By Sharon Challenger.
On March 18, 2021, a Public Hearing by the Haddam P&Z Commission was held at Haddam Elementary School. The purpose of the meeting; to hear from the public regarding their concerns on whether or not to allow Goodspeed Tattoo to relocate from Tylerville to Higganum Center which is designated as a “Village District.”
In the creation of a Village District, Ct. General Statute § 8-2j authorizes zoning commissions to adopt regulations to create village districts and protect their distinctive character, landscape, and historic structures.” When the Village guidelines were established by Haddam P&Z in 2012 regarding what would be allowed in a Village District, Tattoo Parlors were prohibited. (Regulation 5.6.C.8)
However, in an attempt to help Goodspeed Tattoo relocate from Tylerville to Higganum Center, the P&Z determined that a zoning regulation change was needed. Unfortunately, they failed to notify the public (two notices must be published per Ct. General Statutes) that a Public Hearing was scheduled on December 3, 2020. In spite of the failure, they held the meeting without public presence, and the regulations were changed. The action resulted in a lawsuit being filed against the P&Z Commission. The cost to Haddam shown on invoices from the law firm of Halloran & Sage for January and February total $3,244.50. (As of April 19, the Finance Director had not received the March invoice.)
To rectify the situation, Town Planner, Bill Warner scheduled another Public Hearing on March 18, 2021, this time properly notifying the public in advance about the meeting.
HKN inquired via email, prior to the meeting, if Haddam would offer the public an opportunity to listen from home, First Selectman Bob McGarry answered, “I’m unaware of any requirement to have a live online option for in-person meetings, in effect requiring the meetings be hybrid.” He further remarked, “We don’t currently have the ability to do that, but I think hybrid meetings are a good idea and will be even after the pandemic. We are exploring what equipment and software we need to get.”
HES does not have wi-fi available, but there are other town-owned locations which do (for example the Firehouse).
In an attempt to learn more about how the meeting proceeded, Haddam Killingworth News obtained two CDs of the meeting from the Town Planner’s Office. Unfortunately, the quality was so poor it was difficult to make out much of what was being said. At times there was a great amount of noise from the people in attendance.
In the unapproved P&Z minutes, those who spoke in favor of the zoning change numbered twenty-two. Those opposed numbered forty-five with three present at the meeting. Marge DeBold read 3 opposition letters into the record and asked the commission to consider the effects their actions will have on the integrity of the zoning regulations.
Chip Frey, former P&Z Commissioner, read two letters in opposition and attempted to read one approved by 44 people who were also opposed but was unable to finish because the crowd began shouting and yelling. Mr. Frey reported that those who spoke in favor of the zoning change favoring the Goodspeed Tattoo, were “cheered and applauded whereas those opposed were shouted down and booed.”
The letter which shows the 44 residents who were opposed to the regulation change can be viewed here: https://www.haddam.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif4486/f/agendas/pzc_3.18.21_public_comment.pdf
The following are excerpts from resident’s letters written to P&Z which can be found here: www.haddam.org/planning-zoning-commission/agenda/planning-zoning-commission-meeting-2
Linda Talbott’s letter stated, “We are desperate to have more business come into the center of Higganum; however, I do not believe that a Tattoo place fits in with the village atmosphere that townspeople expressed with the Charrettes.”
Patrick L. Pinnell, a current member of the PoCD Implementation Committee, clarified in his letter why he feels the P&Z Commission’s proposed zoning amendment “violates the spirit of the Connecticut General Statutes” regarding Village Districts. He remarked that Haddam’s leadership and the P&Z Commission have “not shown a clear sense of vision for the town and its three Villages, despite that being enunciated in the 2018 Plan of Conservation and Development.”
Resident, Mike Karam stated his opposition, “This reckless text amendment and the precedent it will set is just one more example of the lack of vision, and more importantly one more example of how Higganum has lost its sense of place.” He noted that people came to the Charrettes to share their vision of how they want Higganum Village to develop.
Writing in favor of the proposed amendment was Jessica and Alexander Condil. They wrote, “Goodspeed Tattoo has survived a pandemic and as a community we cannot afford to lose any more local business.”
Stephen Simko wrote, “I just wanted to express my support for the proposed Tattoo shop in Higganum Center.” In closing he asked others to support the business.
So how did we find ourselves in this situation? In an attempt prevent the loss of another business in town, the P&Z and Town Planner, Bill Warner were determined to help Goodspeed Tattoo stay in town. But is this their responsibility? Is finding a rental property for a business a part of their job description? Other locations in Tylerville were available, so why were they not considered?
Some residents question, “Why did we spend time and money on the Charrettes, if the plans are going to be disregarded?” and “Why did we go through the trouble to set up the PoCD where volunteers spent hundreds of hours establishing plans for the future, only to have the P&Z disregard what was set down as the “vision” for the future?”
Many feel a frustration over the loss of businesses in our community, and fear for the future. They question the regulations and wonder if we need to re-think what should be allowed and where. Will our “vision” have to change with the times? What are we willing to do to attract more businesses? These are questions we will be faced within the coming months and years.
