Harwinton planning commission reviews subdivision rules; Public Works supervisor urges underground utilities

The Harwinton Planning Commission met July 8 at Town Hall and heard an informal review of the town's subdivision regulations, during which Justin Downes, Department of Public Works supervisor, recommended minor changes to Sections 4.10 and 4.13 and urged adding language that it is "encouraged that power utilities be underground."

Downes, who appeared with Land Use Coordinator Polly Redmond, told the commission the suggested edits are intended as modest clarifications to the May 20, 2013 regulations. He stated the commission should consider language that explicitly encourages placing power utilities underground; the transcript records his recommendation as: "encouraged that power utilities be underground." The commission did not vote on any text changes during the meeting.

The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with Chairman Michael Orefice presiding. Paul Roche moved to approve the minutes of the June 10, 2026 meeting; Secretary Alan Colombie seconded. The motion was recorded as passing, with Commissioner Kurt Erwin refraining from the vote because he was absent from the June 10 meeting. The agenda included Public Act 21-29, Section 9 (required training for municipal land use commissions), but no discussion occurred on that item.

Following the review and routine business, Roche moved to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.; Colombie seconded and the motion passed. Land Use Coordinator Polly Redmond prepared the minutes.

No formal amendments to the subdivision regulations were adopted at the meeting; the discussion in this session was advisory and recorded as an informal review. Further action would require formal referral, drafting, and a subsequent vote by the commission.