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| PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES |
CITY OF NORWALK
PLANNING COMMISSION
September 9, 2008
***DRAFT
COPY OF MINUTES***
PRESENT: Torgny Astrom, Chair;
Walter McLaughlin; Walter Briggs; Don Nelson;
Frances DiMeglio; Victor Cavallo; Joel Zaremby
STAFF: Frank Strauch; Mike Greene
OTHERS: Tom Hamilton; Mike
Mocciae
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Astrom called the meeting to order at 8:10 pm.
II.
ROLL CALL
Mr. Greene took the roll call.
III.
REPORT OF LAND
USE COMMITTEE—Fran DiMeglio, Chair
a)
Mayor’s
Office—Partial capital project close-out of the Oak Hills Park Golf Course
restaurant construction project in the amount of $100,000 (Oak Hills Park
Authority)
** MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED: RESOLVED by the Norwalk Planning Commission that, in accordance with
Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the referral made by the
Mayor’s Office in regards to the partial close-out of $100,000 from the Oak
Hills Park Golf Course restaurant construction project be APPROVED; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
notice of this action be forwarded to the Common Council and other appropriate
agencies.
** MR. MCLAUGHLIN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
b)
Mayor’s
Office—Special Capital Appropriation in the amount of $100,000 for repaving
deteriorated cart paths at Oak Hills Park Golf Course (Oak Hills Park
Authority)
MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED: RESOLVED by the Planning Commission that the
Special Appropriation in the amount of $100,000 for the repaving of
deteriorated cart paths at Oak Hills Park Golf Course be APPROVED; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
notice of this action be forwarded to the appropriate agencies.
** MR. MCLAUGHLIN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
c)
Mayor’s
Office—Special Capital Appropriation in the amount of $200,000 for the
rehabilitation of the Fodor Farm Farmhouse (Recreation and Parks)
** MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED: RESOLVED by the Planning Commission that the Special Appropriation in
the amount of $200,000 for the rehabilitation of the Fodor Farm Farmhouse be
APPROVED; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
notice of this action be forwarded to the appropriate agencies.
d)
Zoning Commission
referral--#9-08R—Zoning Commission—Proposed amendments to Section 118-360 D
Residence zone to revise standards for multifamily developments
** MS. DIMEGLIO MOVED: RESOLVED that the proposed amendments to the Building Zone
Regulations as shown on a certain document entitled "#9-08R - Zoning
Commission - Proposed amendments to Section 118-360 D Residence zone to revise
additional standards for multifamily developments regarding building height and
stories" and dated August 18, 2008, be approved;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the reasons for this action are:
1)
To implement the Plan of Conservation and Development goal to "Encourage
context-sensitive design by requiring consistent setbacks and providing bonuses
for desired architectural features (such as porches, bay windows, and
pergolas)" (F.4.1.6 p. 44); and
2)
To implement the Plan of Conservation and Development goal to "Preserve
and enhance the character of residential neighborhoods"(F.2.2 p. 42); and
3)
To implement the Plan of Conservation and Development goal to " Protect
residential neighborhoods from incompatible development" (A.1.1.6 p. 10);
and
4)
To implement the intent of CGS Section 8-2 Zoning, including that "Such
regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration as to the character of
the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses and with a view
to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use
of land throughout such municipality."; and
5)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notice of this action be forwarded to the
Norwalk Zoning Commission.
** MR.
BRIGGS SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IV.
PLAN OF
CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Greene discussed the Special Meeting for the PCD.
Mr. Nelson suggested conducting a survey to determine the
number of police per capita in surrounding towns. He stated that he suspected that Norwalk had
fewer police per capita than other nearby towns. Mr. Astrom brought up the idea of inviting
Chief Riling to discuss benchmarks.
Mr. Astrom reiterated the top priority items, as decided
during the Special Meeting. First, he
mentioned the revitalization of the waterfront, including public access, a boat
launch and a potential restaurant. There
was a brief discussion of what types of businesses are designated as marine
commercial.
The next priority item discussed was the enhancement of the
City’s gateways, both physical and electronic. Ms. DiMeglio emphasized that various departments should not have “rogue
stuff” taking place electronically. She
said that without a strong direction from the top, such splintering among
various departments’ choices would occur. The discussion turned to the issue of physical gateways to the City,
including landscaping and signage. Mr.
Zaremby brought up the idea of holding a contest to come up with a slogan for
the City. Mr. Nelson mentioned that many
of the gateways are actually state property and hence, under the jurisdiction
of the D.O.T. There was a brief
discussion of the “Clean and Green organization.
The Commission discussed the volunteer position for an
Officer of Cultural Affairs.
V.
COMMITTEE
APPOINTMENTS
Mr. Astrom announced the Committee appointments as follows:
Administration Committee: Astrom, Chair; DiMeglio; McLaughlin
Subdivision Committee: Briggs, Chair; McLaughlin, Nelson, Cavallo
Land Use Committee/Capital Budget: DiMeglio, Chair; McLaughlin; Ferguson;
Zaremby
Zoning Liason: Astrom; DiMeglio; McLaughlin
SWRPA Representative: Cavallo
VI.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: JULY 16, 2008 AND AUGUST 12,
2008
** MR. ASTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE REVISED MINUTES FROM JULY 16, 2008.
** MR. MCLAUGHLIN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. ASTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 12, 2008.
** MR. BRIGGS SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
VII.
COMMENTS OF THE
DIRECTOR
There were none tonight.
VIII.
COMMENTS OF
COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Zaremby asked for clarification of the procedure for
Committee voting. There was a brief
discussion.
IX.
COMMENTS FROM
SWRPA
Mr. Cavallo discussed the lines of communication between
SWRPA and the Planning Commission. He
explained his role as a liason and stated that he would provide the Commission
with agendas for future SWRPA meetings.
X.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. MCLAUGHLIN MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. BRIGGS SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Charlene Smith
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