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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-20 TOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting - Thursday, 20 March 2003 - 7 * 30 PM - Town Hall Members Groton Planning Board (*Absent) Others Present Monica Carey , Chair Joan Fitch , Recording Secretary Barbara Clark Glenn Morey , Town Supervisor Tom Guihan Mark Baxendell Brad Albro , Acting Chair Mary K. Gloster Janice Haines Applicants & Public in Attendance Adam Leshkevich, Applicant; Tatanya Leshkevich; Robert Miller, Applicant; Connie & Brittani Miller; Ed Neuhauser. The meeting was called order at 7932 p . m. by Acting Chairman Brad Albro. PUBLIC HEARIN Robert Miller Applicant / RO - 198 Bossard Road - TM #22- 1 -4.22 - Proposed Beauty Shop Chairperson Carey opened the Public Hearing and read aloud the Legal Notice as published on 3 March 2003 . The Legal Notice has been placed on file for the record . Chair Carey recognized Mr. Miller who stated that his wife , Connie , would like to operate a single-chair hair salon out of their home , in a room as shown on the rough sketch accompanying the application . He stated that his wife wanted to work out of the home , especially as she home schools their daughter. Customers would be served by appointment only. The salon would open around 1 or 1 : 30 p.m. Parking would be more than adequate as their driveway accommodates from four to six vehicles at any given time . Also , with a single-chair salon , there would be no increase in traffic . There would be no customer parking on the road . Chair Carey asked the applicant about a second exit, and he stated he had discussed this with CEO Senter. Mr. Miller stated there was a large window where the proposed salon would be located , and it would be very easy to make a doorway there . The Board agreed that this would be a good option . Mr. Miller stated he had contacted the Health Department and although the existing septic system is large enough , it was 20t years old and a percolation test should be done . They also made other recommendations to him regarding the existing, or even a new, leach field . Member Guihan asked Connie Miller about her proposed hours , number of customers . She responded that she only planned to work part-time , maybe three days per week, three to five hours per day , with from three to five appointments per day. Ed Neuhauser stated he was there to see what was being planned , and stated he had no objection to the proposed beauty salon . Member Clark asked if there would be a sign for the salon, and Mrs. Miller responded that she planned to put a small sign directly on the home and then , perhaps in the future , have a small sign out closer to the rode . She was advised by the Board to contact CEO Senter before placing any sign . Mr. Miller stated that her license to operate requires a sign; they would make sure they conformed to the Code . With everyone being heard who wished to be heard, Chairperson Carey closed the Public Hearing at 7* 40 p . m. Page 1 of 4 s (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 20 March 2003 DISCUSSION / DECISION At the request of Chair Carey, Board Secretary Fitch then read aloud Part H of the Short Environmental Assessment Form . Negative responses were obtained to all questions . Therefore , it was determined by the Planning Board , upon a motion made by Member Tom Guihan, that the action , based on the information submitted , will not cause any significant adverse environmental impact, resulting in a Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Member Mark Baxendell, with the vote recorded as follows : Ayes : Chair Carey Nays: None Member Albro Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried . This becomes Action # 9 of 2003 . A motion was then made by Member Janice Haines to approve the Site Plan / Special Permit as requested . The motion was seconded by Member Mark Baxendell, with the vote recorded as follows : Ayes : Chair Carey Nays : None Member Albro Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried . This becomes Action # 10 of 2003 . Adam Leshkevich , ARRlicant / Robert Fouts. RO - 97 Wood Road - TM #28- 1 - 55 2 - Site Plan Review for Proposed Motor Vehicle Repair Shop (Revised) Chairperson Carey recognized the applicant who , with his wife, was present seeking a revision to the number of vehicles to be stored on the premises as approved by the Planning Board on 15 June 2002 . At that meeting, the operation of the repair shop was approved , along with "six cars stored in a row behind the red garage as per the sketch. " Mr. Leshkevich was now requesting an increase to twelve( 12 ) vehicles . Chairperson Carey reported that a letter dated 22 February 2003 had been received from the owner, Mr. Fouts, in which he supported the applicant's request. The letter has been placed on file for the record . Chair Carey stated that when the CEO visited the subject property, there "was a lot of junk laying around your property, outside . " Mrs. Leshkevich , speaking for her husband , responded that this has been taken care of. The debris accumulates from time to time until Mr. Leshkevich gets a chance to truck it to an appropriate disposal site . Member Baxendell stated that they should do this more often. Member Albro asked the applicant if they had complied with CEO Senter's letter of 12 December 2002 regarding fire extinguishers . Mrs . Leshkevich responded that they had them and would move them to the proper locations , and the inspection dates were still current. Member Albro asked if the junked parts could be moved more often, and she responded that they would do so , especially since they have children in the area. Keeping the property neat and clean was of paramount concern , according to the Board members. Member Guihan advised the Leshkevichs to "keep the property neat and clean and you 'll have no trouble . " In response to Chairperson Carey's question, the applicant stated that if he had a car on the site that was used for parts, what was left was trucked away so there would be no junked cars on the property . Page 2 of 4 1 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 20 March 2003 A motion was then made by Member Mary Gloster to approve a revised Special Permit to allow a maximum of twelve ( 12 ) vehicles , as requested . The motion was seconded by Member Brad Albro , with the vote recorded as follows : Ayes : Chair Carey Nays : None Member Albro Member Baxendell Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried . This becomes Action # 11 of 2003 . Approval of Minutes - 20 February 2003 A motion was made by Member Mark Baxendell to approve the 20 February 2003 Minutes , as submitted . The motion was seconded by Member Barbara Clark, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes : Chair Carey Nays : None Member Albro Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried. This becomes Action # 12 of 2003 . Discussion of Letter from County Department of Assessment Chair Carey stated that CEO Senter had received a 7 March 2003 letter from Jay Franklin, Assistant Director of Assessment regarding the filing of "illegal" subdivision maps by various County municipalities . The letter has been placed on file for the record. Chair Carey stated that the Town was "taken aback" by the idea that anyone who wished to subdivide their land could go to the Assessor's Office , tell them they wanted to subdivide their land , they would just go ahead and do it without Board approval, which could result in non- conforming lots . CEO Senter, in response to that letter, forwarded the letter to Town Attorney Casullo on 12 March 2003 , in which CEO Senter stated that he felt "that it violates our subdivision laws , " and asked for the attorney 's opinion . Attorney Casullo will be contacting County Planning regarding this matter. Zoning Board of Appeals /Assessment Review Board Supervisor Morey reported that there was a vacancy on the Town 's Zoning Board of Appeals that needed to be filled . Also , he stated that the Town was seeking some help on the local Assessment Review Board ; Tom Guihan volunteered to serve and will attend the three-hour training session given in May . Discussion Regarding Scheduling of Public Hearings Chairperson Carey stated the when the application for the beauty salon was received she was called for jury duty and was not available . She stated that somehow, someone came up with the idea that a public hearing should be scheduled . However, when the Planning Board met with the Town Attorney last summer, they were advised that there should be no public hearings scheduled without the Board 's review of the "preliminary plan" first. Once the Board has reviewed same , it was the Board 's prerogative to decide whether or not a Public Hearing should be scheduled . This was a Planning Board decision . If the Board decides to hold a Public Hearing, the Planning Board schedules the date and time of said hearing. Page 3 of 4 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 20 March 2003 In addition , Member Gloster had visited the Town Office to obtain the information for this meeting only to discover that the application for the beauty salon was incomplete . Chair Carey then called the Deputy Clerk who took care of the incomplete application matter by contacting the applicant who provided an addendum to their application . Chair Carey felt that the Board should know, prior to any Public Hearing, all the specifics of an applicant's request. Member Baxendell commented that any application that is not complete " shouldn 't even be on our Agenda. " (This had previously been discussed at the 17 October 2002 meeting. ) Chair Carey stated that she would like it put on record that if there are any questions regarding an application, "they can always leave me a message at home and I can return the call. . . " CEO Senter, as well as the Deputy Clerk, should review the applications for completeness . Member Baxendell stated that the Code Enforcement Officer "is responsible for looking over the application before it goes on the Agenda of the Planning Board . " At the request of Chair Carey, a motion was made by Member Baxendell that the Code Enforcement Officer is responsible for reviewing all applications for completeness prior to their being placed on the Planning Board 's Agenda and there will be no Public Hearings held before the Planning Board's review of any application . The motion was seconded by Member Guihan , with the vote recorded as follows : Ayes : Chair Carey Nays : None Member Albro Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried . This becomes Action # 13 of 2003 . Adjournment At 8 : 10 p . m . , a motion was made by Member Clark to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Baxendell, with every member present voting in favor. Jo : Fitch , Board Secretary 4 / 9 / 03 E7C�LERK Page 4 of 4