MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CORNWALL                     PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004.

 

A Regular Meeting of the Cornwall Planning and Zoning Commission was held at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, in the Cornwall Town Hall.   Present were: Chairman Richard Lynn, presiding; members Pat Hare, Anne Kosciusko (at 7:39), Doc Simont and alternate Heidi Kearns. Heidi was appointed to vote for an absent member.  Land Use Administrator Karl Nilsen and Land Use Clerk Vera Dinneen were also present. The Meeting adjourned to the Public Hearing at 7:37pm and reconvened at 7:38pm.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

Commission                            Proposed Amendments to Subdivision Regulations

 

Rick Lynn explained that the purpose of the update is to integrate several amendments which have previously been approved into the text. Other amendments include miscellaneous technical amendments to conform to new statutory requirements and an updated reference to the CT Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. No one spoke either for or against the application and the hearing on it was closed at 7:38pm. A tape recording was made and is a part of these Minutes.

 

R E G U L A R     M E E T I N G

 

The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 10, 2004 were approved as circulated.

 

APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING PERMITS

 

The monthly report of zoning permit activity by staff was briefly reviewed. Doc Simont asked for details on the location of the driveway proposed by Cain (Application #0425). Karl explained that the new driveway will be from Poughkeepsie Road.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Commission                            Proposed Amendments to Subdivision Regulations

 

It was unanimously voted to approve the amendments to the subdivision regulations.

 

 

Commission                            GIS Natural Resources Mapping

 

Rick reported that he should have a draft proposal for the GIS Mapping by the next meeting. Colin Gold has expressed interest in working on the proposal. Rick also reported that the Cornwall Conservation Trust has expressed interest in being involved with the mapping project.

 

 

 

Subdivision                             NWI, LLC, Poughkeepsie Tpke.

                                                To divide 10.354 acres into two lots

 

 

Sam Fitzgerald represented the applicant. He reported that Torrington Area Health approved the

application this week. A new driveway proposed by Mr. Cain may be an issue that will need to be addressed by the applicant. A staff report from Karl Nilsen identifies a number of items that are missing from the application. The most important item is the driveway off Poughkeepsie Road. Karl recommended scheduling the Public Hearing. It was unanimously voted to set the Public Hearing for October 12, 2004.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS                

 

Special Permit #192                Peter & Bente Busby, Pritchard Road

                                                To establish an accessory apartment

 

Peter Busby presented the application. His elderly parents would live in the apartment. It will be approximately 1,250 square feet. Half of the garage would be used as a studio for pottery. A shared driveway and well are not practical due to the geography of the site. Torrington Area Health will not allow a shared septic. They have approved it, but have sent it on to the State which takes approximately two weeks for a reply. It was unanimously voted to set the Public Hearing for October 12, 2004.

 

 

Subdivision                             Salvatore & Christine Lenzo, Dibble Hill Road

                                                To subdivide 17+ acres into 2 lots

 

Rob Trottier presented the application. The Inland Wetlands Agency has now approved the application, which was the reason for the withdrawal of the subdivision application earlier this year. New plans have been submitted and Karl said that they are complete. The front five acres and the existing house comprise one lot. There will be a long driveway to access the second lot. Neighbors rejected the possibility of using Woodruff Lane as an alternative to the long driveway. The driveway meets the P&Z requirements. Torrington Area Health approval and a soils report have been submitted. Land Tech suggested a 3/1 slope on the sides of the driveway and diversion bars in one location at the top of the driveway. Mr. Trottier stated that he did not feel that those were necessary and did not incorporate them into the plans. The owner has agreed to offer a fee in lieu of open space per the CommissionÕs regulations. An appraiser was recommended by Mr. Trottier and agreed to by the Commission. It was unanimously voted to set the Public Hearing for October 12, 2004.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Rick distributed copies of ÒVisual Streetscape BuffersÓ for members to review.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:17pm.

                                                                        Vera Dinneen, Land Use Clerk

 

NOTE – THESE MINUTES ARE A DRAFT.  THEY WILL BE NOTED AS FINAL ONLY AFTER THEY ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED AS DRAFTED OR AS MODIFIED AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING OF THE CORNWALL P&Z COMMISSION.