DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 10, 2005
I. CALL TO ORDER
Emil Dahlquist, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Design and Review Board to order at 5:33 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Kevin Gray, William Gardner, Linda Kennedy, Mark Naccarato and Anthony Drapelick. Also in attendance were M. Howard Beach, Zoning Compliance Officer, Richard Sawitzke, Town Engineer, Lois Laczko, Commission Clerk and other interested parties.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Mr. Dahlquist appointed Mr. Drapelick to serve for Mr. Schoenhardt.
III. PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
a. Application of Donald Muszynski, Owner, Carla Marciano, Agent, Signage for Peace of Mind on property located at 1348 Hopmeadow Street.
Carla Marciano, renter at this address, spoke on behalf of this application. She said that Donald Muszynski is the owner of the property, but was not in attendance at this meeting. Ms. Marciano said that there is a picture (digital black and white photograph) of the proposed sign with the colors and sign size included in their packet. Mr. Dahlquist asked if she had a color copy of the sign with her. Ms. Marciano did not have one made as she wanted to be approved before she spent the money. M. Dahlquist said that typically the Board likes to see the context of the sign, not only in a picture with what the building looks like, but as to what the sign would look like in terms of size on the building. He said that since the original sign is missing it is not on the photograph supplied. The Board cannot get a sense of what her
sign would look like on this particular building. Mr. Dahlquist recommended that Ms. Marciano come back to the next meeting with what is being colored, samples of the colors and more of a description. He also mentioned a unified sign plan explaining that there should be a relationship between the sign on the right and the sign on the left as they are together. The Board treated this as an informal application and offered suggestions on size and shape and also not putting a telephone number on the sign.
No action taken on this item.
b. Application of Maria Eckert, Agent, Signage for Simsbury Travel Service on property located at 720 Hopmeadow Street.
Eileen Yates, Agent – Simsbury Travel Service, spoke on behalf of this application. She showed photo’s of the sign. Mr. Dahlquist asked where on the site the signs will be located. Ms. Yates said that they have two signs, one that would go on the building (possibly on the porch area), and the other sign is free standing. Mr. Dahlquist said that currently there is already one freestanding sign with tenants listed. Mr. Beach said that only one freestanding sign is allowed on the site and that is already in the front of the building. Ms. Yates said that they are proposing only one sign for the site, either the free standing or possibly a sign hanging on the porch. The porch is on the Mall Way side. Mr. Dahlquist said that the Board would need to see a photograph of where they want the sign to be located. They
would also like more information on color. Ms. Yates said that the sign shown is the color. The signs have been done for a long time and they plan to move them from the Grist Mill Lane site to their new location. Mr. Dahlquist
said that they need for her to come back to the next meeting with a photograph of the site where she wants the sign to be located. They also need a sense of the size of the sign. He also mentioned that a free standing sign is not their preference (one already on site).
No action taken on this item.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
MAY 10, 2005
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c. Application of Ted Zentek, Owner, Signage for Allstate on property located at 3 Grist Mill Road.
Ann Zentek spoke on behalf of this application. She said that they would like to use the same sign that was Simsbury Travel and put the Allstate sign over it. This would be the same size that is there now, but the color would be blue with white lettering. A drawing of the proposed sign was in the Board members mailing. Mrs. Zentek said that the blue color is proprietary to Allstate. She said that they would also plant flowers all along the sign.
Mr. Dahlquist said that the lettering was quite large given its proximity to the road. He asked how tall the sign was. Mrs. Zentek said the signs height is 18". Mr. Dahlquist said that the lettering looks to be about 10" to 12"high. He feels that the scale of the text is too high. Mr. Drapelick said that the sign is 17" high and 56" long. He thought the lettering too big. He suggested that they have the logo put in there and that would make the Allstate lettering shrink. They would then have both the symbol and the smaller lettering. Mrs. Zentek asked if the street number could go on. The Board responded by saying yes they like street numbers, but not telephone numbers.
Mr. Dahlquist said that the sign size and color is fine, but they need to see a fabrication drawing with the reduced text size at the next meeting. Blue lettering with a light background has been suggested. This application is continued until the next meeting.
No action taken on this item.
d. Application of Andrew Yakemore, Owner, Terri-Ann Hahn, LADA, P.C. – Agent, for Signage on property located at Simsmore Square, 540 Hopmeadow Street.
Terri-Ann Hahn, Principal, LADA, Land Planners, spoke on behalf of this application. She showed the Board members the 1990 Unified Sign Plan package. Ms. Hahn said that this application is for three different types of signs at the newly constructed 540 Hopmeadow Street building. They are requesting a free standing sign to replace the existing one, walls signs (proposed 25 signs), and two directory signs by the front doors of the building. The wall signs will be centered on each of the columned sections of the building. The two directory signs will be located at the front. Mrs. Hahn said that the signs on the 540 Hopmeadow building will be a different color than the others at the Simsmore Square location. She said the current signs at Simsmore Square are blue, but because the roof on the new building is red metal they
propose to have the signs at the 540 location match the roof color. She showed the Board a picture of what the wall signs will look like and also a representation of the free standing sign. She said that they have made the free standing sign, which will replace the existing fee standing sign, a little bit taller because in the winter it was sitting down in the snow bank. Ms. Hahn said that the walls signs will be 6' x 10" with a maximum lettering height of 7". She showed on a site plan the island location at which the free standing sign is currently located saying that the replacement sign will be in the same location.
Mr. Gray asked if there is a name for this building. Ms. Hahn said the building is known as 540 Hopmeadow Street. Nord Christenson said that they have not come up with a name for the building. Mr. Dahlquist asked if there is a main entrance that will access all the suites. Mr. Christenson said no, the wrap around porch will give people access to the suites. Ms. Kennedy asked how anyone driving on Route 10 will know where this building is located. Mr. Christenson said that there are two directories up front that will lay out the entire square. He also said that when the trailer is moved out of the way the building will be partially visible.
Mr. Dahlquist said that he likes the colorization of the signs and feels that they did a nice tie in with the architecture of the site. He asked if the white is the same color as the building. Ms. Hahn said it is more of an off white color.
Mr. Dahlquist asked if there is a landscape plan for the free standing sign. Ms. Hahn said that there is nothing new as it is just a replacement of the existing free standing sign. She feels that if they place any new shrubs at the base of
the sign they would just die. Mr. Dahlquist said that it looks kind of bare without any kind of plantings and it does not have to be flowers. Ms. Hahn said that they could probably put some junipers under there and they should hold up.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
MAY 10, 2005
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Mr. Gardner moved to approve the application of Andrew Yakemore, Owner, Terri-Ann Hahn, LADA, P.C. – Agent for approval of signage for the newly constructed building at 540 Hopmeadow Street as presented on layout photograph type picture dated 5/10 05 on Perspective ER-O and on plans titled 540 Hopmeadow Street Amended Building Sign Application dated May 2, 2005 with the addition of landscaping (like junipers) in the vicinity or underneath the free standing directory sign. There is no proposed lighting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Drapelick and passed unanimously.
Mr. Dahlquist thanked the applicant for the nice presentation they gave saying that the work had been done properly, which makes the Boards job a lot easier.
IV. DISCUSSION BY RICHARD SAWITZKE ON THE LANDSCAPING PLAN FOR SIMSBURY MEADOWS, IRON HORSE BOULEVARD.
Richard Sawitzke, Town Engineer, showed the Board members the landscape plan for Iron Horse Boulevard. He showed the members where the Boundless Playground and the band shell are located. He said that they are proposing to put in a boulevard style entry that will have two 12' wide lanes with 10' islands. There will be larger trees on the islands and smaller flowering shrubs underneath and accent plantings on each side of the seating area that will extend out from the band shell itself. Mr. Sawitzke said that the planting garden at the entry has been donated. He showed on the plan where they will be paving the entry area with a combination of brick and paved walkways. He said that there will be a brownstone driveway wall between the seating area by the stage and the blanket seating area in the fields. Mr. Sawitzke said
that they will be relocating or reconstructing two of the garages that are on the site.
Mr. Gardner asked how the walk way would come around. Mr. Sawitzke showed on the plan saying it would come off the street and if you were at the ticket area you would come in by the main walk way. He said that the walk way will bring you to three locations and showed the three locations on the plan. Mr. Gray asked what is being paved. Mr. Sawitzke said that at this point they are only going to pave the main boulevard entrance and the parking lot for the Boundless Playground. He said that they are going to be putting in the same type of lighting on Iron Horse Boulevard that is on Hopmeadow Street and the lighting will be wrapped into the site. Mr. Sawitzke said that this is to be completed by June 10th.
Mr. Sawitzke said that they want to plant a series of types of plants that will be flowering throughout the seasons. Mr. Dahlquist asked what trees would be on either side of the amphitheatre. Mr. Sawitzke said that there would be purple rain birches with rhododendrons underneath, Japanese umbrella pines, tri-color beech, Japanese maple, etc. There will be an underground irrigation system. Mr. Gardner asked how the seating area gets drained. Mr. Sawitzke said that there will be yard drains and that will drain out into an existing system.
Mr. Sawitzke explained that there is another access drive going in. He said that this comes in off the intersection of Wilcox Street. This will separate the pedestrians from the vehicles. Mr. Sawitzke said that currently they are thinking that the main entrance will be for pedestrians and the performers and that the access drive will run as a one way operation in bound and a one way operation out bound at the end of the concert.
Mr. Gardner said if the West Hartford Science Center decides that it wants to come to Simsbury where on Iron Horse Boulevard would they be located. Mr. Sawitzke said that they identified three prime sites. One is located just around the corner from Drake Hill Road, one is a meadow, and one would be south of Helen’s Way.
V. CORRESPONDENCE
None
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
MAY 10, 2005
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VI. STAFF REPORTS
None
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of April 12, 2005 and April 25, 2005
The minutes from April 12, 2005 were tabled until the next meeting.
Mr. Drapelick moved to approve the minutes of April 25, 2005 with one change. The motion was seconded by Ms. Kennedy and passed unanimously.
Mr. Dahlquist briefly discussed the West Street Storage facility plan. He said that he wants to compare the drawing that had been approved that has the landscaping on it with what is occurring. He will give a breakdown at the next meeting.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Naccarato moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr. Drapelick and passed unanimously.
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