RECEIVED JUNE 1, 2010 @ 8:30 A.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
3 pages
Public Hearing Minutes
May 26, 2010
7:30 p.m.-Hearing Room Town Hall
100 Redding Road
Town of Redding, Connecticut
Present: ~~ Gerry Casiello, Chairman; John Shaban, Vice Chairman; Ben Gordon, Secretary; Marshall Sanford; Joe Ventricelli, Ted Ogonek; Gary Miyashiro; Amy Atamian
Also Present: Bob Flanagan, ZEO
Ms. Atamian was seated for Mr. Shaban, who arrived after the meeting began and was then seated.
PUBLIC HEARING – Redding Elementary School PTA- 33 Lonetown Road-Limited Duration Special permit for a PTA Carnival to be held from June 25 through 27, 2010.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to open the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Robert Flanagan asked that a list 9 items received for this application be entered into the record.
The applicant was not present; this item was moved to the end of the agenda on motion of Mr. Sanford and second of Mr. Ventricelli.
PUBLIC HEARING – Redding Zoning Commission – An amendment to the Redding Zoning Regulations Regarding Flood Damage Prevention pursuant to a directive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to open the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Robert Flanagan asked that a list of 25 items received for this application. Fairfield county maps are being digitally updated to increase accuracy. Mr. Flanagan recommends adoption of the changes to the regulations in their entirety. The Planning Commission submitted a letter of approval.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford, and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Redding Country Club, 109 Lonetown Road – Special permit and Site Plan Review
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to open the public hearing. Carried unanimously. Mr. Shaban arrived and was seated for the remainder of the public hearing.
Robert Flanagan asked that a list of 23 items received for this application plus 2 additional letters received this day be entered into the record.
Mr. Flanagan also reported that the engineering report was not yet complete. Attorney Richard Gibbons presented the application and answered questions from the Commission. Also present were Ron Cioppa and Brett Chapin, Redding Country Club; Earl Goven, Landscape Architect, Blades and Goven; Mike McGladrick and Jim Rogers, JP Rogers Architects; Fred Mascia, Tyan-Bond; and Joe Balskas, DOT.
Attorney Gibbons stated that a letter of intent for the proposed work was submitted on April 21, 2010. Town Attorney Mick Lavelle reviewed the letter, which was modified after Attorney Lavelle’s comments were incorporated and then was re-submitted. On May 12, 2010, revised engineering reports and plans were submitted, with Conservation Commission comments incorporated. On May 13, 2010, landscape plan revisions were made per the Conservation Commission’s comments. Archaeological reports with no significant findings were submitted for the record as well. The Police and Fire Chiefs are in favor of the changes, and agree that this is an improvement. Attorney Gibbons stated that due to a lack of parking on certain days during the season of July and August, additional parking spaces are proposed near the pool
area. Also planned is a new driveway cut on Lonetown Road. This will result in a one way entrance and two way exit; the two way exit also acting as an entrance for the pool area. There will be a total of three curb cuts for the proposed driveway, and the DOT gave conceptual approval the proposed project. The parcel at 125 Lonetown Road will merge with the country club property so as to avoid setback issues. Engineers reviewed the present lighting and suggested additional light sources in the parking area. There is no plan to increase the membership, which has a maximum limit of 300 members. There will be no change or increase in use. Approval from the Conservation Commission is pending receipt of the Malone and McBroom report, which has not yet been received. A letter from the Health Department was received with regard to suggestions about maintaining distances between the septic system and the driveway.
Presentations about the landscape and drainage plans, relocation of the children’s pool, new dining terrace and other cosmetic changes were made. Several members of the public spoke, including:
Bill Hill, Lonetown Road, Warrups Farm, expressed concern with maintaining the integrity of the land and intensity of use. Mr. Hill is concerned with tree removal to make way for the proposed driveway extension. Mr. Hill suggested finding a less invasive method of moving the 7,000 to 9,000 yards of material that the proposed project will require. Mr. Hill also had concerns about the increase in lighting.
Ed Zubeck, 32 Drummer Lane, expressed concern with the size of the project.
Bill Timme, Director Highstead Arboretum, submitted a letter as part of the record, and expressed concern with the land merge. Mr. Timme also had concern with the shift to a more commercial use of the country club, and the large scope of the project for a two month parking need. Mr. Timme had concern with the proximity of the driveway to the arboretum, the amount of material being moved and removal of the vegetative buffer. He suggested a visual/auditory buffer of some type be installed to replace the trees removed, and that an impact study be done by the applicant prior to work starting.
Gene Connolly, 30 Meeker Hill Road, expressed concern with regard to growth and whether neighbor input was or could be considered for a project of this nature.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford, Mr. Ventricelli seconded to continue the public hearing to June 9, 2010. Carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Region 9 Board of Education – 100 Black Rock Turnpike – Special Permit and Site Plan
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to open the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Robert Flanagan asked that 17 items received be entered into the record. There were no written comments from the public, and three or four phones calls were received in the Zoning office.
Barry Blades, Blades and Goven, gave a brief presentation addressing the poor drainage in Field “A”, known as the Bonfire Field. It is used primarily for practice football, and the work will be completed with minimal disruption and cost. The project involves removing approximately 320 yards of clay and replacing with the same amount of topsoil. The removed clay may remain on site if needed. The project has received approval with conditions from the Conservation Commission. Malone and McBroom reviewed the plan and made comments which were later incorporated into the revised drawing. A letter expressing that this is a useful improvement was received by the Planning Commission.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford, Mr. Ventricelli seconded to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Redding Elementary School PTA- 33 Lonetown Road-Limited Duration Special permit for a PTA Carnival to be held from June 25 through 27, 2010.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford and seconded by Mr. Ventricelli to open the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Mike D’Agostino, liaison for the BOE and PTA, presented the application to the Commission. The Police Department, Park and Recreation Department, Board of Selectmen, Health Department, BOE and school administration are all in support of the event. Mr. D’Agostino described the details of the event, expects between 250-300 attendees, with parking in the rear lot of RES and overflow in the Onion Field. The Historical Society has given its approval. There will be two police officers on site for traffic control and parking. One neighbor, Deborah Foehr, who lives across the street, is in favor of the event.
MOTION: ~Made by Mr. Sanford, Mr. Ventricelli seconded to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Val Koniecki, Clerk
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