RECEIVED

• STAFFORD. CT

Stafford Economic Development Commission 1015 APR 23 P 2: 45 Regular Meeting

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Veteran's Meeting Room, Town Hall April 21, 2015 7:00 PM

Minutes:

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM. Meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm. Present were members; Sal Titus, Lori Parrow, Shane Reichle, Peter Rhines, Ron Pisciotta , Peter Kovaleski and Michael Pifer. Member Absent: Fran Moriarty . Upon motion of Mr. Titus and seconded by Mr. Pifer the Commission unanimously approve seating Shane Reichle as acting Chairman.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Members stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Upon motion ofMr. Titus and seconded by Mr. Rhines the Commission unanimously approve the minutes ofMarch 24. 2015.

4. DISCUSSION OF THE ZONING REGULATION DOCUMENT Acting Chairman Shane Reichle opened discussion of the zoning regulation change request. Mr. Reichle requested the Commission to review the letter addressed to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Upon motion ofMr. Titus and seconded by Mr. Rhines the Commission unanimously approved the Zoning Regulation Change request with the noted date change on the leller.

5. OLD BUSINESS a. Survey proposed questions - Peter Rhines distributed a new list of survey questions for the Commission to consider. Discussion followed.

Upon motion ofMr. Kovaleski and seconded by Mr. Rhines the Commission unanimously agreed to table discussion ofthe proposed Survey questions.

• b. Stafford EDC Web Page Development - Commission members requested a revised quote on the Web Page Development.

• c. EDC Vision No discussion at this time. Item to remain on agenda.

d. DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS "Meet & No at Item to

6. NEW BUSINESS Acting Reichle a to proposal to

Upon motion ofMr. Rhines and seconded by Mr. Kovaleski the Commission unanimously approved the survey proposal to the

following a brief discussion to see if we could get CERC to meeting to discuss the dynamics the survey.

Upon motion Kovaleski and seconded by Ms. the Commission unanimously extending an invitation to to attend an EDC A date to be "",-''''''10/7 once determined.

• informed

Richard Shuck a manufacturing that is looking for a 100,000

the railroad to establish a Stafford.

Upon motion ofMr. Kovaleski and seconded by Mr. Pisciotta the Commission unanimously extending an invitation to the to attend an EDC to discuss and a plan to work together.

Commission of yet another a Bakery that is interested in locating to a business. This would startup business 500 sq. out to the interested party. the Commission I"1pl,Prl""

Central property available for

Also discussed were Projects and available. Mr. Rhines indicated he would be available to do research on this and additional information to the EDC for the next Mr. Rhines also distributed documentation offered by Connecticut Conference Municipalities for a Program "A Approach to Municipal . Members are to consider attending May 20, 2015 at Hill Town Hall.

Ms. Parrow also the Commission with regards to is currently Putnam. Mr.

• perhaps we to a meeting.

• Ms. Parrow emailed to the members of the Commission a CERC SiteFinder Showcase on May 28, 20 J5 at the Sheraton at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks. A cost for attending this will be determined and emailed to the members.

•

Upon motion ofMr. Pifer and seconded by Mr. Pisciotta the Commission unanimously approved opening the meetingfor Public Comment.

Community members present questioned the necessity of a survey and the cost it posed . Also questioned by a member of the community was; what the current status of the development of a Tourism Web Site and its status on developing a map of the Town businesses. The Web-Site is currently being quoted and has not been formally established at this time. A gentleman in attendance provided the EDC with documentation regarding a 15th

Annual Main Downtown Conference taking place May 1 sr, 2015. This will be emailed to the Commission members.

7. ADJOURNMENT The next meeting is scheduled for May 5, 2015 . Upon motion ofMr. Rhines and seconded by Mr. Titus the Commission unanimously agreed to adjourn. Motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8: 14 p.m.

w~~ Lori Parrow Recording Secretary

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• Town ofStafford, CT

1 Main Street, Stafford Springs, CT 06076

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION (860) 684-1775' Fax (860) 684-1768

P&Z REGULATION CHANGE APPLICATION DATE REC'D: ____ PERMIT No.

FEE R EC' 0: Fee of $150 received? YES NO__ DATE: _____________

APPLICANT: Stafford Economic Development Commission PHONE: (860) 684-1777

Address 1 Main Street. Stafford CELL: ____________________________

For a change in the Town of Stafford Zoning Regulations, this form shal/ be accompanied by the exact wording of the change applied for, including reference to the appropriate section number, and by the exact wording of parts to be deleted or added by placing brackets, ( ), around aI/language to be deleted, modified or replaced. AI/language to be added wil/ be underlined.

PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGE: (Attach separate sheet if necessary) -'-'4.c.::..64-'-P:....;I=ea=s=e--=;s..::..;ee=-a=tta=.:;..ch:..:..;e:...::d'--__________

REASON FOR CHANGE: Stimulate employment and Economic growth within the town of Stafford. In confonnance with the

intents stated in Section 4 62 PllqlOse and tbe recommendations provided by tbe Planning ConSllltant and tbe I and lIse recommendations stated in the Land Use Economic Development Analysis, prepared by CERC (Connecticut Economic Resource Ctr.,

.nc. dated January 30. 2006.

Signature of Applicant: Date: ______________

This ZONE CHANGE IS:

__ APPROVED DATE: ______________

DENIED DATE:

SIGNATURES of Commissioners:

DATE: _______________

DATE: _______________

DATE: _______________

DATE: ______________

ADDITIONAL Requirements or Comments:

-In accordance with the Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To Ii Ie a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights , 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250·9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD)."

Town of Stafford Connecticut

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 1 Main Street

Warren Memorial Town HaU Stafford Springs, CT 06076-1208

EDC@STAFFORDCT.ORG

Stafford Planning and Zoning Commission

Warren Memorial Town Hall

One Main Street

Stafford Springs, CT 06076

Re: Stafford Economic Development Commission- Proposed Retail Use Zoning Regulations 4.64

Dear Ms. Chairman and Members of the Commission,

Section 4.62 states the Purpose

4.62 Purpose

The purpose of this regulation is to provide for sound commercial and industrial development within the

Town of Stafford to achieve the following objectives :

1. Improve the tax base of the Town.

2. Provide long-term employment opportunities for Town residents.

3. Facilitate attractive commercial and industrial development to serve Town residents and is

complementary to the scale and character of the community.

Less than 10% of the Grand List comes from commercial real estate. The need to increase commercial

development is becoming ever more apparent for Stafford. As stated in the Zoning Regulation Review

conducted by Don Poland Consulting; with little or no aim to increase commercial development, moving

forward, this means that the tax base will remain proportionately similar to what it is today and most

likely shift to greater reliance on residential property for tax revenue. Is this what Stafford residents

want?

The Stafford Economic Development Commission is committed to working with the Planning & Zoning

Commission in making the necessary changes and to develop Stafford in a way that is attractive and

beneficial to the community as a whole. Mr. Poland also stated "that the commercial zone in Stafford

("suburban strip" of Rte. 190) should make accommodations for businesses including eliminating the

maximum size of retail stores. Maximum square footage eliminates potential opportunity". It is with the

stated purpose of Section 4.62, the proposed recommendations of Mr. Poland, and the land use

recommendation as stated in "The Land Use Economic Development" study by CERC that the Economic

Development Commission come before the Planning & Zoning Commission with this request.

Very Truly Yours,

Town of Stafford Economic Development Commission "In accordance with the Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, thi s institUlion is prohibited fi'om disclimina1ion on the basis of race, color, national origin , sex , age, Or disability. (Not ali prohibited bases appl y to all programs.) To file a complain! of discrimination, wri te US DA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, J400 Independence Avenue , S.W., Washington , D.C. 20250-94 I 0, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), 01 (202) 720-6382 (TDD). "

PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGES;

4.64 Standards of Design

• a. Area and Bulk

I. No single establishment intended for retail, restaurant or other use that supplies goods and/or services on site to a consumer shall have a total floor area that exceeds [~] 11 0,000 square feet.

2. No building that contains for retail, restaurant or other sue that supplies goods and/or services on site shall have a total floor area that exceeds [~] 110,000 square feet.

3. There shall be a maximum of[4G,{}OO] 110,000 square feet of gross floor area of retail floor area on each lot.

4. Retail uses located in buildings constructed prior to the adoption of this regulation, when the gross floor area devoted to retail use is more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, may be enlarged up to a gross floor area of [4{J.;-O{}O] 11 0,000 square feet, or ten percent greater than exists at the date of the adoption of this regulation, whichever is greater, through issuance ofa special use permit by the Commission, if the Commission determines that all criteria intent of this regulation is adhered to.

5. The square footage devoted to a retail use shall be calculated by adding the sum of all individual retail stores for which permits are sought and also to the cumulative sum of related or successive permits for retail stores that are part ofa related retail development, such as additions to a building or multiple buildings on a lot or adjacent lots.

• 6. For purposes of this section, the gross floor area of a Retail store shall include gross floor area of all portions of the site outside of the exterior walls or buildings used for the display, storage, or sale of any goods, wares, or merchandise, except that the gross floor area of a retail store shall not include exterior areas of not more than three thousand [(3,000)] 1,000 square feet used for seasonal or temporary sales events. Special exception of 15,000 square feet is granted to "Farmers Markets" and retail nursery sales where the primary business income is derived from.

7. The gross floor area of adjacent stores shall be aggregated in cases where the stores (I) are engaged in the selling of similar or related goods, wares or merchandise and operate under common ownership or management; (2) share check stands, a warehouse, or a distribution facility; or (3) otherwise operate as associated integrated or co-operative business enterprises.

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