Essex Zoning Panel To Resume Housing, Parking Hearings; Dog Pound, Senior Housing Plans On Agenda

ESSEX, CT — The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to resume public hearings Nov. 4 on proposed middle housing regulations and creation of a parking management district.

Commissioners are also scheduled to receive new applications for a town dog pound and garage, 12 apartments for residents 55 and older, and zoning changes sought by Essex Meadows.

Housing, Parking And Outdoor Music Hearings

The commission’s middle housing text amendment proposes revisions to several zoning regulations and a new Section 46 describing middle housing and its permitting process. The proposal also would establish a purpose statement for the Waterfront Business District and modify parking requirements.

A separate commission-sponsored map amendment would create a parking management district. Both hearings are continuations from Oct. 6.

The commission is also scheduled to open a hearing on Cogent Holdings LLC’s application to modify a special exception to allow outdoor music at 124 Westbrook Road. The hearing’s opening was delayed until Nov. 4.

All three applications also appear under unfinished business and action items.

New Applications And Other Business

The agenda lists five applications for receipt.

The town’s dog pound application seeks a special exception for a 48-by-80-foot dog pound building and a 50-by-80-foot garage at 72 Plains Road. The proposal includes a septic system, drainage, parking and other site improvements.

63 Westbrook Road LLC’s application seeks a special exception for 12 independent living apartments for people 55 and older at 63 Westbrook Road in Centerbrook. Associated work includes a septic system, drainage, parking and other site improvements.

Essex Meadows LLC’s text amendment application seeks changes to the Residential Life Care District to allow additional services, including memory care, increase the permitted number of dwelling units and building height, and modify parking requirements. Related amendments would address the definition of a life care facility and an exception to height limits.

Robin Linares’ coastal site plan application for demolishing and rebuilding an existing single-family home and detached garage at 15 South Main St..

A related special exception application includes that reconstruction and renovation of a second, preexisting nonconforming single-family home on the property. The work would result in total floor area exceeding 4,000 square feet within the Gateway Conservation District.

Under new business, Carlos Efren Rotger and Alexis Ann Cherner are seeking open-space tax abatement status for a parcel on Great Meadow Road, identified as Map 2, Lot 5.

How To Attend

The meeting begins at 7 p.m., Nov. 4, in Conference Room A at Essex Town Hall, 29 West Ave., with participation also available through Zoom.

The meeting ID is 884 9969 9621, and the passcode is 396508. The telephone access number is 646-558-8656.

The full meeting agenda directs residents to Town Hall or the town’s Agenda Center to review applications. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1.