Redding Zoning Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
January 27, 2021 – 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Held Via ZOOM
Present: Matt Lecher, Chairman; Commissioner Ted Ogonek; Commissioner Bill Whitehead; Alternate Diana Carlino-Coffey; Alternate Gary Miyashiro.
Also Present: Aimee Pardee, Zoning Enforcement Officer; Applicant’s Agent; Public.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. seating Mr. Miyashiro for the Zoning Commission’s vacant seat, and seating Ms. Carlino-Coffee for Commissioner Atamian.
REGULAR MEETING:
1. Approval of Public Hearing and Regular Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2021.
On the motion of Mr. Whitehead, and the second of Mr. Miyashiro, the commission voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the January 13, 2021 minutes as written.
2. Application #20-07Z: 296 Ethan Allen Highway (Assessor’s Map and Lot #35 – 92): Ridgefield Motor Inn. Alex Patel (Owner); Anthony Mussachio, Mussachio Architects (Agent). Request for Site Plan Approval to demolish existing structures and redevelop property with new “Home2 Suites by Hilton” including 71 guestrooms, manager living quarters, restaurant, and redesigned/expanded parking. Discussion
Mr. Mussachio appeared for the applicant. He stated that he is working with the applicant and other contractors to address the concerns raised by the engineering peer review, and also by the Health Department. He said that he is also looking to provide a traffic study and that he is seeking a local traffic engineer. Ms. Pardee stated that she would review the town files to see if she could provide a list of traffic engineers that had previously worked in the Redding area.
Mr. Mussachio suggested that it would take several weeks to provide the materials needed to address the concerns of the town’s reviewers. Ms. Pardee suggested that Mr. Mussachio keep the Zoning Office up to date regarding the next appropriate date for Zoning Commission review. Mr. Lecher agreed that they would table further discussion of the application until such time as Mr. Mussachio could submit replies to the reviews by the town’s peer review and the Health Department.
3. Discussion
Mr. Lecher noted that Ms. Pardee had asked the commission for an interpretation of the Redding Zoning Regulations regarding Section 5.1.4. He asked Ms. Pardee to clarify her request and she stated that she had received calls from members of the John Read Middle School (“JRMS”) PTA regarding a proposal to construct a pavilion on the JRMS property. She said that she wanted clarification as to whether the commission considered a pavilion a “building” and also if the commission considered an adjacent, permanently preserved, property to be a “residential property”. After a discussion, the commissioners concurred that a pavilion should be considered a “building” under the definition in the Zoning Regulations, and also that a property should be defined as residential based upon the assigned zone, not upon the actual use.
4. Future Agenda Item
Application 20-07Z: tabled to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Revisions to Redding Zoning Regulations 5.12: Public Hearing scheduled for March 10, 2021.
5. Communication
No items were discussed under this agenda item.
6. Adjournment
On the motion of Mr. Whitehead and the second of Mr. Miyashiro, the commission voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:44 p.m.
Submitted by:
Aimee Pardee