March 15, 2000
Board Members Present: Chairman Robert Hiscox, Gil Graveline, James Lehner, Lezlye Zupkus, Alan Havican
Alternates Present: Daniel Wallace
Others Present: Bill Donovan, Land Use Inspector
Members Absent: Donald Pomeroy (Alternate)
Chairman R. Hiscox called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was taped.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by A. Havican, seconded by G. Graveline to approve minutes of the 3/1/00 meeting as presented. Unanimous.
Correspondence:
Motion by L. Zupkus, seconded by J. Lehner to accept the correspondence. Unanimous.
Public Participation: None
New Business: R.S.C. Development Group, LLC, 38 Blue Trail Drive. Application for 4-Lot Subdivision - Lucas Estates, 9 Peach Orchard Road. Scott Poryanda, Connecticut Consulting Engineers, representing the applicant, presented the application for a proposed 4-Lot Subdivision. The proposal would create one lot with an existing house and three additional building lots. A letter from H.T.M. Soils Consulting Service dated November 1, 1999 was submitted with the application indicating that there are no wetlands on the property. B. Donovan verified that Wetlands approval is not needed. Motion by L. Zupkus, seconded by G. Graveline to accept the application and set a public hearing for April 5, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. Unanimous.
Old Business: Regulations for Adult Entertainment Facilities. Discussion was held on the Draft Regulations submitted by Bill Donovan at the 2/16/00 meeting. The Commissioners decided to propose a Residential Zone Buffer of 600 feet and a Town Line Buffer of 600 feet. B. Donovan will send a copy of the proposed regulations to the Town Attorney for review. A date for a public hearing on the proposed regulations will be set after review of any comments from the Town Attorney.
Land Use Inspector’s Report: B. Donovan suggested a change in the regulations in the definition of a "Rear Lot" to read "A lot to the rear of a front facing lot, with both lots having access on the same road". A copy of an application submitted to the City of Waterbury for property located off Route 69 on the Waterbury/Prospect line for a zone change from Residential Single Family to Residential Low Density is filed in the Land Use Office. The developers of this property held an open house explaining their proposal for cluster housing for people 55 and older. The proposal includes a limited access outlet onto Greenwood Drive. Bill also reported that he’s been receiving complaints regarding noise made by off road vehicles on Melissa Lane. Motion by G. Graveline, seconded by L. Zupkus to accept the Land Use Inspector’s Report. Unanimous.
Public Hearings: Antonio Pereira, 37 Tress Road. Application for 2-Lot Resubdivision – 54 Salem Road. Chairman R. Hiscox opened the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. and read the Notice of Public Hearing as it appeared in the Waterbury Republican American. Representing Mr. Pereira was Scott Poryanda of Connecticut Consulting Engineers, who described the proposed resubdivision as 8.2 acres of land being split into 2 conforming residential building lots. Both parcels would be serviced by well and septic. A swale would be made to divert water drainage from Cedar Hill Road around the proposed house on Lot 2 and into existing wetlands. Inland Wetlands has approved the plan as well as Chesprocott. R. Hiscox asked if there would be three driveways in the same area. Mr. Poryanda said there is a 25 foot gap between the driveways. R. Hiscox asked if this was a rear lot to a rear lot. Mr. Poryanda stated that Lot 1 was a rear lot and Lot 2 was a front facing lot. The public was invited to comment. Mr. Raymond Caruso spoke on behalf of his daughter, Tracy Scott, 15 Cedar Hill Road, regarding the water problem which has existed for the past 3 years with water from Cedar Hill Road flowing directly onto their property. Mr. Poryanda stated the proposed subdivision would have no effect on the existing problem at his daughter’s property, because the watercourse would travel through the Scott property before reaching the parcel being subdivided. There were no other comments from the public. Motion by J. Lehner, seconded by L. Zupkus to close the Public Hearing at 7:48 p.m. Unanimous.
A.C.E. Development Group, LLC, 12 Straitsville Road. Application for 9-Lot Subdivision – Tradition Estates, Phase IV. This public hearing was continued from 3/1/00 and was opened at 7:48 p.m. Scott Poryanda of Connecticut Consulting Engineers spoke on the issue of drainage on the Dunn property. He stated that Lots 52, 53, 54, & 55 could be graded in such a manner so drainage would not enter into the existing detention pond, it would back flow to a different drainage basin. Roof leaders would not be tied into storm drains, the water would disperse out on to lawns. R. Hiscox and G. Graveline questioned Mr. Poryanda on other possible scenarios to correct the drainage problems. Attorney Warren Hess, representing A.C.E. Development Group, submitted a copy of the hydrology report done prior to Phase III of Tradition Estates. He stated the report looked at peak pre-development runoff and post-development runoff for Phase III and Phase IV combined. The detention pond was designed for both phases as well. The calculations were submitted and approved by the Town Engineer for Phase III and Phase IV. Gene McCarthy, Assistant Director of Public Works said the project was looked at as a whole and the retention area was approved. Mr. McCarthy explained that they’re dealing with paxton soils in that area which do not allow much water to go into the ground, and that there were major water problems in that area prior to the beginning of this development. Mr. McCarthy believes that the drainage is working properly. He suggested that changes made on the Dunn property might be adding to the seasonal watercourses that have always been there. Scott Poryanda showed an arial photo dated 5/15/96 and pre-construction photos of the watercourses that existed and stated that if there were increased flows you would see erosion or blowouts in these areas. Mr. Poryanda suggested that any grading or excavating on the Dunn property could have altered a watercourse. Mr. Dunn stated that he has not done any grading on his property. The Commission decided to set a site walk for Sunday, March 19, 2000 at 3:30 p.m. to see how the retention pond was functioning and review the offsite drainage. A.C.E. Development Group asked that the public hearing be continued to the next scheduled meeting. There were no other comments from the public. The public hearing was closed for the evening at 8:40 p.m. and will continue on Wednesday, April 5, 2000 at 7:45 p.m.
Public Participation: None
Motion 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 Harrall-Michalowski Associates, Inc. would be interviewed at this executive session and that Bill Donovan would also be included. The Commission went into executive session at 8:40 p.m.
The Commissioners came out of executive session at 9:10 p.m. A brief discussion was held on the Plan of Development and reaction to the applicants that had been interviewed. Motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. Unanimous.
Robert Hiscox