Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency

Minutes

July 7, 2008

 

Attendance:

Chester:             Sally Murray, Steve Williams

Clinton:              Alan Kravitz, Vacancy

Deep River:       Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie

Essex:                Tom Danilew, Alan Miller

Killingworth:    Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders

Lyme:                Ning Rich, Frank Skwarek

Old Lyme:         Jane Marsh, Vacancy

Old Saybrook:  Dick Tietjen, Karen Jo Marcolini

Westbrook:       William Neale, Lee Bridgewater                                                                                               

Staff:                  J. H. Torrance Downes

                       

Call to Order             

Chairman Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM, in the CRERPA  Conference Space at 455 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT. 06475. Bruce amended the agenda to include a vote on the ballot of officers. Motion to approved made by Marcolini, seconded by Wylie.  Officers for 2008/09 year:  Chair, Bruce Egdgerton, Deep River;  Vice Chair, Jane Marsh, Old Lyme;  Treasurer, Steve Williams, Chester;  Secretary, William Neale, Westbrook.

 

Minutes 

Bruce Edgerton requested clarification on who seconded minutes of June 2, 2008 meeting.  It was recalled that Jere Adametz seconded.    Motion to approve as amended by Edgerton, Adametz seconded.

 

Correspondence / Staff Report

·         2008 OPM State Grant in Aid packet was discussed.  The grant was for $64,703.47 for July 1, 2008 thru June 30, 2009, a reduction over the amount of the package for the 2007/08 budget year. Grant document signed by Chairman Edgerton.

·         Meet the Author:  David Handler of Old Lyme, author of the new book “The Sour Cherry Surprise”, August 7th, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Estuary Council, Old Saybrook.

·         An invitation on “A Celebration of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Designation” was received. Cocktails and hors d’hoeuvres, Friday, July 18th at 5:30 to 7:30, 344 Joshuatown Road, Lyme. Hike at Patrell property at 3:30 prior to the gathering.

·         COST – Invitation to enroll CRERPA as associate member in the CT Council of Small Towns was received.  Cost is $225.

 

Staffing 

No staffing update at present.

 

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

Year-end financial report was distributed and comparison for end of June ’07 and end of June ’08 was distributed.  Edgerton made motion to accept, Smulders seconded.

     

Transportation Matters   

No report from L. Jean Davies.  No report from ETD at present.

 

Referrals

Lyme: Adoption of Eightmile River Overlay District.  The new section was developed as a result of and consistent with the goals of the Eightmile River as a Wild and Scenic River Management Study.

(1)     Protect and enhance the functions of the riparian and wetlands areas in the Eightmile River watershed areas of Lyme as identified in the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic River Management Study.

(2)     Site Plan requirements of Section 11 are also revised to include the requirement for the provision of riparian buffer information.

 

Salem: Addition of language to Net Buildable Area (NBA) definition to exclude, in addition to a (a) wetlands, (b) 100 year flood and (c) sloped areas, (d) “land located within a Riparian Corridor Overlay Zone”. Riparian Corridor overlay Zone was adopted consistent with the conclusion of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Management Study.  

 

Clinton: Addition of language to Section 17, Flood Hazard Zone regulations, to comply with modifications required by the DEP and FEMA.

 

Deep River:

(1)     Special Flood Hazard Regulations – primarily changes to comply with modifications required by the DEP and FEMA.

(2)     Currently, a change or addition to an existing permitted use in the Commercial Industrial Park and Turnpike Industrial Districts were the new or expanded use will not exceed 6000 SF nor employ more than 10 people does not require site plan review.  Proposal adds the Village Industrial District to the two aforementioned district exemptions – all industrial districts. Changed or enlarged uses OVER 6000 or employee numbers greater than 10 requires site plan review still requires the review.

(3)     Deletion of Section 4.10.17 which permits conversion of existing structures to residential or commercial condominium use, replacement with “intentionally Blank”.  The section improperly addressed ownership, which is not a zoning issue.

 

Old Lyme

Modification of Section 12, Planned Residential Conservation Development (PRCD), to permit attached, multi-unit developments in non-multi-family districts.  Currently, Section 12 allows that such developments are only permitted to have single detached dwellings for one family except in to in Multi Family Districts where structures containing up to, but not more than three Dwelling Unites may be permitted subject to the provisions of (Section 12).  The proposed language included additional standards.    Motion to approve first 5 referrals made by Neale, seconded by Skwarek.

Motion to approve Old Lyme referral made by Skwarek, seconded by Wiley with caveat that comment be included regarding potential for high density in small area on largely unbuildable parcels.

 

Old Business

Regional Plan

With Chester PC&D all but completed, more detailed work on the Regional PC&D is anticipated to continue into August and into the fall.

 

New Business:

Gateway Commission 

Re: June discussion of wind turbine installation in Chester on Castle Hill underneath Gillette’s Castle.      Associated Press article (from Boston.com) and article on wind turbines in New Haven Harbor.

 

 

August Meeting:  August meeting cancelled unless Director decides meeting is necessary.

 

 

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn was made by Rich, and seconded by Skwarek.  Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

 

 

                         

Respectfully submitted,

J. H. Torrance Downes for Bill Neale, Secretary