Redding Zoning Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
November 14, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall Hearing Room
100 Hill Road, Redding, Connecticut
Present: Gerry Casiello, Chairman; Matt Lecher, Vice Chair; Commissioner Ted Ogonek; Commissioner Paul Scholl; Alternate Gary Miyashiro.
Also Present: Aimee Pardee, Zoning Officer; Doug Hartline, Health Official
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., seating Mr. Miyashiro for Commissioner Amy Atamian.
1. Approval of Minutes: Public Hearing & Regular Meeting Minutes of October 10, 2018.
Mr. Ogonek mentioned that Mr. Lecher should be referred to as Vice Chair in the minutes. On the motion of Mr. Lecher and the second of Mr. Ogonek, the Commission voted by majority to accept the minutes as corrected. Mr. Miyashiro abstained from the vote as he had not been present at the meeting.
2. Application #18-19Z – 65 Hopewell Woods Road (Assessor’s Map #9 & Lot #20) – Robert & Nicole A. Denkin – Request for a Special Use Permit for an accessory apartment in accordance with Section 5.12 of the Redding Zoning Regulations. For receipt/scheduling of public hearing.
The Commission briefly reviewed the application. On the motion of Mr. Lecher and the second of Mr. Ogonek, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the application and set a public hearing date of December 12, 2018.
3. Application #18-20Z – 150 Lonetown Road (Assessor’s Map #7 & Lot #10) Louis Weinkle & Suzanne Meyers – Request for a Special Use Permit for an accessory apartment in accordance with Section 5.12 of the Redding Zoning Regulations. For receipt/scheduling of public hearing.
The Commission briefly reviewed the application. On the motion of Mr. Lecher and the second of Mr. Ogonek, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the application and set a public hearing date of December 12, 2018.
4. Discussion
Per the request by Doug Hartline, Health Official, a discussion of possible amendments to the Redding Zoning Regulations regarding outdoor wood burning furnaces.
Mr. Hartline was present to speak to the Commission. The Chairman noted that this issue had been discussed at a previous meeting and he thanked Mr. Hartline for attending in order to clarify questions that had come up. The Chairman asked Mr. Hartline to explain State regulations regarding stack height and distance from dwellings. Mr. Hartline explained the State regulations regarding outdoor wood burning furnaces and noted problems that are currently occurring with a code-compliant outdoor wood burning furnace in town. He reviewed a list of towns that have banned them outright including Ridgefield, Bethel, Monroe and Washington. The Commission discussed the differences between indoor and outdoor wood burning furnaces and also asked about the number of outdoor furnaces are in town. They discussed the idea of requiring a large setback from adjacent dwellings and the possibility of regulating outdoor wood furnaces by Special Permit. They also discussed whether it would be appropriate to ban them.
At the conclusion of their discussion, they requested that Ms. Pardee draft regulations defining outdoor wood burning furnaces, and also drafting a change to Section 3.4 of the Redding Zoning Regulations, adding outdoor wood burning furnaces to the section “noxious activities prohibited”.
5. Future Agenda Items:
December 12th Public Hearings regarding accessory apartments at 65 Hopewell Woods Road and 150 Lonetown Road.
6. Communication
There was no discussion under this agenda item.
7. Adjournment
On the motion of Mr. Ogonek and the second of Mr. Scholl, the Commission voted to unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Submitted by:
Aimee Pardee