741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting

Monday, August 4, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Annex Meeting Room - Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation: Information Noted Below:

Meeting went into Recess

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CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor St. Vil at 6:00 p.m. at the Town Hall

Annex Building.

Councilor St. Vil welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting noting for the Town Council

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee and members of the Public who were

participating via video conference that the remote meeting information was available

on the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting

Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Gary St. Vil

Present:

Kevin Dombrowski

Carmen Garcia-Irizarry

In addition, the following were present:

Councilor Barns

Mr. Mike Cherry

Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Mr. Mike Cherry, 5 Whippoorwill Drive, Gales Ferry, attending remotely via Zoom,

stated the former Kartway/Ice-cream Stand on Route 12 was collapsing. He stated the

For Sale sign was also falling over, and he questioned the status of the property. He

stated that the property was a hazard noting that its location was the gateway to Gales

Ferry.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that 1644 Route 12 Gales Ferry (Kartway Property)

was included on the Blight Report. He noted that a complaint for a blighted property

was received on June 18, 2025 and he noted that the property has been in violation of

blight for over a year. He stated per the Blight Report the property had a history of

blight since the original owner passed away. The new owners put the property on the

market; however, the property was in poor condition and in violation of several

sections of the Blight Ordinance. He stated that an additional compliant regarding

bulky waste about clothing donation that was dropped at the bins was received on

August 4, 2025. He stated in the August 4, 2025 Report that Blight Officer Hannah

Gienau noted that she would make contact with the property owner for clean-up and

proper maintenance of the property.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Minutes of June 2, 2025

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Continued discussion regarding the progress of enforcing regulations to address blight issues.

Councilor St. Vil noted a Blight Report was provided for tonight’s meeting; and he

thanked Zoning Enforcement Officer Hannah Gienau noting that he appreciated her

work.

Councilor St. Vil went on to state that Land Use Director Elizabeth Burdick sent an

email late this afternoon that she would not be able to attend tonight’s meeting. He

stated that he would pass along the concerns regarding the collapsing structure at the

Kartway Property to Ms. Burdick via an email communication.

Councilor Dombrowski noted a property on Gallup Hill involving a Landscaper

would be going to a hearing and fine due to a zoning violation

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Councilor Barnes, Town Council Liaison to the Historic District Commission, stated

he was present this evening to obtain clarification regarding the “Nex Step” for the

Historic District Commission to proceed with obtaining a Historic Designation for

the Spicer Homestead Ruin, noting that there appeared to be some confusion on the

part of the Commission regarding: (1) The next step; (2) The appointment of a

Historic District Study Committee; and (3) Concerns that the A2 Survey was

incorrect.

Councilor Dombrowski stated at the LUPPW Committee’s June 3, 2023 meeting he

laid out the steps in an email to seek a Historic Designation as provided by

Connecticut General Statutes 97, Sec. 7-147b. He also noted that his email was

provided to Historic District Commission Member Karen Parkinson; the Steps were

documented in the LUPPW Committee meeting minutes; and that all this information

has been attached to Legislative File #23-2143 that has been part of the Agenda da on

the Meeting Portal since 2023. He stated based on his June 3, 2023 email that the

Historic District Commission was only on Step #2.

Councilor Dombrowski continued by addressing the A2 Survey stating that the

Survey was not incorrect, but that it was not what the Historic District Commission

wanted, noting that they were looking for the area to preserve to be larger than the

boundaries outlined in the A2 Survey that Dieter & Gardner Surveyors provided.

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry questioned what the Historic District Commission could do

if they were not satisfied with the A2 Survey that was done. Councilor Dombrowski

stated that they could request that a new A2 Survey be conducted.

Councilor St. Vil stated all of the LUPPW Committee’s discussions regarding the

Spicer Homestead Ruins with Mrs. Parkinson and other Members of the Historic

District Commission have been well documented in their minutes, which included the

process and steps to seek a Historic Designation.

Councilor St. Vil went on to state during the LUPPW Committee’s May 5, 2025

meeting at which Historic District Commission Members Ms. Karen Parkinson and

Mr. Doug Kelley were in attendance, that Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth

Burdick offered to: (1) Review the steps necessary to seek a Historic Designation; (2)

Facilitate a meeting between Mayor Allyn and Mrs. Parkinson and/or other Historic

District Commission Members to discuss the A2 Survey that was prepared by Dieter &

Gardner Surveyors; and (3) Offered to attend a Historic District Commission meeting to

review the step-by-step process required to move the initiative forward. However, he

stated in her email today Ms. Burdick noted that she did not have any update regarding

the Spicer Homestead Ruins.

Mr. Mike Cherry, 5 Whippoorwill Drive, Gales Ferry, suggested the Historic District

Commission set up a time to meet with Land Use Director Elizabeth Burdick, noting

her experience and knowledge.

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry suggested the LUPPW Committee send the Historic District

Commission a letter to document their discussions to date; and to ask about their

progress to date.

The LUPPW Committee agreed to send the Historic District Commission a letter to:

Clarify that the historic district commission may from time to time, by

following the procedure for creation of an historic district provided for in

section 7-14b, suggest that a historic district be enlarged or that additional

districts be created”. Under this provision, the Historic District

Commission was authorized to serve as a Historic District Study

Committee and has the ability to take on tasks to investigate the feasibility

of preserving historic properties such as the Spicer Homestead Ruins.

Ask what Steps the Historic District Commission has completed to date.

Ask the Historic District Commission what their next Step was going to be.

Ask the Historic District Commission what their timeline was.

· Request that the Historic District Commission acknowledge the receipt of

their letter by October 3, 2025; as to not keep unfinished business items on

their agenda indefinitely.

· Inform the Historic District Commission that the Spicer Homestead Ruins

would be removed from future LUPPW Committee Agendas, should they

not receive a response from the Historic District Commission, as requested.

Councilor Barnes thanked the LUPPW Committee for their discussion this evening,

and he noted that he believed a letter to the Historic District Commission would be

helpful.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Discussion to consider drafting an Ordinance to address Noise Issues, as requested in Ms.

Johnston’s August 12, 2024 email.

Councilor St. Vil stated based on the LUPPW Committee’s research he wrote a letter

to Ms. Johnston to inform her of their findings that a Noise Ordinance was not

needed because the Connecticut General Statutes included provisions to address

noise through the Police Department. He stated that his letter dated April 24, 2025

was attached to LF #2024-0778 on the Meeting Portal.

Councilor St. Vil went on to state at their June 2, 2025 Meeting that the LUPPW

Committee agreed to keep this item on their Agenda for one or two more meetings;

and that they would follow up with Ms. Burdick and Chief Rich to see if they have

any additional information. He noted in her email today that Land Use Director/Town

Planner Elizabeht Burdick stated that the Land Use Department was still working

with Pride's Corner regarding the final permitting of the greenhouses, and that they

have not received any complaints regarding noise issues. He noted that she also

indicated that all the greenhouses as shown on an As-Built Plan submitted to the

Land Use Office meet the minimum setbacks required for the Zoning District in

which they were located and may be approved for Zoning Compliance.

Councilor St. Vil stated without objection that this item would be removed from the

LUPPW Committee’s future agendas. Councilor Dombrowski and Councilor

Garcia-Irizarry agreed that their work has been completed on this matter and to remove

it from the Committee’s agenda.