741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Planning & Zoning Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Chairman

Wood

Marty

Regular Meeting

Thursday, May 8, 2025

6:00 PM

Council Chambers - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers, Town

Hall Annex Building and on Zoom.

II.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.

ROLL CALL AND APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairperson Marcelle Wood

Present

Town Council Liaison Howard Craig

Commissioner Beth E. Ribe

Alternate Member James Harwood

Alternate Member Rhonda Spaziani

Alternate Member Nathaniel Woody

Alternate Member Matthew Miello

Excused

In addition, the following were present:

Director of Land Use & Planning, Elizabeth Burdick (via zoom)

Land Use Assistant, Anna Wynn

Chairman Wood seated Alternate Member Nate Woody for Commissioner Miello

IV.

APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS TO AND/OR CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE

AGENDA

None.

MOTION to approve the PZC Regular Meeting of Agenda of May 8, 2025 as written

A motion was made by Commissioner Ribe, seconded by Alternate Member Harwood, that

this be Approved and so declared. The motion carried by the following vote:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Beth E. Ribe

RESULT:

MOVER:

James Harwood

SECONDER:

Wood, Craig, Ribe, Harwood, and Woody

AYE:

Miello

EXCUSED:

Spaziani

NON-VOTING

CITIZENS PETITIONS (NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)

Eric Treaster, 10 Huntington Way, Ledyard, stated that on May 6, 2025 that he sent an

informal set of suggested regulation amendments for excavation to the Ledyard Land Use

Office. He stated that he wrote these suggested regulation amendments in response to

applications that were pending before the Commission in 2024. He handed out a copy of his

suggested regulation amendments to each Commissioner.

He asked if the Commission had any immediate questions about these suggested regulations.

The Commission did not have any questions at this time.

Bronson Dodge, 52 Harvard Terrace, Gales Ferry, stated his concerns about the Ledyard

Zoning Regulations needing to be changed to protect the character of Ledyard. He stated that

he hopes the Commission looks seriously at suggested regulation amendments from

residents. He spoke to the proceedings of application PZ#24-8SUP & PZ#24-9CAM.

Deborah Edwards, 30 Bluff Rd West, Gales Ferry, attending via zoom, asked for clarification

on the opening day of application PZ#25-2ZRA. She asked for clarification on the process of

reviewing regulation change applications and development applications at the same time.

Chairman Wood commented on the timeline of previous applications in 2024 regarding

application PZ#24-3ZRA.

Director Burdick stated that she would comment on this issue when the Commission gets to

that item on the agenda.

Deborah Edwards asked if there would be conflict between application PZ#25-2ZRA and

application IWWC#25-5SITE in the future.

Commissioner Woody stated that residents are allowed to submit an application to the

Planning & Zoning Commission at any time for regulation amendment. The Commission, if

they were to approve any such regulation amendment application, would need to attach an

effective date to the change. He stated that the effective date would have to be in respect to

any other pending applications before the Commission in which the regulation amendment

could affect.

VI.

PRE APPLICATION DISCUSSION AND/OR WORKSHOP

None.

VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS/APPLICATIONS

PZ#25-2ZRA- Applicant/Agent: Eric Treaster for Proposed Zoning Regulations Text

Amendments for the Development of multifamily dwellings. (Submitted 3/12/25, Date of

Receipt 3/13/25, PH must open within 65 days by 5/16/25. Set PH for 5/8/25)

Chairman Wood stated that the opening of the public hearing would be postponed until June

12, 2025 and that there has been a document submitted for the record with this extension of

time that has been marked as exhibit #10

Director Burdick stated that the public notice hearing was not submitted within statutory

requirements when the application was first submitted to Planning & Zoning due to ongoing

family emergencies. She stated that Eric Treaster’s regulation amendment application has

been referred to Attorney Avena for review, but they have not received any comments. She

stated that she will ask Attorney Avena to attend the public hearing meetings. She stated that

she has not completed her review of Mr. Treaster’s application but will provide a staff report

in the next few weeks. She stated that the Town Attorney, Robert Avena will advise the

Commission on the same issues that were brought up by Ms. Edwards.

Commissioner Woody stated that if the Commission is concerned about not having enough

time they could always move the opening of the public hearing to the 4th week of May.

Director Burdick stated that the public hearing notice for the June date has already been sent

to The Day and agreed to by the applicant. She commented on the concurring timelines

between PZ#25-2ZRA and IWWC#25-5SITE. She said that she cannot comment on the

legality of approving or denying concurring applications before the Commission.

Director Burdick and Chairman Wood clarified that they would not need to make a motion to

postpone the hearing.

Eric Treaster commented to the Commission that there needs to be a location determined, the

Commission and Director Burdick clarified if they would need to use the Middle School

Auditorium. They clarified that the opening of the public hearing for application

PZ#25-2ZRA will be held at the Town Hall Annex. Director Burdick commented that if the

Commission is so inclined to hold the public hearing earlier than June 12, it would be

possible to redo the public hearing notice as they have not been posted yet.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

IX.

PZC Regular Meeting Minutes of April 10, 2025

MOTION to approve the PZC Regular Meeting Minutes of April 10, 2025

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Nathaniel Woody

RESULT:

MOVER:

Beth E. Ribe

SECONDER:

Wood, Craig, Ribe, Harwood, and Woody

AYE:

Miello

EXCUSED:

Spaziani

NON-VOTING

XI.

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

XII. REPORTS

ZEO Staff Report of May 8, 2025

ZEO, Hannah Gienau, was not present to review the staff report. Director Burdick stated they

could send any questions via email or call her at the office.

Planner Report - Affordable Housing & POCD Updates

Director Burdick stated that she is looking for planning projects before the end of the fiscal

year. She would like to make an RFP RFQ to update the POCD and Affordable Housing

Plan by a third party. She commented on the legal requirements to update the POCD and

Affordable Housing Plans. She commented that it is best practice to get the updates done

earlier rather than later. She stated with the Commission’s permission she would like to

make that RFP RFQ request to hire a consultant.

She stated that she would have to ask the town council to encumber the expensive. She

stated that due to how long it can take to get a third-party consultant to help it is good to look

for one earlier. She commented on the previous process of the Commission to update the

POCD by each member taking a chapter of the PODC to rewrite.

Commissioner Woody commented that he had been through this experience before and it is a

lot more work than it seems. He concurred that having a third-party consultant to help with

the process would be helpful. He stated having a third party consultant would not minimize

the omissions ability to drive what they want. He commented that updating the POCD and

the Affordable housing plan at the same time is a good idea because than they can ensure

they concur.

Chairman Wood stated that he applauds that Director Burdick for looking ahead for the

Commission. Chairman Wood asked if they would need a motion to approve the request.

Director Burdick stated that it wouldn’t hurt.

MOTION to direct the town planner to create and RFP for the updates of the POCD and

Affordable Housing Plan for the town of Ledyard

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Nathaniel Woody

RESULT:

MOVER:

James Harwood

SECONDER:

Wood, Craig, Ribe, Harwood, and Woody

AYE:

Miello

EXCUSED:

NON-VOTING

Spaziani

Director Burdick commented on the ongoing process for application PZ#25-1SITE at 740

Colonel Ledyard Highway

Commissioner Ribe stated that she thinks signs are more permanent. Commission Harwood

stated that he thought that having signs and painted numbering would be helpful. Director

Burdick commented that in the conditions of approval is had just stated signage but she believes

that it would be beneficial to have a combination of both but that the department had only

required the signs.

Director Burdick and Chairman Wood clarified that although they cannot require the painted

numbers but they can certainly ask the developer.

Commissioner Woody and Director Burdick briefly discussed that there has not been a new

application submitted for 750 Colonel Ledyard Highway, previous application PZ#25-3SITE

that was denied. She stated that the department is now in the process of citation for both the

tenant and the property owner.

Chairman Wood commented on the EDC Special Meeting of April 15, 2025 that there was a lot

of feedback on potential issues in ledyard that the commission could consider.

Director Burdick commented that Goman & York to help get more data from residents that they

have designed a digital survey of the workshop that will be posted on the ledyard town website

and posted in the events magazine. She stated this would address demographic issues they ran

into at the workshop. She commented that the workshop was well attended and positive.

Chairman Wood commented that he had heard feedback that the workshop was useful and

engaging.

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Craig moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded

by Commissioner Ribe

The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

VOTE: 5-0 Approved and so declared

Respectively Submitted,

_______________________________

Secretary Howard Craig

Planning & Zoning Commission

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

Town.