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, June 2, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person Location goes here

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

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86855142443?pwd=MeEbnaVbQAqSj0V9VfbIdeNdf8SbKf.1

Or by Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; Meeting ID: 868 5514 2443; Passcode:

052224

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor St. Vil at 6:04 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:

Elizabeth BurdicLkand Use Director/Town Planer

Carol SchneRideesrident

Roxanne MaAhderministrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning /Public Works Minutes of May 5, 2025

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor St. Vil

VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

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

Councilor St. Vil noted that the Blight Report was provided for tonight’s meeting;

and thanked Zoning Enforcement Officer Hannah Gienau noting that he appreciated

her work. However, he asked whether the Blighted Properties that have come into

compliance and the cases have been closed could be removed from the List.

Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizbeth Burdick stated that Blight Enforcement

Officer Hannah Gienau has been doing a good job with inspections, telephone calls,

letters, and following up.

Ms. Burdick provided an overview of the new properties that have been added to the

Blight List since the May Report as follows:

· 370 Pumpkin Hill Road - Discarded furniture and junk on the curb of the

property. RVC sent on 05/07/25. NOV with intent to cite to be issued next,

following standard Blight Ordinance procedures.

· 51 Kings Highway - The windows on the first and second floor were boarded up.

Broken electrical boxes and two AC units were ripped open and stripped of parts.

Discarded junk and trash of various items. The vegetation in the parking lot and

around the building was greater than 9" in height. RVC sent on 05/07/25 and a

follow-up inspection will be conducted on or about 06/10/25.

· 33 Stoney Brook Road - Improper storage of trash on the property. Will make

follow-up call with the owner to discuss how to be in compliance. Large family

with 9 people possibly living in the home.

It was noted that the Town would be changing to a new Curbside Household

Trash Collection Contractor on July 1, 2025. Perhaps for an additional deposit fee

the family could obtain an additional trash cart. Ms. Burdick stated that she would

follow-up with Public Works Director/Town Engineer Steve Masalin.

· 16 West Drive- Blighted property and RV that appeared inoperable leaning

towards roadway. The rear of the home was in a poor condition due to the fire.

Will follow- up with Fire Marshall and inspection of the property.

5 Long Pond Road - Property has a lot of junk in the yard with several

unregistered vehicles, including an old semi-trailer. Will contact owner for a

meeting with the Land Use Director and ZEO for compliance. Also zoning

violations present. Sent follow-up email to set up a meeting. No response yet.

Will convene with LUD for next steps.

· 543R Long Pond Road- Has a lot of junk and garbage visible from the Cider Hill

Road way but hidden on the other side of Long Pond. There also appears to be

an RV but it could not be determined if it had registered plates. RVC drafted

and awaiting review.

Ms. Burdick stated that she would let Zoning Enforcement Officer/Wetlands

Enforcement Officer Ms. Gienau know that the LUPPW Committee would only like

to receive the Open Blight Cases and the Site Inspections from the preceding month.

Ms. Burdick went on to state that the Land Use Office has been busy with decks,

pools, sheds, additions, and new houses. She stated that Ms. Gienau was doing a

great job noting that she has begun the CAZEO (Connecticut Association of Zoning

Enforcement Officials) Certification Process, explaining that in addition to the

several months of training courses that those seeking the CAZEO Certification were

also required to have two-year’s experience as a Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO);

and a Case Study, which Ms. Gienau has already been working has also been working

on. She stated that Ms. Gienau would be using the property located across the street

from Holdridge’s on Route 117, Colonel Ledyard Highway, for her Case Study. She

stated as she previously reported at the LUPPW Committee’s May 5, 2025 meeting

that when the young man submitted his Application that it did not match the Site

Plan; and therefore, the Planning & Zoning Commission Denied the Application

Without Prejudice because it did not represent the existing conditions. She stated the

Land Use Department was moving forward with the Enforcement Action, explaining

that in the event the Applicant decided not to resubmit their Application, they would

have the Citation on file. She stated in the meantime that Mr. Gardner had his Crew

(Diter & Gardner Surveyors) at the property several times. She stated the young man

was hoping to resubmit to the Planning & Zoning Commission; and they would see

where it goes from there. She stated that should the Applicant not respond to the

Citation that they would follow the Enforcement Sequence that Mr. Eric Treaster

discussed at the October 7, 2024 LUPPW Committee meeting, noting that using that

process would be their last resort.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Land Use Direct/Town Planner Elizabeth Burdick noted 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 he discussed the

following:

· “What’s Legally Required” - Ms. Burdick stated at the meeting that she

mentioned to them that the Land Use Department recently received a new book

that was published regarding “What’s Legally Required”. She stated there was a

section in the book regarding Historic District Commissions and it laid out the

steps that had to be taken to seek a Historic Designation; and how to go about

getting these types of things done.

· Review Steps for Historic Designation - Ms. Burdick noted that she offered to

meet with Historic District Commission Member Mrs. Parkinson to go over

those steps.

· Ms. Burdick offered to attend a Historic District Commission meeting to review

the step-by-step process regarding the things that they would need to do to move

their initiative forward

· Mrs. Burdick noted that no one from the Historic District Commission has

contacted her to date.

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 questioned whether Ms. Burdick has received any

feedback from the neighboring properties to Prides Corner Nursery Farm.

Land Use Director/town Planner Elizabeth Burdick reported the following:

· Property Survey - Ms. Burdick stated that Prides Corner Nursery Farm hired

B&L to conduct a property survey. She stated because of the cost to survey the

entire property that she asked Prides Corner Nursery Farm to have an A2 Survey

in the area of the Greenhouses. She stated the nearest Greenhouse was 141 feet

away from the property line.

· Noise Complaints - Ms. Burdick stated that the Land Use Office has not received

any other complaints since she met with the Owners of Prides Corner Nursery

Farm at her Office. She stated that during their meeting that she asked the Farm to

be a good neighbor and to have their workers keep the volume of the music down.

· Green House Permits - Ms. Burdick stated they still need to get the Green

Houses permitted. However, she stated that based on the A2 Survey that they all

meet the setback lines for the Zone.

Ms. Burdick stated during her June 12, 2025 Planner’s Report to the Planning &

Zoning Commission that she would review the A2 Survey and the Green Houses

to see if they want to approve it a Site Plan, noting that the Commission may find

that the Zoning Enforcement Officer could address it administratively with

“Conditions”.

· Wetland Protection -Ms. Burdick noted that she believed there was a man-made

pond in the area, noting that they would need to review the GIS Map. She

explained that there were two types of Wetlands Maps: (1) Wetlands identified in

an Subdivision Plan; and (2) Wetlands identified by soil scientists that were

plotted on a map. She stated that Prides Corner Nursery Farm would also need to

be comply with the Wetlands Regulations.

Councilor Dombrowski question whether there was any brush or barrier along the

property line between the homeowner and the farm, noting that a mitigation

action could be to plant some greenery, or something that would act to buffer the

sound. Ms. Burdick stated that she thought the area was wooded, however, she

stated that she planned to visit the site.

Councilor St. Vil stated that Ms. Burdick noted there were two Wetlands Maps;

therefore, he questioned which Wetlands Map the town uses.

Ms. Burdick explained although they have an Official Wetlands Map, that she

did not believe it was very accurate. Therefore, she stated as new Subdivision

Plan Surveys were submitted, which included wetlands that were identified by a

soil scientist; they were sent to the GIS Mapping Company to update the GIS

System. Therefore, she stated in using the GIS Map that there were two (2)

different categories, noting that they could click on the ones they know because

they were the wetlands that were mapped and given to the GIS Company; and /or

they could click on the General Maps. She went on to explain in looking at some

of the older subdivisions dating back to the 1970’s that say “Wetlands” that when

they take the “Wetlands Overlay” off the whole neighborhood was built on

wetlands that were filled-in.

Ms. Burdick went on to note that when former Town Planner Bill Hasse was here

that there was an Old Wetlands Map and the New Wetlands Map; and she

explained that was the reason they use both Maps and they also require the

Applicants to have the wetlands flagged by soil scientists; stating that Wetlands

was never an exact science. She stated that she has been a Wetlands Officer since

2004; and she could tell them that it was never cut and dry. She state that this was

the reason she wanted to bring the man-made pond to their attention because

without a soil scientist flagging the Wetlands in a Soil Scientist Report, that they

cannot know what was there, and she has explained this to the owners of the

Prides Corner Nursery Farm. She stated that they do their best based on the

mapping they have; however, she stated if there was any question they require the

Application to hire a professional.

Councilor St. Vil stated at their May 5, 2025 LUPPW Committee meeting they

agreed to keep this item on for two more reporting periods. He stated that this was the

first meeting, noting that if they do not receive any other feedback by their next

meeting (July 7, 2025) that the Committee would remove it from their Agenda. He

stated if Ms. Johnston had any further issues that he thought that she would have

followed the process that was outlined in their April 24, 2025 letter; which was to

contact the Police Department.

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 Dombrowski moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by

Councilor St. Vil.

VOTE:

6:14 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.