Simsbury, CT - Planning Minutes

These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.

PLANNING COMMISSION

I. CALL TO ORDER

Joan Howard, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:33 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Pamela Katz, Ernest Gardow, Susan Bednarcyk, Alexis Rankin Popik and Alternates Elise Sirman, Cynthia Carey and Carol Cole. Commissioner Katz left the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Also present were William Voelker, Director of Community Planning and Development, Richard Sawitzke, Town Engineer and other interested parties.

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairman Howard appointed Commissioner Carey to serve for Commissioner Horowitz.

III. SECTION 8-24 REFERRAL(S)

a. For repairs and improvements to various existing athletic fields.

Gerald Toner, Director of Culture Parks and Recreation Department, went over his memo to Kevin Kane, Finance Director, regarding the breakdown of the $150,000 geared for athletic field improvements. The summary of expenses is as follows: $14,000 for parking lot/fence improvements Town Forest, Meadow Pond, $55,000 for dugout/press box improvements Memorial Park Baseball Field, $25,000 for soccer field regrading, irrigation work Weatogue Park, $30,000 for lighting improvements Memorial Park Softball Field, $10,000 for field, road and parking improvements Tariffville Park, $6,000 for parking lot/fence improvements Simsbury Farms, and $10,000 for athletic field drainage work Curtiss, Town Forest. Mr. Toner said that there are some organizations in town that are contributing to some of the expenses so that the dollar amounts presented are not exact. He said that the Simsbury Soccer Club has pledged to do the irrigation work at Weatogue Park, which is about $10,000.

Commissioner Carey asked where the lighting improvements would be made at Memorial Park. Mr. Toner said that these improvements would be made in the upper softball field. He said various adult leagues that play there would contribute to the project. Commissioner Sirman asked if all the improvements would be made in the next year. Mr. Toner replied yes.

Commissioner Katz moved in favor of the resolution for repairs and improvements to various existing athletic fields as outlined in the letter by Gerard G. Toner, Recreation Director, November 15, 2000, pursuant to Section 8-24 of the General Statutes of Connecticut. This was seconded by Commissioner Gardow. The motion passed unanimously.

IV. REQUEST FOR A SECOND 90 DAY EXTENSION TO FILE SUBDIVISION MYLAR, SUNDIAL SUBDIVISION.

Mr. Voelker said that the Commission has already approved one 90-day extension and that two 90-day extensions are allowed by the Connecticut General Statutes. He said that the owners of the property are negotiating with a buyer and still need some more time.

Commissioner Katz moved to approve the request for a second 90 day extension to file subdivision mylar, Sundial Subdivision. This was seconded by Commissioner Gardow. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Katz moved to add to the agenda the street name for the Sundial Subdivision. This was seconded by Commissioner Bednarcyk. The motion passed unanimously.

Planning Commission Minutes

Mr. Voelker said that the preferred choice for the street name is Brownstone Lane. He said that Mr. Bruce Hoban of Planimetrics was informed that there used to be a brownstone quarry in Simsbury and brownstone had been used as foundation material in many of Simsbury’s earliest homes.

Commissioner Katz moved to approve the name Brownstone Lane based on all other necessary approvals. This was seconded by Commissioner Carey. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Gardow moved to place item a, Telecommunications Towers Review, after item d, Discussion of Post Office Relocation Issues. This was seconded by Commissioner Popik. The motion passed unanimously.

b. Review of open space and purchase of development rights.

Richard Sawitzke identified on the Plan of Development the basic areas of interest in the east ridge line, the Farmington River Valley, west ridge line, Firetown/Holcomb and agricultural and flood plain parcels. He showed a composite map that shows all the existing holdings. Mr. Sawitzke also showed areas, which identifies rare and endangered species. He said that this all evolves into several general broad categories based upon community needs. These include passive and active recreation, wildlife, scenic vistas through environmental gateway areas, agricultural development rights, small neighborhood parks and development litigation.

Mr. Sawitzke said that they use the Plan of Development, Open Space Plan and Open Space Committee input in the development process. They also prioritize using the Plan of Development and the Open Space Study, which was done a couple of years ago, and they also look at continuity, maintenance, grants and financing. Mr. Sawitzke said after the look at the priorities they go back to the Open Space Committee and complete the analysis and grant applications. He said that then the Board of Selectmen enters into the negotiation process and then a referral goes to the Planning Commission and the Board of Finance. Mr. Sawitzke discussed several acquisitions including the Dewey Flower Farm on Terrys Plain Road and a small piece in Tariffville. He said that they are now looking at a small park in Tariffville, development right acquisition of the Hall Farm on Terrys Plain Road and development rights acquisition of a portion of the Christensen/Flamig Farm. Mr. Sawitzke said that schools are considered open space and that The Ethel Walker School is the single largest piece of continuous property in Town.

Commissioner Gardow asked if the town has a consultant who evaluates the appraisals. Mr. Sawitzke said that two professional appraisals are done on every site.

c. Review of FY2000/2001 Budget

Mr. Voelker went over the expense handout saying that there is now no increase in the budget amount. He said that the only possible increase would be in hiring a consultant to prepare an update of the Plan of Development and the Zoning Regulations. He said that this would be a two-year expenditure of approximately $150,000.

d. Discussion of Post Office Relocation Issues

Mr. Voelker said that Len Tolisano has been in touch with a siting representative of the Post Office regarding the current facility at 932 Hopmeadow Street. He said that the Post Office representative indicated that the Post Office currently has budget constraints precluding any new construction, but that the Simsbury Center Post Office is scheduled for evaluation in 2003. Mr. Voelker said that the preliminary

Planning Commission Minutes

plan is to relocate all carrier operations to a new central facility that would service the four existing Post Offices and that the central facility would ship and receive all mail for Simsbury. He said that a new facility would range in size from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet. Mr. Voelker said that Simsbury does not have a lot of sites available for a warehouse facility that size. Commissioner Sirman asked if there was anyway to do something with what they have now. Mr. Voelker said they he did not think so as they are constrained with square footage area.

a. Telecommunication Towers Review.

Chairman Howard called for a break at 8:45 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:50 p.m.

Mr. Voelker went over the revisions he made in the telecommunication tower policy preferences list. He said that this is now a fifteen-item list with a Statement of Purpose where they can evaluate the requests that get referred to them through the 1st Selectman Office.

Chairman Howard said that she would like some recommendations from the Design Review Board on design guidelines on the building that would go with the tower.

Mr. Voelker discussed briefly the proposed application on West Street. He said that there would be a public information meeting held on January 29th in the Main Meeting Room. He said that representatives from Planning Commission, Zoning Commission, Design Review Board, and the Board of Selectmen would be invited and the Applicant will also be there. Mr. Voelker said that their job is to solicit public input and put together a final recommendation to the Siting Council. He said that the Siting Council is holding a Public Hearing at the Town Hall on February 5th and at that time our comments would be presented for the record.

The applicant has been informed that the town will oppose the West Street application. He said that there is another application for a tower to be located in the Powder Forest, which will be submitted to the Siting Council.

Commissioner Sirman asked what kind of area could a tower handle if it were put in the Powder Forest. Mr. Voelker said approximately three miles. Commissioner Sirman asked what kind of danger could a tower pose if someone tried to climb it. Mr. Voelker said that the tower would have to be secured. Commissioner Gardow asked about rules for a fall zone. Mr. Voelker said that there should be a 200-foot fall zone for a 180-foot tower.

Chairman Howard said that she would like to add to the policy preferences list that a balloon be flown at any proposed tower site. Mr. Voelker said that he would add it as number 16 on the list that the applicant would have the burden of demonstrating by floating a balloon.

VI. COMMUNICATIONS

a. Capitol Region Council of Governments

The Commission members had a brief discussion of the 2001 CRCG meeting schedule. Commissioner Howard to attend the meeting on January 18, 2001.

Planning Commission Minutes

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 12, 2000

Commissioner Gardow moved to approve the minutes of December 12, 2000 as amended. This was seconded by Commissioner Carey. The motion passed unanimously.

Addition made on Page 3, Paragraph 2 - 31 Main Street in Tariffville as this is consistent with the Plan of Development.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Carey moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. This was seconded by Commissioner Gardow. The motion passed unanimously.

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Pamela Katz, Secretary