TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC HEARING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 7, 2005
The Public Hearing of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by First Selectman John Adams at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
First Selectman Adams opened the hearing and read the legal notice as published in the Hartford Courant. The Board of Selectmen had called for a Public Hearing for the purpose of hearing public comment regarding proposed revisions to the Town of Granby’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
Comments from the Board of Selectmen and the public will be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration at a workshop meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission subcommittee scheduled for March 1, 2005. A Public Hearing on this matter will be held by the Commission on Tuesday, March 22, 2005.
William Regan, 62 Hungary Road, read a prepared statement recommending the town consider eliminating its exemption from the Zoning Regulations. A copy of the statement, which included a variety of thoughts and concerns, was submitted and will be made part of the Town Clerk records.
Jim Glenney, 33 Glen Road, commented on two different sections of the plan. He endorsed under Environment, number 20, “Consider retention of a full or part-time wetlands staff employee to assist commissions in evaluation of applications and enforcement of regulations.” Under Transportation the wording for number 8 is “Recognize that dead end roads do not serve the general public and fall outside of the town’s transportation road network. Discourage the construction of new cul-de-sac roads except where they are designed as private roads. Consider reducing the maximum length of a dead end road.” Mr. Glenney did not agree with the above indicating that even though the town does not like dead end roads, he believes they greatly improve the quality of life for the abutting residents.
Fran Armentano, Director of Community Development and staff liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission, provided the Board with an overview of the plan outlining significant changes. He stated under state statute, the Plan of Conservation and Development must be reviewed every ten years.
When the plan was last reviewed in 1993, the Commission made several recommendations that have since been implemented. Two examples were the preservation of scenic roads and the design of new subdivision roads. The plan encompasses suggestions and guidelines, not regulations.
Suggestions in the revised plan include studying and perhaps modifying zoning in the center of town, new efforts and approaches to the preservation of open space, and the use of traffic calming techniques, such as “round abouts”, to slow traffic. Subcommittees may be established to study various issues once the plan is approved.
Several maps were on display and Mr. Armentano reviewed each map identifying its purpose and explaining its significance.
In response to a query, he indicated the revised Plan of Conservation and Development is not in conflict with either the Regional or State Plans of Conservation and Development
Selectman Judice submitted the following changes for consideration:
§ Under Goals/Housing - identify the length of time which unsold lots may be “barren”
§ Under Budgeting, Taxation and Grand List Growth – clarify 10% commercial growth in number 1 and in number 3 keep in mind the impact of tax increases on other taxpayers
§ Under Transportation – number 8 – clarify the maximum length of dead end roads
§ Under Open Space & Recreation, number 9 – Add “passive” to identify Holcomb Farm property recreation
The Board commended Mr. Armentano for his assistance indicating the town was lucky to have him as a resource.
First Selectman Adams stated the Board would review and compile comments from the minutes of this Public Hearing and forward their recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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