001Manchester Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to order on October 27th, 2025. We'll start with the roll call on the left. >> Scott Eisenlohr. >> John Cooney. >> Peter Marchand. >> Walter "Fuzzy" Johnson. >> Adam Cloud Maroli. >> Charlene LaVoie. >> Jan Perry. >> Okay. Now, under agenda review, I'd like to move item 7A up above new business. >> I'll make that a motion. >> I'll second. >> Who seconded, John? >> Adam. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> All. And I'm going to seat Scott tonight in place of Krista. Okay. So, uh any public comment? Anybody here for public comment other than >> Candace Bouchard representing Friends of Main Street, 398 Main Street. Um prior to 2019, many towns across the state of Connecticut had ordinances for the uses of their sidewalks. We don't really
002have any sidewalks, so obviously there's no need for that. But, if we ever do redesign them, um there is a place that I would like to call attention to now, which is in front of the old IGA, which is about 75 ft long by 20 wide. Um I thought it might be a good place to have a farmers market in the summer that maybe Friends of Main Street sponsored. You know, we used to have the the group that would um be on North Main Street selling fresh produce all summer long. The success of that that it was 7 days a week. Um I don't know that one day a week would be successful, but it might be worth trying and also draw more residents to the center of Winsted since uh we don't have any
003signage to where downtown is. But >> Who's running the farmers market at the green? >> Don't know. There hasn't been one for years. >> Peter, I mean um >> It's since before COVID, right? More than that? >> Oh, jeez. >> I think it was before COVID. I remember >> Well, yeah, that's right. No, before COVID. How much? Oh, jeez. Oh, that time is getting getting away from me here. You know, um my predecessor worked at Friends of Main Street used to organize that. >> Yeah. We're not a farming community. >> But we have farms now. So, it is a way to sup- support small cottage uh There's Steed What my in- intent is to approach Steed Farm, which is on uh has been a resident of Winsted for since 1991. Actually, it's in Barkhamsted now.
004He's he is a protein farm, let's call it that. Then we have the Winchester uh I mean, the Northwest Corner Farm uh that just, you know, purchased their property. They're in their second year of operation. They weren't They They're only doing um you know, those where you reserve it um and they just recently put up the the solar, but they might be able to sell >> Steed Farmley, yeah. Down Griffin Road, you know. >> Yeah. And then there's Indian Farm Market Indian Farm up on um um Indian Meadow Farm up there. They sell flowers. Why not on Main Street? We also have another farm that just opened up on Torringford called uh Roy's Bakery and Farm. So, these people were invited to the Fall foliage festival and I was going to try and get them
005up there as a an example of what it could look like. So, I envision it you know, being local farmers selling what they produce, not um Now, the Steed Farm, what he would do, he would go to Park Hamstead and do it in their um public works parking lot there and then he would buy from another farm in New Hartford. I'd like to have people who are actually growing selling their own produce. Um and it would be obviously up to them if they're interested in participating or not. I really don't know. I haven't reached out to any of them. I mean, also we invited brothers and something else they do maple syrup, you know, maybe there's other people that are growing honey that might want to step up and sell. So, not have something massive
006like, you know, have all these huge groups and at the park, just have them in one area and if there's no residential above it. So, there is potential of parking go and leave. You know, it's just a thought and it would be nice to have something there even if something does go in that spot. You know, um there, doesn't mean why can't we use it? You know, Friends of Main Street, the only the only part of like an ordinance like this would be not to conflict with existing uh events like uh we we pop a tent up for you know, the Earth Day cleanup. Um we pop a tent up for um Winstead Christmas will have horse carriage rides around that. Or um you know, the fall foliage festival. But I thought, you know, jeez,
007it's a it's a it's a dead area. It's been dead for so long, why not bring some life? And I don't know if I can get them to do more than just one day a week. You know, but it's worth a shot to survey them and say, "Are you interested in doing this and what day and frequency would you agree to?" And it would be sponsored by Friends of Main Street and so we would try and you know, make sure that they clean up after themselves and all that. They would bring their own tents. We wouldn't buy tents or anything like that. Really just a a way to you know, have a little market out there. It doesn't conflict, I don't think it conflicts too much with Rooted Market cuz it is freshly grown produce
008or or meats um and um you know, Papa's Market. Those are all bought even though you know, some may be locally sourced. So, it's something to think about and I don't know where to go from here, but it you know, might be in the future if we do have sidewalks that wide developed at some point where you regulate, you know, people actually you know, um you know, everyone now is able to put up you know, like a little table and chairs and that's wonderful, but it would be really nice to utilize um a larger space for for other businesses to pop-up sort of things. That's it. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Public comment? No, okay, so moving on. We don't have any public hearings. We don't have any old business.
009So, we'll now go to 7A discussion with Dr. Julie Lovelace Superintendent of Schools, Winchester Public Schools. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> I have a couple of board members here, Sandra and Kurt. I don't know if they >> Mhm. >> want to join us. >> Do you want them up here? Yeah. >> Okay, I'm ready with your questions. What can I do for you? >> Well, one of the things we've we've been wondering about is is what's the actual capacity of the school system right now. Is it at capacity? Does it have room to grow? You know, not just room sizes, you know, fire capacity, but actual with teachers and all that. >> So, we are a very, um, flexible organization. We ebb and flow with the number of students that come into the school. So,
010um, in the bigger picture, whatever number of kids show up, we'll figure it out. Um, right now we are the we have we don't have a lot of empty classrooms. So, at Hinsdale, there's one or two rooms that could be purposed back into classrooms by doing a little work to take maybe, um, like one classroom and create several smaller spaces, and then we could take some of the smaller programs out of full-size rooms. So, we could probably have about two rooms at Hinsdale. At Pearson, again, by sort of pulling people out of places that they are and cramming them into closets and things, we could probably have about three or four classrooms. Um, we currently have a couple of preschool classes that are not uh, Winchester public school programs. They're Winchester kids, but they're run
011by EdAdvance, a Head Start classroom and a, um, school readiness program in Pearson. One of my thoughts is if we're, um, taking good advantage of all of the, um, financial incentives at the state level right now, we're eligible for 100% reimbursement if we want to do any, um, construction, for example, like a preschool addition at Hinsdale. We would literally get 100% reimbursement. We're eligible as a town for 70%, uh, just based on our wealth level, and then there's two 15% bonuses because the preschool is a special education program and it's an elementary program that meets another grant set. So, one of my thoughts would be as we're looking, to A, be able to do better with the kids we have, and also be prepared for the possibility of more students. If we were to take
012advantage of that, that would free up some room at Pearson cuz we'd bring over those preschool programs. So, that's one possibility. That would mean that there was more room at Pearson um than there is currently. We have um typically four classes at a at every grade level. Um the lower grades have um tighter class size restrictions in the teachers' contract and it goes up as the kids get older. Um the classrooms themselves in Pearson, the teachers' contract allows up to 24 students in a class. The rooms just barely Some of them are large, but many of them are tiny. At 24 kids, you're you're shoulder to shoulder, you know, you're pretty tight. So, you can't really get much past that anyway. So, when you think about development, you know, you never know what kind of
013kids are going to show up and we've got room for, you know, a few at every grade easily. Um if 15 kids in one grade level showed up, we'd have to open a classroom. And if we had to open one classroom, we can figure that out. If we had to open one classroom in each building, we can figure that out. Um and if we want to be planful going forward, I would say looking at how to take advantage of the 100% reimbursement and doing some kind of expansion to make a spot for everyone to have preschool would be pretty awesome. But, I don't know if that's >> So, >> what you're listening for. >> You said you had about seven or eight classrooms available. >> Uh one or two at Hinsdale and three or four
014at Pearson. >> So, maybe six. >> At both. >> So, 24 kids per classroom, you've got about 150 available slots. >> some of those at 24, some of them at 20, and some at 18. The pre-K and kindergarten can't go above 18. The first and second can't go above 20. The third through sixth can go up to 24. But, so yes, based on that math, if you were to say if we eked out six rooms, call it 120 spots if the kids happen to arrive in a nice even distribution. Which, you know, you can't predict, but we are pretty scrappy and resourceful. So, you know, we're enthusiastic about whatever growth the town looks to do. >> Any plans for that pre- preschool loan for 100% and going after that? >> Well, I would love to.
015We're We've done the research to ensure that I'm not crazy and we really are eligible for 100% because that's one of those things you hear it and you say, "That's got to be too good to be true." But I've met with the state grants people and the state preschool people. Um my board is very intrigued. They also know that after next week, six out of nine board members are um up. So, our board is turning. So, the thought was get the new board in place next week and then see if the board has an appetite to pursue that. If my board has an appetite, which I think they do, then bring it to the board of selectmen. You know, the town would have to go to referendum for the cost of the project and then
016it gets reimbursed. The only thing that is not reimbursable is the interest on any money you borrow. But other than that, all the construction costs, the architecture, the furnishings, everything else is reimbursable at that 100% rate. Which is crazy. And my thought is that we make it large enough that we have a spot for every 4-year-old in town to just have a regular full get, you know, instead of starting school at kindergarten, you just start at four. And then maybe have half-day slots for the 3-year-olds. Um So, that's sort of a thing we're kicking around that that would >> And you think you you have room in town on the property for what you're you're imagining would be >> So, I'm not the most spatial, but I had reason to speak with the architect. We
017were trying to figure out the culvert and how to So, while I had him on the phone, I said, "So, while we're talking, Dean, what do you think?" And he said, "Well, I'd have to come back out and look at it to be sure." He said, "You probably can go out, you definitely can go up. Um we wouldn't put preschoolers up, but you could always move second grade up and, you know, do a little shuffle shuffle." Um so, he felt confident as the guy that had done the building before that certainly there was room to add a half dozen classrooms if that's what we wanted to do. Which was an exciting concept at 100% reimbursement. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, it's a good deal. >> It's you know, it's an amazing thing to do for the
018town. >> What's that? >> Right. In addition to the classrooms? So, the reason >> two for the Yeah. >> The reason we don't have a gym at Hinsdale now is because the state limits your eligibility for reimbursement based on the size of the student body. So, if we add students, right now we have a cafetorium gymnasium, I don't remember the funny name we made up to It's all things. Um with more students, we'd probably be eligible at that 100% rate. You'd probably add like um a gym, the four to six classrooms, and, you know, like a hallway with bathrooms, and, you know, they'd put on all that at 100%. Which you know, there's a piece of me that says, you know, I know you look you still look surprised. So, Well, it you know, goes
019in the category of like, wow, that's a lot to take on. And then I found myself saying, what kind of superintendent would I be if I didn't say that out loud? Like, that doesn't come along often, 100% reimbursement. But I keep asking and they I have it in writing from the state, like, yes, you're right. It's 70% 15 15, all stackable. You can't go beyond 100%, but you can get to 100. Which if we did that would pull the two preschool classes out of Pearson, thereby making Pearson a little less tight, so that if we need to add some sections there if the community grows and more kids come, that gets easier. And it makes more room at Hinsdale to be able to spread out as well. So. >> Was there like a recent demographic
020study to understand how the town is trending in terms of age and if we're getting younger kids in that are going to >> So >> trend towards uh >> Some school districts there's a Prouda, I think is the guy's name. Prouda does like uh demographic studies and predicts enrollment. We typically have been doing our own uh it just as a cost-savings measure, but we are pretty reliably about 80 kids enrolled in the schools per grade level. Sometimes it's 90, sometimes it's 75, but we have that four classes per grade level and they are almost exclusively right around that 80 number. We haven't seen any drop-off of that. There's one grade level a little bit bigger, but the one above it is smaller. It's the COVID crew. People help their kids out. Um so we have
021no indication that that number is going down or up. We the you do it a little bit based on the number of live births. So unscientifically we do it um and if we were wanting to know as a community, there's like a firm that does that. And they take into account all your housing starts. So if we're looking at, you know, taking a property and how many houses would go in, is it 55 and over, is it family housing, and they take all those things into account. >> And that can be paid for as well. >> Yeah. >> part >> Um that's I don't know if the Prouda study would be considered the construction project. It might. I don't think it's a fortune either. I mean, that's something a lot of districts do every year.
022That's probably a relatively affordable study to do. So if the group was interested, we could find out more about that. >> And I guess is there any pending design standards for schools to understand like 10 years from now, is our current school going to be out of or insufficient based on education standards? I know uh over the years, there's, uh, more square area per student, right? Per pu- per pupil. Is that going to continue trending that way? Um, >> The only place where you really see like per pupil square footage is in a science lab. Um, and in a preschool classroom. Other than that, um, you know, your fire marshal may set capacity on a room, but there isn't like from the state department of education a square foot rule. Um, and we don't have,
023you know, like high school style science labs. We only go to sixth grade, so we avoid that. Um, so the state department hasn't put too many restrictions around that. I mean, like the, for example, indoor air quality standards change, and so now you have to get um, a certain number of years you have to do studies, and then based on those studies do the work. Like they'll make changes like that. Um, most things unless you go to do a renovation, you don't get kicked into being just like if you were doing an addition on your home. Like once you do a renovation, now you have to bring everything up to the newest standards, but usually they would wait until you did that. The good news with Hinsdale, if we did do any kind of anything,
024is it's not an old building, so it there shouldn't be a whole lot of surprises of, "Oh, well, if you do this, now you have to add handicap ramps." Or like, we did all that. So. >> Do you have anything? >> No, nothing really. I mean, other than the reason we wanted you here and looking for this information. We've looking at a lot of development possible in town. We've already approved 40 units at the old hospital. We've got a 35 to 38 approved at the old bachelor school. And if the town develops or has someone committed to develop the Walnut Street property, who knows what will happen. And as a planning agency, we're concerned with with that. You know, what happens in 5 years or 10 years with the school system, with the school, you
025know, that's what we're concerned. >> I would say they're good problems to have. I think, you know, a thriving community serves all of us and my budget gets easier to pass if there's more people paying taxes. >> asking for this information for a couple of years and, you know, we've got figures based on the square footage of the classrooms which are outrageous, but that is cuz you can't get 850 kids in those buildings. Um, Gilbert's got excess capacity right now about 250 students they additional they can hold. I mean, of course, you're talking more staffing, things like that, but >> Right. >> based on that. So, we have information from them, but we're just looking for this information so that when we do have projects come before us, we can make a a good judgment
026call on this decision. So. >> I guess my takeaway point would be go for it. We'll figure it out. >> Well, let's hope so. >> You know, where there's a will, there's a way. Um. >> So, so let's say if we did a capacity analysis and it showed that we're going to be having an issue five years from now, so invest now, um, what would we do? Provide a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen to then >> I mean, basically, there's not an awful lot we can do. We can just make people aware of it, like the Board of Education, the Superintendent, uh, people like that that, you know, here's projects we're approving. We've got more projects that are going to be coming to us. Um, at some point, here's what's going to happen. So,
027>> Yes, I would say >> all I can say is plan ahead. >> If we're very aware of what's coming, then it can help us. Like, I think about the preschool regardless of growth in the town necessarily just because that would be great for the community to have preschool available for people. But, for example, the one at the hospital, I think is veterans housing. >> Well, they say veterans, but they're still some two-bedroom apartments and I don't I'd be surprised if it's all bedrooms. The bachelor on almost half of those are two-bedroom apartments. So, that's what you got. We've got the old nursing >> home that at some point will be coming in as a development. How many apartments or condominiums or what it's going to be there, we don't know yet. We haven't seen
028any plans. So, there's a lot of activity coming down this year or in the next year. >> As those things become more certain, I would say it would be a great time for us to invest in a property >> why we're reaching out now and and trying to get this line of communication going and so >> Yeah, the um product study knows just from doing them for years and years and years like what you know, with the house >> going to happen immediately, but it's >> They know when it's going to hit and they know based on this number of units and this number of bedrooms, you're likely to have this many kiddos. They're very good at that. So, that would be something we could definitely do to be proactive and keep us sort of
029being planful about what we need to do to be ready. Whatever it is, we'll do it, but >> Thank you. Sean, you got anything? >> I'm just glad you're here. >> I thank you for the invite. >> Would that Would that be Would that be our recommendation? >> What's >> It's for Board of Education to go and perform a capacity analysis. It's paid for. And at least >> I mean, until we till we start approving projects or more projects, you know, it's it's something for the Board of Ed will be looking at with the new board coming in especially. Okay. >> And I'm And it sounds to me like she's going to be sure they hear it, so >> Well, >> Yep. >> It seems they do have capacity for what's planned right now or
030approved. So, >> Yeah, that's good. Thank you. >> Good, thank you. >> Thank you for coming in. >> We appreciate your time. >> Okay, so now we're back to item six, new business. BCC 25-16, applicant Elizabeth Durham, location 93 Wetmore Avenue, town single family proposal of special permit application for a home occupation occupation section 415-45. And Hi. Unfortunately, we're basically just accepting these applications tonight. You're not going to have a public hearing tonight or anything. Uh >> I mean, there there there is it's a little late in the season, but anyway, you know, so >> Yeah. Uh I think we just need to schedule the public hearing. And >> That's it. >> What's the date for the public hearing? >> Uh we're recommending November 24th because of notification timelines. >> November 24th? >> Yep. >>
031I'll make a motion that we accept the application PZP 25-16 um for Elizabeth Thurm, 93 Wetmore Avenue for special permit for home occupation and schedule public hearing at 7:00 p.m. November 24th. >> I will second here. >> Yes, at this location. Yeah. >> Sorry. >> All in favor? >> I. >> See you on the 24th. >> See you November 24th. Okay, so the next one now is item B, PZ 25-17. Applicant Paul Mitchell, location 161 Meadow Street. Zone town gateway. Proposal of special permit application for vehicle sales and service, personal auto detailing. Same thing. Yeah. Uh we're just accepting them. Uh we're going to schedule a public hearing for you, and you get to come back and tell us your story then. >> Okay, fair enough. >> Fair enough? >> I'll make a motion to
032accept PZ C application 25-17, Paul Mitchell, 161 Meadow Street, special permit vehicle sales and service personal. Um and a public hearing date to be November 24th at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall. >> Okay, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Doing a nice job there. >> Looking good. >> All All in favor? >> Aye. >> Doing a nice job there. >> Oh, thank you. >> Okay, so now we're on to other business. 7B, discussion and meeting scheduling and regulation updates. >> Yeah, so one of the things we're talking about in the office is that as we head into winter, we somewhat anticipate a little bit lighter of a application load for you all. And as you know, you just scheduled for two hearings for November 24th, which means which means you have no business
033as of right now for the 10th. Um but we thought maybe that was an opportunity to kind of sit at the table and do some planning work and talk about regulation updates and, you know, things of that nature that we might want to work on. And so, we're just trying to feel you out as to whether or not you want to meet on the 10th. If you don't want to meet on the 10th, then on these months these dark, cold winter months that we don't have application business, do you want to continue scheduling scheduling meetings for those dates so that we can do some behind-the-scenes regulatory work? Or do you want the time off? I think we're okay either way, but we wanted to address it with you. >> I think it's good at those
034slow months to work on this stuff so we don't have to deal with it when we have a lot of business. >> need some time to work on it cuz the spring and summer months, we don't we have too many things going on usually, you know? >> I mean, we worked on >> May only get worse. >> The driveway regulations took forever. >> Took a year. >> So, I think it's a good thing to do that. >> you know, if Candace brought up sidewalks, things like that, I mean, if it's an ordinance that needs to be changed, then that's something that's going to have to be gone go through the selectmen. We We can't change that. But if it's something we can do within our sidewalk regulations that we presently have, it's something that we
035could revise between now and spring. Um >> Plus, Jeremy's list and Jeff have listed some ideas on >> Yes. >> uh their of things we should be >> Right. >> thinking about. >> Just slight suggestions >> Yeah, yeah. >> We have a running We have a running list. >> Yeah, we've had a few discussions in the past that have have added to that. So >> Yeah, but it's a good idea to talk about them while we're not doing other things. >> Yeah, definitely. >> To to that point though, we've had some discussions on some of these topics, but um they haven't gained traction. Do we need Should we be reaching out to any other groups to help us with these or do we feel like >> topics >> So one thing I One thing I'll
036talk about briefly before we um before we get into it a little bit. But the the sort of the middle two there, the update of the LID regulations section and the stormwater management section, there is a There's been a lot of conversation between staff and Willie's been involved in some of this Peter's been involved in this as well. Um but then also HLWA and the Wetlands Commission and kind of a whole host of people behind the scenes have been talking about what we should be thinking about in terms of our regulations to better protect water quality across town, right? It sort of started with Highland Lake cuz that's sort of the crown jewel, if you will. But we have lots of ponds and lakes across the across the community. And they all need the same
037level of protection to, you know, guard against blue-green algae blooms and, you know, decreasing water quality and all the rest of it. So what I would say is we're in the process of that and we have a meeting scheduled kind of a preliminary meeting scheduled with a whole bunch of people, staff and sort of commission leadership, I'll say, for several months. >> Correct. >> Yeah. So I I think what we'll probably do is come to you in January with with a beginning of a discussion of kind of where that group thinks it wants to guide those regulations and then we'll come back to you with those in with some bullet pointed some version of how we think that might want to look. Um but the other stuff, you know, flood plain regulations, that's something that
038I think the the is just way behind on. Um right now your flood plain regs are dealt with in an ordinance that I think probably hasn't been updated since >> Too long. >> Probably 25 years at least. Um and I think it's probably a good move to move those into the zoning regulations and adopt the state model regs. It's >> Oh, yeah. We should definitely be going with the state regs. I mean >> gives us a little bit more control. It gives Jeff a way to make the flood plain map. >> I am. I recently asked for a copy of our flood plain regulations and that's how we got to this, Brian. So, oh my god. >> So, that's something that's that's relatively straightforward. >> Yeah, I was going to say it should be >>
039regs will adjust a few things, get the community name in there. Uh the other exercise that goes along with that is mapping it as best we can. It's a little challenging up here cuz the state hasn't done a flood study in a long time, but I know that they're working on one for this area. So, once that's done, once we have that digitized layer that we can add to your zoning map. So, when somebody's looking at the map, they can say, "Oh, you know, I'm in town single family, but I'm also under the flood plain overlay zone so that they can reference both of those." Uh so, so I think we should probably do that. Um and then smoke shops just came up the other day and I'll let Jeff speak to that a little
040bit. And that's sort of us spitballing in the office and coming to you one to one. But, uh I think we've had some inquiries and >> Yeah, a couple different smoke shop discussions. Uh one someone came to the office and they were asking about opening it at uh Cappy's, which is for sale right now. And unfortunately, the regulations would allow it. Uh but then he started saying, "And I might want to have some chips and some drinks." I said, "Nope. Now you're a convenience store." So, we need to find out where that line is for the slippery slope, but I think really the discussion here is where do we want these things? Maybe town gateway is appropriate and town center is not. Uh so, that's a discussion for you guys. We can carve it out
041of the, you know, the big box and make its own box and put some special rules on that. So, that's a good topic for November 10th. >> Yeah. >> Start that one. >> That should be relatively easy. >> The way you said that, Jeffer, other communities doing that, carving that out like that? Jeremy? >> Yeah, a lot of communities are working into that now. >> Can you Can you know what something to look at? Yeah, yeah. Of course. Why not? Yeah. Okay. >> We started to compile that. >> Great. >> There's There's a number in the state that is trying to do that. And it's really It's a change in the definition. It's adapting a definition so that it can It comes out with with retail small-scale retail or whatever the Whatever the catchall is
042right now. >> Does the ecosystem make that easier for you? >> Yeah. >> When you say smoke shop, are we talking about vapes or THC? >> We're talking vapes and cigarettes and cigars. THC is a whole 'nother thing, although some of these smoke shops like to just sell that, too. So, that that's part of the problem with those operations. >> You know, and it's if you've driven through other communities that have them, it's it's not always a favorable look on your main street. You got these all the flashing lights and everything else, and you know, the big arm-flailing, waving inflatable tube men and everything, and you know >> Those are not allowed. >> Those don't have to >> We got rid of those. >> They're not allowed. >> That's kind of like how they show
043up. >> They all the time. >> We have Jeff to get rid of those. >> Yeah, right. >> The law was just so long and Jeff put the kibosh on it. >> Okay, so we'll add those two things. Is there anything else that the commission wants to >> So, the the flood plains. Now, does the state have an updated flood plain map or that we would be working with? >> So, they come from FEMA, and FEMA is currently doing a flood study. I think all of Litchfield County is finally getting updated, right? >> Yeah, I believe they they just finished um >> Well, Mom announced one where you can put in your address and you can see the flood plain on your property. >> Uh they did just finish some section of town, but a
044very small section and they need to move on to the rest. So, right now we don't have a lot of data. >> are getting nailed in the back. Especially around the lake, they're getting forced to buy flood insurance unless they can prove they're outside of the flood zone. >> Yeah, and right and then you've got to you've got to hire an engineer and determine the elevation and do a flood amendment. Yeah, a surveyor can do it, too. >> You've got to know the elevation. >> Right, and that's usually tied to the dam. You know, again, having worked in the lake community in all too familiar with that process. But yeah, most of the state has updated flood study from 10 years ago or so, but Litchfield County and most of Windham County was left out
045of that. And so, I think they're finally getting around to to doing that. So, we don't have digitized layers at the moment. We have these old flood maps from the '70s, but we're getting around to getting those up. >> Have you Have you looked at the subdivision regulations or anything at all? That's something that we haven't touched since I've been on the board and I mean, not that we've had any come before us, but at some time we've got several large tracts of property for sale around town. You know, and you know, at some point we're going to see a subdivision come in. You know, one of the big things I've talked about to couple of planners is would the subdivision regulations require some type of cisterns for fire protection outside of the city limits.
046So. >> And if you guys think of any other topics, not just right now, but you know, before the meeting, just email me and we'll get them on the list. >> just something that you get a chance, you two guys take a look at them and cuz they've I couldn't tell you when they were last updated. It's been a long time. >> I read through them once, but it was a while back. >> they're >> Then everything I've read through them, too, but >> I think farm stands came up a couple weeks ago. >> Yeah, and you know, we could just roll right into that with Candace's comments tonight. >> Shipping containers came up. >> Shipping containers always come up. >> Yeah. >> Tiny homes, secret accessory dwellings. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, tiny homes, I'm
047not sure if we need to do anything there. The the building regulations do allow for smaller homes to be built with certain standards. Uh if we wanted to have even more regulations, we could, but that's sort of working itself out on the building side of things. But alternative lodging, I think is definitely a good topic. >> Alternative lodging. >> Yeah, not not just a a regular hotel, but boutique hotels, uh you know, we might want to >> We can talk tents if we like. Yeah, yurts, all all the like. But just additional lodging capability in town for you know, attracting visitors. So we should definitely look at those in the legs. >> does the legislature do anything like know are they working on any blanket regulations for that? Cuz Massachusetts just put through by right
048like ADUs and tiny houses. By right, you can't restrict them, you can't make it hard to put them on. They you can do it. So Connecticut working on anything like that? >> Not that I'm aware of. Not that I'm aware of in terms of tiny homes. 5002 I think included a I think it was 5002 and Scott, you might have a memory of this and Rista, I kind of wish she was here cuz she might remember, too, but I think 5002 had a provision in there where the opted out of the ADU regulations that came in as part of 3129 3 or 4 years ago. I think that sunset within 5002, which of course got vetoed by the governor, but I just saw a thing the other day that they're working in the background and
049and I think there's a a special session coming up and looks like 5,000 2 is going to be back on the table. What's in it? I couldn't tell you. I I don't know if that provision still in there, but But right, I mean right, we you know, we we created it the legislature created a regulation or a statute to require ADUs across the board, but then provided an opt-out. So, it's kind of like, well, why go through the effort of that if you're just going to let towns opt out of it anyway. Um but uh you know >> Well, we know why. I mean, that's the politics of the the issue, so. >> So, we'll see where that goes, but you know, one thing that you might want to think about with ADUs and I
050know Shirley and you've brought this up a couple of times, but you know, sort of tiny home communities, right? Our zoning regulations, you cannot legally put a minimum size on a dwelling unit. The building code does in terms of bedrooms and some other things, but we cannot have minimum sizes. case law on that. Um but what you might want to think about is tiny home communities where you allow more than one on a lot. Town single family, I think is a single home on a single lot. Um and maybe that's probably it might be the appropriate location, something we could talk through, but you might want to think about, you know, larger lots, maybe you can put 10 or 15 of these things in there and age restricted or you know I'm spitballing here, but
051but something to think about in terms of tiny homes. Cuz right, they're they're usually single occupancy or double. You might have one or two people but they're not going to attract kids. They're too small. And so, you end up with folks that are looking for smaller housing, you know, singles, couples, older couples, younger couples, that kind >> Downsizers. >> So, on the other side of that I know up in Berkshire County there's a bunch of people have been running around looking at the larger parcels of land to build family compounds with multiple houses on them. So, is that something you think we should be looking at for large parcels? >> I don't know that we've got any demand for it, but you know, we could we can certainly talk about it if you've got an
052example that you're aware of up there in one of their towns, we we can look at it. >> I have a friend in Sandisfield of 1500 acres. They have a horse farm and they have a house for the grandparents. They have a house for but they kept buying lots. They bought a camp. They bought a camp on a lake. They have an antique house, another antique house, another antique house, their house, a barn. >> So, they're technically separate lots, but they're yeah. >> But they're all they're all on separate lots. >> Yeah, but they're contiguous, yeah. >> All owned by different >> And they're all contiguous. They're all next to each other. >> Yeah. But there was people that have been looking at, you know, two or 300 acre lots to put family compounds on.
053I don't know if it's come through in front of you or not, but >> No, I haven't heard that one yet, but we certainly have the space to allow for that sort of development. So, maybe we put some regs in and see if we can attract people. >> Well, you got a you got a list. >> We got a list. >> You asked for it. >> But you know, I think it's a good opportunity through the through the the cold dark months here. When you're searching for the the smoke shops personally, like are there any other types of businesses that we might want to regulate as well or limit? I know smoke shops came up because you were asked, right? Are there any others? >> I would probably look to you and all of you.
054>> Yeah, nothing's coming to mind, but I would assume so. So, if you have other examples, we can definitely discuss them. >> There might There might be other uses that you might want to consider allowing, too, that are not currently allowed. >> And I'm I'm not I don't have anything in mind, but there might be, right? >> Yeah. >> You want Main Street filled. >> Um >> Yeah, we want it filled. >> We want it filled. We don't want it filled with smoke shops. >> Yeah, right. >> appropriately >> appropriate things >> And they got to you know kind of calm on the neon lights and all that stuff. >> My view is that's the cart before the horse. You have to have good residential and attractive and solid residential and then Main Street will
055come. >> Yeah, I I >> It's not the other way around. >> It's not. You're right. I mean, you have to have residential around Main Street. You have to have good residential around Main Street, but you also have a little bit of a regional downtown here, too. You're sort of surrounded by a few communities that really don't have much of anything. So if you have >> And yet they still don't use downtown. >> Well, but they might if you you know >> I mean, Highland Lake doesn't even use downtown. So Yeah. >> Sure, they go to Mario's. >> Yeah. >> Economic Development Commission, do they have any like industrial analysis of of our town and what it provides for the market? Where people are going elsewhere, outside of town? Is there anything that's underserved in
056our town or not available that we >> manufacturing space >> The grocery you know, more grocery options, you know, markets. >> That's a tough one. >> Yes. >> That's a tough one cuz the margins are so thin on high-end grocery and you have to stock the job. It's going to be really hard to attract anybody else. >> Mhm. >> You know, and unfortunately they're off on the edge. They're not walkable. They're not in the >> Right. >> That's groceries. Groceries is always something that I hear every town I've ever worked in. Everybody wants more grocery, and then can't support it. Because the margins are just so so thin. It's allowed. It can be there. >> nice if you get if you could encourage outlets, stores that small outlets in Ringsted, that would be nice. If
057you could encourage them, but you know. Even like you What is that big sporting goods store, you know, where everyone gets their guns and their their gear and everything. But, you know, if they had that sort of brand name in town where it would be a convenience to get certain things there. But, then we have supply and demand and supply, so. >> Right. >> Well, we've got a few things that we can focus on. We'll bring you some things to consider next time we see you. >> That's great, gentlemen. >> Everybody okay? >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, we're on to item eight, approval of minutes. So, I move to read the approved September 22nd, 2025 regular meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Okay. Okay. Any communications that we need to
058know about? >> Nope. Okay, next one is I make a motion to adjourn. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Look at that. >> Five of eight. >> Good job. >> I only second did that. >> I did. >> But, what about the continued >> We continue the meeting, gentlemen. >> numbers. Where do we follow up on that? Okay. >> Uh so, I know some of you have gone to classes