Redding Zoning Commission
Public Hearing and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 14, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall Hearing Room
100 Hill Road, Redding, Connecticut
Present: Gerry Casiello, Chairman; Matt Lecher, Vice Chairman; Amy Atamian, Secretary; Commissioner Ted Ogonek; Alternate Gary Miyashiro.
Also Present: Aimee Pardee, Zoning Officer.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30, seating Mr. Miyashiro for Mr. Scholl.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Application #19-6Z – 37 Lonetown Road (Assessor’s Map and Lot No. 21-42A); Town of Redding Community Center, Town of Redding (owner), Redding Police Union (applicant). Request for Limited Duration Special Use Permit to hold a “country fair” on October 19, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Received July 10, 2019: Public Hearing August 14, 2019.
Ms. Atamian read the call for the hearing. On the motion of Mr. Ogonek and the second of Mr. Lecher, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the call and open the hearing at 7:30 p.m.
Officer Mike Livingston presented the plan to the Commission. He explained that the Police Union is planning on using a portion of the community center parking lot to accommodate food trucks, possible beer sampling by local breweries, music, and craft vendors. The Chairman asked about where the event parking would be located. Officer Livingston stated that parking would be in the school parking lots and near the soccer fields. The Chairman asked if there would be parking in the “onion field”; Officer Livingston said that there was currently no plan for using that field for parking.
The Chairman stated that the Commission had been copied a letter that Doug Hartline, Redding Health Officer, had written to Officer Signore with a number of questions regarding sanitation for the proposed event; the Chairman stated that Mr. Hartline had not received a response to the letter. Officer Livingston said that Officer Signore was handling that aspect of the event and that Officer Signore is on vacation. The Chairman suggested that the Commission keep the Public Hearing open until their next meeting, on September 11th, so that the questions can be addressed and discussed by the Commission.
On the motion of Ms. Atamian, and the second of Mr. Ogonek, the Commission voted unanimously, at 7:37 p.m., to continue the hearing regarding Application 19-6Z to September 11, 2019.
2. Application #19-7Z – 220 & 224 Umpawaug Road (Assessor’s Map #20 and Lots #45 & #60) – Owner William W. & Robin C. Bishop Trustees; Agent Maxwell Associates Inc. – Request for Special Use Permit for Earth Moving in excess of 300 cubic yards in accordance with Zoning Regulation Section 5.5.3. Received July 10, 2019: Public Hearing August 14, 2019.
Ms. Atamian read the call for the hearing. On the motion of Mr. Lecher and the second of Mr. Miyashiro, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the call and open the hearing at 7:38 p.m.
Ann Schmitt, ASLA, spoke to the commission regarding the proposal. She explained that 224 Umpawaug Road is a flag lot and that the owners wish to improve the property by creating a new driveway over property that they have purchased at 220 Umpawaug Road. She reviewed the landscaping plans, showing where fill will be brought in for the new driveway construction. She also pointed out trees that will be retained, trees that will be removed, and trees that will be relocated. She also noted that the owners will be retaining the historic barns on the property.
The Chairman asked about the volume of fill to be brought on to the property. Ross Nazzaro, the excavation contractor, stated that 2700 to 2800 cubic yards of fill will be needed to raise the grade between the two properties sufficiently for the construction of the driveway. The Chairman asked about the volume of the trucks being brought to site and estimated that 150 to 200 truck trips would be need to bring the fill into the property. There was a discussion about the condition of Umpawaug Road and whether filled trucks should be brought in to the site from the Route 53 end of Umpawaug Road. Ms. Pardee stated that she had discussed this with the First Selectman and that she had also expressed the same concern. The Chairman asked about how long it would take to complete the project; Mr. Nazzaro stated that the import of the fill would take approximately two weeks, depending upon weather, and that the overall time frame would be about a month.
Michael Mazzucco, P.E., spoke regarding the proposed project. He noted that the total project time frame includes the installation of some drainage, and moving of a portion of the septic system. He also reviewed where the fill is proposed to be installed and where changes in the topography are proposed.
The Chairman stated that he had an indication that there had been Planning issues raised at a meeting the night before. Ms. Pardee stated that the Planning Commission had discussed the referral provided by the Zoning Commission and, in reviewing the original subdivision approval that created 224 Umpawaug Road, they had found that removal of portions of the interior stone walls, as well as the removal of several mature trees, had been prohibited as a condition of approval. She stated that Planning would need to approve a revision of the site development plan before the project could move forward.
The Chairman suggested that further discussion be tabled until the next regularly scheduled Zoning Commission meeting to give the Planning Commission time to address their concerns. Ms. Atamian stated this as a motion, Mr. Lecher seconded it, and it was carried unanimously, tabling further discussion at 7:50 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING:
1. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting Minutes of July 10, 2019
On the motion of Mr. Ogonek and the second of Mr. Lecher, the Commission voted by majority to accept the minutes of July 10, 2019 as written. Mr. Miyashiro abstained from the vote as he was not present at the meeting.
2. Application #19 – 6Z: 37 Lonetown Road (Assessor’s Map and Lot No. 21-42A); Town of Redding Community Center, Town of Redding (owner), Redding Police Union (applicant). Request for Limited Duration Special Use Permit to hold a “country fair” on October 19, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If public hearing is closed, for discussion/action.
The Chairman noted that the public hearing has been continued to September 11, 2019.
3. Application #19 – 7Z: 220 and 224 Umpawaug Road (Assessor’s Map #20 and Lots #45 & #60) – Owner William W. & Robin C. Bishop Trustees; Agent Maxwell Associates Inc. – Request for Special Use Permit for Earth Moving in excess of 300 cubic yards in accordance with Zoning Regulation Section 5.5.3. If public hearing is closed, for discussion/action.
The Chairman noted that the public hearing has been continued to September 11, 2019.
4. Application #19 – 2Z: 9 Brookside Road, Unit D (Assessor’s Map #46 and Lot #65D). Brookside Commons Association, Inc. and 9D Brookside Place LLC., Jeff Titus General Manager; Agent James Bonis. Request for Site Plan Revision to install 14’ x 30’ pre-fab garage building on property. Variance for zone line setback granted 7/16/19. For discussion/action.
The Chairman reminded the Commission that this application had first been before the Commission several months before but that they had discovered that a zone line had been inaccurately shown on the property map, and also that there had been a setback issue with the correct zone line as well as the property line. The Commission then reviewed the variance letter that had been submitted and concluded that the setback issues had been resolved.
On the motion of Mr. Ogonek, and the second of Mr. Lecher, the Commission voted unanimously to approve Application #19-2Z.
5. Application #19 – 8Z: 7 Main Street (Assessor’s Map #46 and Lot #17). Famoso, LLC; Jeff Mose, Agent. Request for Site Plan Revision to convert second floor storage area into a one bedroom apartment. For discussion/action.
Ms. Pardee reviewed the application with the Commission. She explained that 7 Main Street contains two floors of commercial space, and a third floor that currently contains one legal apartment. She stated that the owner wishes to have a legal one bedroom apartment in a portion of the third floor that had previously been approved as a storage area.
The Commission discussed square footage requirements and discussed the calculation supplied by the architect, Jeff Mose. They also discussed the parking for the apartments. They noted that this building has a small parking lot and that the available parking in the lot meets the requirement of two spaces for each apartment. They further noted that the streetscape agreement reached between the property owner and the town allow for the commercial space to exist without specific parking requirements.
Ms. Atamian questioned whether this application had been reviewed by the Water Pollution Control Commission. She moved that Application 19-8Z be approved with the condition that WPCC approval be obtained. Mr. Ogonek seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
6. Discussion.
Kate Perry, 313 Redding Road. Discussion of possible amendment to the Redding Zoning Regulations to allow for the home production of blended liquors for sale.
The Chairman briefly reviewed Ms. Perry’s letter regarding an amendment to the Redding Zoning Regulations regarding production of blended liquors; he then asked Ms. Perry to explain what she meant by blending liquors. Ms. Perry stated that she does not wish to distill liquor; she would like to purchase already distilled liquors and create a new product by blending and infusing the liquor with other flavors. She suggested that the process is akin to marinating.
Mr. Ogonek asked how much product she would be producing. Ms. Perry reviewed what might be allowed by the state under the cottage production statutes, but explained that she would not be planning to use more than one or two 55 gallon drums of raw material in a year. Mr. Ogonek asked if all the blending would be done indoors; Ms. Perry replied that it would be.
The Commission discussed distilling versus customary home occupations, which allow the production of a handcrafted product. Ms. Perry also noted the State and Federal licenses she will need in order to produce a salable product.
After further discussion, the Commission concluded that the blending or infusing of alcohol to produce a product is not the manufacture of alcohol, as prohibited by Section 3.4, and would instead fall under the uses allowed under the definition of a customary home occupation.
7. Future Agenda Items
Continuation of the two above public hearings to September 11, 2019.
8. Communication
There was no discussion under this agenda item.
9. Adjournment
On the motion of Mr. Miyashiro, and the second of Ms. Atamian, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.
Submitted by:
Aimee Pardee