741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, CT 06339-1511  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate  
Separation of the Planning  
Commission & Zoning Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, August 11, 2026  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex  
WORKING DRAFT  
CALL TO ORDER  
I.  
Chairperson Carmen Garcia Irizarry called the Ad Hoc to Evaluate Separation of the Planning  
Commission and Zoning Commission to order at 7:01 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Board Member Tony Capon  
Present  
Board Member M. Dave Schroeder Jr.  
Board Member Carmen Garcia-Irizarry  
Board Member Kevin Dombrowski  
Board Member Beth E. Ribe  
Excused  
III.  
1.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate the Separation of the Planning  
Commission & Zoning Commission special meeting minutes of July 14, 2026.  
The meeting minutes of June 23, 2026 were approved with the following changes as requested  
by Mr. Schroeder Jr.  
IV.3 paragraph 2: change 8-3 to 8-23  
IV.3 paragraph 4: In the last sentence add word "certified" before Zoning Enforcement officer.  
IV.3 paragraph 6: In the last sentence add "as outlined in Connecticut General State Statue 8-19"  
after revisions.  
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS  
Carmen Garcia-Irizarry  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
M. Dave Schroeder, Jr.  
SECONDER:  
IV.  
1.  
COMMUNICATIONS  
Communications List-August 11,2026  
The committee discussed how correspondence received from residents and other parties would  
be handled. It was stated that letters would be added to the public record through the agenda.  
V.  
BUSINESS OF THE MEETING  
Review and Discuss Town Resolution 002-2026/Mar 25.  
Review and discuss Town Charter IV Section 3.  
1.  
2.  
The committee reviewed the process that would be required if the committee ultimately  
recommends separating Planning and Zoning Commissions. Committee members noted that the  
Town Charter would need to be revised.  
The committee discussed the potential formation of an Ad Hoc committee by the Town Council  
to review the Charter and recommend the sections requiring revision. Those recommendations  
would then be presented to the Town council for consideration. The process would take  
approximately six months.  
Mr. Schroeder noted that according to a resident's email the current job descriptions for the  
Zoning Enforcement Official and Town Planner may no longer be as described in Town Charter.  
Discussion of relevant factors, such as the ones outlined below, to evaluate whether to separate  
the Planning & Zoning Commission into two individual commissions or retain the existing  
combined commission structure.  
3.  
a. Historical reasons for combining the two commissions into one.  
b. Changes to the Town Charter, local ordinances, etc.  
c. Financial  
d. Administrative burden of running two separate meetings and legal notices.  
e. Application Process-timeline, efficiency, etc.  
f. Number of volunteers needed-recruiting and retention  
g. Commission members specialization  
h. Long term planning and implementation of POCD under the current structure of two separate  
commissions.  
i. Consistency between the POCD and zoning decisions.  
j. Review timeline for zone changes/regulations and amendments.  
k. Any documented problems due to the combined structure (i.e. diminished planning, conflicts  
of interest, delayed applications, zoning regulations improperly applied, litigation, etc.  
l. Feedback from other towns that have separate commissions and towns that have a combined  
commission.  
m. Any other factors not mentioned above.  
The committee again discussed how to organize and distribute the research and information  
being gathered and how the information would be presented to the committee.  
The committee considered the reasons the Planning and Zoning Commissions were combined in  
2012 and whether the combined structure resulted in increased efficiency. Members discussed  
whether information from more than a decade ago and the experiences of separate commissions  
prior to 2012 could be used to determine whether separate commissions would be more efficient  
today given the changes in the Town's development, processes and statutes.  
The committee also discussed whether decisions made since the commissions were combined  
have been consistent with the POCD. The committee also talked about whether having the same  
individuals involved in preparing the POCD and developing regulations creates sufficient checks  
and balances.and if separate commissions could result in more focused or constructive  
conversations regarding policy and regulatory revisions.  
It was stated that all members of the Planning and Zoning Commissions are required to take a  
state training, it was unclear if this training was required in 2012. Members noted that the current  
training addresses both planning and zoning.  
During this lengthy discussion the Town Council Regular Meeting minutes were frequently  
referenced by Mr. Schroeder Jr.  
Later the committee discussed why Connecticut municipalities that currently have separate  
Planning and Zoning commissions have maintained that structure and why municipalities that  
previously ha separate commissions ultimately chose to combine them. Mrs. Garcia Irizarry  
reference email correspondence she had with the land use official regarding the subject.  
The committee considered the potential administrative, financial, and operational impacts of  
separating the Planning and Zoning commissions. Topics included staff workload, the number of  
meetings required, meeting space, the cost of legal notice requirements and associated costs, and  
whether additional staffing or outside consultants would be needed. The committee also  
considered whether responsibilities could be delegated to volunteers and whether additional  
volunteer participation could reduce the need for staff. The committee discussed obtaining  
administrative staff input regarding anticipated workload with two commissions versus a  
combined commission. The committee discussed obtaining administrative staff input regarding  
anticipated workload with two commissions versus a combined commission.  
The committee reviewed the reasons the Town uses outside consultants and whether separating  
the commissions would affect that need. Members noted that the Zoning Enforcement Official  
does not currently have all of the certifications required for certain functions and that the town  
has experienced difficulty maintain certified staff.  
The committee considered the potential legal implications of a combined commission compared  
with separate Planning and Zoning Commissions. This conversation included discussion of prior  
litigation within the town and also surrounding municipalities with separate commissions.  
Members examined whether separate commissions could reduce the potential for conflicts or  
litigation or conversely create additional opportunities for disagreements or litigation.  
The committee again considered the possibility of adding additional commissioners to the  
combined committee and also the prospect of maintaining a combined commission and  
establishing a subcommittee to further examine planning related maters.  
VI.  
OLD BUSINESS  
1.  
Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee  
None.  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
1. Any New Business proper to come before the Committee  
The committee discussed the possibility of holding a special meeting to provide an  
opportunity for open discussion between the Ad Hoc members and the chairpersons of  
current and previous Planning and Zoning Commissions. The committee also discussed  
allowing public comment at a future special meeting. Mrs. Michaud will review possible  
dates to hold a special meeting and provide the options to the committee members via email.  
VIII. ADJOURNMENT  
Chairperson Carmen Garcia Irizarry adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m.  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.