Planning & Zoning Commission Adopts Amendment to Accessory Building Regulation

10/22/24

Chair Jon Carroll presided. Also present were Vice Chair LuAnn Zbinden, Cindy Barrett (Zoom), Jerrold Abrahams (Zoom), Shilo Garceau, and Jared Denis. Patrick Lucas and James Withstandly were excused.

The Commission (PZC) held a brief public hearing to add language to the town’s accessory building regulation that would indicate that principal buildings will only be used for agricultural and residential purposes, pre-existing buildings used for non-agricultural and non-residential purposes can only be authorized in residential-agricultural zones by special permit and would define accessory structure and accessory use.

• Accessory structure: A secondary structure located on the same lot as a principal structure, and which is subordinate in size and/or purpose to the principal structure.
• Accessory use: An activity which is conducted on the same parcel as the permitted principal use and is secondary/subordinate to the parcel’s principal use.

This original public hearing on Tuesday, September 24th was postponed after the Republican-American newspaper failed to publish the original public hearing notice within the appropriate timetable. After the close of the Public Hearing, PZC Vice Chairperson Lu-Ann Zbinden motioned to adopt the proposed amendment to Goshen’s accessory building regulation. This was unanimously approved. According to PZC Chairman Jon Carroll, this amendment would become effective by Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th.

Town Planner Janell Mullen updated the commission on her work with the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). Mullen wanted to receive more feedback from out-of-town vendors instead of local vendors that could moderate town meetings. “I’ve gotten a little bit of feedback about the outside vendor,” said Mullen. “We used Glenn Chalder in the past. It sounds like he is accustomed to doing this work. There was some conversation around someone from the outside being not local. So I would love a little bit more feedback. I have a few in mind. They’re not local firms, they’re larger firms, they’re in larger cities.” These firms include the United Kingdom-based SLR Consulting, the Hartford-based FHI Studio, and the Simsbury-based Planimetrics, of which Chalder is President. All three firms are registered to work in the state according to the Connecticut State Business website. Carroll wanted to compare costs with local to outside vendors before the PZC decides whom to hire to facilitate two town meetings. Mullen prepared a cost estimate for her own hourly POCD work for another town and will supply a similar estimate for Goshen hourly POCD work next meeting. In terms of meeting with Goshen officials about the POCD, Mullen met with Town Historian Henrietta Horvay about her role in the town. Mullen will next meet with officials regarding the town’s Open Space Plan in November. The Open Space Plan provides a framework for the maintenance of Goshen's rural environment.

Land Use Enforcement Officer Spencer Musselman then conducted his ZEO report. 80 Holmes Road will have an addition be made to an existing barn as well as have a new shed be constructed. A new shed will be installed at 74 North Goshen Road. 60 Tyler Lake Heights Road will have a front entryway and stairs reconstructed. 293 West Hyerdale Drive will have a deck reconstructed. 92 Weldon Court will have a new dwelling and pool constructed. Finally, 222 East Hyerdale Road will have a family room constructed below an existing deck. Zbinden then motioned to approve the ZEO report. This was unanimously approved.