bassett said it is still a work in progress and he will figure that out as he goes along.  

Ralph Tulis was in attendance to support Mr. Bassett and his efforts.  

A. Marco motioned to close the Public Hearing.  W. Parsell seconded the motion.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

New Business

PZC2017-11 Application to Amend Special Permit & Site Plan at 350 Ruby Road (Map 42 Lot 48-1 Zone DI) Owner/Applicant: FedEx Ground Package Systems, Inc. (Received May 16, 2017 Public Hearing June 20, 2017 decision within 65 day after close of P.H.)

The Public Hearing has been set for June 20, 2017.

Old Business

PZC2017-2 Application to Amend Krivanec Acres Subdivision to reduce lot #1 by 2.02 acres and add to lot # 2 (no new construction) at 75 Krivanec Road (Map 22 Lot 14B & 14 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Paul C. Grimason (Received February 21, 2017 Public Hearing or decision by April 18, 2017)

Doug Grimason was present for Paul Grimason.  S. Yorgensen said she has reviewed the application.  Mr. Grimason said they would like to square the boundary lines up.  He said, when the property transferred to his father, he ended up with a triangle area behind his house that serves no purpose; they are just squaring everything up.  S. Yorgensen said they are not adding another lot, just modifying the existing parcels.  She added that the survey was done in January 2017.  

W. Parsell said the application is pretty straight forward.  

D. Roberts motioned to approve PZC2017-2 Application to Amend Krivanec Acres Subdivision to reduce lot #1 by 2.02 acres and add to lot # 2 (no new construction) at 75 Krivanec Road.  W. Parsell seconded the motion.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

PZC2017-9 Application for Special Permit for a Farm Stand at 419 River Road (Map 34 Lot 8 Zone R80) Owner/Applicant: Aaron Bassett (Received April 18, 2017 Public Hearing May 16, 2017 decision with 65 days after close of P.H.)

Chairman Marco said the Public Hearing has been closed.

W. Parsell motioned to approve PZC2017-9 Application for Special Permit for a Farm Stand at 419 River Road.  D. Roberts seconded the motion.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

Minutes

A. Marco motioned to approve the minutes of April 18, 2017.  D. Roberts seconded the motion.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

Correspondence

Complaint letters regarding 121 Tinkerville Road which are available in the Land Use Office.

Complaint letters regarding Fed Ex which are available in the Land Use Office.

Copy of the Application for Permit from Mansfield Inland Wetland Agency regarding a water line extension for Willington Oaks LLC.

Staff Report and Discussion

S. Yorgensen said she went to 121 Tinkerville Road and spoke to the property owner.  She said he piped the brook without a permit and now has an application before IWWC.  She said he does not have a CO for the barn and has another appointment scheduled with the Building Inspector.  S. Yorgensen added that he also has an application before ZBA.

She added that he is currently storing and selling hay and horse pellets and a discussion was held on running a business and not having a CO.  

S. Yorgensen informed the Commission that she has been to Fed Ex regarding the lighting complaints and Fed Ex was accommodating and re-aimed the lighting.  She said she received additional complaints that the lighting is still bothersome.  She said the neighbors want Fed Ex to extend the fence to block the lighting.  Consensus of the Commission was that Fed Ex was not in violation and that Staff had spent enough time on this issue. A. Marco said he would encourage S. Yorgensen to tell the neighbors to address the Commission directly going forward.  

W. Parsell said the site has to be well lit for safety reasons and Fed Ex has been very accommodating in this matter.  W. Parsell and A. Marco said they have also been to the site to review the complaints and feel the Staff and Commission has spent sufficient time looking into the complaints and observing the site.  W. Parsell added that Fed Ex is not in violation.  

S. Yorgensen said she has also had complaints on the PA system at TA and a discussion was held.  

Meeting adjourned at 8:25.

Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Manas
Recording Clerk