741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Kevin J. Dombrowski

Regular Meeting

Monday, February 6, 2023

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person Location - Council Chambers - Town Hall Annex Building

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CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Paul at 6:02 p.m. at

the Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor Paul welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting. He stated 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 Paul

Present:

S. Naomi Rodriguez

John Marshall

In addition, the following were present:

Kevin Dombrowski Chairman

Michael Marelli Conservation Commission Chairman

Roxanne Maher Administrative Assistant

III.

IV.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None

Discussion regarding the Conservation Commission’s interest to purchase a parcel for open

space.

Mr. Michael Marelli, 4 Lee Brook Drive, Ledyard, Conservation Commission Chairman,

noted during the Town Council’s January 11, 2023 meeting that he noted the

Conservation Commission was interested in purchasing a piece of property to add to the

town’s Open Space Inventory. He stated at that time he was looking for direction on how

to proceed with the Commission’s idea and permission to begin the process. He stated

Chairman Dombrowski referred the matter to the Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee, which was the reason he was present this evening; and that Mayor Allyn

stated that he could contact the Broker to see if there were any other interested parties

in the property and to gather other relevant information.

Mr. Marelli continued by noting the property that was for sale was a 36-acre +/-

parcel located at 154 Stoddards Wharf Road, located across the street from

Whalehead Road; and was currently owned by Pfizer. He stated the asking price was

$195,000, and he explained

that the Conservation Commission would like to apply for a State of Connecticut

Open Space Watershed Acquisition Grant that would pay up-to 65% or about

$126,000 of the cost leaving a town share of about $68,000. He noted in addition to

the sale price of the property that there would be other expenses involved such as

conducting a A-1 Survey, property appraisal, legal description, and legal fees, etc. He

stated the Grant Application period typically opened in September.

Mr. Marelli stated based on the Mayor’s suggestion to contact the Broker that he learned

there may be a private party interested in purchasing the property and that they did not

know how long Pfizer would wait to sell the property to the town because of the time

involved to apply for and receive the grant funding.

Mr. Marelli went on to state after talking with the Broker that he followed up with

Mayor Allyn, who suggested that the Conservation Commission ask if they could get a

better price or if Pfizer would consider donating the property to the town. Mr. Marelli

stated that he has walked the property and that it was not buildable noting that he was

told that at one time it was a quarry.

Mr. Marelli explained the reasons the Conservation Commission was interested in

purchasing 154 Stoddards Wharf Road were:

Town currently owned a 5-acare parcel that abutted the property.

An old Pump Station was located in the area that was no longer being used for

potable water, but that the pump station was still used by the Public Works

Department.

The Billings/Avery Pond runs onto the property.

The property would be contiguous with other greenways in the area, noting its

proximity to the Tri-Town Trail (Bluff Point to Preston Plains Park).

Groton Utilities used the area as a watershed.

Avalonia Land Conservancy was seeking to purchase the neighboring property

located at 148 Stoddards Wharf Road.

Mr. Marelli went on state that he has not spoken to any parties about the Conservation

Commission’s interest for the town to acquire the property, because he wanted to inform

the Town Council first of their interest in the property, and also provide them with some

background information regarding the parcel and its surroundings.

Chairman Dombrowski asked that Mr. Marelli work with the Mayor’s Office

regarding the Conservation Commission’s interest to purchase the open space parcel.

He explained that there was a town process in place to obtain authorization for the

town to seek a Grant, noting that there would be some town expenses just to file the

Grant Application, such as conducting a A-1 Survey, property appraisal, legal

description of the property, legal fees, etc. as Mr. Marelli noted earlier this evening. He

also explained that they would need to identify and appropriate the funding source for

the town’s local share, and that in accordance with state statute163(e) a Public

Hearing was required; and in accordance with Chapter VII of the Town Charter a

Special Town Meeting would be required for the townspeople to vote on the town

purchasing the property. He also noted that the Planning & Zoning Commission

would be required to conduct an 8-24 Review.

Mr. Marelli addressed the Grant Application process and he noted that they were

required to show that the purchase of the property would be in-keeping with the most

recent Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) which was last updated in

2012. Chairman Dombrowski explained that state statute required the POCD to be

updated every ten years and he suggested Mr. Marelli talk with the Planning &

Zoning Commission regarding the latest version of the POCD.

Councilor Marshall questioned the previous use of 154 Stoddards Wharf Road. Mr.

Marelli stated that he was told that the property was formerly used as a quarry. He stated

in walking the property he saw some dykes or berms on the property, which he thought

may be some type of geological feature. Chairman Dombrowski questioned whether

there were any dams on the property. Mr. Marelli stated there were no dams on the

property.

The LUPPW Committee noted that no action was required this evening regarding the

Conservation Commission’s interest to purchase 154 Stoddards Wharf Road to be added

to the town’s open space inventory.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Water Pollution Control Authority e-mail dated January 25, 2023 re: Response to

Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) Chairman January 19, 2023 Report

pertaining to a requested 150-foot radius easement around the SCWA well that would come

onto town property where the Route 117 Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank was located.

Chairman Dombrowski stated he asked that this communication be included on

tonight’ s LUPPW Committee agenda for informational purposes only. He noted

during the Town Council’s January 25, 2023 meeting Councilor Saums, Water

Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Liaison, reported that the WPCA reviewed a

request from Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) in which they

discussed SCWA’s New Ledyard Division Well that would be located across the

street from the Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank, and would require 150-foot

radius around the SCWA well, which would come onto town property.

Chairman Dombrowski went onto state that Councilor Saums also reported that the

WPCA questioned why the Department of Public Health (DPH) would approve an

expansion of SCWA’s existing failing well in the shadow of Ledyard’s Water

Storage Tank. Therefore, the WPCA approved a motion to recommend for the Town

Council disapprove SCWA’s request for an easement over Town land, for the

following reasons:

· SCWA already had an interconnection with the WPCA to purchase water to sell

to their customers.

· SCWA has never cooperated with the WPCA on exclusive service area requests.

· Because Ledyard’s WPCA’s system has better capability to serve future

development in the area.

· The WPCA did not see any point in in expanding a SCWA System with such

limited capabilities.

· SCWA customers in Ledyard experience frequent water supply issues.

· SCWA repeatedly excavates town roads - including newly paved roads - to repair

leaks on a regular basis.

· SCWA has not reinvested enough ratepayer funds to replace its aging water

mains, which the WPCA believes would be a better use of SCWA’s customers’

money.

Chairman Dombrowski went on to note that during the Town Council’s January 25,

2023 meeting that Mayor Allyn stated that he has never had any communication with

SCWA regarding an easement area, not written, not verbal, not in-person; and that the

Mayor stated he did not know where this statement was coming from, but that it was not

based in fact.

Chairman Dombrowski concluded his comments by noting in a subsequent e-mail dated

January 27, 2023 WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch requested a joint meeting between the

WPCA And SCWA. He WPCA although the WPCA has recommended the Town

Council disapprove SCWA’s request for an easement over Town land; at this time

there was no action on the part of Town Council required.

Councilor Rodriguez stated that a joint meeting between the WPCA and SCWA, as

Chairman Dombrowski reported, would be a good start, noting it would be an

opportunity for both parties to get all the facts together.

Chairman Dombrowski stated should SCWA submit a formal request for an

easement that the LUPPW Committee would be involved in the process. Therefore,

he stated that he asked that this be included on tonight’s agenda to keep the

Committee apprised of the matter.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Regular Meeting

Minutes of January 9, 2023

Moved by Councilor Marshall, seconded by Councilor Rodriguez

VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

John Marshall

RESULT:

MOVER:

S. Naomi Rodriguez

SECONDER:

Paul, Rodriguez and Marshall

AYE:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Continued discussion and possible action to periodically review the list of town owned

property; and update accordingly for the “Assignment of Administrative Control”.

Councilor Rodriguez stated that she would contact Land Use Director Juliet Hodge to

check on the status of the completion of the Geographic Information System (GIS )

Update; so the LUPPW Committee could continue their work to update the List of

Town-Owned and Town-Leased Properties.

Chairman Dombrowski stated that he would like to see the List of Town-Owned and

Town-Leased Properties be updated relatively soon, noting that this item has been on the

Agenda for quite some time. He explained that the Geographic Information System

(GIS) was about mapping and that the GIS was not needed to update the list of

properties and the assignment or

reassignment of the administrative oversight/control. He went on to explain that this

exercise involved reviewing the List of Properties and taking the properties that were no

longer in the town’s inventory off the list; and adding to the list any new properties that

have come into the town’s inventory since the list was last updated in 2017. He also

noted that the LUPPW Committee should conduct a cursory review to make sure the

Departments that were assigned the administrative oversight to the properties was still

appropriate or whether any assignments should be updated/changed.

Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher noted that Tax Assessor Adrianna Hedwall

could provide the LUPPW Committee with a list of the properties that have come into

the town’s inventory since 2017.

Chairman Dombrowski urged the LUPPW Committee to move forward with updating

the List of the assignment of administrative control of Town-Owned and Town-Leased

Property.

Councilor Paul asked the Committee members to review the List to see if the

assignments made sense or if any assignments should be changed. He asked that they be

prepared to discuss updates to the List at their March 6, 2023 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

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

Councilor Paul stated the purpose of keeping the enforcement of regulations to address

blight issues on the Committee’s Agenda was to monitor how effective Ordinance

#300-012 (rev 1) was; and to see if the Ordinance needed to be adjusted. Therefore, he

questioned whether the Ordinance was effective as written.

Chairman Dombrowski noted at the LUPPW Committee January 9, 2023 meeting that

Mayor Allyn, III, stated he thought the provisions provided in Ordinance #300-012 (rev

1) were effective. Therefore, he questioned whether the LUPPW Committee felt the need

to keep this item on their agenda. He explained that Ledyard was one of the first towns

to adopt an Ordinance to address blighted properties. He stated since the Ordinance was

initially adopted in 2013 that it was revised in 2019 to include some language that

Groton had in their Ordinance, noting that Groton’s Ordinance has been tested in court

and held up.

Chairman Dombrowski went on to state in reviewing past Zoning Enforcement Officer’s

Blight Reports that the town has been able to get voluntary compliance from most

property owners, without having to take further action, which they were authorized to

take, per the Ordinance.

He stated because the Land Use Department Office has been short staffed that the

quarterly Blight Property Reports have not been provided. However, he explained that

the Town Council only had authority to change the Ordinance, which they have not been

asked to do, noting that the enforcement authority lied with the Blight Officer, noting

that the Town Council did not have any enforcement authority. Therefore, he questioned

whether the LUPPW Committee felt the need to continue to carry this item on their

agenda as Old Business.

Councilor Marshall stated when the Land Use Department was fully staffed he recalled

former Zoning Enforcement Office Kyle Favolise knocking on doors and talking the

property owners about cleaning up their property. He stated Mr. Favolise had some good

success with getting voluntary compliance using the tools provided in Ordinance

#300-012 (rev 1).

Councilor Paul stated it appeared that Ordinance #300-012 (rev 1) “An Ordinance

Concerning Blight and Public Nuisance for the Town of Ledyard” was working fine.

Therefore, he questioned based on Chairman Dombrowski and Councilor Marshall’s

comments whether the LUPPW Committee would like to remove this item from their

Old Business agenda, noting that the Committee often times skips over the item because

there was nothing to discuss. He stated the Committee could revisit this item should they

find that there was an issue with the Ordinance , or when they receive and reviewed

quarterly Blight Reports.

Councilor Rodriguez stated that she would like to keep the “Enforcement of regulations

to address blight issues” on the Agenda because she was interested in seeing the

quarterly reports.

Councilor Marshall stated that the LUPPW Committee could continue to receive the

quarterly Blight Reports without having to carry the item on their Old Business agenda.

By consensus the LUPPW Committee agreed to “Enforcement of regulations to address

blight issues” on the Agenda under Old Business.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Status update regarding security and safety concerns regarding Park on East Drive

No update.

NO ACTION

RESULT:

Discussion regarding the appropriate mechanism to provide information to residents

pertaining to the structure and operation of land use processes in the Town of Ledyard.

Councilor Paul stated the Community Relations Committee planned to work with Land

Use Director Juliet Hodge to coordinate and schedule an Informational Presentation

sometime around April/May, 2023. He noted that the Community Relations Committee

was working to keep the Presentation on point/topic by developing a list of Frequently

Asked Questions (FAQ) such as: (1) What was the process to obtain a permit build a

deck on my house, (2) What was the process to building a swimming pool; (3) What was

the process to build a shed on their property; etc.

Councilor Rodriguez commented on the importance to have the Land Use Informational

Presentation noting that residents had a lot of questions such as the Dollar Store in

Gales Ferry or why the town had six liquor stores in town.

Councilor Paul addressed the importance to structure the Land Use Informational

Presentation so that it would address the Land Use Processes, noting that the Land Use

Decisions were based on Zoning Regulations, state statutes and other governing

documents. He stated as they did with the Public Works Department’s Presentation that

the video for Land Use Presentation could be posted on the town’s website, on social

media sites, such as facebook, etc. He went on to state by posting the video and

Frequently Asked Questions on various sites that residents could be directed to watch the

video or read the FAQ when they had questions. He stated the hope was that a lot of

people would attend the Land Use Informational Presentation in person. However, he

stated for those who could not attend, that the Presentation would be recorded and

available after the meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Discussion regarding the Conservation Commission’s interest to purchase a parcel for open

space.

This item was discussed earlier in the meeting (see above IV.

Presentations/Informational Items).

Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Rodriguez moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor

Marshall.

VOTE:

p.m.

3 - 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Paul

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.