A long P&Z meeting, part II

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted on a number of issues before them at their Wednesday meeting, dealing with a massage therapy business, a blighted building on North Main, a pipeline, and the Plan of Conservation and Development. Late in the meeting, they entered into a series of discussions regarding the election of a chair.

After having heard neighbor complaints about a massage therapy business on Ridge Road earlier in the meeting, the Commissioners allowed the owner/operator of the business to present her case. The Commissioners unanimously expressed their support for the massage therapy business, and denied the appeal which sought to revoke her residential unit business permit.

The Commissioners heard from Jacqueline Williams representing JDS Holdings, which

hopes to acquire and rehabilitate a tiny lot at 82 N. Main (the lot is 0.05 acres, about 300 square feet). Jon DeSena, president of JDS Holdings, has a successful track record of rehabilitating abandoned and decrepit properties, having previously done so on Newfield Street and on Washington Street. His request was granted.

Algonquin requested permission for the construction of a pipeline within River Road, to bring Natural Gas to the Kleen Energy Site. Algonquin presented a detailed map (right) to the commissioners. The construction and granting of easements was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Catherine Johnson suggested a fresh approach to the Plan of Conservation and Development. She offered to chair a steering committee which would write the final draft of the document. She said that she would invite anybody in the city to join her on this steering committee. Her only requirement is that people should "like to put in their 2 cents," and be willing to come to 4 meetings. Commissioner Ron Borrelli suggested that the steering committee be balanced, and that invitations be extended not only to conservation-minded

folks but also to people who are part of the Chamber of Commerce. Although the other Commissioners were unwilling to commit to the extra meetings involved in the steering committee, Johnson's proposal was approved without dissent. Johnson said that an invitation to "Fellow Middletown Residents" would be forthcoming in The Middletown Eye.

Inland Wetlands Tables Buckeye Pipeline

In a very long Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission meeting Wednesday night in Council Chambers, the commission considered testimony during public hearings on the Buckeye Pipeline and the Algonquin Pipelines which are proposed to deliver low sulfur fuel oil, and gas, respectively, to the Kleen Energy plant in Maromas.

After three and a half hours of testimony from neighbors of the Kleen energy plant and the proposed pipeline, and representatives from Kleen Energy and Buckeye, the commission voted to table further discussion until more information about wetland crossings in the plan could be obtained.

During testimony, Earle Roberts, a neighbor to the plant, and a member of the Common Council asked several questions and suggested alternate routing. Steve Shorey, of Buckeye, and William Corvo, of Kleen Energy, explained the route selection process, and defended the reliability of the pipeline, the methodology of laying the pipe, and the route itself.

The plan calls for horizontal, directional drilling to place the 12 inch diameter pipeline under some wetlands crossings, such as Sumner Brook, and to excavate a traditional trench for the wetland in question which is on property off Bow Lane.

During the testimony, board chair, Joseph Carta, demonstrated some defensiveness about the process of the application, saying that the Common Council should not have heard testimony, or voted on the pipeline, until the Inland Wetlands commission had held its hearing and made recommendations and decisions. Mr. Corvo explained that the discussions with the Common council were relative to easements, not wetlands, and that their approval was also subject to IWWC approval.

In other business, the panel voted to approve an application to build a gas pipeline to the Kleen Energy plant from the NRG plant within the existing paved roadway on River Road.

They also voted to extend an application by Glenn Russo, previously granted, for a multi-family housing complex on Newfield Street. They also approved an application by Xavier High School to build tennis courts off Randolf Road.

In a final bit of new business, the commission examined a wetlands violation at an apartment complex on Highland Avenue owned by Ted & Carl Charton, where the owners reinforced a stream bank without a permit. The commission decided against punitive action, but directed staff to notify the owners of the violation, and to issue a warning that any further activity in the wetland requires city approval.