Planning & Zoning Commission to Hold Use Change Public Hearing

Goshen’s Planning and Zoning Commission met on Tuesday, May 23 for their monthly gathering. All members of the board were in attendance save for board alternate William Clinton, who was excused. Additional attendees included Town Planner and Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO)  Martin Connor, Johanna Kimball, and Paul Collins. Secretary Lu-Ann Zbinden began the meeting by motioning to approve April’s meeting minutes. The motion was carried with only one member, Patrick Lucas, abstaining.

Johanna and Roger Kimball of Tywood Associates LLC submitted a special permit application to change their official use of their office property located at 61, Sharon Turnpike from real estate to retail. This is in the same plaza as Goshen Wine & Spirits, an E. J. Murphy Realty LLC office and the town post office. Mrs. Kimball clarified that the location, “Historically…was retail at one point…there will be no structural changes in the interior of the building. Nothing will change except for the name on the outside and the nature of the business.” After reviewing the application, Board Member Laura Lemieux motioned to approve the application and set a Public Hearing date for Tuesday, June 27th. The motion was unanimously approved.

Connor then conducted his ZEO report. Connor met with a Torrington Area Health District (TAHD) sanitarian in regards to Willian Colby wanting to create a subdivision of land at East Cornwall Rd. He proposed one building lot be placed on the land while the rest would be used for agricultural purposes. The PZC will determine the approval of this subdivision once Colby’s application gains approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC).

Jeremiah Sattazahn proposed a site plan this month to construct a 12” by 24” pavilion for Goshen Center School. The pavilion would make an ideal outdoor teaching space and create shade for students during recess play. The PZC approved the plan in April but have not received a zoning permit application as of yet.

Most of the report focused on the property of Linda Merchant at 26 Flora Rd. Connors previously issued a Zoning Violation letter and requested voluntary compliance to Merchant after he found that three accessory buildings were constructed on the property without permits from the IWC and TAHD. All three buildings were meant to be maintenance sheds but one was described as a studio with stairs, a deck, a bathroom with a composting toilet, and a bedroom. The studio failed to meet required zoning setbacks to be considered an accessory building. Steve Merchant responded to the request, planning to turn the studio back into a maintenance shed including the removal of the composting toilet. He already removed one of the other plastic maintenance sheds. For the remaining shed, Merchant submitted an IWC application for approval.

Connors excitedly ended his report saying, “And we’re still approving new houses! There's a couple more in the pipeline! It’s pretty amazing [with] additions, decks…Still keeping us busy.” In total three additions, a barn reconstruction, and a new dwelling have been issued in May. Zbinden then motioned to accept the ZEO report which was unanimously approved and motioned to end the meeting which was also unanimously approved.