The City of Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission convened on January 15, 2025, at City Hall Auditorium, with options for attendance via Zoom. The meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Melies, who noted the presence of several commission members both in-person and remotely, including City Planner Jeremy Leifert.

The meeting began with the approval of minutes from the previous meeting held on December 11, 2024. A motion was made and seconded, with the minutes passing unanimously.

Moving to the agenda, there was no old business to discuss. The first item of new business involved a resubdivision proposal for a property located at 53 McDermott Avenue, submitted by applicant Scott Olsen. The commission set a public hearing date for February 12, 2025, to further discuss this proposal.

The next item addressed was Site Plan Number 1547, submitted by 442 High Street LLC for a detached accessory building at 442 High Street. The applicant, Jan Velaso, presented plans for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that would consist of two bedrooms and one bathroom, conforming to the zoning regulations with a total area of 400 square feet. Velaso confirmed that the proposed structure would meet the required setbacks.

City Planner Jeremy Leifert provided a detailed overview of the application, noting that the proposed ADU complies with zoning regulations and that a waiver for an engineered site plan was recommended due to the small size of the structure. He highlighted that the property currently has adequate parking and that the construction would require the relocation of an existing storage shed.

Leifert also mentioned that various city departments had reviewed the application, with no significant concerns raised. The commission discussed the need for the applicant to obtain a sanitary sewer discharge permit and to follow specific conditions regarding lighting and signage.

After deliberation, the commission voted to approve Site Plan Number 1547, contingent upon the applicant meeting the outlined conditions, including obtaining necessary permits and ensuring compliance with setback requirements.

The meeting concluded with no further items on the agenda, and the commission adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for February 12, 2025, to address the public hearing for the resubdivision proposal.