06/27/2023 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 7:00 P.M.
Public Meeting was held in the FSPL Room – Simsbury Public Library
725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070
I. CALL TO ORDER – Secretary Rice called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Town Planner, George McGregor; Assistant Town Planner, Brittany MacGilpin; Planning Consultant, Glenn Chalder; Chair, Erin Leavitt-Smith; Secretary, William Rice; Holly Beum, Joseph Campolieta, Donald Colantonio, Julie Eaton, Marcus Furze, and Craig MacCormac.
Commissioner Furze was appointed as a regular member for tonight’s meeting.
II. PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POCD Draft Public Information Session
Mr. Chalder presented the community with an overview of the POCD.
• Over-Arching Principles: Livability; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Sustainability and Resiliency
• The Plan’s Organization: Simsbury’s current status, Conservation, Development, Infrastructure, and looking ahead in terms of land use and implementation strategies.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Susan Masino, 41 Madison Lane, West Simsbury, stated that we are still in a transition from the pandemic and making plans based on what we did during that time might not be effective. She discussed a need of making our lifestyles more local and making sure that Simsbury has what it needs for its residents to accomplish that. She encouraged the commission to examine the town’s values instead of appearance when planning for ambience. She made a call for ecological integrity being a cornerstone of Simsbury’s longevity. She stated that specificity is needed for certain aspects. She brought up 8-30g, plans, and rental assistance.
Kris Barnett, 15 Ox Yoke Drive, Simsbury, stated there appears to be lack of communication and knowledge between the commissions involved in building developments. She discussed the affordable housing plan and 8-30g having flaws, senior residents having affordable housing that meets their needs, the decline in children, traffic, and open space.
Diane Nash, 5 Merrywood, Simsbury, stated she is concerned about being able to afford to live in town. She discussed how the large apartment complexes are affecting taxes. She also stated that there is an inconsistency between the ambience that the community loves and the building developments. She suggested having deed restricted properties in lieu of them paying taxes, or repurposing empty office spaces.
Lisa Hamel, 97 East Weatogue Street, Simsbury, urged the commission to explore business cynergy and the preservation of current businesses.
Tucker Salls, 11 Tunxis Place, Tariffville, stated that the cost of living, preserving open space, and supportability will be compromised. He mentioned transit wiring development is something to strive for because the cars are taking up a lot of space and are expensive. He encouraged making the center of town accessible to non-drivers such as seniors, those with disabilities, and students. He discussed that building taller buildings, that take up less space while still maintaining open spaces is important.
Mark Scully, 29 Notch Road, West Simsbury, stated that specificity is vital when we have developers interested in building in our town because the ecological and sustainable consequences are long lasting.
Wayne Coste, 6 White Water Turn, Tariffville, discussed that the Proposal Alternative #2 for the Greenway in the Tariffville area seems to be the least impactful on the community and provides the connectivity that is sought from Bloomfield to the Farmington Valley Greenway and other surrounding areas while avoiding CT-315.
Susan Van Kleef, 6 Mallard Circle, Tariffville, stated the importance of ecological and open space preservation and protection. She agreed with other residents that strong directive language was helpful for developers to understand our values. She discussed inconsistences between different commissions and various documents about affordable housing. She expressed concern about the fast rate of building and the lack of direction. She also advocated for more transparency for the residents and more accessibility to documents.
Helen Gilbert, 126 Hopmeadow Street Unit #3E, Simsbury, stated the need for affordable housing, how mortgages are cheaper than rents, and the desire to age in place. She expressed concern for certain buildings in town being torn down for future development. She stated her dissatisfaction for existing apartment complexes not offering affordable housing and the rapid new developments that will not offer any or very little affordable housing. She called for preservation of nature and open spaces. She also advocated for more public transportation and the continued use of gas heating.
Helen Peterson, 20 Longview Drive, Simsbury, expressed appreciation on invisible disability being included and hopes that steps are carried out to assist in it. She stated that people who are hearing compromised especially need to be able to see who is speaking, but that everyone can benefit from being able to see the expressions of the speaker and read lips.
Jerry Lintner, 22 Massasco Street, Simsbury, stated that the people who have built the community are being moved out by the economics. He mentioned that the town cannot afford to maintain the small spaces of open space that are sporadic around town. He proposed that the those lots be turned into affordable housing.
Michelle Jenks, 23 Brook Drive, Simsbury, stated that when sustainability is mentioned all that it encompasses should be clearly defined so that the public knows. At previous public events where community input was encouraged, she felt that the lack of understanding impacted responses. She also advocated for better cell phone coverage, so that she can communicate regardless of where she is town. She also discussed how invasive plants, specifically Japanese Knotweed, and wanted the POCD to address it.
Kelly (unable to obtain last name), 14 (unable to obtain street name), Simsbury, stated that there are too many apartment buildings that are not providing affordable housing, and that the predatorial development companies are invading the town at a rapid rate. She discussed that the idea to build in the parking lot behind Fitzgerald’s would compromise the parking available for the events at the Performing Arts Center.
John Coleman, 4 Phelpscroft Road, Simsbury, stated that it is not possible to achieve sustainability and open space while constantly developing. With all of the apartments being built the increase in traffic on Hopmeadow is going to be higher. He is concerned about local businesses not being able to survive with national chains coming in, and how the traffic will be impacted by any businesses with a drive thru.
(Unable to get name), 310 (unable to get full street name) Lane, Simsbury, stated that there is a need for affordable housing but instead of apartment buildings where the rent is more expensive than a mortgage, with people who are not really involved in the town, there could be deed restricted houses for families or people just starting out who plan on being here for a while. She is concerned that she will not be able to live here as she gets older.
Tucker Salls, 11 Tunxis Place, Tariffville, stated that as a renter in multiple towns he was very involved and was even on boards and commissions. He explained that renting is not a reflection of being transient.
(Unable to get first name) Nelson, (unable to get street address), Simsbury, stated that she would like to see action steps on transportation and open spaces. She advocated for someone take responsibility in overseeing the POCD and reporting back to the community on the progress.
Ieke Scully, 29 Notch Road, Simsbury, stated that affordability needs subsidizing. The percentage of affordable housing with the new developments is not sufficient. She reiterated that Japanese Knotweed is taking over. She explained that going electric in sustainability means using efficient heat and not electric baseboards. She also encouraged stronger verbiage in the POCD.
Becky Latimer, 5 Spruce Lane, Weatogue, stated that the predatorial developers are using language with green spaces, being set back, and community building to get us to buy in but are not really encompassing our values.
CLOSING REMARKS
Mr. Chalder explained that the public’s comments are being taken into consideration the commission will discuss them and revisions will be made to the POCD. Eventually there will be another public hearing to consider adoption and will continue to make revisions.The goal is for adoption to start in the fall.
III. ADJOURNMENT
Secretary Rice adjourned the meeting without objection at 8:53 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amanda Blaze
Commission Clerk