Simsbury, CT - Planning Commission Meeting

Chairman John Loomis called the regular meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Ferguson Jansen, Susan Bednarcyk, Carol Cole, Mark Drake, Charles Houlihan, James Daley, Gerry Post, and Julie Meyer. Also in attendance were Hiram Peck, Director of Community Planning & Development, as well as other interested parties.

Chairman Loomis stated that Richard Sawitzke is here tonight to discuss capital projects, which this Commission is obligated to review under State Statutes, Section 8-24. This Statute states that this Commission is to monitor, review and report on any of the physical changes or consequences in Town and to understand what the capital projects are and their outlook and budgeting.

Richard Sawitzke distributed several handouts for his presentation to the Commission. He stated that thinking ahead is critical for the capital projects process. There are three components to this process: 1) first year, which is to be acted upon in the annual budget deliberations; 2) next four years, which are well thought out; and 3) the sixth year in a standard format. There are then three guidelines for capital projects: 1) anything under $50,000 is covered in line items in the general fund budget; 2) $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars are capital non-reoccurring projects; and 3) over several hundred thousand dollars, such as sewer line extensions and water line programs. Generally, the Board of Finance has asked that they alternate year to year, i.e. one year the Town would have projects and the next year the Board of Education would have projects.

Mr. Sawitzke reviewed the projects for the fiscal year, 2008/2009 for the Town, which were sewer extensions. These projects are put in the budget in response to resident's requests. These monies are fully recovered through assessments. The other Town projects to be considered in this same fiscal year, which are mainly driven by grants, are Hopmeadow/Drake Hill bikeway completion, sidewalks, and streetscape; Laurel Hill Open Space; water main extensions; and ENO sprinklers/access-egress/woodwork. Regarding the Laurel Hill Open Space, Mr. Sawitzke stated that this was one parcel that the Open Space Committee recommended for acquisition. Chairman Loomis stated that the Simsbury Land Trust has been outstanding in what they have done for the Town, although the Town is filling in with other areas that the SLT has not make a high priority. Together the SLT and the Town have done a wonderful job. Regarding the water main extensions, Mr. Sawitzke stated that there have been some neighborhoods requesting the Town to extend the water. The Town's participation in water main extensions is provided for in the Statutes and all of the monies are paid back in assessments.

Mr. Sawitzke also discussed the Board of Education projects during fiscal year 2008/2009. Some of these projects are partially funded by the State and some are not. Some of the projects include the High School auditorium project; classroom technology; Latimer Lane roof replacement and modular classroom replacement; HVAC boiler replacement; computer technology; and Central School pre-school bathrooms. Regarding the roof replacements, these are done on a 20-year schedule. The State encourages this and will reimburse the Town. Also, the boilers will be replaced with energy-efficient boilers.

Regarding Town projects for fiscal year 2009/2010, Mr. Sawitzke stated that there is an Economic Development Fund that they use for local business expansions, which pays for infrastructure items. There is an application form for this process and projects need to meet certain criteria in terms of job creation. Regarding the Board of Education projects for this fiscal year, this would be an off school year. The only project during this year would be the Tootin Hills roof replacement. Mr. Sawitzke stated that Firetown Road/Barndoor Hills Road/Holcomb Street Triangle Open Space is the only capital project for consideration during fiscal year 2009/2010. There is some Legislative money for this Triangle project. There will be a referendum in May 2008 for Simsbury residents to vote on the acquisition. Chairman Loomis stated that the price for this Triangle is $2.7 million. The two major issues are if they will acquire the land and, if so, for what purpose. Mr. Peck stated that there are still many questions that need to be answered regarding the Triangle.

Regarding the Simsbury Farms improvements including the access road, Commissioner Bednarcyk questioned why the access road could not be done earlier than the improvements, due to the fact that this seems to be the big stalling point, from a safety perspective, of being able to get any type of beer and wine permit for the restaurant. Mr. Sawitzke stated that this project might get moved up sooner. Commissioner Post stated that he is sitting on that Committee. He stated that they have received the soils tests, which were good. They can now go ahead with the road, although the maintenance garage for the Recreation Department is a problem. Once that garage is torn down, they need a place to store their equipment. The road is needed first before a beer and wine permit would be issued. Also, there is currently only one access into that facility in the back; if something happened to the road, there is no way for fire protection or police to get to the backside.

Mr. Sawitzke continued by only discussing the highlights of the remaining fiscal years. Regarding the Town project for a GIS/Mapping system upgrade for fiscal year 2010/2011, Mr. Sawitzke stated that the Town currently runs an in-house system. The upgrade would be an initiative to get the GIS on the web in real time. Commissioner Houlihan questioned if any of this information was available through CROCG. Mr. Sawitzke stated that their information was better for regional planning but not specific enough for the Town's needs. The Commission continued to discuss the benefits of this and the possibilities of partnering with other Towns. Another Town project during this FY 2010/2011 is park improvements, including a bike trail connection from the Farmington Valley Greenway to Tariffville, on to the Griffin Line Corridor. The Board of Education does not have any proposed projects for this fiscal year.

Regarding the Town projects for the fiscal year 2011/2012, Mr. Sawitzke stated there are several major renovations at Simsbury Farms. There are currently no Board of Education projects for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. Also, there are currently no Town projects for the fiscal year 2012/2013.

Chairman Loomis stated that any recommendations made by this Commission regarding capital projects should be done by the second meeting in January. This will be put on the next agenda as an item to be discussed and to bring forth ideas that this Commission may want to be acted upon at that second meeting. Mr. Sawitzke will be back before this Commission at its January 22 meeting.

Commissioner Bednarcyk made motion to add two items to the agenda. The first item is: Meeting with Mary Glassman and Planning Chairman John Loomis. The second item: CROCG Representation from the Planning Commission for 2008. Commissioner Jansen seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

Regarding the 2007 POCD, Commissioner Drake stated that CROCG has a $4 million Fund available for Towns to assist them with the gathering of information on affordable housing as related to POCD preparations. Considering this "village setting", as a component of more density or added housing, the Town could apply for some of this Grant money. Mr. Peck stated that the Town of Simsbury has already started the process of requesting $65,000 to do a study. He stated that it is under Home Connecticut Legislation. The Legislature allocated $4 million as part of the passage of Home Connecticut Legislation this year. One part of this Bill is to reimburse Municipalities for extra costs associated with educational costs based upon the amount of money that would initially be expended for children coming from affordable housing developments. The Legislature did not fund this, although they did fund $4 million that would go to Towns that were looking to establish mixed income housing zones. This type of zone would allow for 80% market rate housing and 20% mixed income housing.

Regarding the PDD, Mr. Peck stated he is planning on finishing the draft prior to the end of the year. He will then get the draft out to the Commissions and Boards for their consideration. It will then go out to the general public, possibly over the Town's website. Chairman Loomis asked if Mr. Peck could make the three reports from the Design Review Board, Conservation Commission and Planning Commission, which went to the Zoning Commission, available to the Commission members.

Regarding the reappointment of the Design Review Board Chairman, Mr. Peck stated that there was a Board of Selectman meeting where each Department made a presentation of what their department does and what each Board and Commission under them do. Mary Glassman listened to these presentations and now has a better understanding of the roles of each Department and Commission/Board. At this meeting, the Board of Selectman decided to hold all appointments.

Commissioner Houlihan made a motion to make a recommendation to the First Selectman and Board of Selectman that the Town retain the Design Review Board because it is a useful and valuable advisory Board within the Town of Simsbury. Commissioner Bednarcyk seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

Chairman Loomis stated that, in the past, Commission members have volunteered to attend these meetings. Each member has usually attended at least one meeting each year. The problem is continuity. He questioned if the Commission would like to continue to allow each member of the Commission to attend different meetings, or to appoint a few members to attend all of the meetings, with one alternate backup. Commissioner Jansen stated his concerns with the CROCG meetings. He feels that they need the same person at these meetings every month to bring consistency and to bring back reports to this Commission. This would be the most helpful. Commissioner Meyer volunteered to commit to going to these meetings with an alternate. She stated that she was willing to take notes and report back to the Planning Commission. The Commission will continue to discuss this issue.

Mr. Peck stated that they have handed out 31 paper and 21 CD copies of the plan. For purchase by the general public, a paper copy costs $40 and the cost of a CD is $10, which figures are very close to the production costs. Chairman Loomis stated that the Plan is also available online. A copy has already been sent to the Library.

Regarding the full-size, folded land use map with summaries on the back, Mr. Peck stated he looked into what this would entail in terms of production. Mary Glassman would like to know what this will cost prior to making a final decision as to whether or not they will be printed. Mr. Peck stated that he would be getting this information to her as soon as possible.

The first meeting was held on the airport study and a consultant has been selected. The study will take approximately 6 months. There is no pre-determined agenda and no one knows the outcome i.e., whether or not it is best for the Town to get involved in owning or managing the airport or for something greater. There will be at least two public meetings, the first on January 16th, prior to the final report. The Town will then decide what they will do; 95% of the study is being paid for by Federal money.