Redding Planning Commission
P.O. Box 1028
Redding Center, Connecticut 06875-1028
MINUTES
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
7:30 p.m. – VIA ZOOM
Present: Regina O’Brien, Acting Chairman; Commissioner Dan Barrett; Commissioner Anda Cumings; Commissioner Steve Gagnon; Commissioner Roger Van Ausdal; Alternate Jim Bacon
Also present: Aimee Pardee, Land Use Director; Peg O’Donnell, Selectman; Toby Welles, Former Chairman
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
The Chairman suggested that an election of officers be added to the agenda. On the motion of Mr. Barrett and the second of Mr. Van Ausdal, the commission voted unanimously to add a discussion and possible vote regarding officers to the agenda after the pending agenda
I.APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Meeting of November 09, 2021
Site Walk of November 13, 2021
Mr. VanAusdal moved, and Mr. Barrett seconded the motion, to approve the 11/9/21 meeting minutes as written. The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Barrett moved, and Mr. Van Ausdal seconded the motion, to approve the 11/13/21 meeting minutes as written. The motion was carried unanimously.
The commission also discussed the minutes of the public forum of October 12, 2021. Several members noted that they had some trouble reviewing the Zoom recordings from the meeting. Ms. Pardee suggested that, for future meetings via Zoom, she would also have a digital recorder running to capture the meeting.
I. PUBLIC HEARING TO OPEN 11/23/2021
1. Subdivision Application #529, 36 Whortleberry Road. Yishaya Marks (owner), McChord Engineering Associates, Inc. (agents). Proposed subdivision of 12.763 acres into 3 lots. Received 8/24/2021. Site Walk 9/19/2021.
The Chairman opened the hearing and briefly introduced the application. She then turned over the floor to Attorney Ken Slater who represented the applicant.
Mr. Slater stated that the applicant is hoping to subdivide 12.763 acres of land on Whortleberry Road into three lots. He noted that one lot is already developed with a single-family dwelling and that two lots would be created for future development. He then turned the meeting over to Harry Rocheville, P.E., the engineer for the project. Mr. Rocheville shared his screen and discussed the project. He reviewed the proposed subdivision and noted that, since the commission had done their preliminary review of the proposal, the design of the driveway had been revised to meet sight line requirements. He also noted a change in the proposed open space to create a contiguous open space along Whortleberry Road. He showed the commission mapping of wetlands and a vernal pool adjacent to the property, noting the setbacks called out in the Inland Wetlands Regulations and also discussed stormwater management and questions about slopes on the properties.
The Chairman noted that the commission is awaiting reports from the commission’s Planning Consultant and from the Conservation Commission. Hearing no further comments, she moved forward with the agenda, stating that the hearing would be continued to December 14, 2021.
III. REGULATORY
1. Subdivision Application #504, 38 Mountain Road. Estate of Rose Natalie (owner), Chris Curnan (contract purchaser). Request to modify approved buildable area. Discussion 11/09/2021. Site Walk 11/13/2021.
There was no discussion under this agenda item as the applicant could not attend the meeting and asked for the commission to table discussion.
IV. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/DISCUSSION
There was no discussion under this agenda item.
Per the motion at the beginning of the meeting, the commission took up the election of commission officers. Ms. O’Brien nominated Mr. Barrett to be the Chairman of the Planning Commission. Mr. Van Ausdal seconded the motion. Hearing no other nominations, the Chairman called a vote and Mr. Barrett was unanimously confirmed to be the Chairman of the commission.
Mr. Barrett then nominated Ms. O’Brien to continue being the Secretary of the Planning Commission; Mr. Gagnon seconded the motion and, hearing no other nominations, the commission voted unanimously to confirm Ms. O’Brien as the Secretary of the Commission
At this point, Victor DeMasi joined the meeting. He noted that he was a long time member of the Conservation Commission and he had concerns about the impact to a significant vernal pool on Whortleberry Road that might occur as a result of the proposed subdivision earlier discussed at 36 Whortleberry Road. The Chairman noted that a report from the Conservation Commission regarding the proposed subdivision is still pending and will hopefully be received for discussion at the continued Public Hearing of December 14, 2021.
Hearing no further discussion, Mr. VanAusdal motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 p.m. The motion was carried unanimously.
Submitted by Aimee Pardee