Design Review Board Minutes 10/08/2013 ADOPTED

DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
OCTOBER 8, 2013
REGULAR MEETING

I. CALL TO ORDER

Emil Dahlquist, Chairman, called the Design Review Board meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.  The following members were present:  John Carroll, Anthony Drapelick, Kevin E. Gray, Rick Schoenhardt, Charles Stephenson, Rita Bond, and John Stewart.  Also in attendance were Janis Prifti, Clerk, and other interested parties. 

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairman Dahlquist appointed Commissioners Bond and Carroll to serve for two vacancies.

III. INFORMAL PRESENTATION

1. Informal review of Zoning Commission Application #13-43 of Terri-Ann Hahn of LADA, P.C. Land Planners, Agent for Town of Simsbury, Owner, for a Site Plan Amendment for Simsbury Veterans Memorial on the property located at 725 Hopmeadow Street (Map G10, Block 203, Lot 049). Zone SC-1.

23 months ago, the Veterans Committee began looking at the possibility of building a veteran's memorial in Simsbury.  A variety of sites were considered, and currently, a site near the Library is said to have BOS support.  Its integration into the overall Town has been considered and the current location was described as on the corner of Library access and Hopmeadow Street.  The overall area is wooded with scrub vegetation and one nice deciduous tree that would remain in place; only damaged trees would be removed.  The area would be lifted up to the level of the sidewalk to create a plaza.  The memorial focus would be to create 6 columns for each of the services - Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, and Merchant Marine (recently disbanded, but still represents a service) - with a front stone wall enclosing the space and flagpole; the existing sidewalk would be extended into a slightly different paving pattern to be used for inscripting names and fund raising purposes and a consistent color maintained, but with pavers twice as large as street sidewalk pavers; and a column stone wall with a series of insignias at the column base for each service and an elevated stone with names inscribed of Simsbury residents killed while serving their country, including back to the Revolutionary War.  The first two stones would be used and the second two stones would be available for future inscription.  A metal fence runs along the retaining wall top lifted up to the sidewalk level and would serve as a backdrop for existing trees.  The columns are supported by the entablature displaying the words "All gave some and some gave all" to remind people the plaza is about people.  The central focus of the entablature is a glass panel with actual faces representing different events, e.g. Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and introduction of women into the military over time.  They have been coordinating with the Library how construction would occur.

Regarding the DOT wide right-of-way, they are a good distance back; the memorial was redesigned based on the Library's comments and they are said to be very supportive.  The Commissioners would like to see Town Staff's report before making a decision. 

Regarding the design's origin, the Applicants were looking for a memorial classical in nature, a symbol of strength and stability that would not age, with a simple column connected by the entablature to reinforce the overall space whether the trees are present or not over time.  The Commissioners noted the Charrette called for a potential future pond in this location and the plan provided a concrete retaining wall should water come up to the bottom; possibly the wall would be faced with brownstone or a visible color modular element.  There is no landscape plan, except natural trees to exist and they would extend the brick sidewalk element to this area.  The front retaining walls would be 2 feet tall with a small cap.  Visitors would park at Boy Scout Hall or the Library; signage may be required.  The height of the 25-foot lit flagpole not extending higher than the trees was discussed and could go higher.  The Commissioners discussed the scale, design and superstructure of the memorial over time with woodlands and a pond behind it; the Applicant has another step to get to the actual image and costs and wanted it to look anchored but not heavy or flimsy. 

While this formal memorial may be used for ceremonial purposes, the existing Eno Hall Memorial will remain at parade end.  It was discussed that this is the only available site for this memorial on Hopmeadow Street and its visibility as part of the Town was acknowledged to be important, and whether lighter color columns or brownstone would be better.  Regarding the glass panel tribute, it would have colorless LED lighting from the bottom and lit at night; the faces would be identifiable and from historic photos or paintings.  The war events would end with Afghanistan on the glass panel with room for no further face etchings; alternatively, the glass panel would have to replaced.  The six service wall disks would be in bronze with the center one possibly Simsbury Veterans Memorial and the Town seal.  Parking spaces begin on the Library side and would be close to the memorial with the Library Board having requested a good separation.  The nearby Schulz Park Pavilion was discussed as having similar columns.  Locating the memorial further back was discussed but would put it more into the pond depression area and be less visible.

The Applicants still need to determine costs before requesting a formal review and expressed gratitude for BOS and Library Trustees' support.  They indicated the memorial obelisk in Granby center is unfortunately now obscured by plantings and are concerned that this memorial remain visible long-term. 

Regarding covering future wars, the two bronze tablets with blank space would also be installed and could be removed and inscribed as needed.

All parties look forward to seeing the Town Staff report.

IV. FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL

1. Capitol Region Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Update 2013 - 2018, Executive Summary

Town Staff indicated to the Commission that the Town is part of the Capitol Region Council of Governments, which has introduced this Mitigation Plan.  The plan portion of interest to the Town is Low Impact Development.  Currently, the LID regulation exists only for Town Center and Town Staff would like to expand it to other parts of Simsbury, e.g. penetration macadam for drainage.  It is believed that Commission approval by various land use boards would make it easier to introduce LID to other parts of Town.  Macadam costs to developers were discussed as being significantly more expensive; reliability of the drainage component and significance of the sub-base where ground freezes was discussed with Fitzgeralds installation a positive example having no major issues to date.  The question was asked whether other towns in the region have adopted this standard.  The Commissioners were not clear on whether this Plan is a design issue and deferred a vote.

V. DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Discussion of ongoing Town consulting projects:

  * Village District Study in Weatogue

   A final draft should be available soon.

  * Marketing Study - Town wide

   An October 16 presentation meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

  * The Hartford Land Use Study status

   The next step is to produce a draft code which would come to this Commission for comment.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

None.

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of September 24, 2013

On Line 69, the words "it is" are deleted and replaced by "the footing is not".

Commissioner Gray made a motion to approve the September 24, 2013, Meeting Minutes as amended. 

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

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Gray made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 p.m.  Commissioner Schoenhardt seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

_____________________________
Emil Dahlquist, Chairman