PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 11, 2009
Present: Regular members Anne Kosciusko, Lynn Cheney, David Colbert, Pat Hare, Chris Hopkins, Alternates Heidi Kearns, and James LaPorta, commission staff Karen Griswold Nelson and commission planning consultant Tom McGowan.
Absent: Rick Lynn and Emily Pryor.
Chairman Anne Kosciusko called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M. All members participated in all parts of the proceedings.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
Motion Mrs. Cheney, second Mr. Hare to add preliminary informal discussion with John O’Donnell regarding a proposed agricultural subdivision to the agenda: unanimously approved.
Mr. John and Mrs. Nancy O’Donnell addressed the commission regarding their wishes to divide an 86 plus acre into two agricultural parcels as allowed by Section 8-18 of the General Statutes. Maps entitled ‘Map prepared for John O’Donnell – Town Street, Cornwall, CT dated December 11, 2008 prepared by Mathias M. Kiefer, sheets 1 and 2” and August 19, 2009 correspondence from Mr. and Mrs. O’Donnell’s legal representative, Christopher Dakin was made part of the record. The commission and Mr. McGowan discussed the ramifications of such a subdivision, with questions raised as to open space and future division. Mr. McGowan recommended modifications to the language be included in the mapping regarding the agricultural subdivision to clarify that the division of land “is not proposed or approved for building development”. Mr. McGowan stated that he had discussed the proposal with Mr. O’Donnell’s daughter earlier in the year.
No formal action was needed or taken on the matter.
REGULAR MEETING:
1. APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING PERMITS.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. June 23rd and July 14th meetings.
Motion Mrs. Cheney, second Mr. Colbert, to approve the minutes of the June 23rd meeting with clarification of the action taken on the Cornwall Housing Corporation to be Mrs. Kosciusko and Kearns and Mr.’s Hare and Colbert voted in favor. Mr. Lynn voted against in opposition; minutes approved with corrections by Mrs. Kosciusko, Kearns, and Cheney and Mr.’s Hare, LaPorta and Colbert. Mr. Hopkins abstained due to non-attendance.
Motion Mrs. Cheney, second Mr. Colbert to approve the minutes of the July 14th meeting as presented: approved Mrs. Kosciusko, Kearns, and Cheney and Mr.’s Hare, LaPorta and Colbert. Mr. Hopkins abstained due to non-attendance.
NEW APPLICATIONS: None.
PENDING APPLICATIONS: None.
CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.
Griswold Nelson addressed the receipt of a bill from Attorney Steven Byrne for his response to communications received from Mrs. Kathleen O’Flynn as relating to the “Sweet Peet” appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Motion Mr. Hare, second Mrs. Cheney, that any reimbursement for Attorney Byrne not be part of the Planning & Zoning legal budget account as said response was not authorized by the commission; unanimously approved.
Griswold Nelson advised the commission that July 21st correspondence (with attachments) from Robinson and Cole, Hartford, CT, representative for Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, addressed to and presented to First Selectman Gordon Ridgway at a July 21st Board of Selectmen’s meeting was available for review in the Land use Office and that Inland Wetlands commission was preparing correspondence to address their concerns with the proposals as presented.
OTHER BUSINESS.
PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOMENT WORKSHOP – final review of “Natural Resources” and ‘Housing” sections and preliminary review of “Community and Cultural Resources”
Copies of the August 13th draft of the “Cultural and Community Resources” section of the Plan of C&D were distributed for review and comment. The commission reviewed the draft with direction given to Mr. McGowan as to additions, deletions, modifications and typos to be corrected prior to making the draft available for public review and comment.
The commission discussed the time frame for the final review and approval of the Plan with dates set as following:
August 25th special meeting for review of the full plan – all four sections. Prior to the meeting, all four sections were to be forwarded to John Miller and Ginny Potter for their correction of typos, punctuation, etc. excluding content.
September 8th – regular meeting to include an invitation to the Board of Selectmen to attend the meeting to present the draft to the Board of Selectmen for their review and comment. Copies of the Plan to be forwarded to Northwestern Connecticut Council of Governments to comply with statutory requirements.
October 13th – opening of public hearing on the Plan of C&D.
October 17th – continued public hearing on the Plan.
October 27th
– review and approval of Plan.
ADJOURNMENT.
Motion by action of the chairman to adjourn at 10:00Pm; unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted
Karen Griswold Nelson
Land Use Administrator