Planning Commission Minutes 12/11/2018
PLANNING COMMISSION-REGULAR MEETING
SUBJECT TO VOTE OF APPROVAL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018
SIMSBURY TOWN OFFICES-MAIN MEETING ROOM-7:00 PM
933 HOPMEADOW STREET, SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT
I. CALL TO ORDER- Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
II. ROLL CALL
Present: William Rice, Alan Needham, David Blume, Erin Leavitt-Smith, Craig MacCormac
Absent: Gary Lungarini, Richard Cortes, Holly Beum, Elizabeth Burt
Staff Present: Michael Glidden, Director of Planning and Community Development
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the October 23, 2018; November 13, 2018; and November 27, 2018 regular meetings
October 23, 2018 meeting minutes: Staff reviewed lines 60, 61, 61 and they should state that Commissioner Needham said that balance of homeowners’ needs and the “character of neighborhoods” should be considered when approving commercial developments.
October 23, 2018 meeting minutes : Staff reviewed lines 69, 70, 71 and they should state that Commissioner Needham made a motion to send a positive referral for application #18-58 and that it was consistent with the POCD with the “consideration that there should be safeguards to protect the neighborhoods.”
Motion:
Chairman Rice made a motion to accept the minutes from October 23, 2018.
Commissioner Erin Leavitt-Smith seconded the motion.
Commissioner David Blume abstained because he was not present.
Commissioner Craig MacCormac abstained because he was not present.
William Rice stated that the motion passed 3-2.
November 13, 2018 meeting minutes:
Motion:
Commissioner Erin Leavitt-Smith made a motion to table the minutes for the November 13, 2018 meeting so that staff can review the tape.
Chairman William Rice seconded the motion to table the November 13, 2018 minutes.
The motion passed unanimously.
November 27, 2018 meeting minutes:
Motion:
Commissioner Craig MacCormac made a motion to approve the November 27, 2018 meeting minutes.
Commissioner David Blume seconded the motion to accept the November 27, 2018 meeting minutes.
The motion passed unanimously.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
1. Public Hearings
a. Application #18-01 of Michael Glidden, CFM, CZEO, Director of Planning & Community Development, Agent; Town of Simsbury Planning Commission, Petitioner; for amendments to the following sections of the Town of Simsbury Subdivision Regulations: Section 7: Subdivision Application Procedures; Section 8: Subdivision Submission Requirements; Section 9: Subdivision Plan Requirements. (public hearing must be closed by 01/15/2019)
Chairman William Rice opened the public hearing for application #18-01.
Michael Glidden discussed the proposed revisions made for Section 7, Section 8, and Section 9 of the Town of Simsbury Subdivision Regulations.
There were no comments from the public or from the commissioners regarding Michael Glidden’s summary.
Chairman William Rice made a suggestion to close the public hearing.
Motion: Commissioner Erin Leavitt-Smith made a motion to close the public hearing.
Commissioner Craig MacCormac seconded the motion to close the public hearing.
The motion to close the public hearing for application #18-01 passed unanimously.
2. Applications
a. Application #18-01 of Michael Glidden, CFM, CZEO, Director of Planning & Community Development, Agent; Town of Simsbury Planning Commission, Petitioner; for amendments to the following sections of the Town of Simsbury Subdivision Regulations: Section 7: Subdivision Application Procedures; Section 8: Subdivision Submission Requirements; Section 9: Subdivision Plan Requirements.
Commissioner David Blume asked Mr. Glidden if these “regulations are generally the same as other communities of our size and dimension.”
Mr. Glidden stated that the regulations are not significantly different from those of other communities our size.
Commissioner Craig MacCormac asked Mr. Glidden if there is anything other than compliance and up to date standards that are driving the current changes to the regulations.
Chairman William Rice stated (to answer Mr. MacCormac’s question) “that the compliance issues were the catalyst for us to consider any changes.” The most part was to update to current standards without being burdensome to applicants.
Mr. Glidden stated that if there is a motion to approve, that the suggested date for the updates to take place would be January 8, 2019.
Motion:
Chairman William Rice made a motion to accept the proposed and revised subdivision regulations contained in application #18-01, as submitted, with an effective date of January 8, 2019.
The motion was seconded by David Blume.
The motion passed unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Receipt of New Applications
a. Application #18-02 of Robert Green Associates, Agent; Robert Cave, Owner; for a 2-lot re-subdivision on the property located at 14 Roswell Road (Assessor’s Map A16, Block 307, Lot 015). Zone R-40. (to be received 12/11/2018; public hearing to be scheduled for 01/08/2019).
Motion: Chairman William Rice made a motion to ask for a referral from the Conservation Commission for a Planning Commission application #18-02.
David Blume seconded the motion to ask for a referral.
The motion carried unanimously.
b. CGS 8-3a Referral to the Zoning Commission for Zoning Commission Application #18-64 of Michael Glidden, CFM, CZEO, Director of Planning & Community Development, Applicant on behalf of the Simsbury Zoning Commission, for a Text Amendment to Chapter 4, Section 3.2.I and Chapter 4, Section 3.4.d of the Simsbury Center Code reclassifying distilleries, wineries, and breweries in the Simsbury Center Code Area as restaurant/bar uses instead of light industrial. (public hearing scheduled for 12/17/2018)
Michael Glidden stated that, due to current regulations, breweries, distilleries, and wineries are not able to operate within the center of town. The businesses are categorized as light industrial businesses under the existing regulations.
Glidden stated that, by amending section 3.2.I of the Simsbury Center Code, breweries, wineries, and distilleries will fall under bars/restaurants, allowing the businesses to operate in the town center.
Commissioner David Blume was concerned with the size of the potential businesses. Overall, the Planning Commission was concerned about a “mass brewery” going into the town center.
Glidden stated that there are not a lot of properties in the center of town where that could happen. The majority of buildings would not have the square footage required for such a large brewery, winery, or distillery.
Motion: Chairman William Rice stated that he would like to make a positive referral to Zoning Application #18-64 in finding that it is consistent with the POCD with respect to economic development; however, the Planning Commission would like to ask the Zoning Commission to consider limiting the size and/or scale to minimize adverse effects on signature areas or community character.
Erin Leavitt-Smith seconded the motion to make a positive referral.
The motion to pass carried unanimously.
VI. GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS
Commissioner Alan Needham suggested that having hard copies of zoning maps on the bulletin boards in the meeting room would be helpful.
Chairman William Rice thanked the commissioners for a successful year.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Commissioner David Blume made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Erin Leavitt-Smith.
The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25pm