TOWN OF MANCHESTER PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION January 20, 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING TO BE HELD VIA ZOOM 7:00 P.M. AGENDA This meeting will be shown live on Cox Channel 16 and streamed live at http://www.channel16.org/CablecastPublicSite/watch/1?channel=1. Individuals who wish to speak at or attend the virtual meeting must complete a Request to Speak form, available at https://manchesterct.seamlessdocs.com/f/RequestToSpeakPlanning, by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. These individuals will need to join the Zoom meeting and will be allowed to speak when directed by the Chairman. Zoom meeting information will be sent to individuals who complete a Request to Speak form. Only individuals who complete a Request to Speak form will be allowed to join the Zoom meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. VOLTA CHARGING LLC – To revise the zoning regulations at Art. I, Sec. 2 to add definitions for “Electric Vehicle Charging Station” and “Operator” and to add a new Article IV, Section 24: Electric Vehicle Charging Station. Zoning Regulation Amendment (2020-081) NEW BUSINESS: 1. VOLTA CHARGING LLC – To revise the zoning regulations at Art. I, Sec. 2 to add definitions for “Electric Vehicle Charging Station” and “Operator” and to add a new Article IV, Section 24: Electric Vehicle Charging Station. Zoning Regulation Amendment (2020-081) 2. NEW STATE PROPERTIES LLC – For a warehouse addition with associated loading docks, and removal of an existing storage building at 401 New State Road. Special Exception Modification (2020-079) Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plan (2020-080) 3. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES January 4, 2021 – Business Meeting 5. RECEIPT OF NEW APPLICATIONS R:\Planning\PZC\2021\01 - January 20\Agenda 20 JAN 2021.docx TOWN OF MANCHESTER LEGAL NOTICE The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on January 20, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. to hear and consider the following petitions: VOLTA CHARGING LLC – Zoning Regulation Amendment (2020-081) – To revise the zoning regulations at Art. I, Sec. 2 to add definitions for “Electric Vehicle Charging Station” and “Operator” and to add a new Article IV, Section 24: Electric Vehicle Charging Station. At this virtual hearing interested persons may be heard and written communications received. This meeting will be shown live on Cox Channel 16 and streamed live at http://www.channel16.org/CablecastPublicSite/watch/1?channel=1. Individuals who wish to speak at or attend the virtual meeting must complete a Request to Speak form, available at https://manchesterct.seamlessdocs.com/f/RequestToSpeakPlanning, by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. These individuals will need to join the Zoom meeting and will be allowed to speak when directed by the Chairman. Zoom meeting information will be sent to individuals who complete a Request to Speak form. Only individuals who complete a Request to Speak form will be allowed to join the Zoom meeting. Individuals may also submit comments in writing to the Planning and Economic Development Department via email to [email protected], or by mail to the Planning Department, 494 Main Street, P.O. Box 191, Manchester, CT 06045-0191. All written comments received by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be presented and recorded as part of the hearing. A copy of the proposed zoning regulation amendment may be reviewed online at http://planning.townofmanchester.org; by contacting the Town Clerk’s office at [email protected] or (860) 647-3037 to request a PDF by email; or by calling (860) 647-3048 to schedule an appointment in the Planning and Economic Development Department, 494 Main Street. Information about this application will be available online at http://planning.townofmanchester.org by the Friday before the hearing. Planning and Zoning Commission Eric Prause, Chair TOWN OF MANCHESTER PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Megan Pilla, Senior Planner DATE: January 15, 2021 RE: Volta Charging LLC Zoning Regulation Amendment (2020-081) Introduction The applicant has prepared proposed zoning regulation text amendments to Article I, Section 2 to add definitions related to electric vehicle charging stations, and to add a new Article IV, Section 24: Electric Vehicle Charging Station which outlines provisions for the use of electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, in response to staff comments, the proposed text includes the following amendments to add electric vehicle charging stations to the appropriate lists of permitted accessory uses based on zoning district: To Article II, Section 1.03.01 to add electric vehicle charging stations as a permitted accessory use in residential zones where the primary use is residential; To Article II, Section 1.03.02 to add electric vehicle charging stations as a permitted accessory use in residential zones for primary uses other than residential; To Article II, Section 9.13.01 to add electric vehicle charging stations as a permitted accessory use in business zones; and To Article II, Section 9.14.02 to add signage associated with electric vehicle charging stations as a special exception use in business zones. Electric vehicle charging stations are not currently regulated in the Town of Manchester Zoning Regulations. Background Volta Charging LLC (Volta) is a provider of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the country including New England. Volta’s model of charging stations provides free electricity to users by working with brand partners who purchase advertising space on the charging station screens. Notable advertising partners include Netflix, Jaguar, Alaska Airlines and Haagen Daz. There is no audio associated with the advertisements. Volta’s charging stations are typically situated near retail locations. According to the applicant, Volta charging stations exist at three other Connecticut locations: Waterbury (Brass Mill Center), Milford (Connecticut Post Mall), and Norwalk (The SoNo Collection). Volta has entered into an agreement with the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester to install charging stations pending necessary approvals. Volta Charging LLC January 15, 2021 Page 2 of 4 While electric vehicle charging stations are not regulated in the current Zoning Regulations, the signage element of Volta charging stations is in conflict with current signage regulations. Specifically: Article IV, Section 13.05.07 – Billboard signs are prohibited. (Billboard signs are defined as “a sign advertising a service or commodity which service or commodity is not to be found or available on the premises upon which the sign is displayed.”) Article IV, Section 13.10.11 – Electronic message board signs not exceeding 32 sq. ft. of total allowed sign area. The message shall not change more than two (2) times in a 24-hour period. Proposed Regulation Amendment The enclosed proposed regulation text amendment to Article I, Section 2 would add definitions related to electric vehicle charging stations, including “ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION” and “OPERATOR.” Per a suggestion from staff, the applicant has also added “ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POSITION,” which refers to the quantity of parking spaces served simultaneously by the charging station. The proposed text amendment to Article IV includes the addition of a new section: Section 24 – ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION. This proposed new section outlines provisions for allowing electric vehicle charging stations. It is proposed that they be permitted by right as an accessory use in all zones. The proposed language also includes the following provisions for electric vehicle charging stations: 1. That no more than 20 charging positions be permitted per shopping center or free-standing building; 2. That charging station equipment be maintained and operated in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations; and 3. That current contact information of the operator and a unique ID number must be posted on each station. Proposed Section 24.02 addresses the signage issue that is specific to the Volta charging station model. The applicant proposes that signage associated with an electric vehicle charging station be permitted by special exception through the Planning & Zoning Commission in all business and mixed use districts (with the exception of the Historic Zone) with the following provisions: 1. That a maximum of 10 square feet per side per unit (maximum of two sides) is permitted; 2. That the signage may advertise a commodity or service which may not be found on the premises; 3. That the display screen may be internally back-lit; and 4. That the advertisements may rotate at a maximum rate of every 8 seconds. In response to staff comments, the applicant added to the proposed text that display screens utilizing internal back-lighting shall utilize a night or dimmer mode to automatically reduce brightness at night. Finally, in response to staff comments, the applicant added to the proposed regulation amendments that electrical vehicle charging stations be added to the list of permitted accessory uses in residential and business zones (Article II, Section 1.03.01; Article II, Section 1.03.02; and Article II, Section 9.13.01) and that signage associated with electric vehicle charging stations be added to the list of special exception uses in business zones (Article II, Section 9.14.02). These additions reference the proposed Article IV, Section 24 for clarity. Volta Charging LLC January 15, 2021 Page 3 of 4 Staff Review In response to staff review comments, the applicant has made several revisions to the proposed text as described above. Most of these revisions were for clarity and consistency within the zoning regulations. In addition, staff provided the applicant with comments regarding concerns about the signage component of the proposed regulation amendment. These are more broad concerns which the Commission should consider with regards to the proposed Section 24.02, which would allow signage associated with electric vehicle charging stations by special exception.