CITY OF TORRINGTON PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES November 15, 2017

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1 CITY OF TORRINGTON PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES November 15, 2017 Present: Richard Calkins, Chairman Paul Summers, Member Greg Perosino, Member Donna Greco, Alternate Christopher Beyus, Alternate Also Present: Elinor Carbone, Mayor Martin J. Connor, AICP; City Planner Not Present: Greg Mele, Vice Chair Jim Bobinski, Member Jon Sheaffer, Alternate 1. Call to Order: Chairman Richard Calkins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., Torrington City Hall Council Chambers, Room 218, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT 2. Attendance/Announcement by Chairman: Chairman Richard Calkins announced present and serving on the Commission this evening will be Paul Summers, Greg Perosino, Donna Greco, Christopher Beyus and Richard Calkins. Also present is City Planner Martin Connor. 3. Minutes for Approval: a. 10/25/17 MOTION by Mr. Summers to accept the 10/25/17 minutes, seconded by Mr. Beyus. Motion carried. 4. Old Business: a. Enforcement Update No updates. 5. New Business: a. Mayor Elinor Carbone Presentation State of the City Address Page 1 of 7

2 Mayor Elinor Carbone appeared before the Commission, noting how much has been accomplished during the past four years, and she is grateful to have another four years to accomplish much more. Mayor Carbone expressed her gratitude to this Commission, because much of what we have accomplished over the past four years was done with this Commission s assistance, oversight, and vision. Mayor Carbone said since taking office in 2013, we have our own Economic Development Dream Team. This is phrase she coined very early where she relied upon Martin Connor, Rista Malanca, CZEO, and Erin Wilson, our Economic Development Director and many members of our Engineering Department. Together this team is capable of making things happen for us. It is the leadership of the City Council and this group that has led to the buy in of many development projects, starting with Franklin Street parking lot, new sidewalks on Main Street, access road turned trail at Toro Field, Keystone at Newbury Brook, Yankee Pedlar Inn, Greenway implementation and Courthouse construction. But more importantly the expansion of retail, car dealerships, commercial development up and down Main and East Main Street and Winsted Road, and so many technical improvements to properties and existing businesses that greatly benefit the City of Torrington, all largely due to the expertise of Marty Connor. Mayor Carbone can t even begin to explain how often she hears from business owners, property owners and developers how grateful they are for Marty s insight and expertise. If that s the first office they are visiting, it sets the tone for everything that they do so Mayor Carbone has learned a tremendous amount from Marty. Below is Mayor Elinor Carbone s State of the City address to the Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission: Since taking office in 2013, I discovered that we have our own economic development dream-team consisting of Marty, Rista, Erin and our Engineering Dept. Together this team is capable of making things happen for us. It is their leadership and the buy-in of this commission and our city council that has helped us accomplish a list of exciting development projects. Franklin Street Parking Lot New sidewalks on Main Street Access Road turned trail at Toro FieldKeystone at Newbury Brook,Yankee Pedlar Inn, Greenway implementation & Courthouse construction, Expansion of retail, car dealerships, commercial development up and down East Main Street and the Winsted Road. And so many technical improvements to properties and existing businesses that greatly benefit Torrington all largely due to the expertise of Marty Connor. A highlight reel of these 4 years would reflect our focus on brownfields with the bold support of this commission and the city council, we were able to preserve over $630,000 of a defunct revolving loan fund - and provide much needed parking on Franklin Street. We continued our focus down-river and worked with Nidec to Page 2 of 7

3 take down the blighted factory and allow us access to the property to conduct environmental assessment work. Our shared vision of what can be done by a highly motivated municipality, the State of Connecticut DECD provided us with an additional $1.5million to continue our efforts to assess some of our most blighted and environmentally challenged properties and develop a strategy for attracting developers. Our Economic Development Director, Erin Wilson, needs to be commended for her vision, inexhaustible energy and ability to pull in our federal and state partners to make this happen. In my opinion, the most significant progress on the brownfield front has been the work we are doing through the Brownfield Areawide Revitalization Grant. Working with BL Companies and Good Earth Consultants we have focused on the redevelopment potential of the Nidec property, Franklin Street and the former Hendy Manufacturing properties. These properties will serve as our pilot properties and will encompass everything from remediation, transportation, redevelopment potential and marketing strategies. While keeping our eye on the prize with brownfield work, our brilliant and energetic Wetlands and Zoning Enforcement Officer, Rista Malanca, has been blazing new trails for us. Rista s attention to sidewalks and trail development has put Torrington on the radar with our COG and the State. Her commitment to Torrington and recognition of the collective impact of connecting the communities in our county will catapult us into the next stage of economic success. As we speak, Rista and Erin are pulling together another grant application for EPA to provide us with the resources to make the connection between the Susan Grossman Greenway and Naugatuck River Greenway. How Rista finds time to plan biking events, enforce zoning regulations and keep our Trails group, Inland-Wetland Commission and residents happy and productive is a recipe I need to bottle. I have high expectations that over the next four years, we will be presenting a number of projects that will change the landscape along the Naugatuck River, along the rail line, and around the core downtown area. I intend build on the momentum in these areas, and continue to find ways to reinvest in our aging infrastructure roads, sidewalks, city buildings and developing high expectations of property Page 3 of 7

4 maintenance through anti-blight enforcement. All of this must be done hand-in-hand with making city government more efficient and business friendly. Stay the course. Trust in your experts. Remember that we are serving the residents and taxpayers of Torrington. Mayor Elinor Carbone. b. Approval of 2018 Meeting Calendar MOTION by Mr. Perosino to approve the 2018 Meeting Calendar, seconded by Mr. Summers, unanimously carried. 6. Public Hearings scheduled for November 15, 2017 at 7:30 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, Room 218, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT: a. Proposed Zone Change Applicant: William Rhoades Location: 535 Migeon Avenue Proposal: Change Zone to Local Business (currently Industrial) At 7:38 p.m. Chairman Calkins opened the public hearing and stated serving on the Commission will be Greg Perosino, Paul Summers, Donna Greco, Chris Beyus and Richard Calkins. Also present is City Planner Martin Connor. Commissioner Beyus read the legal notice which was published in the Republican American. Anthony Rocco of 85 Shawn Hill Road, Andover, CT appeared representing the applicant. Mr. Rocco submitted the proof of mailings to Chairman Calkins, and verified the public hearing sign was properly posted. Mr. Rocco stated there has been very little interest in using the property for any uses under the Industrial Zone designation. By changing the zone to Local Business, there will be many other uses allowed, making the property more marketable. Large and small businesses will be attracted to the property. Testimony continued on the positive effects this zone change will create. There is approximately 220,000 square feet of space available. Mr. Rocco said the property is being cleaned up, and many boats have been moved and stored in the proper location. They want to sell antiques out of the first building. Other buildings could be used for apartment buildings, storage, retail, etc. Discussion continued. (8:45 p.m.) Mr. Connor read his memo to the Commission dated November 6, Page 4 of 7

5 Mr. Calkins opened the meeting for public comment, there was none. At 7:51 p.m. Chairman Calkins declared the public hearing closed. MOTION by Mr. Beyus to APPROVE Proposed Zone Change Applicant: William Rhoades Location: 535 Migeon Avenue Proposal: Change Zone to Local Business, LB (currently zoned Industrial, I ) The Commission hereby finds the proposal to be consistent with the City s Plan of Conservation and Development. The effective date of the Zone Change shall be the day after publication of the legal notice of decision in the local newspaper. MOTION seconded by Mr. Summers, unanimously carried. b. Proposed Zone Change Applicant: Steven Bianchi Location: 186 Dibble Street Proposal: Change Zone to Local Business, LB; currently zoned R10s At 7:52 p.m. Chairman Calkins opened the public hearing hearing and stated serving on the Commission will be Greg Perosino, Paul Summers, Donna Greco, Chris Beyus and Richard Calkins. Also present is City Planner Martin Connor. Commissioner Beyus read the legal notice which was published in the Republican American. Mr. Steven Bianchi of 186 Dibble Street appeared before the Commission. Mr. Calkins asked for notice of neighborhood notification. Mr. Bianchi did not have them with him, they were at home. With permission of the Commission, the public hearing was continued, giving the applicant time to go home and return to City Hall with the proper notifications. (7:54 p.m.) c. Applicant: Sullivan Insurance Agency Location: East Main Street Proposal: Special Exception 17-06, Add second free standing sign, 12.5 sq. ft. per Section At 7:58 p.m. it was noted that the applicant, Kurt Wener of Sullivan Insurance Agency, did not have the neighborhood notifications receipts with him at City Hall. Mr. Sullivan verified he had properly posted the public hearing sign. The hearing will move forward, and a decision will not be made tonight, and this item will appear on the next meeting agenda for December 13, 2017, when proof of mailing can be confirmed. Mr. Calkins stated serving on the Commission will be Greg Perosino, Paul Summers, Donna Greco, Chris Beyus and Richard Calkins. Also present is City Planner Martin Connor. The Commission reviewed the plans for the second free standing sign. Mr. Connor read his memo to the Commission dated November 7, Page 5 of 7

6 There were no comments from the public on this application. At 8:07 p.m. Chairman Calkins declared the public hearing closed, and this item will appear on the next agenda for a decision. b. Proposed Zone Change Applicant: Steven Bianchi Location: 186 Dibble Street Proposal: Change Zone to Local Business, LB; currently zoned R10s At 8:07 p.m. applicant Steven Bianchi arrived back at City Hall with his notices. At 8:08 p.m. Chairman Calkins opened the continued public hearing hearing and stated serving on the Commission will be Greg Perosino, Paul Summers, Donna Greco, Chris Beyus and Richard Calkins. Also present is City Planner Martin Connor. Mr. Steven Bianchi appeared before the Commission, turned in his neighborhood notification receipts. Commission members discussed the proposal. Mr. Calkins expressed his concern with zone creep into the residentially zoned areas. Mr. Connor had read his memo to the Commission dated November 8, Mr. Bianchi verified he is in agreement to a ten foot easement to the City on the front of the property. Mr. Bianchi stated Steve LaToure, surveyor, of Berkshire Engineering and Surveying LLC will be working on this. Chairman Calkins opened the hearing for public comment. Allan Borghesi appeared and stated he is a member of two LLC s, one that owns the Valvolene site, and another nearby site. Mr. Borghesi has no financial interests in the property, and this is a logical zone change for this area. Mr. Borghesi provided more details on other properties he owns in the area. Mr. Borghesi is in favor of this proposal. At 8:21 p.m. Chairman Calkins declared the public hearing closed. MOTION by Mr. Beyus to APPROVE Proposed Zone Change Applicant: Steven Bianchi Location: 186 Dibble Street Proposal: Change Zone to Local Business, LB (currently zoned R10s) The Commission hereby finds the proposal to be consistent with the City s Plan of Conservation and Development. The effective date of the Zone Change shall be the day after publication of the legal notice of decision in the local newspaper. MOTION seconded by Mr. Perosino, motion carried. Page 6 of 7

7 7. Adjournment: MOTION by Mr. Beyus to adjourn at 8:22 p.m., seconded by Mr. Summers, unanimously carried.. Land Use Office Page 7 of 7