Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency

Minutes

                                                           June 4, 2007

 

Attendance:

Chester:              

Clinton:                Jeff Morse

Deep River:          Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie

Essex:                  Tom Danyliw

Killingworth:       Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders

Lyme:                  Frank Skwarek

Old Lyme:           Jane Marsh

Old Saybrook:     Dick Tietjen, Karen Jo Marcolini                                                                                                          Westbrook:          Bill Neale

Staff:                    Linda Krause, J. H. Torrance Downes, Wini Olson                                                                                      

                         Chairman Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM in the CRERPA Conference Space at 455 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT. 06475.  

 

I.  Minutes

Jere Adametz moved that the minutes of the May 7 meeting be approved as circulated.  The motion was seconded by Pat Smulders and unanimously approved.

 

II. Correspondence

A.  Greenway Designation

             Linda reported that the Gateway portion of the Connecticut River Estuary Region has been designated a State Greenway. The Gateway Commission has been honored as the custodian of the area. DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy made the presentation of both the plaque and map at  a ceremony held at the DEP headquarters in Old Lyme on Friday afternoon, June1. The award was accepted for the Commission by charter member and Vice Chairman Melvin Woody.

B. Rockfall

    Linda reported that the Rockfall Foundation is planning to focus on regional planning for the next symposium. Christine Nelson has contacted Linda for ideas.

C.  Welcome

Chairman Edgerton welcomed Jeff Morse to the Agency and called for round table introductions. Jeff has been appointed by the Clinton Board of Selectmen.  Jeff serves on the Clinton EDC and brings multiple talents to Agency. In the Washington D.C. area, he taught math and economic development while serving as an independent analyst. He is self-employed as a remodeling contractor and as a pilot interested in aerial photography.

 

 

 

IV.   Reports

        

       A.  Treasurer

                                     The Treasurer’s report was distributed and discussed. Financial            Administrator Dorothy Papp was introduced.

                                  Jane Marsh moved that the Treasurer’s report be accepted for audit.  The motion was seconded by Pat Smulders and unanimously approved.

             B. Staff

                          1. HHW

                                    Linda reported that the HHW collections are going well except for one

                  detail. The payment from Westbrook is still outstanding.   The Selectmen of

                  the other eight towns instructed that Westbrook residents may not participate

                  until the bill is paid. 

                          2. Legislature

                                    The Legislature is scheduled to close in three days. There still is no   budget. Bills cannot be tracked under the present electronic system.

                          3. Tor –Westbrook Zoning et al

                              Torrance Downes is serving as interim Zoning Enforcement Officer in

                          Westbrook. He hopes to complete the assignment in the near future. A

                          qualified person has accepted the position as of July 2. Tor reports that just as

                          the Zoning job is being filled, the position of Sanitarian is open. Dick

                          Leighton has been filling in but will not do so after the end of June.

                       Tor has completed the play he was involved in Stratford and is now involved in a film festival at Wesleyan.

                          4. Chester Plan of Conservation and Development

                          The Chester Plan of Conservation and Development is progressing. The

                          Economic Development segment has been addressed with the Commission.

                          Affordable housing will be addressed this Thursday. Linda intends to attend.

                          Jean is on standby. Linda is on call to baby sit with her granddaughter when

                          her grandson arrives.  

                          5. Essex Planning Commission

                          Jean Davies conferred with the Essex Planning commission recently. Tom

                          Danyliw expressed how grateful the Commission is to have her assist them.

                          The commission was initially concerned with traffic studies. The discussion

                          evolved into the need to study Ivoryton center. A subcommittee of the

                          Planning Commission is being formed with the EDC.

                          Margot Burns and Judy Preston presented the Riparian Mapping Project to

                          the Essex Planning Commission on the same night. Tom asked if CRERPA

                          could look at the Essex Sub-division Regulations with an eye on how to

                          incorporate riparian protection. Linda agreed that it is a very suitable

                          request and agreed to do it. Linda explained that 25% of the annual dues

                          from each town are reserved for specific assignments from the town during

                          the year. Special local assignments that exceed the 25% negotiated on a  

                          cost basis.

6.  Road Standards

                   As part of an explanation of transportation planning, Linda noted the she is

                  currently reviewing road standards in Old Lyme and producing a report  

                  complete with photographic interpretations.

7.  DEHMAS

                       Linda reported that she has been asked to arrange a Disaster Debris Management conference for DEHMAS and DEP. It will include CEOs, Public Works Directors and Emergency Management Teams.

8.  NIMS

                       Linda explained that CRERPA had previously organized training sessions for DEHMAS including the National Incident Management System.

9.  Big Y

                     Dick Tietjen asked if CRERPA could oversee a traffic study. He is   concerned about conflicting information given to the Planning Commission.

               Linda explained that when a commission is dealing with a local issue, CRERPA must wait to be asked for comment.

                       Torrance mentioned that Zoning Commissions often hire their own Traffic Engineer to interpret the information presented by an applicant’s engineer.

                       Jane Marsh explained that the State Traffic Commission is different from the DOT. The State Traffic Commission has a staff of engineers and is required to study proposed developments that are deemed major traffic generators. They review the situation for compliance with state standards. Local concerns may be different.

                        C.  Transportation

                        There were no issues to report

           D.  Referrals

            Tor reported that the Reviews include the Deep River Plan of Conservation and Development and a Zoning Regulation Update for Lyme, together with new sections to be added to the Zoning Regulation of Westbrook and Salem.

                  He distributed the customary summary of his recommendations.

                 1. Salem

                     Salem proposes to add a Riparian Corridor Overlay Zone whereby

                      development in specified stream buffers would be presumed to have

                      an adverse affect on the stream unless proved otherwise.  He suggested

                       that the new regulation would have a positive affect on the waters

                       flowing into Lyme.

                  2.  Westbrook

                                 Westbrook has previously allowed Bed and Breakfast establishments 

                       by Special Permit. There were no standards  in place.  In an effort to

                       improve the oversight of the industry, Westbrook asked Torrance to

                       review and revise the regulation. He has established a hierarchy of

                       types of establishments with criteria for each. The use will henceforth

                       be prohibited in the closely settled beach areas.

                  3.   Deep River

                                   Torrance reviewed the Deep River Plan of Conservation and

                            Development for consistency with State and Regional Plans of

                            Conservation and Development. He noted that there had been a

                              discussion of integrating the business community with the waterfront.

                              It is not mentioned in the plan.

                                                            Jean Davies reviewed the transportation aspects of the plan and will

                                render a separate report on behalf of the CREMPO.

                                             The public hearing will be in Deep River on June 19.

                                Linda noted that CRERPA had conducted and tallied the initial

                                survey for this plan with the help of intern Ben Gahagen.

                               CRERPA is currently tallying replies for a similar survey for

                                 Killingworth.

                                 4. Lyme

                                                 Linda commented that Lyme will hold a public hearing on June 11

                                  for new subdivision regulations. Subdivision regulations are not

                                  referred to regional planning agencies for review. Individual sub-

                                 divisions on or near a town line are referred. In like manner, Zoning

                                  regulation changes are required to be referred but individual

                                  projects are not, regardless of size.  Linda, together with Frank

                                  Skwarek, Ning Rich, Ralph Eno and others were responsible for

                                  both the Subdivision regulations and the zoning regulations.

                                  The proposed update of those regulations would soften the

                                  regulation of the maritime industry.  Additions would include:

·        show any existing on easements on all site plans

·        allow a “free split” for affordable housing

·        an exception to the net buildable lot area calculation- which requires a complete appendix

·        a watershed overlay district.

                                                         Tor would recommend that there should be no inter-municipal 

                                   concern.

                                                         Jane Marsh mentioned that the “free split” proposal had been

                                   presented to the Old Lyme Zoning Commission. She had                                            opposed it on the basis that all proposed building lots deserve due

                                  diligence.

                                                        Jane moved that the staff recommendations be accepted for the

                                  three referrals from Salem, Westbrook and Deep River. The

                                  motion was seconded by Bill Neale and unanimously approved.

                                  Jane moved that the staff comment to Lyme be amended to

                                  contain a discreet comment on the free split issue. The motion

                                  was seconded by Bill Neale and unanimously approved.

                       

                 E.  Liaison

                 There were no reports other than the Gateway news that was included

                 under Correspondence.

 

V.        Old Business 

                  Linda mentioned that the matter of establishing a budget for FY 2007-2008 had been omitted from the agenda.

            Jane Marsh moved that the Agenda be amended to include the budget. The motion was seconded by Bill Neale and unanimously approved.

             Linda reminded members that they had previously established a $2.00 per capita fee for 2007-2008. Bills have been sent based on that amount. Linda reported that she believes that amount has been included in each town budget. DOT has sent each RPO an amount that can be anticipated from that source.  Since there is no state budget, many numbers for anticipated revenue are still uncertain.

        Copies of the proposed budget were distributed. The sheet includes actual expenditures for 2006 and 2007, the budgeted amount for 2007 and the proposal for 2008. Dorothy Papp explained various segments as needed.

                     Tom Danyliw moved that the budget be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Jere Adametz.

             Both Bill Neale and Tom Danyliw expressed concern about the omission of a reserve for capital equipment. Linda explained that capital purchases were generally small electronic items.

            The motion was unanimously approved.

 

VI. New Business 

     A. July meeting

Chairman Edgerton expressed concern that in 2006, the Agency members heartily agreed to meet on week of July 4.  A quorum was not achieved. The 2007 meeting is scheduled for July 2. He suggested that it be postponed until July 9.  Some members have a conflict on the second Monday.  It was agreed by consensus to meet on July 9 only if necessary.

                       

                  Bill Neale moved that the meeting be adjourned.  The meeting was                adjourned at 9:28 PM.                                                                                                                                

                         

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bill Neale, Secretary