741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman S. Naomi

Rodriguez

Regular Meeting

Monday, March 3, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Annex Meeting Room - Town Hall Annex Building (PLEASE NOTE LOCATION)

Remote Participation Information Noted Below:

Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86939882540?pwd=2cw39fPaUqJ8aokp1TwO0eEinR60yf.1

Or by Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; Meeting ID: 869 3988 2540; Passcode:

435299

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

Excused:

In addition, the following were present:

S. Naomi RodriguezTown Council Chairman

April BrunelTleown Councilor

Earl (Ty) LaHmibstoric District Commission Chairman

Karen ParkinsonHistoric District Commission

Bruce SchumachReersident

Roxanne MaAhderministrative Assistant

III.

IV.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Minutes of February

3, 2025.

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor St. Vil

VOTE:

2 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kevin Dombrowski

RESULT:

MOVER:

Gary St. Vil

SECONDER:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

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

Councilor St. Vil noted that Blight Enforcement Officer Hannah Gienau provided a

Status Report regarding Blighted Properties dated February 24, 2025. He stated that he

reviewed the List and that he liked the new Report Format, because it clearly

identified the next steps and actions.

Councilor St. Vil went on to note that one property has been on the Blight List since

last March, 2024. He stated he would ask Land Use Director Elizabeth Burdick the

reason the identified blight issues for that property were still outstanding. He stated

other than the one older property, that it appeared things were going well with

working with property owners bring the identified issued into compliance.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Mrs. Karen Parkinson, 55 Rose Hil Road, Ledyard, Historic District Commission

Member, provided some background noting that she first appealed to the LUPPW

Committee for the town to consider obtaining a Registered Historic Designation of a

portion of the Spicer Homestead Ruins at their October 2, 2023 meeting, and that they

have continued to carry the item on their agenda since then. She went on to note that the

156 acre Nathan Lester House was added to the National Historic Register in 1972; and

that the 11 acre Up-Down Sawmill went on the of National Historic Register in 1976

the year of our country’s Bicentennial Celebration of the signing of the Declaration of

Independence. She stated it would be wonderful if they could have the Spicer

Homestead Ruins recognized on the National Historic Register in 2026 when the

United States would be celebrating their 205th Birthday!, stating the she understood

that there was still a lot of work that needed to be done in the next year and a half to

get there.

Chairman Rodriguez stated that she thought she had a copy of the A2 Survey, but when

she looked at it she realized that it was the draft that the Surveyor was using. She stated

when she went back to the Mayor’s Office to pick up the correct copy of the A2 Survey

that Historic District Commission Chairman Earl (Ty) Lamb just happened to stop by at

the same time. She stated that she could run home to get the A2 Survey if they wanted to

wait; or she could bring the A2 Survey their next meeting.

Mrs. Parkinson stated the Tri-Town Trail Association used some grant funding to hire

Sarah Holmes, PhD Archaeology Consultant to conduct the Archaeological Land

Record Study to verify that that the site was the Peter and Mary Spicer Homestead

dating back to 1670; and they have obtained an Archaeological Site Number. She

also stated that she has worked with Connecticut Preservation Archaeologist Stefon

Danczuk, who has participated in site walks of the property, and that he also attended

the LUPPW Committee’s June 3, 2024 meeting and provided the following process.

· First, the Town would designate the property as a historic stie.

· Second, the State would designate the property as a historic stie.

· Third, the property would potentially be recognized by the Federal Government

as a historic stie.

Mrs. Parkinson went on to state that Historic District Commission Member Ammie

Chittin was a College Professor who has a background in historic preservation,

archaeological/site assessments, grant writing, and technical reports stated in walking

the property that Ms. Chittim was able to identify stone walls of the property

boundaries, gardens and the foundation of home within a few minutes.

Mrs. Parkinson stated although she has not seen the A2 Survey that it was her

understanding the area that was supposed to be preserved was 4.4 acres, but that the

A2 Survey was only 0.7 acres, stating that this must be an error.

Mrs. Parkinson stated that they were present this evening to request the LUPPW

Committee move their request to assign the Administrative Control of the Spicer

Homestead Ruins to the Historic District Commission forward to the Town Council

for action.

Councilor Dombrowski stated obtaining the A2 Survey was Step 2; and questioned

whether the Historic District Commission has done the next steps, as he laid out at

the LUPPW Committee’s June 3, 2024 meeting. He asked if the Historic District

Commission has submitted their request to the following:

· Department of Economic & Community Development;

· Planning& Zoning& Commission;

· Mayor for a 65-day Comment Period

Councilor Dombrowski reviewed the process to seek a Historic Designation as

outlined in CGS 97; Section 7-147(b) noted below:

CGS Chapter 97; Sec. 7-147b:

1. The Legislative Body shall appoint or authorize the Chief Elected Official of the

municipality to appoint an Historic District Study Committee for the purpose of

making an investigation of a proposed Historic District or Districts.

2. The Historic District Study Committee shall:

a). Perform an analysis of the historic significance and architectural merit of the

buildings, structures, places or surroundings to be included in the proposed

historic district or districts and the significance of the district as a whole.

b). Provide a general description of the area to be included within the district or

districts, including the total number of buildings in each such district or

districts listed according to their known or estimated ages.

c). Create a map showing the exact boundaries of the area to be included within the

district or districts. Councilor Dombrowski noted that this would require an

A2 Survey.

d). Develop a proposed ordinance or proposed ordinances designed to create and

provide for the operation of an Historic District or Districts.

e). Determine such other matters as the Committee may deem necessary or

advisable.

1. The Historic District Study Committee shall transmit copies of its report to the

Department of Economic and Community Development, the Planning Commission

and Zoning Commission, or the Combined Planning and Zoning Commission, of the

Municipality, if any, and, in the absence of such a planning commission, zoning

commission or combined planning and zoning commission, to the Chief Elected

Official of the municipality for their comments and recommendations.

a). Each such Commission, Board or Individual shall deliver comments and

recommendations to the Committee within sixty-five days of the date of

transmission of such report.

1. The Historic District Study Committee shall hold a public hearing on the

establishment of a proposed Historic District or Districts not less than sixty-five nor

more than one hundred thirty days after the transmission of the report to each party

listed above.

a). Except that, if all such parties have delivered their comments and

recommendations to the Committee, such hearing may be held less than

sixty-five days after the transmittal of the report.

b). The comments and recommendations received pursuant form the above listed,

shall be read in full at the public hearing

5. The Historic District Study Committee shall submit its report with any changes made

following the public hearing, along with any comments or recommendations

received, and such other materials as the Committee may deem necessary or

advisable to the Legislative Body and the Clerk of the Municipality within sixty-five

days after the public hearing.

6. The Clerk or his designee shall, not later than sixty-five days from receipt of such

report, mail ballots to each owner of record of real property to be included in the

proposed District or Districts on the question of creation of an Historic District or

Districts, as provided for in CGS sections 7-147a to 7-147k, inclusive.

7. The form of the ballot to be mailed to each owner shall be consistent with the model

ballot prepared by the Historic Preservation Council of the Department of Economic

and Community Development established pursuant to CGS section 10-409. The ballot

shall be a secret ballot and shall set the date by which such ballots shall be received

by the clerk of the municipality. The ballots shall be mailed by first class mail to each

owner eligible to vote in such balloting at least fifteen days in advance of the day on

which ballots must be returned.

8. If two-thirds of all property owners voting cast votes in the affirmative, the

Legislative Body of the Municipality shall by majority vote take one of the following

steps:

a). Accept the Report of the Committee and enact an Ordinance or Ordinances to

create and provide for the operation of an Historic District or Districts in

accordance with the provisions of this part;

b). Reject the Report of the Committee, stating its reasons for such rejection;

c). Return the report to the Historic District Study Committee with such amendments

and revisions thereto as it may deem advisable, for consideration by the

Committee. The Committee shall submit an amended report to the Legislative

Body within sixty-five days of such return.

9. Any Ordinance, or amendment thereof, enacted pursuant to this part, which creates or

alters District Boundaries, shall contain a Legal Description of the area to be included

within the Historic District. The Legislative Body, when it passes such an Ordinance,

or Amendment thereof, shall transmit to the Municipal Clerk a copy of the Ordinance

or Amendment thereof. Such Ordinance, or Amendment thereof, shall be recorded in

the land records of the municipality in which such real property is located and

indexed by the municipal clerk in the grantor index under the names of the owners of

record of such property.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that they would also have to amend Ordinance #

200-019 “An Ordinance Establishing Historic District Boundaries And Establishing

a Historic District Commission for the Town of Ledyard” to add the Spicer

Homestead Ruins to the Ordinance, noting that a Public Hearing would be required to

amend the Ordinance.

Councilor St. Vil stated based on their discussion this evening that the Historic

Commission would get a copy of the A2 Survey, and either align or work with the

Surveyor to reconcile anything, and then review it. He stated all the Steps have been

laid out by Councilor Dombrowski. He also noted that the information they

discussed this evening along with all the emails and letters regarding this topic were

attached to the LUPPW Committee’s Agenda on the meeting portal for the Historic

District Commission to refer to.

Mr. Earl (Ty) Lamb, 95 Lambtown Road, Ledyard, Historic District Commission

Chairman, stated that the Historic District Commission would complete their work

on the A2 Survey, and then they would come back to the LUPPW Committee to

move on to the next Step in the process.

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 noted the that the LUPPW Committee has already had a lot of

discussion this regarding this topic. He stated that Land Use Director/Town Planner

Elizabeth Burdick has stated that her Office was continuing to work with Prides Corner

Nursey Farm on a number of issues regarding improvements that were made to the

property/business.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor St. Vil moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor

Dombrowski

VOTE:

6:18 p.m.

2- 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at

Respectfully submitted,

Gary St. Vil

Committee Chairman

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.