741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Economic Development Commission  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Chairman  
John Vincent  
Tuesday, October 1, 2024  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format  
REMOTE MEETING INFORMATION  
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Meeting ID: 834 8418 9813  
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I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Vincent called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers, Town Hall  
Annex Building.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Carol Ann Schneider  
Commissioner Michael Dreimiller  
Chairman John Vincent  
Present  
Commissioner Peter Hary  
Commissioner Richard Tashea  
Commissioner Michael Cherry  
In addition, the following were present:  
Director of Land Use & Planning, Elizabeth Burdick  
Town Council EDC Rep (remote), Jessica Buhle  
Absent: Mayor Allyn  
III.  
A.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve EDC Regular Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2024  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Peter Hary  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Richard Tashea  
SECONDER:  
6
Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Tashea Cherry  
AYE  
IV.  
V.  
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Add VIII.C: under New Business regarding the invoice from Eastern Connecticut Chamber of  
Commerce.  
CITIZENS COMMENTS  
None.  
VI.  
A.  
REPORTS  
Mayor’s Report  
Not present to provide report.  
Planner’s Report  
B.  
Director Burdick stated that Alex Samalot left his position as Zoning & Wetlands Official for  
another job with a much shorter commute. Hannah Gienau has been hired to replace him.  
Director Burdick mentioned several applications in front of Planning & Zoning Commission:  
1. A set of regulation changes proposed by Eric Treaster regarding multi-family dwellings,  
excavations, and affordable housing. That hearing is closed and the commission should  
deliberate on Oct 10th.  
2. Proposed 18 lot 8-30G affordable subdivision Avery Brook Homes on Stoddards Wharf Rd.  
That hearing is also closed and the commission will be deliberating on Oct. 10th.  
3. GFI/LLC is in the public hearing process. The applicant’s experts have been heard and the  
intervenors and public comment will follow.  
4. CR Klewin’s 353 unit multi-family development in Gales Ferry has been withdrawn. Bob  
Russo, a certified soil scientist with CLA, was hired by the town to do a third-party review and  
he found that the wetlands were not properly marked. He found wetland soils from 5-30 ft  
upwards of the existing flags. He met with the applicant’s soil scientist, Ian Cole, and they  
relocated all of the flags but one. As a result, the project will need to be redesigned. Cherry noted  
that the regulation change in front of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission (IWWC)  
could impact what the IWWC has authority to regulate. Burdick noted that it was argued in a  
couple of applications when she started working for the town that the IWWC does not have any  
authority to regulate activities outside of the 100ft upland review area, unlike most towns in  
southeastern Connecticut. IWWC is proposing to amend their regulations so that they can  
regulate activities outside of the 100ft upland review area that may impact that area. The public  
hearing will be in November.  
Director Burdick stated that they are working on Phase 2 engineering of the sewer project  
(design and cost estimates) for Sewer project Phase 2. Phase 1 is from Ledyard High School to  
Ledyard Congregational Church, and Phase 3 is replacing the line from Ledyard High School  
down to the Highlands. Phase 2 is from the Ledyard Congregational Church down to Iron Street.  
Phase 2 isn’t funded yet, but this will ensure that it’s ready to go if we have some funding  
available.  
Director Burdick stated that there are multiple new applications on the horizon. She stated that  
Habitat for Humanity would like to build 40 homes on Colby Dr. (the old Conover subdivision).  
Director Burdick stated that Sal Monarca, who owns the former Ledyard Center School, has a 36  
unit that he wants to start with that would have an on-site waste water treatment facility. He is  
also looking for addition capacity so that he could build more units behind the school. That  
would be no higher that 3-stories despite what the regulations would allow. Monarca bought the  
property formerly owned by the Holdridges that extends from the back of the school property.  
That’s where the first unit will be.  
Director Burdick stated that Mr. Monarca is also coming in with a proposal to convert the back  
half of the school building into housing units which will be at least 55 and older if not senior  
housing. Commissioner Cherry noted that it is a nice piece of property with the presence of the  
3-acre easement for the SCWA well, the large wetlands, and the town green all nearby.  
Director Burdick stated that Steve Maslin is working on sidewalks from the former Ledyard  
Center School down to the Post Office and on the other side of the street down to Holdridge  
Home & Garden to improve walkability.  
Commissioner Schneider asked if there was any news about the Lou’s Garage property. Director  
Burdick said there was none. Commissioner Cherry noted that there’s an environmental land use  
restriction on that property.  
Director Burdick stated that a young woman has received a permit for a pet grooming business  
going into the space next to Valentinos (former Alumni Liquors). Ledge Light has given her  
permission for two grooming stations. She still needs building permits.  
Director Burdick stated that Twisted Sugar Cake Design and Bakery has been told by their stove  
manufacture that it requires a hood. She stated that they will need to either install a hood or  
replace the stove with one that doesn’t require a hood. No updates recently about what their plan  
is.  
VII. OLD BUSINESS  
Corridor Study Update  
A.  
Director Burdick said that two bids were received. The lowest bid was about $75,000 or $80,000  
and the other was over $100,000. Goman & York was the lowest bid and she asked them to  
sharpen their pencils since our budget is only $50,000. They came back with a bid of $68,000.  
The Mayor suggested that we ask the Town Council for the difference. Commissioner Cherry  
asked if there were any available ARPA funds. Commissioner Buhle noted that the Finance  
Committee meets tomorrow and that ARPA is always on the agenda. Director Burdick will send  
the bids to them to Roxanne Maher so that the committee can discuss it.  
Business Directory Update  
B.  
C.  
Bro’s Barbershop has closed  
Gales Ferry Animal Hospital has closed (they moved to Montville)  
Second Heart Photography is moving in to the space next to the former location of Sew Mindful  
O’Connor’s Wine Cellar is being sold  
Foxwoods is possibly reopening Two Trees Inn at Foxwoods  
Development of the FY 2023-2024 EDC Annual Report. Review and update of the  
FY2022-2023 Annual Report  
Copies of Final Draft #2 were distributed for review. Director Burdick was able to provide some  
updated data for the four pages that she was hoping to update. She will continue to look for  
additional updates before our next meeting. Commissioner Dreimiller asked everyone to review  
the new pages that he added since the draft distributed in August which focus on the Connecticut  
Towns Economic Index which has Ledyard ranked last in the state. Commissioner Cherry asked  
if the page detailing the Non-Residential Property could be made easier to understand and  
whether the zoning for some of the properties in town (Pfizer property on Stoddard’s Wharf Rd.  
and part of the Dow property near the GF Fire House that is now part of Avalonia) should be  
changed to reflect the fact that they will likely never be developable.  
VIII. NEW BUSINESS  
MOTION to pay Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region invoice of July 12, 2024 for  
A.  
$6,935.85  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Michael Cherry  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Peter Hary  
SECONDER:  
6
Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Tashea Cherry  
AYE  
Business Directional Signage  
B.  
Commissioner Dreimiller has done some preliminary research including reviewing Killingly’s  
information online about their program. Mayor Allyn has mentioned that Griswold has  
directional signage. Commissioner Dreimiller emailed their Town Planner, Mario Tristany,  
asking for information about how their program is set up but hasn’t received a response. Burdick  
said she knows him and will contact him. Commissioner Cherry noted that we’ll have to review  
the town’s zoning regulations on signs to make sure that they would be allowed. Chairman  
Vincent questioned whether businesses would pay for a sign if they can stick one anywhere for  
free, like the 13 in front of Kartway, and he noted that one of the two For Sale signs there had  
blown away. Commissioner Cherry stated that the State will eventually clear out those signs  
since it’s on their right-of-way. He also noted that almost all of that Kartway property is  
wetlands which will likely make it difficult for anyone to develop on it.  
MOTION to pay Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce invoice for $312  
C.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Richard Tashea  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Peter Hary  
SECONDER:  
6
Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Tashea Cherry  
AYE  
IX.  
ADJOURNMENT  
The next EDC Regular Meeting will be on November 12th at 6:00pm in the Town Hall Annex.  
Commissioner Tashea moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded  
by Commissioner Hary  
The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.  
VOTE: 6-0 Approved and so declared  
Respectively Submitted,  
_______________________________  
Chairman Vincent  
Economic Development Commission  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.