TOWN OF WILTON

PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Approved 5/16/07

 

DATE:            May 2, 2007

TIME:            7:30 P.M.

PLACE:          Wilton Town Hall Courtroom

PRESENT:     Chairman Brian Sullivan, Neil Faiman, Jeff Kandt, Recorder Heather Loewy Nichols, NRPC Rep. Steve Wagner, and Board of Selectman Rep. Dick Rockwood.

 

Chairman Brian Sullivan called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

 

1.)        Subdivision - Household of Faith – Lot J-038 - 16 Maple Street – Applicant is proposing four (4) condominium units in Residential District.  

 

Peter Manha appeared for the Household of Faith and explained that they are proposing the conversion of four apartments to four condos. As per the Board’s request he presented floor plan lay outs and noted that the foot print would not change much but that they would be changing the pool to a garage. He noted that the outside dimensions are exactly the same as the approved apartment plans. Per the Board’s request Peter stated that he would forward the association documentation to Town Council and noted that they include common area regulations.

 

A MOTION was made by Neil Faiman and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood to accept the application.

Voting: 4 ayes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Sullivan called for abutters and there were no public comments from abutters.

 

A MOTION was made by Jeff Kandt and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood for conditional approval of the application dependent on the association documents and plans being received by the Board.

Voting: 4 ayes; motion carried.

 

The Board noted that the applicant will need to bring plans with a revision number and date, mylars, fees, and association documents to the Planning Board Clerk.

 

2.)        Site Plan Review - High Mowing School – Lots F-128, 130, and 131 - Abbot Hill Road. Applicant is proposing an addition to the existing Main Building including two (2) new fire lanes in the Residential & Agricultural and Wetlands Districts

 

Mike Carter from Todd Land Use Consultants appeared before the board for the applicant. He reviewed the approved site plan from 2002 and noted that phase one had been completed and that his focus at this time was on phase two of the project which includes upgrades to the Main building in order to make the building a more safe and comfortable environment. He explained that they were proposing a 13 x 40 foot addition to the south end of building and adding an elevator lobby near the main entrance which would service all four levels noting that these additions would make the building ADA compliant and allow for better fire egress. He also explained that they were proposing to fix existing drainage issues which were a result of an error in the original construction of the drainage. Mike Carter explained that they were also proposing to add gravel drip edges, a sprinkler system, a fire alarm control panel, emergency lighting, doors with panic hardware, and new fire lanes. He noted that he has met with the Fire Chief and the Fire Chief has requested that the current gravel driveway in front be paved and an additional paved fire lane be added. He noted that with the exception of the paving they expect to have the construction complete within this calendar year.

 

The Board and the applicant discussed at length the request of the Fire Chief. The applicant noted that there has been a history of illegal parking in the fire lane and that the applicant was attempting to remedy the solution without paving the fire lanes.

 

The applicant noted that they will be moving the septic tank and rerouting the plumbing but they will not be changing the leach field.

 

The Board discussed additional parking that might be required.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to grant a waiver of regulation 6.3-F which regards high intensity survey soil and regulation 6.3-I which regards 25 year storm drainage calculations.

Voting: 4 ayes; motion carried.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to accept the application.

Voting: 3 ayes; 1 nay (Sullivan opposed) motion carried.

 

The Board discussed at length whether a drainage engineering review would be necessary for the proposed drainage plans and whether conditional approval could be given.

 

A MOTION was made Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Jeff Kandt to conditionally approve the application dependant upon receipt by the Board of six copies of the plans with notes referring to existing approved plan and outer dimensions of the buildings noted.

Voting: 3 ayes; (Faiman abstained) motion carried.

 

3.)        Sign Application – Bishop of Manchester47 Maple Street – Placement of a sign on the sacred Heart Church. 

 

Chairman Sullivan explained that the application was for a 25” x 22”, non-illuminated, poly type material sign with a wooden post to be place on right side of lawn, with the bottom to be four feet above grade.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to approve the sign application.

Voting: 4 ayes; motion carried.

 

New Applications:

4.)        Kenneth CadrainLot L-005 Seagrove Road.

 

Brian Major appeared before the Board for the applicant. He explained that the applicant owned a 5500 SF barn which was part of the Hillsborough Mills property when it was subdivided in 1979. He explained that the Zoning Board had placed a condition on the plans that the property never be used as a residence. He also noted that although the property was only .427 acres the applicant would be able to procure enough land from an abutter to bring the property to .5 acres and that sewer and water were now available. The applicant is seeking the Board’s advice on how to have the restriction removed from the plans so that he may reside on the property.

 

The Board discussed the fact that the restriction was imposed in order to grant a variance to a non conforming lot but now if the lot can become conforming then the restriction is not needed because the variance is null. They also discussed building restrictions on a private road and the proximity of the building to the site perimeter line.

 

5.)        Site Plan Review - Cathy Bean – Map J-054 – Main Street.

 

The applicant was not present.

 

6.)        Barbara PinetLot A-064 Burton Highway

 

The applicant explained that they had been before the Board previously for an erosion control plan and were now asking for a waiver on a driveway permit. They explained that their driveway ends where the old Burton Highway begins and they were unable to get a driveway permit from Steve Elliot due to the angle where old Burton Highway and new Burton Highway meet and that he suggested that they pay to have the issue corrected. They explained that after contacting their contractor they were unable to have the work done because the property is town owned and they can not give permission for work to be done on property they do not own. Therefore the applicant is requesting a waiver or guidance from the Board.

 

After discussion of the current classification of the road the Board recommended that the applicant speak to the Board of Selectman as the Planning Board has no jurisdiction over the matter.  

 

Chairman Sullivan explained to the Board that he spoke to Town Council about the cluster regulations and Town Council stated that when he looks at the fabric of the regulations it indicates to him that it was intentional that the cluster regulations do not allow for waiver of regulations. Also Chairman Sullivan stated that he spoke to Town Council about the regional impact issue from the previous meeting and Town Council indicated that he would want Milford to sign off on the plans. Chairman Sullivan noted that a representative from Milford Planning Board is planning on attending the May 16, 2007 meeting.

 

A MOTION was made by Neil Faiman and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood to adjourn the meeting.

Voting: 4 ayes; motion carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.

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