MAY 7, 2003

ATTENDANCE: Walter Briggs, Chairman; Torgny Astrom, Vice Chairman;

OTHERS: Michael Greene, Director, Planning and Zoning; Roger

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:50 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Seven Commissioners were present.

2. PUBLIC HEARING

1. #3543 – Norwalk Housing Authority – Colonial Village, West Cedar Street – 2 Lots

POSTPONED.

3. REPORT OF THE SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE – Frances DiMeglio, Chairman
1. Action on Item III.a)

None.

2. #3531 – HRB III, LLC – 4 Juhasz Road – 2 Lots – Request for Release of Surety – Report & Recommendation

The hearing on this two-lot subdivision was held on September 9, 2002. The parcel contains an existing single-family home and a detached two-car garage. In order to comply with the regulations, the garage had to be removed from the site or a variance obtained. The Commission approved this project with the condition that a surety [bond] be posted for the required improvements; which was the removal of the garage. Since the Zoning Board of Appeals granted the variance, the surety is no longer required.

** MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED THAT THE SURETY HELD ON SUBD. #3531 –

HONEY RECHTMAN (HRB III, LLC) 4 JUHASZ ROAD BE RELEASED

AS THE APPLICANT HAS OBTAINED A VARIANCE TO MAINTAIN

THE EXISTING GARAGE; AND THAT THE MAINTENANCE SURETY

BE WAIVED.

** MR. McLAUGHLIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. KRAUS).

c) #3533 – Paul S. Nakian, Esq. – 3 Pogany Street – 2 Lots – Request for An

Extension of Time to File Subdivision Map

This application was approved on September 10, 2002. The applicant’s attorney has requested a 90-day extension of time to file the map. He cited difficulties in obtaining a surety bond as the reason for the request. The first deadline for filing the map was January 2, 2003. The applicant submitted a request and the commission granted the first extension of time to April 26, 2003 to file the map. They have submitted a timely second request for an extension of time and have indicated that the same difficulties apply. The commission has, in the past, granted second requests for extensions of time.

** MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED THAT THE DEADLINE FOR FILING THE

MAP ON SUBDIVISION #3533 – PAUL S. NAKIAN, ESQ. – 3 POGANY

STREET – 2 LOTS, BE EXTENDED FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS; AND

THAT THE NEW FILING DEADLINE SHALL BE AUGUST 29, 2003.

** MR. McLAUGHLIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

V. REPORT OF THE LAND USE COMMITTEE – Torgny Astrom,

Chairman

Referrals: Report & Recommendation

1. Redevelopment Agency – 2003-04 Action Plan for Housing

And Community Development

The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency (NRA) has referred its 2003-04 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development to the Planning Commission for its review and comment. The annual plan establishes priorities for the administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds received annually from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The Redevelopment Agency distributes these funds to qualified city and non-profit agencies and other recipients based on specific funding criteria established by HUD. Up to 20% of each year’s allocation is retained by Redevelopment for its administration and planning costs.

This year’s priorities are similar to those of previous plans, including expansion of supply of low and moderate income housing, rehabilitation of existing affordable housing stock, social services for the elderly, mentally ill and homeless populations; improvement and expansion of community and recreational facilities which serve low and moderate income families.

This year’s block grant of $1,120,000 is supplemented with program income from previous year’s activities along with reprogrammed or reallocated funds, for a total available budget of $1,220,840. The proposed budget, as compared with last year’s budget, is shown below:

CDBG Budget Category Proposed Program Year 28 Proposed Program Year 29

July 2002 – June 2003 July 2003 – June 2004

Public Services $113,183 $143,170

Public Facilities/Improvements 210,055 322,238

Residential Rehabilitation 1,014,654 244,125

Code Enforcement/Relocation 111,000 0

Economic Development NA 198,010

Home Ownership Program 150,729 0

Lead Abatement NA 21,400

Administration & Planning 229,000 291,896

** MR. ASTROM MOVED THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY’S

PROPOSED "ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR HOUSING & COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT: PROGRAM YEAR 29" FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1,

2003 – JUNE 30, 2004, BE APPROVED, AND THAT NOTICE OF THIS

ACTION BE FORWARDED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

** MR. KRAUS SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2. DEP/AC John Igneri – 55 Bluff Avenue – Private Docking Facilities

The applicants own land adjacent to Wilson Cove at 55 Bluff Avenue. They are proposing to install a private dock facility related to their single-family dwelling. Because this project is related to a residential dwelling, there is no parking requirement associated with this proposal. They propose to construct at 4’ X 61’ fixed timber pier, a 3’ X 30’ aluminum ramp; and an 8’ X 20’ float.

** MR. ASTROM MOVED THAT THE STAFF BE DIRECTED TO

CONTACT THE CONNECTICUT DEP AND THE ARMY CORP OF

ENGINEERS AND INFORM THEM THAT THE COMMISSION HAS NO

COMMENTS REGARDING JOHN E. IGNERI – 55 BLUFF AVENUE AT

WILSON COVE – PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DOCKING FACILITY.

THIS PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH COASTAL RESOURCE AND

USE POLICIES.

** MR. THOMAS SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

6. APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Chairman Briggs made the following appointments to the nominating committee: Jose Bermudez, Chairman, Frances DiMeglio, and Walter McLaughlin.

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 2, 2003

** MR. BRIGGS MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 2003.

** MR. ASTROM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

VIII. DICCUSSION OF PLAN OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Briggs said he still had not heard from the Mayor, but he hopes to have something before the next meeting.

IX. COMMENTS OF DIRECTOR

Mr. Greene said a letter to all of the departments should be in the packets. He said that all proposals should come before the Commission. He said he would send copies of the letter to Jack Miller and Fred Gilden.

Mr. Greene said that in April, there were 151 zoning permits issued, which was an all time record for any given month. He said for 2003, every month had been above average.

10. COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

Mr. Astrom noted that, aesthetically, the World Gym sign on Wall Street left much to be desired. Mr. Greene said he would look into it. Mr. Astrom then said there was a bus stop station near Stop and Shop on Connecticut Avenue that looked bad because of shopping carts cluttering the area. He proposed that Stop and Shop be asked to create a shopping cart parking area for these carts. Mr. Greene said he would look into that as well. Ms. DiMeglio said she had observed landscapers creating a cloud of smoke on East Avenue that greatly affected visibility. Mr. Greene said he would check to see if any department dealt with such issues. Mr. Briggs asked about the June meeting. Mr. Greene said a public hearing date would be set at the June meeting. Mr. Briggs said he might not be present at the June 4^th meeting. However, he recommended that all commissioners look at the property on Rowayton Avenue. Mr. Mr. McLaughlin asked who sold ads that appeared on bus stops. Mr. Greene said the ads were sold by the companies who built the bus stop stations.

Mr. McFadden noted that the meeting for next Tuesday was cancelled. Mr. Kraus said they should consider including an update to the regional plan for the Sound. He said the plan was pretty extensive. Mr. Kraus said there would be a draft. He also said state Bill 6641 gave the Office of Policy and Management the authority to develop management goals and land use policies, and have them enacted into law. He said this would override local municipalities and begin to pave the way to state level zoning. Mr. Briggs asked Mr. Greene to get a copy of the bill. Mr. Greene said he would. Ms. DiMeglio said the bill could be obtained from the web site. Mr. Thomas said that issue had come up before. Mr. Greene said it comes up every year. Mr. Kraus said people were concerned about it. Mr. Greene said people should be concerned about it. Mr. Kraus said the state wanted to use that bill to implement traffic mitigation procedures.

11. ADJOURNMENT

** MR. McLAUGHLIN MOVED TO ADJOURN.

** MR. KRAUS SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

12. FUTURE MEETINGS

Future meetings are scheduled as follows:

Planning Commission – Wednesday, June 4, 2003, 8:00 p.m., Council Chambers,

Subdivision Committee – Tuesday, June 10, 2003, 7:30 p.m., P & Z Conference Room,

Land Use Committee – Tuesday, June 10, 2003, 7:35 p.m., P & Z Conference Room.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Maddox

Telesco Secretarial Services

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