Winter Storm Adrianne packing blizzard conditions for Connecticut

Photo by Barbara Rioux. Copyright 2010 HTNP.com

A Blizzard Warning has been issued for the entire state of Connecticut as a large storm that brought a rare white Christmas to parts of the south heads up the eastern coast. 12 to 18 inches or more of snow is forecasted by the time the storm ends Monday afternoon. In addition, the storm’s winds will be blowing and drifting snow causing near whiteout conditions and zero visibility.

This winter’s first storm of the season has been named Adrianne.

The National Weather Service originally issued a Blizzard Warning for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London Counties through 6 p.m. Monday and a Winter Storm Warning for Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties, but as of 1:30 this afternoon the NWS issued the Blizzard Warning across the entire state until 6 p.m. Monday. In addition, a Coastal Flood Watch for Fairfield County and a Coastal Flood Advisory for lower New Haven, Middlesex and New London Counties have been issued.

According the NWS, a Blizzard Warning is issued when “sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph are expected with considerable falling and/or blowing and drifting snow. Visibilities will become poor with whiteout conditions at times.”

Many towns have issued parking bans and local events have been canceled and postponed.

Many flights to and from Bradley International Airport have been canceled. If you have travel plans, you should call the airline first to check your flight.

Governor M. Jodi Rell ordered the state’s Emergency Operations Center to open Sunday to monitor conditions. “This storm’s high winds and significant snowfall will pack quite a punch, and we will continue monitoring its path closely,” Rell said. All of the state’s 632 plows, along with subcontractors, will be out clearing the roads. She asks that people stay home and off the roads if at all possible to allow the roads to be cleared.

Link:  National Weather service warnings for Connecticut

Posted 12-26-2010

Mansfield PZC hearing to focus on zoning regulation changes

The planning and zoning commission will host a public hearing next month to gain feedback on some revisions to its regulations.

The hearing will be part of the PZC’s meeting Jan. 18, 2011 after the commission unanimously ap­proved the date Dec. 6.

The PZC has been looking at various regulations over the last few months, but has had to wait on holding a public hearing while making some final modifications. During the Dec. 6 meeting, Mansfield Director of Planning Gregory Padick said the most recent changes ensure the PZC will know about proposals that are being discussed by other land-use boards.

Some of the revisions are in­tended to give the PZC and other land-use boards the chance to pro­vide more input on larger projects before developers submit formal permit applications to the PZC.

Some PZC members raised concerns they have not received timely notification when devel­opers meet with other land-use boards in the past and asked for the additional language.

Padick also said the PZC can make additional changes before the Jan. 18 public hearing if mem­bers find additional concerns while reviewing the latest draft.

” We’re not locked into the word­ing,” he said.

The revision would create a two­-step permitting process for larger projects, with developers submit­ting initial plans for input and guidance from land-use officials before submitting final designs for the necessary permits.

The proposal would only require that subdivisions involve the cre­ation of a new road or at least four lots to go through the new first step, but the PZC wanted addi­tional language recommending the step for all subdivisions.

The proposed revisions would also allow developments to have up to five homes along a common driveway, up from the three-home limit in current regulations.

The PZC would need a three­-fourths majority, though, to ap­prove a proposal that has more than three homes along a common driveway.

Other proposed changes include a requirement for developers to conduct some of the initial road­work for any homes along the road before the town grants build­ing permits. Currently developers do not need to do any roadwork beforehand, but Padick has said those situations have occasionally caused safety issues.

Posted 12-26-2010