Economic Development Commission Minutes 09/11/2014 ADOPTED
Economic Development Commission
Minutes 9/11/2014
Regular Meeting
Simsbury Town Offices – 7:30 a.m. – Main Meeting Room
1. Call to Order
Ms. Kristen Barnett, Co-Chair, called the regular meeting of the Economic Development Commission to order on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 7:35 AM in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices. The following members were also present: David Balboni, Carolyn Bligh, James Devivo, Lou George, Chuck Minor and Allan Raphael. Also in attendance were: Hiram Peck, Director of Community Planning, Nancy Haase, Board of Selectmen and other interested parties.
2. Approval of the minutes for August 14, 2014
Commissioner George made a motion for approval of the August 14, 2014 minutes as amended. Commissioner Devivo seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
3. Presentation: 34 Hopmeadow Street Zoning Commission application for PAD
Mr. Chris Ferrero, Landscape Architect, Fuss & O’Neill reviewed a brief presentation to Commission members for 34 Hopmeadow Street, which consists of two parcels. He discussed the following items:
Background information
What they are trying to achieve
What the program is
What some of the economics are predicted out of this program
Mr. Ferrero noted that this is a mixed use application, which consists of residential components and commercial or mixed use components. He stated that Garden Homes, headquartered in New Jersey, is involved in the building of the residential structures.
Mr. Ferrero explained that there will be one level buildings to the front of the property, two story buildings a little further back and three story buildings to the back of the property. He stated this would consist of 181 units with a mix of townhouses and apartments that will all be rental properties.
Mr. Ferrero distributed copies of slides to Commission members which included the following:
Market Assessment Residential
Market Assessment Mixed Use Absorption
Fiscal Impact Analysis
Commission members discussed the pros and cons of building residential structures before any of the commercial businesses come in.
Attorney Robin Pierson, Alter and Pearson, noted that the public hearing is on October 6th and they would need the Economic Development Commission’s recommendation before this date. She stated that this plan would be an incentive to bring new businesses into town as well as young professionals and empty nesters.
Commissioner George made a motion to send a positive recommendation to the Land Use Commission by way of letter and ask the Chairman or Co-Chairman to speak at the public hearing in support of this project, given that it falls within parameters of mixed use development in an area that has a PAD that is applicable to it and appears to fit within the neighboring area, from a neighboring prospective with offices to the right, residential across the street, offices to the left and retail and multi-use in the area, this type of component fits well in the project. Commissioner Balboni seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously. Commissioner Devivo abstained.
4. Economic Development Task Force update: Nancy Haase
Ms. Nancy Haase reviewed the memo that was distributed to Commission members updating them on the Task Force. She noted that the Chairs of the various working groups provided updates, which is included in the memo.
Items in the memo included:
Summary of Discussion
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Request for Source Materials
Next Steps
RFP for new Town website
Ms. Haase stated that, at the next meeting of the Task Force, the chairs will be providing a more detailed Economic Development Task Force update. She noted that the members of the working groups requested spending more time together to provide updates for the next meeting.
Commissioner Devivo questioned the need for one and two bedroom apartments in Simsbury. Ms. Haase noted that the Connecticut Department of Housing spoke at a Task Force meeting and evaluated the housing inventory in Town and stated that one and two bedroom apartments are needed for the growth of Simsbury.
5. Discussion of EDC proposed website update
Commissioner Barnett discussed enhancing the Economic Development page to add content while the Task Force is looking at the Town website and putting out the RFP.
6. Reports: FVVA; SMSP
Ms. Sarah Nielson, SMSP, noted that the Taste of Simsbury was very well attended by individuals in and out of Connecticut. She noted that the Simsbury 1820 House and SMSP are partnering together to do a travel log poster competition. Ms. Nielson stated that it would be a poster that captures Simsbury spirit and that they have invited artists from all over the Farmington Valley.
Ms. Nielson noted some events happening this weekend: Simsbury Fly In, Women’s Art and Crafts Festival as well as the Simsbury Grange Fair. She also stated that the Septemberfest was again a big success this year.
Ms. Nancy Anstey, FVVA, reported that they are firming up their membership and that there is also a guide cover contest going on. She also reminded the Commission members of the annual Haunted Miniature Golf event held in October to benefit Connecticut’s Farmington Valley Visitors Association as well as a Fall Historic Site Lecture on cemetery headstones to be held on November 16thwith location to be determined.
Ms. Anstey noted that Monday is their annual meeting and the election of officers. She stated that the FVVA will be doing their first EF-VEE awards with twelve categories and expects Simsbury to receive an award or two. The event will be held at 5:30 at Farmington Gardens.
7. Chalk Festival, an idea: Gary Dornbush
This will be discussed at the next meeting.
8. Planning Director update: Hiram Peck
Mr. Peck noted and discussed the fourteen different projects he is currently working on. Some of the projects are:
Specialty housing at the North End of Town
East Point apartments
Dorset Crossing
Big Y – breaking ground in September
Former Webster Bank building
The Hartford building
Pool Barn mixed use development
Weatogue Village District project
Commissioner Barnett questioned if it would be possible to provide a quarterly update to the newspapers to inform residents about the projects currently going on in Town. Mr. Peck stated that he would look into this.
9. Old/New Business
Commissioner Balboni distributed a newspaper article to Commissioner members on how the state has changed its regulations concerning stock water companies.
Commissioner George requested that, going forward, the Planning Director’s update be moved to the beginning of the agenda, unless there is a guest speaker.
10. Adjournment
Commissioner George made a motion for approval for adjournment at 9:13 AM. Commissioner Bligh seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Respectively submitted,
Leslie Brigham, Commission Clerk