Design Review Board Minutes 05/14/2013 ADOPTED

DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
MAY 14, 2013
REGULAR MEETING

I. CALL TO ORDER

Emil Dahlquist, Chairman, called the Design Review Board meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.  The following members were present:  John Carroll, Anthony Drapelick, Rick Schoenhardt, Kevin E. Gray, Charles Stephenson, John Stewart and Rita Bond.  Also in attendance were Hiram Peck, Director of Planning, Janis Prifti, Clerk, and other interested parties. 

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairman Dahlquist appointed Commissioner Drapelick to serve as an alternate for William Gardner, and Commissioner Carroll to serve as an alternate member for the vacancy on the Board.

III. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION

1. Village District Zone

The original intent was to cover 2-3 areas, but financial allocation allowed for only 1 area.  The focus will be from Rte. 185 to Powder Forest Drive; the Rte. 10 Study focused on that area as well and this Village study should benefit from that information.  The kickoff meeting was last night at Eno Hall with about 30 attendees, including area property owners.  The consultant provided 1) an overview of the process which was recorded by SCTV; 2) then the group divided into 3-4 tables of about 8 people each discussing what people liked or did not like reflected in green/red dot maps.  The 3nd part was a discussion of what attendees saw for the future for different areas, including access to the river, the need for sidewalks, discussion of the 2 monuments and their potential relocation, ways to calm traffic, which buildings should stay, and someday if the Mitchell family were to decide to close their business (which represents about 30% of the area), what are some alternatives for that location.  The consulting team reflects a good balance of expertise, and has a good understanding of the issues and complexity of the process.  Area residents appreciate the gathering spot provided at the local gas station and that location might be redesigned with cafe services up front near the street and gas services relocated to the back.  Multi-use parking near Riverview was discussed, e.g. commuter parking during the week and banquet parking on weekends/evenings.  Cutting edge long and short-term ideas will be considered connecting the north and south halves of the Village.  In the medium-term, the Village District Regulation will be created to survive the process and the vision plugged into the Regulation.  Commissioners were invited to participate in future meetings.

2. Marketing

Last Thursday at Masonic Hall the Marketing Study meeting for the Town was held with the goal of looking at the Town's place in the State enabling the consultant to make suggestions, e.g. using the river as a resource and connecting it to recreational activities.  Pages 7, 8, 9 and 10 contain questions for the Commissioners to fill out and submit; those comments can also be entered online at Simsburystrategy.com.  Phase I utilizes all available funding and is scheduled to be completed by June 30th; Town Staff have submitted a grant application to the State for Phase II funding with no response to date.  The consultants know about the previous Charrette and Rte. 10 studies which may provide a template.  Phase I will survey, analyze and list what the Town has and what is needed; Phase II is how to get there and requires significant work and funding.  Herman Drive's landlocked location in the north end of Town and potential access through an industrial park was discussed, as was the example of Phonon's successful expansion at Simsbury Airport.  People are encouraged to complete the website Survey Monkey questions. 

3. Hartford Land Use Study

RFQ's are due back by May 20th in order to select a high-quality, experienced team to study the best use of the property.  The structure is 638,000 sq. ft. with a variety of useable parts; and 40 acres of land is available on the north side of the property.  The goal is to develop a plan and move forward by September with significant public involvement, transparency, and a code developed.  This should improve the Hartford's ability to market the property with Townspeople in agreement; their real estate consultants have agreed to work closely with the Town during this process.  It is hoped a mix of uses will be developed to come up to the current grand list.  The team skill set for this study is different than for the Town Center.  The Commissioners were invited to provide ideas and suggestions.

Regarding the Charrette capital projects budget, landscaping, street lighting and sidewalks were included.  A Main Street Initiative Grant for $500,000 has been submitted and looks good; a quality parking deck to serve area businesses is important and may double/triple parking and can be  independent of the Senior Center site decision.  A Town-wide survey regarding the 3 Senior Center sites under consideration at a cost of $10,000 was discussed in order to focus design expenditures on one site.

Big Y is in the final stage of  DOT's expedited process at the end of 8 months.  The lower 6 acres of the property may see proposals for modification in the next 6 months.  Wagner Ford's building is not part of Big Y and involves an ownership question.

Dorset Crossing housing drawings have not come in to the Town yet.  The MS housing building has received necessary approvals and construction may begin in July.  CL&P has moved forward with their addition.

Regarding the Andy's location, the site is available for lease and may require cleanup, as does the Getty Station. 

Foundation sections are being brought in for Mill Crossing housing; and there are already 6-8 occupants in residence.

Powder Forest is being advertised as Carson's Way; the Board of Selectmen have imposed a $7,000 per unit restriction with 6 units in the first part and 7-8 units in the 2nd part and all of them may buy their way out of the restriction.

The BOS recently passed the affordable workforce housing overlay zone allowing for 6 different types of development, e.g. for single family houses 6 units per acre and 20 units per acre for the most dense housing.  The State Incentive Housing Zone statute provides some design guidelines, and suggestions for appropriate properties and number of units. 

Other approved changes to housing include:  1) Formerly a house had to be 5 years old before accessory housing could be approved, but now as long as the property owner continues to reside there, the restriction is removed; and  2) the former size restriction of the unit maximum from 1/3 of the existing dwelling or 1000 sq. ft. did not meet the needs of smaller housing and is increased to a maximum of 1000 sq. ft. or 2/3 the size of the dwelling.

A proposed center zone regulation change related to signage may come before the Commission shortly.

IV. CORRESPONDENCE

None.

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of April 23, 2013

Commissioner Carroll made a motion to approve the April 23, 2013, Meeting Minutes as written. 

Commissioner Drapelick seconded the motion, and it was passed with Commissioners Gray and Stewart abstaining.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Gray made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 p.m.  Commissioner Schoenhardt seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

_____________________________
Emil Dahlquist, Chairman