CONNECTICUT
RIVER GATEWAY COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
January 22,
2009
Deep River: Amy
Petrone, Nancy Fischbach
East Haddam: Harvey
Thomas, Robert Boulware
Essex: Ellen Wexler, Fred Vollono
Fenwick: Chuck Chadwick
Haddam: Scott Thompson, Susan Bement
Lyme: Kevin Mazer, J. Melvin Woody
Old Lyme: Vacancy, Ted Crosby
Old Saybrook: Madge Fish,
David Lemay
CRERPA: Steve
Williams
Midstate RPA: Raoul De Brigard, Stacia DeMichele
DEP: David
Blatt
Staff: J.H.
Torrance Downes
Tidewater: Judy
Preston
Call to Order
Chairman Melvin Woody called the regular meeting of the
Gateway Commission to order at 7:30 pm in the CRERPA meeting room.
Approval
of Minutes
Nancy Fishbach moved to accept the
minutes from December 6, 2008. David Blatt seconded. All were in favor.
Staff
Report & Correspondence
Newly
appointed member Ellen Wexler was welcomed by the Commission.
A copy of
Correspondence and Staff Report notes are filed with these minutes.
Treasurer’s Report
Peggy Wilson passed out copies of the audit for last
fiscal year and presented the month’s bills.
Melvin Woody pointed out that there exists some confusion as to which
entity owns Gateway land, the Lower CT River Land Trust or the Gateway
Commission per se. Torrance and Judy
Preston will research the records and resolve the matter by April 1, 2009 or at
the latest June 30, 2009. Susan Bement
volunteered to help research titles at the Haddam Town Hall.
Susan Bement moved
to pay the month’s bills for $812.80 to CRERPA, and $1120 to Tidewater. Harvey Thomas seconded. All were in favor.
The finance committee will meet with Liz David from
Merrill Lynch in February. Ms. David
will also come to February’s Commission meeting.
Tidewater
Nancy Fischbach suggested extra quarterly meetings in
order to address specific workshop items like Riparian Buffers, or wind
turbines. Judy suggested setting a time
to discuss the draft regulations for the Riparian Grant. The first such workshop will be held on
Wednesday, February 11th at 7:00 with additional workshops tentatively
scheduled for the 2nd Wednesdays of May, August, and November, 2009.
Referrals
The first referral was a zoning regulation change in Deep
River proposed by a private concern to allow restaurants and drinking
establishment in the Harbor Development District. The Commission found that
they could not support the proposal because there were no special exception
standards presented with the petition. Without such additional standards, there
was concern that there was little ability to manage such development in a way
that would preserve and protect the “natural and traditional riverway scene” in
this highly visible and historic area of the Deep River riverfront. Concerns
included the potential bulk of structures as well as the visibility and impact
of parking infrastructure.
The second referral was for a variance of a rear yard
setback adjacent to the DEP railroad ROW on a property located at 12 Landing
Road South in Haddam. The Appellant proposed to construct a three-bay garage
with living space above in an open area to the north of the residential
structure. Upon review, the Commission
felt that an alternate location could reduce the visibility of the bulk of
development that would ultimately be visible from the river in an area of
already dense development. Specifically,
it was felt that rotating the proposed garage so as to be located parallel to
the northern property line in the location of an existing shed could produce
less visible bulk (the Commission recognized that there was insufficient
information to indicate that this alternative was not possible). As such, the
Commission unanimously voted to oppose the rear yard variance request.
Status of 2004 Standards
No update.
Status of Gateway Owned
Properties
See Correspondence Notes on
Balleck property. Discussion occurred
with regard to the carrying of Gateway-owned properties as assets. It was agreed that the effort to compile a
database on properties owned by the Gateway Commission would be carried out and
be completed no later than the beginning of the next fiscal year. Discussion of an April 1st
deadline for such compilation occurred.
It was agreed that Judy Preston, with assistance from Torrance Downes,
would continue the compilation process while completing the buffer standards
work so that the Commission will know where it stands with regard to such
properties.
Other Business
None presented.
Adjournment
There being no further
business, Madge Fish moved to adjourn the meeting at approximately 9:30pm.
The next regular meeting of the Gateway
Commission is
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Gateway Items of Interest
January 22, 2009
Correspondence
(1) DEP Consent Order to Create or Restore 2 to 3 acres of Wetlands. NDKLP Montville Associates has been “compelled” by DEP to locate land in order to mitigate for filling wetlands. They’ve hired Rich Snarsky to accomplish this. A letter, dated December 5, 2008, was sent to inquire as to whether the Gateway Commission had any parcels which would be good candidates. The Commission could contact them at (203) 787-7740.
(2) TPL Newsletter Publication. References Otfinoski property.
(3) Anthony Cooper, Lyme. Thank you letter for variance on Hamburg Cove.
(4) CT River Salmon Association. Invitation to 33rd Annual Dinner & Raffle/Auction. 1/31/09, Berlin, CT. 5pm.
(5) Copies of Lewitz, Balosie, Wollack, Rayner & Giroux Audit. To be distributed.
(6) Revaluation Notice on Chester property at 64 Railroad Avenue (Garthwaite).
2003 - $716,700; 2008 – $895,930. Deadline for written appeal – March 20, 2009.
Staff Report
(1) Heather W. Grass Special Exception Review – Opportunity for questions on previously circulated review letter. Otherwise, no presentation anticipated.
(2) Old Lyme Harbor Management Plan Addendum – Final Draft ready for submission to DEP/OLISP. “Groundbreaking” Plan regarding standards for private docks. Through a “sister” ordinance yet to be proposed at Town Meeting, the OLHMC is establishing a local “permitting and enforcement” program, which can’t legally be included in the Plan addendum due to conflict with the State permitting program. No presentation.
(3) Stephen & Barbara Gaudio, 7 Town Landing Road, Old Lyme. Riverfront home in excess of 4000 square feet with separate solar array panel. Met with architect on Friday, January 16, 2009.
(4) Village Overlay District, Essex Village. Proposed as a Section 8-2j CGS Village District, not an “historic” district. Submitted by the Essex Historical Society. WITHDRAWN on January 14, 2009 for reworking. FYI.
(5) UPDATE on Otfinoski. Purchase price renegotiated down to $948,000 from $989,000. BOS voted to forward the purchase request to Town Meeting at the end of February. BOF meeting is tonight (1/15 @ 7pm). Less certain that BOF will approve the request which will be, with a Land Trust commitment to raise $75,000 (they’ve only raised $16,000 to $17,000 so far), $358,480. New DEP amount (calculated down based upon their percentage grant) will be $464,520.
Variance Referrals/Regulation
Proposals/Special Exception Reviews
(1) Regulation Proposal: Deep River. Restaurants and Drinking Establishments in the HDD.
(2) Variance Request. Haddam/Higganum. Rear yard setback to build a garage, 12 Landing Road South.
Status of Standards
Opportunity along with the Village District effort? Essex members?
Transfer of Gateway Property – Balleck
Paste Tidewater Report here