By Susan MacEachron

The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) held two public hearings on Aug. 13. The first on a proposal to reduce the acreage required for a dog park from 20 acres to two and the second on a proposed re-subdivision of land on Sandisfield Road.

Norfolk’s new Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO), Stacey Sefcik, was also introduced.

The Friends of the Norfolk Community Dog Park (Friends) proposed an amendment to Norfolk regulations regarding the acreage requirement for a dog park. P&Z Chair Tom Fahsbender explained that existing regulations governing recreational facilities list activities that may be established on a five-acre lot, and any activity not specified requires 20 acres. Dog parks are not listed, and consequently 20 acres are required.

The Friends were represented by Timothy Furey, a lawyer from Furey, Donovan, Cooney & Dyer, PC. Furey said no potential site has been identified, but that a modification to the regulation would facilitate finding a suitable location. He noted that the dog park plan P&Z approved in 2023 utilized less than two acres of the 20-acre site.

In his presentation, Furey emphasized that any proposed park would require a special permit and therefore a public hearing. The special permit process, he noted, allows P&Z to establish conditions concerning hours of operation, lighting and waste removal.

There was a lengthy discussion about setbacks for a dog park. P&Z members could not agree as to what should be required or if it made sense to leave the matter undefined and use the special permit proceedings to determine the appropriate setbacks based upon the specific site.

Several Norfolk residents who attended the meeting spoke in favor of the proposed amendment and Fahsbender read 11 letters in favor into the record. There were no objections. P&Z closed the public hearing but decided to continue its deliberations regarding the proposed amendment at its meeting on Sept. 10.

The public hearing regarding the request to re-subdivide approximately 15 acres at 59 Sandisfield Road was brief. Applicant William Gridley, Jr. was represented by attorney Michael Sconyers. It was noted that abutting landowners had been notified and Torrington Area Health had approved the plan. P&Z closed the public hearing and approved the application, with the condition that the applicant provide a letter identifying the beneficiaries of the trust which owns the property.

Interim ZEO Troy LaMere noted that the recently issued zoning permit for a garage and hot tub at the Manor House had been withdrawn after Manor House neighbors appealed the decision by former ZEO Karl Nilsen to the Zoning Board of Appeals. LaMere said the Town of Norfolk had hired outside legal counsel from Cramer & Anderson to provide advice on what the 1996 special permit allows Manor House owner Rachel Roth to do without triggering a special permit modification and public hearing. LaMere said the engagement letter had just been signed and attorney Daniel Casagrande would be providing clarity on what the special permit allowed.

LaMere also reported that he had received inquiries about a property on Loon Meadow where significant logging is underway and three structures have appeared. He said a forester is managing the logging and the town has no say over that operation, but the structures require permits, and none had been obtained. LaMere said former ZEO Karl Nilsen had been denied access to the property. Fahsbender welcomed Sefcik and thanked Marinell Crippen for managing the land use office for the past seven months. He noted that Sefcik would staff the office by herself, but Crippen would continue to be the secretary for P&Z meetings. LaMere said Sefcik had been sworn in and would be starting right away. She has worked on land-use matters since 2006 and expects to spend approximately 15 hours per week in Norfolk.