Zoning Commission Minutes 05/18/2015

ZONING COMMISSION - REGULAR MEETING – 7:00 PM

MINUTES – SUBJECT TO VOTE OF APPROVAL
MAY 18, 2015

I.  CALL TO ORDER
 

Commissioner Robert Pomeroy called the regular meeting for the Zoning Commission to order at 6:58 P.M. on Monday, May 18, 2015 in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. The following members were present: Kevin Gray, Gerald Post and Vaughn Marecki. Others in attendance included Hiram Peck, Director of Planning and other interested parties.

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

None appointed

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes from May 4, 2015 Regular Meeting were approved with the following change:

Line 74 should read:  The fence will be 8ft. high and installed on the south side of the range.

Line 113:   Replace “is moving his store to” with “plans to open a design studio on” 

IV. PUBLIC HEARING:

1. Application #15-09 of Marshall Epstein, Owner, for a Special Exception pursuant to Article Ten, Section H, of the Town of Simsbury Zoning Regulations for a temporary liquor permit for a series of events on the property located at 25 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108, Lot 003). Zone R-40. (received 04/06/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015. 

Mr. Peck stated that the dates of the events are covered in a letter dated May 1, 2015 from Rachel Blatt.  The applicant already has a liquor permit for his regular business. Mr. Peck added that Mr. Epstein has been holding these events for the past seven years.

Commissioner Pomeroy asked Mr. Peck to look into having the process to obtain temporary liquor permits for local events to be made easier for the applicants.

1. Commissioner Gray moved to close the public hearing for Application #15-09 of Marshall Epstein, Owner.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pomeroy and was unanimously approved.  

2. Application#15-12 of Ferg Jansen, Agent;Town of Simsbury, Owner, for a Special Exception pursuant to Article Ten, Section H, of the Town of Simsbury Zoning Regulations for a temporary liquor permit for a one-day event one the property located at 1 Old Bridge Road (Assessor’s Map H11, Block 144, Lot 007). Zone R-15 (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015)

Mr. Jansen stated that Burgers on the Bridge is an annual fundraiser being held June 10, 2015 on the Simsbury Flower Bridge (rain date is June 11).  He added that last year 300 people attended the  envent

2. Commissioner Gray moved to close the public hearing for Application #15-12 of Ferg Jansen, Agent. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pomeroy and was unanimously approved.

NOTE: Applications #15-13 and #15-15 were discussed simultaneously

3. Application #15-13 of Ed Lally, Ed Lally and Associates, Inc., Agent; Mike Girard, President, Girard Brothers Corporation, Applicant; River Bend Holdings, LLC, c/o Tim Lescalleet, Senior Vice President, Owner; for a Zone Change from I-1 to I-2 on the property located at 80 Wolcott Road (Assessor’s Map I02, Block 439, Lot 009). Zone I-1. (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015).

4. Application #15-15 of Ed Lally and Associates, Inc., Agent; Phonon Corporation, c/o Tom A. Martin, President & Board Chairman, Owner; for a Zone Change from I-1 to I-2 on the property located at 90 Wolcott Road (Assessor’s Map J02, Block 439, Lot 009C). Zone I-1. (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/215).

Mr. Ed Lally of Ed Lally & Associates stated that properties at 80 Wolcott and 90 Wolcott abut each other yet neither property meets conformance of Zoning Regulations.  The applicant is requesting a zone change to eliminate the non-conformance and provide a zone suitable for Mr. Mike Girard, President of Simscroft – Echo Farms, to move his operations and office to this site.

Mr. Lally added that Mr. Girard doesn’t need the full 9.79 acres and has agreed to sell .4 acres to Phonon Corporation to use for employee parking. 

For the record, Mr. Peck sated the reasons for the zone change are due to the lot sizes not complying with zoning requirements and the uses that are proposed are not possible under current zoning.

3 & 4.  Commissioner Post moved to close the public hearings for Application #15-13 and #15-15 Ed Lally, Ed Lally and Associates, Inc. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Marecki and was unanimously approved.

Commissioner Pomeroy moved to amend the agenda to vote on the public hearings.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Marecki and unanimously approved.

1. Commissioner Gray moved to approve Application #15-09 of Marshall Epstein, Owner, for a Special Exception pursuant to Article Ten, Section H, of the Town of Simsbury Zoning Regulations for a temporary liquor permit for a series of events on the property located at 25 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108, Lot 003). Zone R-40. (received 04/06/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015).  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pomeroy and was unanimously approved.

2. Commissioner Gray moved to approve Application#15-12 of Ferg Jansen, Agent;Town of Simsbury, Owner, for a Special Exception pursuant to Article Ten, Section H, of the Town of Simsbury Zoning Regulations for a temporary liquor permit for a one-day event one the property located at 1 Old Bridge Road (Assessor’s Map H11, Block 144, Lot 007). Zone R-15 (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pomeroy and was unanimously approved.

3. Commissioner Post moved to approve Application #15-13 of Ed Lally, Ed Lally and Associates, Inc., Agent; Mike Girard, President, Girard Brothers Corporation, Applicant; River Bend Holdings, LLC, c/o Tim Lescalleet, Senior Vice President, Owner; for a Zone Change from I-1 to I-2 on the property located at 80 Wolcott Road (Assessor’s Map I02, Block 439, Lot 009). Zone I-1. (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/2015).   For the record, the reasons for the zone change are due to the lot size not complying with zoning requirements and the uses that are proposed are not possible under current zoning. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gray and was unanimously approved.

4. Commissioner Post moved to approve Application #15-15 of Ed Lally and Associates, Inc., Agent; Phonon Corporation, c/o Tom A. Martin, President & Board Chairman, Owner; for a Zone Change from I-1 to I-2 on the property located at 90 Wolcott Road (Assessor’s Map J02, Block 439, Lot 009C). Zone I-1. (Received 05/04/2015; Public Hearing must open by 06/10/215).  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Marecki and was unanimously approved.

V. DISCUSSION OF NEW AND ONGOING PROJECTS

Mr. Peck gave the Commission the following updates:

Big Y is not starting construction until next spring.

Pool Barn is underway with construction

Berkshire Bank on the corner of Rte. 44 started construction

Zoning Regulations public hearings will begin next month

St. Mary’s Church will present in July/Aug

Greenburg property are discussing the property with DOT regarding turning lanes on Route 10

Eno Mansion is looking to get started this summer

Mr. Peck handed out two articles from Planning and Land Lines magazines pertaining to reduced parking requirements and walkablility in communities.

Mr. Peck added that he is looking into easier methods for applicants applying for a liquor permit on a yearly basis.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Gray made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 P.M.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pomeroy and was unanimously approved.

Respectfully Submitted,

Irene Muench, Commissions Clerk