Design Review Board Minutes 02/03/2020
Simsbury Design Review Board Town of Simsbury
Regular Meeting Minutes - Subject to Approval
Monday, February 3, 2020 at 5:30 P.M.
Simsbury Town Hall, Main Meeting Room
933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Connecticut
PRESENT: Steve Antonio, Anca Dragulski, Polly Rice, Elaine Lang
Katherine Beal (arrived 5:44 P.M.) Jim Pennington (arrived 5:51 P.M.)
ALSO PRESENT: Michael Glidden, CFM CZEO, Director of Planning and Community Development
Jackie Battos, Board of Selectman
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Antonio called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPLICATIONS
1. Discussion and Possible Action:
a. Application #19-53 of Tom Tyburski, Agent: Town of Simsbury, Owner
for a Site Plan Amendment of previously approved plan to install directional signage on the property located at 100 Old Farms Road. Zone R-40.
Tom Tyburski presented application #19-53, showing the Board the changes made to the proposed signs according to feedback previously given from last meeting. Also Present was Diane Ahern, of Adams Ahern Sign Solutions, Inc., 120 Vanderbilt Avenue, West Hartford, CT, who designed the signs, and Mark Demming, Friends of Simsbury Farms, who are donating the proposed signs.
Ms. Ahern explained the locations and needs of each of the signs. She also explained the significance of placement and color/design choices for the signs. Ms. Ahern noted that the signs would allow visitors to recognize that they have arrived at their destination, and that this would slow people down, as well as give them directional purpose.
Mr. Demming spoke in favor of the signs, as he feels there is a need to recognize people coming and leaving the property.
The Board discussed the sign designs and colors, rearranging the text to make wayfinding more of the focus, whether two of the proposed signs were permissible or not due to there being a logo on the background of the sign. The Board asked staff for clarification of the regulations regarding having the apple in the background of the proposed Welcome and Exit signs. Mr. Glidden noted that the logo may make the sign a freestanding sign, as opposed to a wayfinding sign, noting that since the zone is residential, only one freestanding sign is allowed. He suggested the Board focus on the aesthetics of the signs. The Board suggested the text on the exit sign be enlarged along with the arrow. The Board also discussed the possibility of changing the shape of the signs, and adding a border.
At 6:14 P.M., Ms. Lang made a motion to give a favorable recommendation on Application #19-53 as amended with the following suggestions:
1. Modify sign #6 so exit is on the top, and thank you for visiting Simsbury Farms is below: Font will match, same size, same design.
2. Slightly shrink font size on Simsbury Farms on Sign #1 and left justify text.
Motion was seconded by Ms. Rice and the motion passed 5-0-1, with Ms. Dragulski abstaining.
At 6:16 P.M., a motion was made by Ms. Lang to add Dixon Orthodontics and a Zoning Compliance Review for Simsbury Natural, LLC to the agenda. Motion was seconded by Ms. Rice. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Dixon Orthodontics, 927 Hopmeadow Street, for a change in design on the Sign. The Board suggests making the 927 bolder.
At 6:21, Ms. Rice made a motion to give a positive referral on the sign design with the suggestion of making the numbers of 927 bolder. Motion was seconded by Ms. Lang and the motion passed unanimously.
At 6:28 P.M, Chairman Antonio recused himself for the following application.
3. Nakia Kearse, 1243 Hopmeadow Street, for a Zoning Compliance Review, for a new sign for Your CBD Store, Simsbury.
The proposed sign meets the zoning regulations. The Board suggested outlining the letters so that they pop and are more readable and visible. At 6:28 P.M. Ms. Beal made a motion to give a positive referral to The Zoning Commission. Motion was seconded by Ms. Rice and the motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Antonio returned to the meeting at 6:28 P.M.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
After review of the minutes, at 6:29, Mr. Antonio made a motion to accept the minutes as filed. Motion was seconded by Ms. Rice, and the motion passed unanimously.
V. ADJOURNMENT
At 6:30 P.M., Ms. Lang made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Ms. Rice and the motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kimberly Rathbun Clerk