Planning & Zoning: Commissioners Receive Training

12/19:

All members of the Planning and Zoning Commission board were in attendance save for William Clinton who was excused. November’s meeting minutes were unanimously approved.

For most of the two-hour-long meeting, Attorney Steven Byrne, Member of the Connecticut Federation of Planning and Zoning Agencies, conducted training for both old and new members of the PZC by detailing the responsibilities and guidelines for each member. This federation is not a state agency and charges members $55-$110 annually, $180 for workshops, and $14-$40 for booklets. Currently, there is no penalty specified in the statute if members fail to complete the statutorily mandated 4 hours of annual training, one hour of which must deal with affordable housing. Other training providers may help fulfill the requirements, such as landscape architects, surveyors, and other attorneys, among others. (Note: See Freedom Corner article in this edition (pg. 9) for further discussion regarding training requirements and oversight.)

Byrne noted that all matters relating to the PZC must be discussed solely during monthly meetings or hearings, “Your business should never be discussed between or among members of your commissions outside of public meeting… it flows right into conflict of interest, bias, predetermination.”  (Note: See Freedom Corner for other perspective)  Conflicts of interest are considered deals with family members and neighbors but not with previous business partners according to Byrne. If someone may be perceived as having a conflict of interest, Byrne recommends members recuse themselves from votes or other decisions. (Note: See this edition’s Freedom Corner (pg. 9) for additional discussion of Conflicts of Interest.)

PZC business cannot be discussed via email either, but residents can email commission members with questions and those may be addressed during meetings. Exceptions include discussions made in executive sessions or caucuses between members of the same political party. “That’s the clearest exception,” Bryne stated. “So if you’re in the same political party, FOI [Freedom Of Information Act] does allow you to caucus… I guess the other sort of exception would be executive session. We can ask the public to leave and the main reason you would do that would be there’s pending litigation.” Members are recommended to turn off their phones during meetings or public hearings since any text or conversation made during a meeting may be considered withholding information from the public.

For New Business, the PZC discussed an amendment to their bylaws for the public comment section of meetings. The PZC unanimously approved having public comment placed at the end of meetings but have each comment limited to two minutes in accordance with how long Board of Selectmen’s public comments are. Comments must relate to the agenda or PZC as a whole.

Town Planner and Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Martin Connor began met with Selectman Scott Olson to review a Special Permit Application to construct a country club on his property at 777 North Street. “Mr. Olson’s filed a Special Permit Application to utilize an existing 120 by 60 foot agricultural barn on his property as an indoor pickleball/tennis facility,” Connor reported. “...He needs Torrington Area Health District approval. The application requires the commission hold a public hearing and review the application and plans.” The application was unanimously accepted for review with further information provided on Tuesday, January 23rd. An investigation into an addition built without necessary approvals on 24 Benjamin Lane is being conducted. Connor’s ZEO report was unanimously approved.