Town of Old Lyme

The meeting included a suggestion to elect a Vice Chair at the subsequent meeting. Discussions involved collaboration with the Town of Lyme on traffic safety, noting their positive experience with rotating speed monitoring signs. The new Old Lyme Resident Trooper was introduced to discuss police and committee cooperation. Key business involved a review of Automated Enforcement & Speed Camera Programs (ATSED) experiences in several municipalities, including Middletown, Wethersfield, East Lyme, Washington CT, Beacon Falls, Marlborough, Milford, Greenwich, and Stamford, detailing vendor choices, results, and challenges. Rosemarie Padovano presented research on various traffic calming measures such as speed humps, speed tables, and raised crosswalks, emphasizing their role in reducing pedestrian fatality impacts. Work for the next meeting includes researching accident/injury data, continuing traffic calming research, and receiving a presentation on the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.

The regular Board of Selectmen meeting included updates on communications, specifically regarding a plan for private beach associations. Public comment featured a resident expressing concerns over a recent appointment of an individual involved in a potential lawsuit against the town, citing it as not in the town's best interest due to ongoing legal fees, and inquired about the status of the Chan Heg landing dispute. Another resident spoke regarding their record and commitment to the zoning commission during the phase one rewrite, defending their rigorous review process. The board also addressed scheduling an appointment for Jackie Moos to the Sound View Commission and amending the agenda to include minutes from a Special Board of Selectmen meeting on January 12th. Actions included approving minutes for multiple prior meetings from January 5th, 16th, and 20th, and a budget review meeting on January 5th. Several appointments were handled for the Affordable Housing Commission, including naming Sean Mastriion to a permanent seat and Kent Gertie as an alternate, following discussions about commission structure. The board also began reviewing applications for the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The meeting commenced with an introductory segment confirming the members present and absent, including the temporary appointment of an alternate member. The public comment period featured several residents expressing concerns primarily regarding transparency and process related to a specific property matter at 43 Smith Neck Road, which had previously resulted in litigation. Concerns included the need for public review of revised plans following a legal settlement and the relevance of input from the Connecticut River Gateway Commission. The Commission proceeded to approve a special permit for 250 Shore Road, subject to nine stated conditions. Subsequently, the Commission adopted a settlement proposal for the 43 Smith Neck Road matter, citing material reduction in site impact, a 3,000 square foot reduction in home size, moving the home back 35 feet, and added vegetation. The meeting agenda was modified to include the election of officers. A public hearing was held for the proposed adoption of comprehensive revised zoning regulations (Case 2511), which aims to modernize the town's zoning framework; this hearing was explicitly kept open until the February 9th meeting. Another public hearing for Case 2510 regarding an extension for an educational institution use was also noted.

The meeting addressed several key items. New business included a discussion regarding Amtrak's plan to increase security along its right-of-way and designating the Planning Commission as the town contact for communications concerning these activities. The commission also discussed a lot line modification proposal involving the merger of undersized and nonconforming parcels, contingent upon review by legal counsel regarding the transfer deeds. Additionally, there was a discussion regarding the ongoing implications of new state housing legislation (the Plan of Conservation and Development context) and the proposal to form an interdepartmental task force involving Planning, Zoning, and the Board of Selectmen to coordinate the town's response.

The meeting commenced with a motion to add the reading of the minutes from the last regular meeting and the site walk agenda under old business. New business involved several applications: Application 25-5 for creating secondary access to Duck River Cemetery for funerals during historic bridge replacement, with discussion focusing on site walk logistics and marking the proposed dirt road. Application 25-6 concerns removal, filling, grading, and deck replacement at 661 Bispine Boulevard, with site walk scheduled for April 15th. Application 25-7 involves replacing an old shed with a larger, pre-made shed at 9 Duck River Lane, including necessary foundation work with anchor screws due to flood zone concerns. Application 25-8, an Eagle Scout project, proposes building a simple bridge over a marshy trail behind the high school, with a site visit scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on April 15th. Application 25-9 requests renewal of a permit for vegetation removal and herbicidal treatment of fragmites, and management of Ailanthus trees near wetlands at 316 Ferry Road. A state-approved pesticide application in Rogers Lake was also noted, though the Commission's jurisdiction is limited. Old business addressed the highly involved Application for 308-1 Mile Creek Road, LLC, regarding material placement and soil clearing within the 100-foot wetland boundary, discussing drafted motions (approval/denial) and specific conditions related to roadway material (replacing millings with wash crush stone), debris removal notification protocols, berm staking and remediation methods, and silt erosion control requirements. A procedural exchange occurred regarding public comment closure and discussion structure for this application.