Republican Candidates for the Planning & Zoning Commission

PAUL CHAPLINSKY

Paul "Chip" Chaplinsky currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC).  Prior to being Vice Chairman, Paul served as the PZC Secretary.  Paul has 5 years of Planning and Zoning experience, having being elected to the Commission 4 years ago in 2009. He also served as an Alternate Commission member from November 2008 until his election in 2009.  

Paul completed course work in Land Use by the Center for Land Use Education and Research at UCONN.

During the last 4 years on the PZC, Paul initiated and chaired the "Continuous Improvement Sub-Committee" which was set up to make smart changes to our zoning regulations that incorporate a collaborative approach between the town residents, PZC, staff and business owners.  

Some accomplishments of the Continuous Improvement Sub-committee's work during Paul's chairmanship were the re-zoning of corner lots to allow residents to use more of their lots; there also were improvements to the shed regulations to allow larger shed sizes for residents.  The sub-committee has also developed and passed regulations limiting medical marijuana establishments, (the first in the state with zoning regulations), A-Frame sign regulations for business owners and electronic signs for gas stations, among others.   

Two years ago, Paul became Chairman of the West Street sub-committee.  The Commission first completed an analysis of the entire corridor using a third-party consultant to analyze the West Street corridor and provide professional recommendations from an "outside perspective".  A cross-function committee, made up of Planning and Zoning Commissioners, a Town Council member, residents and business owners within the West Street area was established to collaborate with the community by reviewing the external analysis, conducting public input forums and making recommendations for a vision of the corridor to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  The Commission has since prioritized this work and recently approved the first priority from the sub-committee's work, the new West Street Business zone. 

Paul is the North American Director of Technical Customer Service in the Adhesives Technologies division for Henkel, located in the Rocky Hill CT North American Engineering Center.  Paul holds a Bachelors degree in Chemistry from CCSU, a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science from RPI and most recently an MBA in Management from the University of Hartford. Paul is also a member of the Southington Northern Baseball League (Memorial Park) Board of Directors and serves as the league Secretary.  Paul has lived in Southington most of his life and currently resides with his wife Kim and two children, Christopher and Marina, on the east side of Southington near the High School.  Paul can be reached at pchaplinsky@sbcglobal.net by anyone who desires to reach out and contact him.

Please vote for Paul Chaplinsky's re-election to the Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.