For minutes of meetings not listed below please contact Alan Lo
at 203-854-6790 or email at alo@norwalkct.org

CITY OF NORWALK

LAND USE AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008

7:00 P.M. LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION

ATTENDANCE:         Douglas Hempstead, Chair; Richard Bonenfant; Michael Geake;                                               William Krummel; Laurel Lindstrom; Douglas Sutton

STAFF:                        Alan Lo, Building and Facilities Manager

OTHERS:                    Jackie Lightfield, Chair, Zoning Commission; Rhonda Keist,                                          Executive Director, Stepping Stones Museum for Children;

                                    Peter Nolin, Attorney for Stepping Stones;

                                    David Park, Chair, Historical Commission;

                                    David Westmoreland, Norwalk Historical Society;

                                    Patsy Brescia, LMMM Board Member;

                                    Sheldon Gerarden, Executive Director, LMMM

7:00 P.M.   Tour of Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum

Volunteer, Ms. Rosalie Rinaldi led the Committee and others on a tour of the Mansion.  She described the history and features of the building.  It was noted that the features of the building were 30 years ahead of its time.   She also talked about the residents who lived there.  The Mansion became a landmark in 1971.  

Mr. Hempstead called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m.

I.                   ROLL CALL

Mr. Hempstead called the Roll and the Committee members introduced themselves.

III.    OLD BUSINESS

B.            Stepping Stone Children Museum

Review Stepping Stone Children Museum ’s revised expansion plan and their proposal for Lease amendment.  Subject to Recreation Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee’s approval on October 15, 2008 , the Parks Committee will forward the following actions to the Common Council. 

**        MR. BONENFANT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to enter into an Amendment to the Mathews Park Lease Agreement with Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Inc. (Museum) to include the following terms:

            Expand the boundaries of the Lease Premises to include area behind the existing old Police Headquarters as presented by the Museum in order to provide approximately 75 additional parking spaces, which includes 35 spaces that the City had agreed to provide as part of Amendment #1 executed in 2002

.

            The Museum will be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the additional parking area.

            The additional parking spaces will be available for all park users.

            The City reserves the right to relocate/reconstruct the additional parking area in the future at the City’s expenses

.

            The Museum agrees to explore options for green features and/or permeable parking.

b.       Approve the Museum’s proposed building expansion plans as required in accordance with the Lease Agreement

Mr. Hempstead said that all of the interested parties have met and he believes that everything has been worked out to everyone’s satisfaction. 

The revised site plans were presented and reviewed.  Mr. Krummel said that he did not understand why the use of permeable parking was not acceptable. Mr. Nolin said that the surface would not hold up.  He said that they would create a non permeable surface and use a rain guard system to collect water.

Ms. Lindstrom asked if the landscaping will be worked out with Planning and Zoning.  Mr. Hempstead said that the Mansion is involved in the landscaping plans. Mr. Hempstead added that he was in agreement with Mr. Krummel and asked if they could use a semi permeable surface for the parking lot. 

Mr. Hempstead said that the Committee’s issue has to do with the lease and allowing the expansion.  Mr. Bonenfant said that he serves on the Parks and Rec Committee and Ms. Lindstrom attended last night as an observer.  He said that the request passes exactly as written.  Mr. Bonenfant said that he gives the applicant a lot of credit for being open to all of the concerns.

Mr. Nolin said that they have to meet Zoning requirements for parking, but they also need parking to accommodate visitors to the Museum; the revisions satisfy a lot of concerns.

Mr. Lo said that he is working on an RFP for architectural design for the demolition and restoration of the site of the former Police Department.

Mr. Krummel said that considering the current economical situation, he would want to see something like the new parking area left for the last phase of construction.  Mr. Nolin said that they can’t build the expansion without building the parking area and this time, the plan is to build the parking lot toward the end of the expansion project.

In response to Ms. Lightfield’s question, Mr. Hempstead said that this Committee is responsible for the leaseline and the terms of the lease.  She said that when this plan gets to the Zoning Commission it should show the complete look of Mathew’s Park.

Mr. Hempstead distributed copies of an e-mail from Diane Lauricella dated October 16, 2008 .  She requested that the Committee vote no concerning the request unless the parking and driveway plans are removed in writing from the application.

Ms. Lightfield said that if parking is supposed to be shared it needs to be indicated on the plans. Mr. Nolin said that from a Zoning point of view, the parking belongs exclusively to Stepping Stones.  Ms. Lightfield pointed out that if something is not represented on the plans, it will not be built.

The Committee discussed the lease lines.  Mr. Hempstead said that in light of Ms. Lauricella’s letter, he would ask for comments beginning from ….in addition…

1.      Mr. Nolin said that the Planning Commission voted on this and said that the plan was in conformance with the master plan of conservation.

2.      Mr. Nolin said that he never heard of such a requirement.  Mr. Bonenfant said that there have been several public meetings

Mr. Hempstead said that these are uncertain times and anything to bring more visitors to Norwalk is a positive thing.  He added that the revised plan reduced parking, natural grade changes and new landscaping will improve sight lines and made the Mansion happy.

**        MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION:

            THAT THE LEASE LINE BE ESTABLISHED FROM THE CORNER OF THE EAST/SOUTH CORNER OF THE EXISTING LEASE LINE RUNNING WEST UNTIL IT INTERSECTS THE PROPOSED LEASE LINE

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

**        MR. KRUMMEL MOVED THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION:

            THAT A PORTION OF THE EXISTING PARKING LOT ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE PROPOSED PARKING AREA, APPROXIMATELY 6, 650 SQ. FT. BE NOTED FOR A FUTURE LEASEABLE AREA FOR STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN AND THAT THE AREA WILL BE MAINTAINED AS CITY PARKING UNTIL A NEW MASTER PLAN OF MATHEWS PARK IS IMPLEMENTED AND THAT STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN, UNDER A SEPARATE EXHIBIT IS OBLIGATED TO LANDSCAPE THAT AREA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY OF NORWALK

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

**        MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

II.                MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S)

          September 18, 2008

**        MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

IV.     NEW BUSINESS

A.      NFCC Referral

**        MR. SUTTON MOVED TO Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an amendment to Fletcher Thompson, Inc.’s  architectural/ engineering design services contract for the Norwalk High School Project, in order to increase the current hazardous material monitoring allowance by $30,000 associated with school abatement work. Acct #0904-5010-5777-B0310”.

Mr. Hempstead said that this is the last of the hazardous removals.  Mr. Krummel said that at this point there should be a better understanding of what is required.  Mr. Hempstead said that part of the challenge is that there are unknowns, and sometimes this has to be done on overtime.

Mr. Bonenfant said that a lot of things are new ideas on a project, so they end up making changes along the way.

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

**        MS. LINDSTROM MOVE TO Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an amendment to Gilbane Building Company’s program management services contract to provide project closeout services on an as-needed basis (non-fulltime) for 2009, for a total not to exceed $147,620.00.  Where applicable, the appropriate fee will be charged against specific projects for future State reimbursement.  Funds are available from various capital budget accounts.

Mr. Hempstead explained that the contract is up at the end of the year, but they need to stay on board to close out the process.  Mr. Lo said that they are in the process of prioritizing all of the schools.  There is $5.7 million left of the $70 million allocated to school construction.

Mr. Bonenfant noted that funds have already been approved for Gilbane to create a priority list; this is an authorization for them to finish the project they started.

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

B.      Approve and refer the following to the Common Council for action:
         
  **      MR. GEAKE MOVED TO APPROVE THE NAMING OF THE HUMAN        RELATIONS CONFERENCE ROOM AFTER MS. MARY T. BROWN          (BEA BROWN)

Mr. Hempstead said that this should be Room 231.  Ms. Lindstrom noted that the room is used for so many meetings, that this would be an honor for her.  Mr. Hempstead said that Mayor Moccia had no issue with this room being named in Ms. Brown’s honor.  He added that the family is aware that this room is used a lot.

Mr. Geake said that it should be worded Mary T. “Bea” Brown.  Mr. Hempstead asked Mr. Lo to check with the family for the correct name.

Mr. Krummel asked about naming public facilities after an individual.  Mr. Hempstead said that is on the agenda for discussion; there is not a formal policy at this time.  Mr. Krummel said that he has no objection to naming room 231 after Ms. Brown.

Mr. Sutton asked if this was time sensitive to coincide with an event.  Mr. Hempstead said that he was not aware of any upcoming event. Mr. Hempstead said that he has no issue with moving this forward.  Ms. Brown certainly qualifies for any criteria that might be established.  Mr. Sutton added that Ms. Brown was highly deserving of this.

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Mr. Hempstead left a voice mail for Ms. Young requesting that she prepares a resolution.

A.            Fodor Farm – Disposition of two houses

          Update on the re-issuance of the RFP for the disposition of the two houses

Mr. Lo explained that the houses were advertised in historical journals and the walk through has been scheduled for November 20^th.  He said that he will keep the Committee updated.  He noted that the Common Council approved hiring an architect for the building with the cupola.

V.      MISCELLANEOUS/DISCUSSION ITEMS

1.              Discussion on the naming of municipal facilities.

Mr. Hempstead asked if anyone wanted another copy of the guidelines on naming buildings. He said that he would like to create a sub-committee to review the guidelines between now and the next meeting.  Mr. Krummel and Mr. Bonenfant agreed to review the guidelines. Mr. Hempstead said that he would like this finalized by the first of the years.

 The November meeting will take place at Norwalk High School so the Committee can see the finished product.  Mr. Hempstead said that he would like to hold the December meeting at either Mill Hill or the Norwalk Senior Center .

**        MR. GEAKE MOVED TO ADJOURN

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi

Telesco Secretarial Services

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