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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Town Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – April 8, 2025

Town Council & Planning and Zoning — Tuesday, April 8, 2025
BodyWindsor, Connecticut
SessionTown Council & Planning and Zoning
DateTuesday, April 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:47

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
6:00

Mitch, would you tell the uh audience online how to get in touch with us?

6:07

If there's anyone from the public who would like to address the commission, you may do so by raising your hand on your computer if your device has a microphone capability.

6:14

By selecting the participants icon on the zoom menu bar and then clicking raise hand or by dialing star nine on your phone.

6:21

When you're called on, you will be prompted that you are now on muted.

6:24

Please state your name and address for clear communication.

6:27

We ask that you do not place the call on speaker phone.

6:31

All right, thank you.

6:32

Uh at this point at the time for anyone in the audience that wishes to speak to an item that is not a public hearing item this evening.

6:40

If there's anyone that has a question or concern r regarding anything else but a public hearing item.

6:47

Seeing no one and there's no one online, I'm assuming.

6:56

Okay.

6:56

Uh communications.

7:02

All right.

7:07

I think that's Deb.

7:11

I am here if you need an alternate.

7:14

This is Bob.

7:15

How well?

7:17

Okay.

7:17

Uh we just put Meg Meg up as the alternate.

7:20

Uh we could probably stay online in case we need anything.

7:26

Thank you.

7:28

Uh public communications and petitions from the planning and zoning commission.

7:32

Anyone attend the meeting uh Crog or anything?

7:35

No.

7:36

Okay.

7:37

Uh we I went to um before I was in meeting last Friday.

7:43

And um was very interesting.

7:47

And what we're doing poorly as a commission throughout the state.

7:52

Yeah.

7:53

And I would be right in an article on it, but it's okay.

7:56

Yeah.

7:57

Uh we have no zoning enforcement.

7:59

We have no CGS 824, but reapproval.

8:03

Three point nine subdivision uh 28 Cook Hill Road.

8:07

Who's speaking to that?

8:09

Uh is that part of our three point nine?

8:12

I struck that because we actually had that one on last month.

8:16

And I it was an essay.

8:17

Oh, this is a double.

8:18

Okay, thank you.

8:20

So I find minutes of March eighteenth.

8:24

I didn't find any corrections.

8:31

Oh, wait a minute.

8:32

I think I did.

9:04

No, I guess I don't know.

9:07

I thought it was that.

9:09

Okay.

9:11

Um I move approval of the draft minutes of the special meeting for uh the planning zoning commission for March eighteenth, 2025 as presented.

9:22

Second motion.

9:23

Second at all.

9:24

Those in favor.

9:26

Five and oh, thank you.

9:27

Uh planners report.

9:30

Okay.

9:30

Um so a couple things I want to kind of touch up on, and uh I try I really try to keep this brief, and I know these get kind of um long-winded for me.

9:40

Um so we will be receiving the findings for the Day Hill corridor.

9:45

Um was looking at doing that uh a presentation at our next meeting, but uh, and speaking with the uh Patrick McMahon, our economic development director.

10:00

We think you know we don't want to tie up our regular business with that presentation, so we were looking at maybe having a special meeting to discuss the findings of that with the commission to give you know public an opportunity to comment on it and just to kind of present you know what we've received.

10:13

Um we're tentatively looking at uh April 24th as uh that opportunity to kind of have that dialogue.

10:21

Seven o'clock.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Transportation Safety████████████15%
Public Safety████████10%
Procedural██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Public Engagement██2%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Town Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – April 8, 2025

The Windsor Town Planning and Zoning Commission held a regular hybrid meeting on April 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 275 Broad Street, Windsor, CT. The meeting covered approvals, public hearings, and extensive discussion on regulatory updates for short-term rentals and the Day Hill corridor.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission approved the draft minutes of the March 18, 2025 special meeting as presented, with no corrections. Motion carried 5-0.
  • A 3.9 Subdivision Revision for 28 Cook Hill Road (groundwater removal system) was noted as already handled in the previous month and was not brought forward.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • During public hearings, multiple residents voiced concerns:
    • Joseph Cicero (34 Capen Street) expressed support for the Targeting Centre redevelopment but urged that emergency access be addressed, citing a past bomb scare incident.
    • Bob and Zairs (Windsor) supported residential conversion but opposed mixed-use retail due to traffic impacts, stating the current Bloomfield Avenue/Mountain Road intersection is already overburdened.
    • Estelle Labar (160 Mountain Road) opposed the apartment density, predicting constant traffic instead of commuter peaks.
    • Victoria Coolis (97 Mountain Road) raised noise propagation from the site and severe truck congestion on I-91 exit 37.
  • A letter from Anthony King (435 Palisado Avenue) was read, supporting both the entertainment expansion at BARTs and the Targeting Centre development, noting 60% office vacancy in town.

Discussion Items

  • Planner’s Report (Todd Seely):
    • Day Hill Corridor Study findings will be presented at a special meeting tentatively set for April 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM; public comment will be invited.
    • POCD focus group meetings are being scheduled (topics: open space, housing, sustainability, transportation). A pop-up event at the Shad Derby will push the survey.
    • Bed & breakfast regulations: last month’s informal proposal raised concerns about precedent. Staff recommended revising short-term rental (Airbnb) regulations rather than approving exceptions. A draft may be ready by the May meeting.
    • Federal Firearms License (FFL) text amendment discussion postponed to May; staff will prepare materials.
  • Public Hearing – 27 Sinclair Street (Group Home): Applicant requested postponement to May 20, 2025 due to timing; commission granted the extension to stay within statutory time limits.
  • Public Hearing – 159 Broad Street (Conversion to Residential): Applicant Brett Bowen proposed a 240 SF addition for a second egress to add one residential unit above commercial space. Staff noted outstanding issues (side yard, driveway aisle) to be resolved under 3.9 review. No public comment. Motion to approve pending staff resolution carried 5-0.
  • Public Hearing – 55 Palisado Avenue (Entertainment at BARTs): Applicant Paul Brault requested a special use for indoor/outdoor amplified music and comedy on Fridays–Sundays, with music ending by 8 PM (Sundays 5 PM). Staff noted state law allows outdoor dining by right; the special use covers entertainment. Public speakers raised noise concerns (sound reflects off river walls, church, residences). Staff recommended a one-year approval to monitor impacts. Motion carried 5-0, with condition that music ends by 8 PM and all staff issues resolved.
  • Design Development Concept Plan – 1 & 10 Targeting Centre / 465 & 475 Bloomfield Avenue: Applicant Wilson Alford Jr. presented a mixed-use plan: reuse of two vacant office buildings (5+ years vacant) into about 200 residential units, plus new construction of a U-shaped building, underground parking, amenities (pool, dog park), and two commercial buildings (Starbucks drive-thru, another restaurant with pickup window) fronting Bloomfield Avenue. Traffic study submitted and under third-party review; 10% of units must be affordable (80% AMI). Public comments focused on traffic congestion, noise, and single access point. Staff recommended continuing the hearing to May 20 to allow review of the traffic study and associated special use applications (shared parking, reduced parking, drive-through windows). The commission voted 5-0 to continue.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved (5-0).
  • 159 Broad Street Special Use approved (5-0) pending staff resolution of outstanding issues.
  • 55 Palisado Avenue Special Use approved (5-0) for one year, with music ending by 8 PM and subject to staff resolution.
  • Design Development Concept Plan for Targeting Centre continued to the May 20, 2025 meeting (5-0). The three associated special use applications will be formally accepted and heard jointly at that time.
  • Staff directed to prepare short-term rental regulation revisions and FFL text amendment materials for the May meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Mitch, would you tell the uh audience online how to get in touch with us? If there's anyone from the public who would like to address the commission, you may do so by raising your hand on your computer if your device has a microphone capability. By selecting the participants icon on the zoom menu bar and then clicking raise hand or by dialing star nine on your phone. When you're called on, you will be prompted that you are now on muted. Please state your name and address for clear communication. We ask that you do not place the call on speaker phone. All right, thank you. Uh at this point at the time for anyone in the audience that wishes to speak to an item that is not a public hearing item this evening. If there's anyone that has a question or concern r regarding anything else but a public hearing item. Seeing no one and there's no one online, I'm assuming. Okay. Uh communications. All right. I think that's Deb. I am here if you need an alternate. This is Bob. How well? Okay. Uh we just put Meg Meg up as the alternate. Uh we could probably stay online in case we need anything. Thank you. Uh public communications and petitions from the planning and zoning commission. Anyone attend the meeting uh Crog or anything? No. Okay. Uh we I went to um before I was in meeting last Friday. And um was very interesting. And what we're doing poorly as a commission throughout the state. Yeah. And I would be right in an article on it, but it's okay. Yeah. Uh we have no zoning enforcement. We have no CGS 824, but reapproval. Three point nine subdivision uh 28 Cook Hill Road. Who's speaking to that? Uh is that part of our three point nine? I struck that because we actually had that one on last month. And I it was an essay. Oh, this is a double. Okay, thank you. So I find minutes of March eighteenth. I didn't find any corrections. Oh, wait a minute. I think I did. No, I guess I don't know. I thought it was that. Okay. Um I move approval of the draft minutes of the special meeting for uh the planning zoning commission for March eighteenth, 2025 as presented. Second motion. Second at all.

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