Redding Zoning Commission
Public Hearing and Regular Meeting Minutes
September 9, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Via ZOOM
Present: Matt Lecher, Chairman; Amy Atamian, Secretary; Commissioner Ted Ogonek; Commissioner Bill Whitehead; Alternate Diana Carlino-Coffey; Alternate Gary Miyashiro.
Also Present: Aimee Pardee, Zoning Officer; Applicant Philip Curatilo, Gail Pezzimenti.
Mr. Lecher called the meeting to order, seating Mr. Miyashiro for the vacant regular seat.
PUBLIC HEARING
Application #20 –05Z – 14 Whortleberry Road (Assessor’s Map and Lot # 13-74): Philip S. Curatilo & Tammy L. Weiner, 15 Rock Ridge Court, New Fairfield, CT 06812. Request for a Special Use Permit for an Accessory Apartment/Au Pair Suite in accordance with Section 5.12 of the Redding Zoning Regulations.
Ms. Pardee read the call for the hearing. On the motion of Mr. Ogonek, and the second of Mr. Miyashiro, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the call and open the Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m.
Mr. Curatilo presented the application. He explained that he and his wife are constructing a house in Redding and they hope to have an apartment in the home to house the au pair that they currently employ to help with child care of their three children.
After Mr. Curatilo’s comments, the Chairman asked if there were any public comments. A neighbor of the Curatilo/Weiner property, Gail Pezzimenti, spoke. She asked if the apartment was going to be in a different building than the main house; Mr. Curatilo replied that the apartment would be incorporated into the main house, with both independent access and access from the main dwelling unit. Ms. Pezzimenti also mentioned an access easement that runs across Mr. Curatilo/Ms. Weiner’s property to her property. Ms. Pezzimenti asked about the location of the proposed dwelling; Mr. Curatilo stated that it would be in approximately the same location as the dwelling that had previously been on the property but that has been removed. Lastly, Ms. Pezzimenti asked about the timing of construction; Mr. Curatilo stated that he hopes that construction will commence in the next several weeks. Ms. Pezzimenti welcomed Mr. Curatilo and his family to Redding.
The Chairman raised an issue that had been discussed when this application was accepted: at the time, there had been concern regarding the interpretation of Section 5.12.4 a. Ms. Pardee stated that she had drafted revisions to the Zoning Regulations that the Commission could consider, but
Mr. Ogonek and Ms. Atamian stated that they felt that any conflict with the regulations had been addressed during discussion at the previous meeting.
Hearing no further discussion, Mr. Ogonek motioned to close the hearing. Ms. Atamian seconded the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to close the hearing at 7:47 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. Approval of Minutes: Meeting of August 12, 2020.
Mr. Ogonek expressed concern that the discussion of Application #20-05Z had not been adequately addressed in the minutes: in particular, he felt that a vote regarding interpretation of the regulations had been omitted. Ms. Pardee stated that she would review the recording of the meetings and revise the minutes if indicated.
2. Application #20 –05Z – 14 Whortleberry Road (Assessor’s Map and Lot # 13-74): Philip S. Curatilo & Tammy L. Weiner, 15 Rock Ridge Court, New Fairfield, CT 06812. Request for a Special Use Permit for an Accessory Apartment/Au Pair Suite in accordance with Section 5.12 of the Redding Zoning Regulations.
After a discussion, Ms. Atamian moved that the accessory apartment meets the requirements of Section 5.12 and should be approved. Mr. Ogonek seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
3. Discussion.
The Commission discussed the revisions to Section 5.12 of the Zoning Regulations distributed by Ms. Pardee. Ms. Carlino-Coffey asked if this would be further discussed at the next regularly scheduled meeting and it was decided that discussion would be added to the agenda of the next meeting required due to the submission of an application.
4. Future Agenda Items
There was no discussion under this agenda item.
5. Communication
There was no discussion under this agenda item.
6. Adjournment
On the motion of Mr. Miyashiro and the second of Mr. Ogonek, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Submitted by Aimee Pardee