PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 2007


Present were: Chairman Anne Kosciusko, presiding; members Lynn Cheney, Chris Hopkins, alternate Jim LaPorta and Land Use administrator/ZEO Karen Griswold Nelson

Absent: Regular members Pat Hare and Dave Colbert and alternate Emilie Pryor.


Chairman Anne Kosciusko called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. All regular members were seated for the proceedings. Alternate Jim LaPorta was seated for regular member Pat Hare.


Motion Ms. Cheney, second Mr. LaPorta to add a presentation by Greg Overton of the Nature Conservancy to the agenda: unanimously approved.


PUBLIC HEARING:

Permit #0659- William Paley applicant /William Paley and Elaine Beun Owners – (1) 1 Lot re-subdivision and (2) Special exception for lots for single family residential use in a Residential Zone located on Private Street as per Article 8 – Section 22 -Poughkeepsie Road.

Continued to the April meeting at the written request of the applicant.


REGULAR MEETING.


  1. APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING PERMITS.

Motion Ms. Lynn, second Mr. LaPorta, to table discussion of zoning permits until after agenda item 7: unanimously approved.


  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from October, November, January and February.

Motion Mr. Colbert, second Ms. Lynn, to defer approval of the minutes to the next meeting; unanimously approve.


Presentation by Greg Overton, Director, NW Highlands Landscape Program as part of the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Greg Overton provided copies of the latest copy of the Cornwall Full Build out “measles” map. Mr. Overton, Mr. Ken Geisler, and the commission reviewed the map provided with suggestions given as to clarification as to buildable area etc. Commission consensus was to review the map over the next month and provide comments and notes to Mr. Overton and Mr. Geisler.


  1. NEW APPLICATIONS:

    1. Einar Lindholm applicant/Einar and Patience Lindholm owners – 1 Lot

Subdivision – 238 River Road.

Motion Ms. Cheney, second Mr. Lynn, to accept application 0668 - Einar Lindholm applicant/Einar and Patience Lindholm owners – 1 Lot Subdivision – 238 River Road and to set the application for public hearing at the April 10, 2007 regular meeting; unanimously approved.


  1. PENDING APPLICATIONS:

A. Permit #0659- William Paley applicant /William Paley and Elaine Beun Owners – (1) 1 Lot re-subdivision and (2) Special exception for lots for single family residential use in a Residential Zone located on Private Street as per Article 8 – Section 22 -Poughkeepsie Road.


  1. INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS.


  1. OLD BUSINESS.

  1. Sign enforcement.

Mrs. Kosciusko stated that the process was moving forward. Questions were raised regarding the commission’s purview in “agricultural” signs including signs for farms stands, etc.


  1. Town Plan Update strategy.

Mr. Lynn advised the commission that he had received correspondence from Kingsmark Environmental Services stating that their review team would be undertaking the community resource inventory and assessment. Mr. Lynn stated that the team was expected to meet with the commission in late April to address the process and receive input.

Mrs. Kosciusko advised the commission that she was responsible for the “Chronicle” this month and wished to include information regarding the Town Plan, and in particular the details of the photo contest and the date of the town informational meeting. Members were to advise Mrs. Kosciusko of possible dates in June with suggestions made that a Sunday afternoon be considered.


  1. Open space regulations status report.

Discussion was deferred until the March end planning meeting


  1. OTHER BUSINESS PROPERTO COME BEFOR THE COMMISSION.

A. Invitation to comment – Proposal by Nextel Communications to construct

a 120 foot monopole tower on Route 7, Sharon.

The commission reviewed March 13, 2007 correspondence from First Selectman Gordon Ridgway to Ms. Trevelyn Potter, EBI Consulting, Burlington, MA regarding the proposal by Nextel to construct a monopole tower on Route 7 in Sharon near the covered bridge. Commission consensus was to endorse Mr. Ridgway’s letter but to also request that Nextel consider delaying their application until more information and responses to the questions and concerns posed by Mr. Ridgway and Sharon’s First Selectman, Dr. Malcolm Brown were supplied.


The commission reviewed open zoning permits from February to March with input and comments from commission members and staff. The commission allowed comments from the public.


Zoning permits – 2/13/2007 to 3/13/2007


#0665 Ezra Mager owner/Tim Prentice applicant – 12’ x 12’ addition to an existing

single family residence – 59 Dibble Hill Road.


#0666 Lawrence Saed and Leslie Elias Saed applicants/owners –

New single family residence and new driveway – Lake Road.

Note was made that revised plans were being prepared to address issues regarding the shared driveway.


#0667 Kim Savage Realty LLC applicant/owner – Driveway to a proposed new single

family residence – Whitcomb Hill Road.


#0668 Einar Lindholm applicant/Patience and Einar Lindholm owners – 1 Lot (Re)

subdivision in an R-5 Zone – 238 River Road. Set for public hearing.


#0669 Andrew Cooks/Julia Randall applicant/owners – Driveway to an existing single

family residence – 78 Whitcomb Hill Road.

Note was made that the plans were in the process of being reviewed by the commission’s newly appointed consulting engineer, Richard Calkins from Northeast Consulting.


In addition,

#0064 Andrew and Nancy Opgaard applicant/owners – 38 Great Hill Road. Single family residence and driveway construction.

Note was made that the plans were in the process of being reviewed by the commission’s newly appointed consulting engineer, Richard Calkins from Northeast Consulting.



Motion to adjourn at 9:15PM; unanimously approved.


Respectfully submitted,


Karen Griswold Nelson