PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING APRIL 13, 2010
Present: Regular members Pat Hare, Lynn Cheney, David Colbert, Chris Hopkins, Heidi Kearns and James LaPorta, Alternate member Emilie Pryor, commission staff Karen Griswold Nelson and commission planning consultant Tom McGowan
Absent: Alternate members Josh Tyson and Buddy Hurlburt.
Chairman Pat Hare called the meeting to order at 7:03P.M. in the Cornwall Town Hall with a quorum established. All members participated in the evening’s proceedings.
Discussion with Jocelyn Ayer from the Northwest Collaborative regarding the consideration of the adoption of Incentive Housing Zone regulations.
Information made part of the file and copies made available to the public.
April 13, 2010 memo from Jocelyn Ayer
Incentive Housing Zone Procedure and Proposed Schedule.
Jocelyn Ayer, collaborative planner and representative from the Northwest Collaborative addressed information made part of the file that evening, information supplied in response to questions and concerns raised at the March meeting. Ms. Ayer and Mr. McGowan, acting in the capacity of planning consultant to the commission, answered questions and addressed concerns from commission members.
The floor was opened to the public for questions and comments.
Margaret “Maggie” Cooley, Cherry Hill Road, acting as spokesperson for the Cornwall Housing Corporation, responded to questions specific to the role of and projects under the jurisdiction of the Housing Corporation.
Tom McGowan, acting in the capacity of the planning consultant for the P&Z commission responded to questions regarded the interpretation of the Zoning and Subdivision regulations, questions regarding “spot zoning”, and questions regarding “affordable housing” and its legal interpretation and application.
At 8:50PM, the floor was closed for public input. The issue was to be revisited and placed on the May 11th agenda.
REGULAR ZONING MEETING:
Motion Mrs. Cheney, second Mr. Colbert, to move Agenda item 6A and 6 B prior to all other business; unanimously approved.
Discussion of “steep slopes/buildable area” requirements as part of the Zoning regulations for residential housing.
Commission member David Colbert led the discussion, addressing the need for clarification between the different “buildable requirements” in the Zoning regulations for residential housing and parcel program residential housing lots. Commission members, with input from Mr. McGowan, addressed various methods of resolving the conflict that would be appropriate, taking into account the issues regarding the steep slope requirements expressed in correspondence submitted by Maggie Cooley on behalf of the Cornwall Housing Corporation and the parcel programs under its jurisdiction. The clarification of the issue was to be addressed by Mr. McGowan with Mr. McGowan charged with preparing draft regulation amendments for commission consideration and review.
Lot line adjustment – Cooley property – Cherry Hill Road.
April 13, 2010 correspondence from Ebersol & McCormick LLC and mapping showing the 3 parcels of land being considered for lot line revisions including the 36.207 acre parcel subject t a consecration easements, the 6.43 acre parcel currently owned by Maggie and the 5.176 acre parcel known as the Cooley homestead were reviewed. Mrs. Cooley and the commission discussed the area being considered for possible parcel program lots and the location of the septic system for the homestead on a separate 1.3 acre parcel across the street and the conveyance of said parcel to the homestead parcel with agreement that the mapping as presented was appropriate.
1. APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING PERMITS.
#0818 – Town of Cornwall property owner/Chris Hopkins applicant – Addition to an existing agricultural structure – Kent Road
#0819 – Ralph and Thalia Scoville owners/Peter Russ applicant – Rebuilt and expansion of the Scoville Farm hay barn destroyed by fire – 256 Town Street.
#0820 – Joseph Marchetti – Installation of an outdoor wood burning furnace according to applicable DEP and building code regulations – 170 Kent Road.
#0821 – Mr. and Mrs. Ledlie Laughlin property owners/Lenz Electric applicant/installer – Installation of a ZKW micro-hydro system for energy generation – 63 Ford Hill Road.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. February and March regular and special meetings.
Motion Mr. LaPorta, second Mrs. Cheney to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2010 meeting as presented: unanimously approved.
Motion Mr. LaPorta, second Mr. Colbert, to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2010 meeting as presented: unanimously approved.
Action was deferred on the March 23rd special meeting.
3. NEW APPLICATIONS: None.
4. PENDING APPLICATIONS.
5. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.
March 19, 2010 correspondence from the Ottery Group regarding an invitation to participate as a consulting party to the Section 106 Review of the proposed AT&T Mobility Telecommunications Facility – 61 Hollenbeck Road, Cornwall.
The matter was to be revisited. Information was to be supplied as to the property owner and the actual location of the telecommunications tower,
6. OTHER BUSINESS PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
Lot line adjustment – Cooley property – Cherry Hill Road. See above
Action on the Adoption of Plan of Conservation and Development as filed in Cornwall Town Hall.
Motion Mr. Colbert, second Mrs. Cheney, to approve the Plan of Conservation and Development as amended to April 13th with an adoption date of May 1, 2010; unanimously approved.
Discussion of “steep slopes/buildable area” requirements as part of the Zoning regulations for residential housing. See above,
Discussion of planning tasks and priorities for the year 2010 including the consideration of “cluster” and TDR regulations.
The commission discussed the planning tasks and priorities list prepared with information added or modified as to commission members willing to take on certain tasks, assignment of other tasks to staff, others commissions and boards such as the Board of Selectmen and to-be-created Conservation Commission, and other enabling entities such as Business organizations and the like. The corrected list was to be revisited at the May meeting.
Mr. Hare advised the commission of discussions with First Selectman Gordon Ridgway during which Mr. Ridgway had stated that the Selectman’s Office was interesting in following up on and pursuing the economic development piece of the Town Plan and the Harrall Michalowski marketing study.
Correspondence prepared by Mr. Hare, entitled “Proposal for consideration by Cornwall P&Z – Cluster Zoning, Transfer of Development Rights and next steps for Cornwall” , (distributed via email prior to the meeting) was made part of the record for discussion. Mapping possibly being prepared and the appointment of a subcommittee to prioritize land appropriate for cluster development was discussed. The agenda item was to be placed on the Map meeting agenda.
7. ADJOURNMENT.
Motion by action of the chairman to adjourn at 10:17Pm; unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Griswold Nelson