Design Review Board Minutes
Regular Meeting- Tuesday May 22, 2006
Simsbury Town Offices- 5:30PM- Main Meeting Room
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Dahlquist called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM in the Main Meeting room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: John Carroll, Kevin Gray, Mark Naccarato, Richard Schoenhardt, and Anthony Drapelick, and Also present was Mr. Hiram Peck, Director of Planning.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
John Carroll was appointed to serve for John Stewart.
Anthony Drapelick was appointed to serve for Charles Stephenson.
III. PRESENTATION(S), DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
Application of Daniel J. Steinmetz, Member, Res One Realty, LLC – Owner, Guy Gilchrist, Agent, for Signage (Guy Gilchrist’s Cartoonist’s Academy and Cartoon Camp) to be placed on property located at 237 Hopmeadow Street.
Mr. Guy Gilchrist was present to discuss the application. He stated that Mr. Daniel Steinmetz, owner of the property, authorized him to present the signage application to the Design Review Board.
Mr. Gilchrist stated he wishes to place a sign for his business at the side door entrance, his main entrance. The sign will be 7’ wide by 3’ high and located above the door. The colors will be in keeping with other signage on the property. The sign will not be lit. He noted that the business name is listed on the main street sign, however it does not state that his business is a cartoonist’s academy.
Mr. Schoenhardt expressed that for design purposes the sign might work better if placed to the side of the door, not above it. Mr. Gilchrist stated that if the sign were placed to the side, it would not be seen during the day because of cars in the parking lot blocking its view.
There was a discussion about the placement of the sign. The Board agreed the sign should be located above the door in the fascia no further left that the left-hand side of the door and centered vertically.
Mr. Hiram Peck noted that town staff has no issues with the sign and noted that it does not represent an increase in the approved signage for the site.
Mr. Gilchrist was asked to return at future meeting with photographs and the sign drawn to scale.
No motion made. Applicant will return for the June 12, 2007 meeting to discuss the application.
Application of Jim Blanchette, Owner, Jon Powell, Agent, for a Site Plan Approval for an automotive repair facility (Auto~Bon) to be located in an existing building on property at 89 Wolcott Road.
Mr. Jon Powell was present to discuss the application. Mr. Powell was before the Board for an informal meeting on April 24, 2007.
Mr. Powell brought in samples of the materials to be used and highlighted on the elevation plans where they are to be used. He noted that there is the possibility of a freestanding sign set back 21 feet from the curb, but will be a project for a future application. Lighting on the site will consist of a pair of uplights for the trellis, two downlights under the canopy, two lights at the birch tree on the corner, two wall packs at both the exit doors, and two floodlights on the two rear corners, which will be motion set. There will be low voltage lighting for the possible freestanding sign. No pole lights are proposed for the parking area.
Mr. Powell discussed the plantings and the design of the trellis.
Mr. Naccarato asked if a wisteria trellis is to be used between the overhead door and the main entrance, and also expressed concern regarding the aesthetics of the randomization of trellis heights. Mr. Powell said they are debating using wisteria. He answered that he feels the trellises will work and added that they come in a modulated form.
Mr. Gray asked about the handling of waste products. Mr. Powell said that everything will be recycled and nothing will be put into the ground. The antifreeze and the tires will be picked up.
Chairman Dahlquist asked about the house near the site. Mr. Powell said that the house is currently occupied.
The Board discussed the issue of the telephone number placed on the directory door sign. Mr. Powell said that the 2” by 2” sign by the door is used to direct clients to the night key drop area.
Mr. Gray made a motion, which did not pass, wherein the phone number by the door was kept.
Mr. Schoendhardt motioned that the Design Review Board finds the Application of Jim Blanchette, Owner, Jon Powell, Agent, for a Site Plan Approval for an automotive repair facility (Auto~Bon) to be located in an existing building on property at 89 Wolcott Road, as shown on the site plan dated March 15, 2007, and the elevation plan dated March 30, 2007, in its current form to be generally consistent with the guidelines for community design and recommends its approval by the Zoning Commission with the modifications that the phone number shall be eliminated from the signage by the door, and the trellis materials are to be changed from wood to trex.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Naccarato and passed. Mr. Drapelick opposed.
CORRESPONDENCE
None
V. STAFF REPORTS
May 30, 2007 Dover Kohl informational meeting regarding new urbanism concepts.
Mr. Peck explained that Dover Kohl will talk about mixed-use developments, new urbanism, and the results found from their study. The presentation is scheduled for May 30, 2007 at Henry James at 7pm. The focus of the study is the River Oaks project. He noted that because the town fee ordinance is not in place, the work will be funded by Konover Development.
Design Review Board members expressed unanimous opposition to the fact that Konover will be funding the work, and the fact that the South end project is the sole focus. It was expressed that this could result in problems and that the outcome could possibly be dismissed by many in the town. The Board expressed that if Dover Kohl were to study the North end project as well, it could help negate some of the possible uproar. They Mr. Peck said that Mr. Dwight Merriam, Special Council for the South End project, expressed that Konover would be the firm most capable of funding the project.
Mr. Peck reiterated that Konover will not have any influence or be involved in Dover Kohl’s work. He stated that the fee for Dover Kohl’s work would be $5,000.
Mr. Carroll motioned that the Board of Selectman, the Zoning Commission Chairman, the Planning Commission Chairman, and the Conservation Commission Chairman be notified that the Design Review Board agrees with the hiring of professional consultants to look at mixed use proposals and advises that at this point the town should pay for such consultants and that the North End as well as the South End should be included in any review that is proposed.
Mr. Gray seconded with all in favor.
VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF April 25, 2007 and May 8, 2007.
Mr. Carroll made a motion to approve the April 25, 2007 minutes.
Mr. Drapelick seconded with all in favor. Mr. Schoenhardt abstained.
Mr. Carroll made a motion to approve the May 8, 2007 minutes.
Mr. Gray seconded with all in favor. Mr. Drapelick and Mr. Schoenhardt abstained.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Drapelick made a motion to adjourn at 7:00pm.
Mr. Schoenhardt seconded, with all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Kevin Gray, Secretary
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