These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 26, 2001
I. CALL TO ORDER
Joan Howard, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Simsbury Planning Commission to order at 7:35 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Pamela Katz, Susan Bednarcyk, Ernest Gardow and Alternates Cynthia Carey and Carol Cole.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Chairman Howard appointed Commissioner Cole to serve for Commissioner Horowitz and Commissioner Carey to serve for Commissioner Popik.
III. DISCUSSION
a. Plan of Development Update
Chairman Howard discussed the Reference Room Resources list that Bill Voelker had put together. She said that the items have been placed in the Reference Room at the Simsbury Public Library. The commission members discussed the Plans of Developments that had been received from Farmington, Glastonbury, Waterford, Ridgefield, Litchfield, Madison, Colchester, and Monroe. The members have also requested that copies of Plans of Development be asked for from Suffield, Westport, New Milford, Wilton, Brookfield, Darien and Kent. The Planning Department Secretary had already requested copies of the Plans of Development from Avon, Granby, Bloomfield and Canton.
Chairman Howard suggested adding the Charette to the Library resource and also asked Commissioner Cole to add the Joint Committee report to the resources when it is finished. Commissioner Katz mentioned transportation reports have been done for the town. Commissioner Gardow suggested the Route 10 Corridor Study. Commissioner Carey thought that the Historic District people might have studies or documents on the town center design. Commissioner Katz said that the Farmington Valley WaterShed group has ongoing studies.
Chairman Howard said that the Commission should craft a letter to send out to the various Commissions, Boards and other groups saying that the Planning Commission is putting together a library of resources and explain what the Commission is doing. Commissioner Cole suggested that the Main Street Group be included and Commissioner Carey mentioned the Board of Education and the Board of Finance. Chairman Howard said that Tourism and also Parks & Recreation should be included.
Commissioner Katz suggested that the Commission should use a master calendar starting at 2004 and work backwards. She said that they should organize themselves with deadlines so that by specific dates certain items should be done. Commissioner Carey asked when in 2004 this is due. Commissioner Gardow said that the current Plan of Development was adopted in November 1994, but was a year late. He suggested setting a goal of May, 2004.
Commissioner Carey said that she feels that they will need to kick-start this to get some interest. Chairman Howard said that it is a long process and they will need to get people interested. She said that possibly they could start with something on SCTV that might repeat itself for a short while saying that
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
JUNE 26 2001
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This is the plan and these are the chapters and components and see if this might generate some interest. She said that they could then follow-up with some speakers. Commissioner Bednarcyk said that she would take that on as a project. She would coordinate putting this together by speaking with SCTV, etc. A discussion followed on how many speakers they might want. Chairman Howard and Commissioner Carey thought that open space would be a good educational issue to start with as there is a lot of interest in it. Commissioner Katz mentioned that the SCTV policy is that anyone who is running for office cannot be on TV during the month of October except during their scheduled campaign appearance. Commissioner Gardow said that they might have to pay for a consultant to help plan a TV spot that could be made interesting.
Commissioner Cole said that it should be made so people can participate. Chairman Howard thought that possibly slides could be used and also mentioned that they would have to be careful of expenses.
Chairman Howard said that the first thing that needs to be done would be to get SCTV time for a program, possibly in early September, for a general overview. She said that they need some topics and suggested that they look at the chapters in the 1994 Plan of Development. The nine sections are population, land use, housing, open space and recreation, historic preservation, environment, economic development, community facilities and transportation. Commissioner Gardow said that the hottest issue this past year was the high school and asked to what extent does this Commission address the educational needs of the town. Commissioner Carey said that there is some education discussion under community facilities.
Commissioner Katz said if a consultant is hired to do a Charette, limit them to several of the most important of the nine sections of the Plan of Development. She said to pick out the more interesting issues such as schools, transportation and economic development. Commissioner Katz said that this winter they should go through the nine chapters of the existing Plan of Development and discuss where we are now and what parts are still relevant and what parts are not.
Chairman Howard suggested a possible timeline. She said this fall they could do the presentations and try to get town people interested. They could have some open meetings and also they could begin to gather information from other commissions this fall. Chairman Howard said that after the elections they could start to review the old plan. She said that they should decide if they had accomplished what they wanted to accomplish with the old plan. Chairman Howard also said that in the fall they would need to discuss a budget procedure.
Also discussed was requesting an update on the bio-diversity study and the Farmington River Water Shed study.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chairman Howard discussed letters she would like sent from the Simsbury Planning Commission to Senator Joseph Lieberman, Senator Christopher Dodd and Representative Nancy Johnson urging them to support and cosponsor the Post Office Community Partnership Act of 2001 (H.R. 1861 / S. 897).
Commissioner Carey moved to approve the sending of the letter from the Simsbury Planning Commission urging Senator Lieberman, Senator Dodd and Representative Johnson to support and cosponsor the Post Office Community Partnership Act of 2001 (H.R. 1861 / S. 897). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gardow and passed unanimously.
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Commissioner Cole said that she is sitting on a committee that is looking at economic development. She said that they are going to be doing a series of articles in Simsbury Life and the committee wants to know how the Plan of Development is going to be progressing and how they can participate. She said that they
are interested in the meetings and agendas. Chairman Howard said that right now they are in the pre-planning phase and one of the goals is to have a time line in the system which will be made public.
The CRCOG schedule was updated as to which Planning Commission members would attend the October, November and December meetings. Commissioner Katz is tentatively scheduled to attend meeting of October 18, 2001. Commissioner Bednarcyk is scheduled for the November 15, 2001 meeting and Commissioner Gardow is scheduled for the meeting to be held on December 20, 2001.
V. STAFF REPORTS
None
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
None
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 22, 2001
Commissioner Gardow moved to approve as amended the Minutes of May 22, 2001. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katz and passed unanimously
Change made on page 5, last paragraph - Charity Folke should be changed to Charity Folk.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Carey moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gardow and passed unanimously.
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Pamela Katz, Secretary
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