Board Members Present: Chairman Robert Hiscox, Gil Graveline, Lezlye Zupkus, Alan Havican
Alternates Present: Donald Pomeroy, Daniel Wallace (7:05)
Others Present: Bill Donovan, Land Use Inspector
Members Absent: James Lehner
Chairman R. Hiscox called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was taped. Chairman R. Hiscox seated Donald Pomeroy for James Lehner.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by A. Havican, seconded by L. Zupkus to approve minutes of the 2/16/00 meeting as presented. Unanimous
Correspondence:Motion by D. Pomeroy, seconded by L. Zupkus to accept the correspondence. Unanimous.
Public Participation: None
Old Business: Chad Genovese, 103 New Haven Road. Home Occupation Application for Custom Welding & Design. Application accepted January 19, 2000. A Draft Resolution of Approval was distributed to the Commissioners. R. Hiscox read a letter from the Fire Marshal indicating that Mr. Genovese has met all requirements under the Connecticut Life Safety Code for operating a welding business and that all required safety equipment is in place at this time. Motion by G. Graveline, seconded by D. Pomeroy to approve the application as presented. D. Pomeroy asked how long the permit would be issued for. B. Donovan stated that Home Occupation Permits are issued for a period of 3 years. D. Pomeroy felt that because of the type of business and the storage of hazardous materials, a review should be done after one year to ensure that all safety requirements would continue to be met. The other Commissioners agreed. The vote was Unanimous to approve the application and review the permit after one year.
Regulations for Adult Entertainment Facilities. No Action Taken
New Business: Chris Skabardonis, Town Line Restaurant, 280 Cheshire Road. B. Donovan submitted a letter from Meyers Associates, P.C., requesting a reduction in the bond for Town Line Restaurant from $61,700.00 to $6,250.00. Chairman Hiscox read a letter from Bill Donovan and Gene McCarthy recommending that the bond be reduced from the current amount of $61,700.00 to $14,700.00 to ensure satisfactory completion of final grading and stabilization of the rear slopes. Motion by D. Pomeroy, seconded by A. Havican to reduce the bond on Town Line Restaurant from $61,700.00 to $14,700.00 as recommended by Bill Donovan and Gene McCarthy. Unanimous.
Antonio Pereira, 37 Tress Road. Application for 2-Lot Resubdivision – 54 Salem Road. Scott Poryanda of Connecticut Consulting Engineers, representing Antonio Pereira, presented an application for a 2-Lot Resubdivision of property owned by Elvira & Joaquim Janeiro. Motion made by G. Graveline, seconded by L. Zupkus to accept the application and set a Public Hearing for March 15, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. Unanimous.
Public Hearings: A.C.E. Development Group, LLC, 12 Straitsville Road. Application for 9-Lot Subdivision – Tradition Estates, Phase IV. Chairman Hiscox opened the Public Hearing at 7:32 p.m. and read the Notice of Public Hearing as it appeared in the Waterbury Republican American. Scott Poryanda of Connecticut Consulting Engineers, representing A.C.E. Development Group, presented the application for the final phase of Tradition Estates Subdivision. This phase consists of 9 lots and the paved roadway would be extended from Phase III to complete the circle to the end of Phase II. Mr. Poryanda noted that Lot 31 still needed additional soil testing. Storm water runoff would drain to the detention basin located at the southwest portion of Phase III. Chairman Hiscox read a letter dated 2/18/00 from the reviewing engineer, OCC Design Consortium, LLC, commenting on the proposed project and a second letter dated 2/29/00 from OCC Design which stated that revisions made satisfactorily addressed all of their initial comments. Mr. Poryanda explained the revisions made as a result of the comments by OCC. B. Donovan submitted a letter from the Inland Wetlands Commission stating that this subdivision does not require Inland Wetlands approval. The public was invited to comment.
William Dunn, 209 Straitsville Road, stated he has a major concern with the heavy amount of water that is flowing continuously on his property as a result of Phase III of this project and that the detention pond doesn’t seem to be helping the problem. He is worried that with this next phase his property will experience even more runoff and questioned how the developers were going to address this situation. Mr. Poryanda responded that he and the applicants have been working with Mr. Dunn to try to rectify the situation, but the timeline of the project has not allowed for vegetative growth to take place. Once lawns and vegetative growth are established, the runoff being experienced at this time should stabilize. Mr. Poryanda stated they would continue to work with Mr. Dunn to help eliminate the problem. B. Hiscox asked if construction of Phase IV would be starting before they could stabilize Phase III. Mr. Poryanda responded that the start of Phase IV was at least 8 - 10 weeks away. Chairman Hiscox suggested that the Commissioners individually walk the property to look at the problem. Mr. Dunn gave his permission for the Commissioners to do so. G. Graveline questioned Mr. Poryanda on Lot 31 designated by Chesprocott as "Not a Building Lot at This Time" in a letter dated 2/15/00 submitted with the application. Mr. Poryanda stated that the situation would be remedied probably with the installation of a curtain drain. There were no other comments from the public. At 8:20 p.m. the public hearing was closed for the evening and will continue on Wednesday, March 15, 2000 at 7:45 p.m.
Land Use Inspector’s Report:.B. Donovan recommended that the Cease and Desist order issued for West Ridge Estates in December be released to allow for the removal of excavated material that is mounded on Lots 3 and 8. In his opinion they have not exceeded 20,000 cubic yards of excavated material. There was no objection by the Commissioners. Motion made by D. Pomeroy, seconded by A. Havican to accept the Land Use Inspector’s Report. Unanimous.
Public Participation: Kathy Hack, 159 Scott Road, asked for clarification on the Home Occupation Permit approved for Chad Genovese. It was unclear to her if the permit was issued for 1 year or more. Chairman Hiscox stated the permit would be reviewed after 1 year. K. Hack also questioned whether the Bond Renewal for Town Line Restaurant couldn’t be in the form of a passbook savings account. B. Donovan stated they could strongly suggest that form of bond through the town attorney. William Dunn, 209 Straitsville Road, encouraged the Commissioners to contact him if they wished to look at his property for themselves.
Motion made by A. Havican, seconded by G. Graveline to go into executive session for the purpose of interviewing applicants for the Town Planning Consultant position to update the Comprehensive Plan of Development. Unanimous. It was noted that representatives from Planimetrics and Brian J. Miller would be interviewed at this executive session and that Bill Donovan would also be included. The Commission went into executive session at 8:30 p.m.
The Commissioners came out of executive session at 10:00 p.m. Motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 10:00 p.m. Unanimous.
Robert Hiscox