ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
JUNE 2, 2008
REGULAR MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
Austin Barney, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Zoning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Garrett Delehanty, Jr., Scott Barnett, Bruce Elliott, James Gallagher, John Vaughn and Alternate Madeline Gilkey. Also in attendance were Director of Planning Hiram Peck, Commission Clerk Debra Sweeney and other interested parties.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
None.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Delehanty made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2008 Regular Meeting. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion.
Chairman Barney requested a spelling correction on page 9 to change the word "feet" to "fee".
The motion to approve the minutes as amended passed unanimously.
IV. PRESENTATION
a. Application of Asbjorn Gjertsen, The Riverview, Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to place seasonal tents of 2000 square feet each over the north and south patios on property located at The Riverview, 10 Winslow.
Mr. Gjertsen spoke on behalf of the application, indicating that he was requesting permission to place two tents, each measuring 2,000 square feet, as well as connecting awnings from the building on the north and south sides of the property for purposes of providing a rain and sun shield. He noted that the size of the tents are slightly smaller than the patios on which they will be set and that they would be open-sided, aluminum construction and fire-rated. The tents would be used for ceremonies.
Chairman Barney confirmed that there would be no bands or outside lighting. Mr. Gjertsen stated that the ceremonies would be mostly during daylight hours and that only security lights would be installed.
Mr. Barnett asked what "seasonal" would infer and Mr. Gjertsen replied that it would most likely be April-November, depending on weather. Mr. Barnett also noted the need for Fire Marshall approval. Mr. Gjertsen stated that he has sent a letter to the Fire Marshall outlining the details of the tents and that the Fire Marshall's preliminary comments were that he thought that the tents could hold up to 200 people, but that occupancy over 200 would require a fire watch. Mr. Gjertsen added that there would be no cooking or open fires.
Chairman Barney asked if the tents would be used for party overflow and Mr. Gjertsen replied that such use would be discouraged and that there would be no serving of alcohol or food outside, adding that his liquor permit prohibited any outside bar.
V. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
Mr. Gallagher made a motion to approve the application of Asbjorn Gjertsen, The Riverview, Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment to place seasonal tents of 2000 square feet each over the north and south patios on property located at The Riverview, 10 Winslow subject to Fire Marshall approval. Mr. Elliott seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
VI. OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION
None.
VII. STAFF REPORTS
Report from Planning Director, Hiram Peck
Mr. Peck stated that there are some revisions to the Hoffman application and that he had advised the applicant to finalize those revisions for presentation at the June 16th meeting.
He also noted that the Giorgio application, which is currently before the Planning Commission under statutory referral, is also scheduled for the June 16th meeting and that he will prepare his review for the Commissioners as soon as possible. He stated that the application involves a text amendment proposal to add residential uses to the B-3 zone.
Mr. Elliott questioned why this application is being reviewed and studied by other commissions and yet the Zoning Commission currently has no information. Mr. Barnett noted that sometimes an applicant will come before the Commission with an informal presentation prior to the application, but this applicant has chosen not to do so at this time. Mr. Peck explained that, once a zoning application is received it must be heard within 65 days and staff must first refer the application out to the Planning Commission and CRCOG (if applicable) at least 30 days prior to the first Zoning hearing. Mr. Peck added that, in deference to the number of meetings that an applicant must attend and the attendant cost in assembling their architects, engineers, and consultants, etc. for such meetings, it is sometimes cost prohibitive for an
applicant to make an informal presentation in addition to the actual hearing appearance.
Mr. Peck stated that staff is currently in the process of applying for a $50,000 grant from the Office of Policy and Management to examine the possibility of establishing housing and economic growth zones under the Home Connecticut legislation which was passed last year. This legislation allows for the creation of mixed income housing where 20% of the units would be affordable under the local wage guidelines and 80% of the units would be market rate units. What is noteworthy about this legislation is that it allows the towns to determine where those zones would be located as well as specific design of the housing units. Therefore, the benefit to the Town would be the opportunity to develop housing incentive zones based on local parameters and Town-determined density as well as potential incentive revenue for actual units
built. It also allows the opportunity to create affordable housing in a less hostile environment than 8-30(g), which makes economic sense to a developer.
Mr. Delehanty made a motion to adopt a resolution to authorize Town staff to prepare a grant application for the Housing Incentive Zones under the Home Connecticut legislation and submit that grant application to the Office of Policy and Management. Mr. Gallagher seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Mr.Vaughn asked about the anticipated timeline for this grant. Mr. Peck replied that the application must be submitted prior to June 30th and that there would be a response within 60 days.
Mr. Barney asked about the status of the RFP. Mr. Peck stated that he has submitted a draft to the Board of Selectmen and is currently waiting for the First Selectman's approval to send it out. He noted that it was unlikely that an RFP could be drafted that will please all groups and that it needs to be written loosely enough so as to allow creative ideas to evolve.
Mr. Delehanty asked about the status of the Regulations revisions. Mr. Peck replied that a draft had been received from Mr. Wood today and that he would be sending it out to the Commissioners tomorrow.
Chairman Barney asked about the status of the letter which has been submitted twice to the Board of Selectmen requesting the services of land use counsel for the benefit of the Zoning and Planning Commissions with regards to matters other than the charrette. Mr. Peck indicated that he would discuss it with the First Selectman.
Report from Zoning Enforcement Officer, Howard Beach
None.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Delehanty made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 p.m. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
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Garrett Delehanty, Jr., Secretary
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