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, August 7, 2023

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex Meeting Room -

Hybrid Format **Please Note

Location**

In -Person: Town Hall Annex Meeting Room **Please Note Location**

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CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Paul at 6:00 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:

Mr. Eric Treaster - Resident

Roxanne Maher - Administrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Mr. Eric Treaster, 10 Huntington Way, Ledyard, stated Mayor Allyn, III appointed

him as the Zoning Citation Official and the Blight Citation Official. He stated with

these appointments he carefully reviewed the following governing Ordinances:

· Ordinance #300-009 (rev. 1) “An Ordinance Establishing Citations for

Zoning Violations”

· Ordinance #300-012 (rev.1) “An ordinance Concerning Blight and Public

Nuisance for the Town of Ledyard”

Mr. Treaster stated there were several places in Ordinance #300-12 (rev. 1) that point

to the wrong section or a nonexistent section. He explained these corrections need to

be made because if a case were to go to court that the incorrect references in the

Ordinance could invalidate the whole case and he noted that he would provide a list

of the areas that need to be corrected.

Mr. Treaster continued by addressing the Founders Preserve Property. He noted the

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee June 5, 2023 minutes confirmed that

the transfer of the Founders Preserve Property to Avalonia Land Conservancy had not

been done yet. He stated Land Use Director Juliet Hodge made several comments

regarding the property transfer, which were well documented in the minutes. He

stated the Founders Preserve was about 96+ acres and was about 5-times the amount

of land that was used by the Ledyard Fair. He stated that he recognized that the land

was difficult to develop and that it may also have things such as Indian burial

grounds, graves, and historical things, etc. However, he stated the entire 96+ acres

cannot be all that challenging to develop, noting the acreage of the parcel that had

been planned for a subdevelopment. He stated it was his opinion that losing the

property in the long term would come back to bite the town. He urged the town to

reevaluate losing control of the 96+ acres in perpetuity. He stated Ledyard lost the

reservoir to Groton in perpetuity, and now they were about to lose control of the

Founders Preserve Property to Avalonia Land Conservancy in perpetuity. He stated

perhaps the property could be used for the Fairgrounds, for housing, or education

(school or junior college), or as a farm. He stated the tiny bit of risk associated with

liability does not justify what it was going to cost to get the property back if they

needed it in the future.

Councilor Paul stated at a Special Town Meeting held on October 28, 2020 the

townspeople voted to transfer the 96+ acres to Avalonia Land Conservancy. He stated

the property the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee would be discussing

later this evening under New Business Item #1 was to sell a residential property

located at 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway that the town acquired thru a foreclosure in

2017. Mr. Treaster stated he understood that. However, he stated the land the

townspeople voted on in 2020 was mis-identified, which made it defective; and

therefore, it needed to be done again. He stated what the citizens voted on was not the

land that was to be transferred; and he noted that Land Use Director Juliet Hodge

discovered that in her research. He stated as a citizen he was saying “Lets not give

away precious land that the town is going to need someday, unless it was for a really

good reason…And that really good reason has not been not been made public”.

Councilor Paul asked Mr. Treaster to send the corrections to the Ordinances he noted

earlier this evening to the Town Council Office.

Councilor Rodriguez stated at the Town Council’s July 26, 2023 meeting they

authorized the Mayor to contract with a Realtor to sell the residential property located

at 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway; Which as the property they would be discussing

later this evening under New Business Item #1.

Mr. Treaster stated according to Land Use Director Juliet Hodge there were three sets

of drawings for the 96 + Founders Preserve parcel; noting the three drawings do not

match. Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher explained since the Land

Use/Planning/Public Works Committee’s June 5, 2023 meeting Attorney Rob

Aveena and Surveyor Eric Seitz have completed their work and the boundary lines

were being restored to their original boundary lines before the former developer

purchased the property and changed them for their proposed subdivision. She stated

by restoring the property lines to their original boundaries, the detached garage was

now back on its original parcel, which was 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway, noting the

boundary line issues have been resolved.

Mr. Treaster thanked the Land Use/Planning Public Works Committee for their time

this evening. He left the meeting at 6:08 p.m.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Minutes of June 5,

2023.

Moved by Councilor Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Marshall

VOTE 3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

S. Naomi Rodriguez

RESULT:

MOVER:

John Marshall

SECONDER:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

MOTION to approve to update the Appendix to the “Resolution Establishing Administrative

Control of Town Owned or Town Leased Properties” titled “List of Real Properties Owned

or Leased by the Town of Ledyard” as presented in the draft dated August 7, 2023.

Councilor Paul noted the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee has been working

to update the Assignment of Town-Owned and Town-Leased Property List for quite

some time. He stated the most recent spreadsheet was the culmination of the LUPPW

Committee’s work to-date.

Councilor Rodriguez noted that Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher reached out to

the Assessor’s Office for their assistance to provide some additional information

regarding eight properties. She noted the Assessor’s Office provided the following

information which has been included in the spreadsheet provided this evening:

· 224 Avery Hill Road

Assessor Note: 224 Avery Hill Road was privately owned by Marlene Ross. The Town

does not own the 8.751 acre residentially (1010) zoned parcel. The property owner

Marlene Ross provided a Trail Easement that was recorded on 11/7/2017.

ü The LUPPW Committee noted the Town’s interest on the spreadsheet indicated 224 Avery

Hill Road parcel was a “Easement”. The Committee noted as part of the Tri-Town Trail

Association’s work that they have obtained easements from private property owners to gain

public access points to the Trai (Bluff Point to Preston Plains Park). The Committee agreed

although they wanted to keep the Easement on the List that they would not Assign the parcel

to a town department.

712R Colonel Ledyard Highway

Assessor Note: 712R was not on Vision or GIS Mapping System.

ü The LUPPW Committee noted the spreadsheet was updated to indicate that this parcel was

reconfigured in 2015 to accommodate building the new Police Facility.

13 Royal Oaks Drive

Assessor Note: There was no information regarding 13 Royal Oaks Drive on either Vision or

GIS about this property. Although the property can be seen on the GIS map, there was no

further information.

ü The LUPPW Committee noted that the parcel did not have an Account Number, and

therefore, there was an “Auto Number” assigned to property listed on the spreadsheet.

16 Whalehead Road

Assessor Note: 16 Whalehead Road was privately owned by Paul & Michel Hilliard and

should not be part of this Report. The information provided in the system was for 16R

Whalehead Road (see property listed below).

ü The LUPPW Committee agreed to remove16 Whalehead Road from the List.

· 16R Whalehead Road

Assessor Note: 16R Whalehead Road is the Chapman Cemetery. The Account # 400912.

The LUPPW Committee agreed to add the Account # 400912 to the List on the

spreadsheet.

· 14 Windward Lane

Assessor Note: 14 Windward Lane was privately owned by Shawn Towne; and should not

be part of this Report.

ü The LUPPW Committee agreed to remove 14 Windward Lane property from the List.

· 14A Windward Lane

Assessor Note: This parcel was the access strip to Meadow Lane (needed to be updated on

GIS)

· 20 Windward Lane

Assessor Note: 20 Windward Lane, 5.227 acres, was privately owned by John & Priscilla

Bauman; and was not owned by the Town. The Property owners provided a Recreation

and/or Conservation Easement for Tri-Town Trail on the property.

ü The LUPPW Committee noted the spreadsheet indicated that 20 Windward Lane was a

“Easement”. The Tri-Town Trail Association has obtained easements from private

property owners to gain public access points along to the Trail (Bluff Point to Preston

Plains Park). The Committee agreed although they wanted to keep the Easement on the List

that they would not Assign the parcel to a town department.

Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher explained in 2020 Tri-Town Trail Association

Members Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson requested that the Tri-Town Trail Association be placed

under the tutelage of the Parks & Recreation Commission. However, she noted in a letter

dated March 18, 2020 LUPPW Committee recommended the Tri-Trail Association (Bluff

Point to Preston Plains Park) work with the Town’s Land Use Departments.

MOTION to recommend the Town

Council approve to update Appendix to the “Resolution Establishing Administrative

Control of Town Owned or Town Leased Properties” titled “List of Real Properties

Owned or Leased by the Town of Ledyard” as contained in the draft dated August 7,

2023.

Moved by Councilor Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Marshall

Discussion: (See above)

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

S. Naomi Rodriguez

RESULT:

MOVER:

John Marshall

SECONDER:

Paul, Rodriguez and Marshall

AYE:

Discussion and possible action to revise “Resolution Administrative Control of

Town-Owned or Town-Leased Property”.

Councilor Paul stated while the LUPPW Committee was working to update the List

of Assignments of Town-Owned and Town-Leased Property (see Old Business Item

#1) , that he thought it would be a good exercise to also review its governing

Resolution. He stated during the last update of the Resolution, which occurred on

November 12, 2008; that the List of Properties were taken out of the Resolution and

put into an Appendix to allow for the List to be updated as needed without having to

also update the Resolution each time.

Councilor Paul continued by noting for the purpose of the Resolution the following:

Administrative Control:

“Having the authority to grant permissions for temporary use of the

property by groups or individuals; and having the authority to make

minor improvements or enhancements to the property which will

not change the overall character or use of the property; and having

the responsibility to maintain the property in such a way that its

present uses may be continued; and having the responsibility to

protect the Town from civil or criminal liability in connection with the

property”.

“….the Town Council or the Town Meeting retains the responsibility

for deciding when any Town owned real property shall be

permanently altered, capitally improved, used for totally different

purposes, leased, or transferred; subject only to the stipulations and

approvals which State or Federal laws may require”.

Councilor Paul concluded by stating in reviewing the Resolution that he did not think

any clarification or revisions were needed that would be substantive, noting that he

was comfortable with how the document was currently written.

Councilor Rodriguez stated that she agreed with Councilor Paul.

The LUPPW Committee, by consensus, agreed to remove this item from their future

agendas.

COMPLETED

RESULT:

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

Councilor Paul stated a Blight Report was provided for the period of May - July

2023. He noted it was broken out into the following categories:

· 10 - New Complaints

· 4 - New Blight Cases Opened That Remain Unresolved

· 13 - Open Blight Cases: Old/Ongoing

· 10 - Closed Blight Cases this quarter

Councilor Rodrigeuz stated that she was pleased with the Report noting it was well

organized and that the background information was helpful. She noted that the Land

Use Department has been making progress in working with property owners to

address the issues pointing out that ten blight cases were closed out this quarter.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

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

Councilor Paul stated that he checked with Police Chief John Rich noting there have

been no new issues reported. He stated once the new combined Parks, Recreation &

Senior Citizens Commission was in-place that they would be scheduling a follow-up

to the Community Relations Committee Informational Gathering that was held last

summer (July 20, 2023). He stated the Community Relations Committee was looking

forward to following up the residents in the area of the Park on East Drive; and that

he would keep the LUPPW Committee informed once a date has been set.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Vote upon the following:

"Shall the Town of Ledyard sell the town-owned residential property located at 332 Colonel

Ledyard Highway to Leonard D. Sherman for Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars

($280,000)?”.

Councilor Paul provided some background explaining that the Town acquired the house

located at 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway thru a foreclosure in June, 2017. He stated a

clear title that would allow the sale of the property. Therefore, he stated, in the

meantime, the Town had been leasing the house for about $15,600 in rent per year,

until the title issue could be resolved, at which time the town planned to dispose

of/sell the house, with the hope of recouping the loss of back taxes owed on the

property.

Councilor Paul went on to state as part of the transfer of the former Founders

Preserve Property (approved at a Special Town Meeting held on October, 28, 2020),

Avalona Land Conservancy contracted Attorney Rob Aveena and Surveyor Eric Seitz

to perform a Site Plan and Survey. He stated with this work completed the boundary

lines have been corrected (reverted back to original boundary lines), so that the

detached garage associated with the house was now within the property boundary

lines of 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway, and the property was ready to be sold.

Councilor Paul continued by noting at the Town Council’s July 26, 2024 meeting the

Mayor was authorized to contract with a Realtor to sell 332 Colonel Ledyard

Highway. He stated Chairman Dombrowski suggested the Land Use/Planning/Public

Works Committee forward a request to the Planning & Zoning Commission to

conduct an 8-24 Review for the sale of 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway before the

town received an offer from an interested party, as not to delay the sale of the

property

The LUPPW Committee, by consensus, agreed to send a memo to the Planning &

Zoning Commission to request they conduct an 8-24 Review for the sale of 332

Colonel Ledyard Highway, noting that in accordance with Chapter VII; Section 9 of

the Town Charter a Special Town Meeting would be held at which the Townspeople

would be asked to vote on the sale of 332 Colonel Ledyard Highway.

COMPLETED

RESULT:

Discuss the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee September, 2023 meeting date due

to the Labor Day Holiday.

Councilor Paul noted because the first Monday of September was Labor Day, that when

the LUPPW Committee filed their Annual 2023 Meeting schedule with the Town Clerk

they scheduled their meeting for Tuesday, September 5, 2023. He stated that he wanted

to check with the Committee members to see if they were available on Tuesday

September 5, 2023 or if they needed to reschedule their September meeting date.

Councilor Rodriguez and Councilor Marshall noted that they were both available on

Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

It was noted this would be a “Regular Meeting” because the schedule that was filed in