Design Review Board Minutes 11/20/2017

Simsbury Design Review Board

TOWN OF SIMSBURY

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Monday, November 20, 2017 at 5:30PM

Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room

933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Connecticut

PRESENT:  Jennifer Murnane, Anca Dragulski, Anneliese Frank and Jonathan Laschever.

ABSENT:  Ronald Perry.

ALSO PRESENT:  Director of Community Planning & Development James Rabbitt.

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Ms. Murnane called the meeting to order at 5:39PM.

II.  ROLL CALL:

1.  Appointment of Alternates.

No business discussed.

III.  APPLICATIONS:

1.  Discussion and Possible Action:

a.  Application #17-52 of Lawrin Rosen, ArtFX, Agent; Mitchell Auto Group, Owner; for a Site Plan Amendment for changes to the unified sign plan on the property located at 384 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map F14, Block 145, Lot 001-2). Zone B-2. 

Mr. Rabbitt shared an additional alternative with this Board after having conferred with Mr. Mitchell, of the Mitchell Auto Group, the owner.  He noted that this alternative, a recommendation provided by Town staff, involved simple channel lettering and the four bars of the Mitchell insignia.  Alternatively, Mr. Mitchell noted that he would like to keep the existing sign with a fresh coat of paint and then add a menu board.

Discussion ensued.  The Board noted that they liked the consistency of the blue background sign with orange in the border and all the lettering in white.  The Detail Center sign using white lettering to match the car wash sign was also deemed the best option.  Additionally, the Board wanted the font on the Detail Center to match the Car Wash.

It was also noted that a second acceptable option, albeit not the preferred option of this Board, was to utilize channel lettering of the corporate brand insignia.

MOTION:  Ms. Murnane, Mr. Laschever second, to approve Application #17-52 of Lawrin Rosen, ArtFX, Agent; Mitchell Auto Group, Owner; for a Site Plan Amendment for changes to the unified sign plan on the property located at 384 Hopmeadow Street per the revised proposed changes recommended by staff and this board; unanimously approved.

b.  Application #17-53 of The LRC Group, Agent; St. Mary’s Church Corporation, Owner; for a Site Plan Approval for an addition to the existing church and school on the properties located at 940 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 001); 942 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 001); 944 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002); 946 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H08, Block 227, Lot 002); 948 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002); and 950 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002). Zone SC-1.

Ms. Dragulski recused herself from this application.

Hugh Pearson of Moser Pilon Nelson Architects appeared before the Board regarding this application.  Mr. Pearson again reviewed the drawings associated with the proposal to add an addition to St. Mary’s Church.  He reviewed the changes made to the plans since this Board last reviewed the proposal.  Among those changes were the addition of a two-way traffic light at the north end of the campus and the shift of the front parking area toward Hopmeadow Street thereby allowing an extra buffer along the building face.

MOTION:  Mr. Laschever, Ms. Frank to approve Application #17-53 of The LRC Group, Agent; St. Mary’s Church Corporation, Owner; for a Site Plan Approval for an addition to the existing church and school on the properties located at 940 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 001); 942 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 001); 944 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002); 946 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H08, Block 227, Lot 002); 948 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002); and 950 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 227, Lot 002). Zone SC-1; Motion passed with Ms. Murnane, Ms. Frank and Mr. Laschever voting aye.

c.  Application #17-55 of Stonefield Engineering, Agent; Bank of America (Fleet Bank), Owner; for a Site Plan Amendment for proposed site improvements on the property located at 740 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map G10, Block 227, Lot 003). Zone SC-1.

Paul Mutch of Stonefield Engineering appeared before the Board regarding this application.  He noted that the owner has undertaken work to comply with the ADA code and that this proposed work finishes those upgrades.  He noted the steps will be replaced as well as an addition of an ADA compliant pathway. 

Mr. Mutch noted that the lights will be the same fixtures or a very close match.  The new handrail will be the same as the existing rail.  With regards to the landscaping plan, it was noted that the 3000 square feet of planting area include a large number of junipers that tend to grow very quickly.  Mr. Rabbitt reported that the Town staff have not completed a full review of landscape material.   

MOTION:  Mr. Laschever, Ms. Dragulski second, to approve Application #17-55 of Stonefield Engineering, Agent; Bank of America (Fleet Bank), Owner; for a Site Plan Amendment for proposed site improvements on the property located at 740 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map G10, Block 227, Lot 003). Zone SC-1, conditioned upon working through landscape details with Town staff; unanimously approved.

IV.  GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINES:

It was noted that Paul Lanza had very recently resigned from this Board.  Consensus of the Board was that Mr. Lanza should be acknowledged for his many, many years of service with a written correspondence conveying their gratitude and appreciation.

V.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 16, 2017 Special Meeting:

The portion of text in the eighth paragraph of the second page of the October 16, 2017 Minutes that reads, “… until a quorum of the Board can review it; Motion passed with Mr. Frank and Mr. Laschever voting aye…”  should instead read, “…until a quorum of the Board can review it; Motion passed with Ms. Frank and Mr. Laschever voting aye…”.

MOTION:  Ms. Frank, Mr. Laschever second, to approve the October 16, 2017 Minutes as amended; unanimously approved.

VI.  ADJOURNMENT:

MOTION:  Ms. Frank, Ms. Dragulski second, to adjourn at 6:19PM; unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela A. Colombie

Recording Clerk