Economic Development Commission Minutes 08/14/2014 DRAFT
Economic Development Commission
Draft Minutes 8/14/2014
Regular Meeting
Simsbury Town Offices – 7:30 a.m. – Main Meeting Room
1. Call to Order
Mr. Mark Deming, Chair, called the regular meeting of the Economic Development Commission to order on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 7:30 AM in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices. The following members were also present: David Balboni, Kristen Barnett, Carolyn Bligh, Gary Dornbush, James Devivo, Chuck Minor and Allan Raphael. Also in attendance were: Gerry Toner, Recreation Director, Hiram Peck, Director of Community Planning; Lisa Heavner, Board of Selectmen Liaison, Nancy Haase, Board of Selectmen and other interested parties.
2. Approval of the minutes for July 10, 2014
Commissioner Raphael made a motion for approval of the July 10, 2014 minutes as amended. Commissioner Balboni seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
3. Reports: FVVA; SMSP
Commissioner Deming updated the Commission for the FVVA in Nancy Anstey’s absence. He reminded everyone that the Dream Ride will take place the weekend of August 23rd and 24th and with a concert on Saturday night featuring Lonestar at the Farmington Polo grounds. Commissioner Deming also noted that the FVVA is working on their annual meeting scheduled for September 15th between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. He also stated that FVVA is working on the membership guide, which will be out this fall. The FVVA has noticed a considerable increase in visitors to their office and website and they are placing an advertisement in the Connecticut vacation guide.
Sarah Nielson, SMSP, noted that their biggest fund raiser, the Taste of Simsbury, is coming up on August 28th at the Riverview in Simsbury. Ms. Nielson stated that tickets can be purchased at all Simsbury Bank locations as well as Horan Flowers, Weldon Hardware, Fitzgerald’s Foods, Simsbury Inn and also online. She also reminded everyone about the Farmers Market that takes place on Thursdays and noted that they have 24 vendors.
Ms. Dominque Avery, SCTV noted that the FVVA is conducting a contest for choosing “your favorite place” on their website. Awards will be given for best lodging, outdoor adventure, valley golf course, children’s activity, historic site or museum, etc. Ms. Avery noted that voting is going on until September 5th.
Ms. Avery gave the results of the “State’s Fan Favorite” contest in which Simsbury competed and came in 7th behind the winner Westport. She noted that the campaign was not as well prepared as it could have been. She believes they did extremely well for coming in 7th place and attributes it to what is in Simsbury. She spoke of the Drake Hill Flower Bridge and the groups it brings into Town.
Commissioner Dornbush suggested to Ms. Avery to contact other Garden Clubs from various towns to promote the Drake Hill Flower Bridge. Ms. Avery noted that the Bridge of Flowers is currently working on this and noted that other garden clubs have visited the bridge.
4. Presentation: Cumberland Farms Convenience Store and Pool Barn Rehab; Applicant:
Tom Evans
Mr. Chris Smith, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin discussed the Cumberland Farms Convenience Store and Pool Barn located at 155 Hopmeadow Street, which consists of 1.87 acres. Mr. Smith did a brief overview of the proposal, with exhibits for this site, to Commission members. He noted that they have received an approval from the Wetlands Commission and have an application pending before the Zoning Commission. Mr. Smith stated that the Zoning Commission held a Public Hearing, which is now closed.
Mr. Tom Evans distributed reduced sized site plans to Commission members. He reviewed his background in Simsbury and the properties he has renovated/owns in Town as well as his history with gas station ownership. Mr. Evans noted that he has tried for four years to lease 155 Hopmeadow Street with no activity. He thought of putting in a gas station and Cumberland Farms agreed to invest $1m to $2m into this project.
Mr. Evans noted that there will be eight units with four front units being retail and four rear units commercial. There will also be residential units on the 2nd level.
Commissioner Barnett questioned the potential increase in traffic and if it will change the patterns on Hopmeadow. Mr. Smith noted that there was a traffic study done and they presumed that all of the users would be new traffic users and would not have any adverse effect on any level of service.
Mr. Dale Cutler, who is the architect for this project, explained the history of the Pool Barn building and reviewed exhibits on how it will be renovated.
Mr. Smith noted that the Planning Commission provided a negative recommendation with a vote of two for and two against without a full Commission present at the meeting. Mr. Smith and Mr. Peck explained how this application will go forward with a split Planning Commission vote. Mr. Peck also discussed an old regulation, which is on the books, regarding the location of a service station located within 400 feet of a religious institution.
Commissioner Balboni made a motion to approve this project and recommend that it be approved by the Zoning Commission. Commissioner Raphael seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
5. Economic Development Task Force: discussion of EDC proposed website update:
Jeff Dornenburg
Nancy Haase noted that the EDC Task Force has made great progress and asked that the Commission members review the updated information she has sent them.
Mr. Jeff Dornenburg discussed the important concept of Branding for the town of Simsbury to Commission members and reasons why people move here. He stated that the Marketing Committee on the Task Force believes that an Economic Development Commission should define themselves as “Brand Managers” for the Town.
Mr. Dornenburg noted that the Task Force was asked to think about a website for the Economic Development Commission. The Task Force believes the Economic Development Commission should not have its own website but to look at the Town website and to be advocates for the “Core Brand” for Simsbury.
Mr. Dornenburg would like the Commission members to give the Task Force the opportunity to acquire additional information for improving the Town website and provide the cost, specific improvements that can be made and how this would play into the way the Economic Development Commission works on a monthly basis.
Commissioner Deming stated that the Commission wanted to see more of the tools that, from a commercial development point of view, would be on the Economic Development website for quick access. This would include Boards and Commissions, rules and regulations, schools, etc. Commissioner Deming noted that they looked at several websites around the country and one of the first things they noticed was the stories written about these towns on the front page of their websites. He stated this is what they would like to see in terms of branding.
Mr. Dornenburg noted that all the innovations the Commission was thinking of doing for their individual website, should be brought over to the Town website. Commissioner Barnett stated that she had been frustrated with the Town’s website’s functionality and look from an economic development standpoint. She believes that the Commission should rely on expertise of marketing individuals in creating the brand and the message to everyone in Town should be the same.
Commission members discussed the options for the Town’s website for improvements and not just limited it to the Economic Development Commission.
Commissioner Barnett made a motion that the Economic Development Commission support the Economic Development Task Force to research redoing the Town website and the cost involved in it. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Balboni and it was passed unanimously.
6. Simsbury’s open space: presentation by Gerry Toner
Mr. Toner distributed an Open Space handout to Commission members. He reviewed the maintenance required for over 2,300 acres of Open Space in Town, which includes over 480 acres of parks. Mr. Toner explained how the Farmington Valley Greenway has also become a bigger maintenance responsibility with the tree maintenance.
Mr. Toner stated that the Town has gone out to bid this year for a request for proposal for a consulting forester to come in and compare management plans for a number of parcels in Simsbury.
Mr. Toner noted that they currently have a maintenance staff of nine individuals, including their Superintendent, with two of these being funded by the Board of Education for the maintenance of their athletic fields. He stated that 25 years ago they had a staff of eleven without the Board of Education field maintenance, Farmington Valley Greenway or the Performing Arts Center.
Ms. Heavner suggested using the conservation easement concept to give an adjacent property owner, who has an empty space, the land but do it with the conservation easement so the maintenance is taken off the Town.
7. Chalk Festival, an idea: Gary Dornbush
This will be discussed at the next meeting.
8. Planning Director update: Hiram Peck
This will be discussed at the next meeting.
9. Old/New Business
Nothing was discussed at this meeting.
10. Adjournment
Commissioner Bligh made a motion for approval for adjournment at 9:15 AM. Commissioner Barnett seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.