ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 19, 2006
I. CALL TO ORDER
Austin Barney, Chairman, called the regular meeting of the Simsbury Zoning Commission to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Garrett Delehanty, Jr., James Gallagher, Patricia Askham, Scott Barnett and Alternate Madeleine Gilkey. Joseph Grace arrived at 7:05 p.m. Also in attendance were Howard Beach, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Hiram Peck, Interim Planning Director, Lois Laczko, Commission Clerk and other interested parties.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
None
III. PRESENTATION(s)
a. Application of Steven T. Antonio, Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to allow for a patio permit from the Department of Consumer Protection allowing alcoholic beverages to be served on four picnic tables outside of the entrance to Hoops N’ Hops on property located at 1185 Hopmeadow Street.
Tabled to next meeting.
b. Application of Thomas Earl, Business Manager, Westminster School – Owner, Peter Anderson, Westminster School Facility Manager, Agent, for a Site Plan Approval for faculty housing, a guard booth, and a storage building on property located at Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow Street.
Peter Anderson, Westminster School Facility Manager, spoke on behalf of this application. Also in attendance was Ron B. of Fuss & O’Neill. Mr. Anderson showed the commission members an overall view of the entire campus properties. He said that they would like to construct four new faculty homes, relocate an existing faculty home that is presently off campus, construct a guard booth, construct a storage building, and demolish two existing buildings on the campus. Mr. Anderson said that the first set of homes that they would like to build would be on Owens Place, which is a cul-de-sac off of Owens Brook directly behind the Simsbury Bank. The homes would be four bedroom colonials similar to what is now on campus. Mr. Anderson said that the other locations for new housing would be on the main campus. One of the homes would be a duplex
home. He said that the reason for the new homes and the relocating of some is that in the future the school will be building a new academic center. He showed on the plan where the future academic building would be located. This will be a large structure and will necessitate the removal of two existing buildings that are currently on the campus. One is a two family home and the other is an apartment building. Both of these buildings will be demolished. He said that in addition, a colonial house built in 1996 will be relocated.
Commissioner Askham asked if any of the relocation will impact Winterset. Mr. Anderson said no. There will not be any work on that part of the campus. Commissioner Askham asked how much land Westminster actually owns on the campus. Mr. Anderson said approximately 200 acres.
Mr. Anderson showed on the plan where they would like to construct a new storage building. It would be directly behind the maintenance building, which is across from the hockey rink. They would like to put the proposed guard shack on the main drive on the right side before the old driveway. Commissioner Askham asked if they would see this from Route 10. Mr. Anderson said that it would be set back from the road and not placed right on the edge. There are currently some trees there that should screen it. Commissioner Barnett asked from a traffic standpoint how many cars could be fit from the guard shack back to Hopmeadow Street. Mr. Beach said that there is approximately 200 feet to the street from the guard shack so quite a number of cars could fit. Commissioner Askham asked if everyone will be required to stop at the guard shack and show a
badge. Mr. Anderson said that the guard shack will be manned at night only from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The purpose is to reduce unauthorized traffic after hours.
ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
JUNE 19, 2006
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Chairman Barney asked if a copy of the master plan is on file at the Town Hall. Mr. Beach said yes.
Commissioner Delehanty read the memo dated June 14, 2006 from the Design Review Board recommending approval of this application.
Mr. Beach said that the drawings show gas service to the new homes. The campus is within the Aquifer Protection Zone. He would like the applicant to add a note on the Mylar stating that the burial of petroleum storage tanks is prohibited. Chairman Barney said that if they do make a positive vote this should be in the motion.
c. Application of Town of Simsbury, Owner, David Rocha, Simsbury Little League – Agent, for a Site Plan Amendment to place a Scorer’s Booth at the Fastpitch Softball Field (Field 6) on property located at Memorial Park, 40 Plank Hill Road.
David Rocha, 25 Crestwood Road, Vice President of Simsbury Little League Softball, spoke on behalf of this application. They would like to build a scorer’s booth at the softball field (Field #6) at Memorial Park. The booth would house the audio equipment, score board machine, etc. in a secure location. This will be freestanding and approximately 5-feet off the ground, and will be placed between the back stop and first base dugout. It will be wood construction. Commissioner Askham asked when they will start construction. Mr. Rocha said in July or August. Chairman Barney asked if there would be any lighting issues. Mr. Rocha said that there is no housing in the area.
d. Application of Wm. F. Curtiss, Jr., Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to review the placement of a caboose rail road car located on property at 129 West Street.
Tabled to next meeting.
IV. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
a. Application of Steven T. Antonio, Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to allow for a patio permit from the Department of Consumer Protection allowing alcoholic beverages to be served on four picnic tables outside of the entrance to Hoops N’ Hops on property located at 1185 Hopmeadow Street.
No action taken .
b. Application of Thomas Earl, Business Manager, Westminster School – Owner, Peter Anderson, Westminster School Facility Manager, Agent, for a Site Plan Approval for faculty housing, a guard booth, and a storage building on property located at Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow Street.
Commissioner Gallagher moved to approve the application of Thomas Earl, Business Manager, Westminster School – Owner, Peter Anderson, Westminster School Facility Manager, Agent, for a Site Plan Approval for faculty housing, a guard booth, and a storage building on property located at Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow Street with the inclusion on the final plan the notation that the burial of petroleum storage tanks is prohibited. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Delehanty and passed unanimously.
c. Application of Town of Simsbury, Owner, David Rocha, Simsbury Little League – Agent, for a Site Plan Amendment to place a Scorer’s Booth at the Fastpitch Softball Field (Field 6) on property located at Memorial Park, 40 Plank Hill Road.
Commissioner Gallagher moved to approve the application of Town of Simsbury, Owner, David Rocha, Simsbury Little League – Agent, for a Site Plan Amendment to place a Scorer’s Booth at the Fastpitch Softball Field (Field 6) on property located at Memorial Park, 40 Plank Hill Road. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Delehanty and passed unanimously.
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d. Application of Wm. F. Curtiss, Jr., Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to review the placement of a caboose rail road car located on property at 129 West Street.
No action taken.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of May 22, 2006 and June 5, 2006
Commissioner Askham moved to approve the Minutes of May 22, 2006 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Grace and passed unanimously.
The minutes from June 5, 2006 were tabled to the next Zoning Commission meeting.
VI. STAFF REPORTS
a. Report from Zoning Enforcement Officer, Howard Beach
Mr. Beach and the commission members discussed items from the ZEO’s report dated June 19, 2006 attached (Addendum I).
VII. COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Beach said that the zoning regulations require age restricted facilities to submit a report yearly showing that they are in compliance. He did get a response back from Billingsgate and is waiting for a response from West St. LLC. The commission members briefly discussed Billingsgate and a suggestion was made that they come in and discuss the matter with the commission.
Chairman Barney said that an application from Mr. Giorgio for a mixed use text amendment has come into Town Hall. Chairman Barney has asked Hiram Peck to ask the applicant to withdraw this application so this commission is not on a time line as there will be another applicant coming in for a mixed use text amendment. When both applications are in, Mr. Peck will do a comparison after which the zoning commission will hold a work shop to discuss mixed use text amendments.
Mr. Beach said that the Town Clerk has received requests for a moratorium on zone changes on large parcels of development on certain sites in town. The requests were not submitted in the proper format so they have not gone anywhere.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned 8:00 p.m.
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Garrett J. Delehanty, Jr., Secretary
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