DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING – TUESDAY, April 12, 2005
SIMSBURY TOWN OFFICES - 5:30 P.M
MAIN MEETING ROOM
CALL TO ORDER
Emil Dahlquist, Chairman, called the Meeting of the Design and Review Board to order at 5: 35 PM in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: John Stewart, Charles Stephenson, Kevin Gray, John Carroll, and Richard Schoenhardt.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Mr. Stephenson was appointed to serve for Mr. Gardner.
Mr. Carroll was appointed to serve for Ms. Kennedy.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE
a. Application of John D. Ritson, Member, Owner-R.C. Connectors, LLC for a Site Plan Approval for interim construction for 10 parking spaces and a dumpster pad on property located at 146 Hopmeadow Street.
Not present
b. Application of Peter Anderson, Westminster School-Owner, Kent M. Schwendy, P.E., Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.-Agent, for a Site Plan Amendment for the construction of faculty housing on property located at the Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow Street.
Mr. Phil Foresly, and Karen Samstrom, Architects-Fuss and O’Neill, and Peter Anderson, Westminster Facilities Manager were present to discuss the application.
Mr. Phil Forsley stated that the two new homes, 2,600 square feet, two-story, 4 bedroom colonials will be located on Alumnae Row in the area of existing homes. The homes will be very similar in architecture to the buildings that are currently in this location. The colors for the houses will be light pastels. The plan is consistent with the master plan for the campus.
Mr. Forsley said that they are going before Zoning on Monday April 18th.
Chairman Dahlquist asked if any extensive site work or regrading is to be done.
Mr. Forsley said that some grading will be done around the immediate vicinity of the houses. There will be no more than two feet of elevation change around the sides of the house.
Chairman Dahlquist asked if the houses will be visible from Hopmeadow Street. Mr. Anderson said that the back of the house on the east- side would be seen from the road.
Mr. Forsley stated that both houses will share a driveway cut and also share a gas boiler.
Chairman Dahlquist asked if potentially other houses will be built on the site. Mr. Anderson said that there is currently an athletic field that could potentially house 8 houses in the future.
There was a discussion about the plans and design of the school sites.
There were no questions or concerns, and Chairman Dahlquist asked for a motion.
Mr. Gray motioned to approve the application as presented.
Mr. Stewart seconded with all in favor.
INFORMAL PRESENTATION
a. Bianca Signs, Inc. to review proposed signage at 244 Farms Village Road, West Simsbury.
Mr. John Myslenski was present to discuss the proposal. He stated that they are proposing a Sam’s Food store sign at DB Mart on 244 Farms Village Road. The only change to make is the removal up of the DB Mart sign, with everything else remaining the same: location, size (8ft x 30 inches), shape, and lighting. The sign will be red w/ white lettering. In 1991 there was a unified sign plan drawn up.
Chairman Dahlquist said that the proposal is consistent with the unified sign plan.
Mr. Schoenhardt said that he like the white lettering with the red background.
Mr. Stephenson expressed that choice of colors is good and is more sophisticated.
Chairman Dahlquist asked that a motion be made to convert the application to a formal application. He noted that the applicant’s next step will be to go before the zoning board and pay the application fee, and will not have to come before the Design Board.
Motions
Mr. Schoenhardt motioned to convert the informal presentation to a formal presentation. Mr. Stewart seconded with all in favor.
Mr. Schoenhardt motioned to approve, as presented, the application for Sam’s Food Stores, 244 Farms Village Road, Simsbury, with the understanding that the sign will have white lettering with a red background, the lighting will remain as it is currently, and the additional sign that says “Grocery” located on the side wall will be removed as part of the installation. Additionally, a white 1.5-inch border around the sign will be installed. This is consistent with the sign plan that was previously approved on 5/20/91.
Mr. Carroll seconded, with all in favor.
Mr. Gray motioned to amend the agenda to include an informal presentation by Steve Walker for Grove Capital, Simsburytown Shops.
Mr. Schoenhardt seconded with all in favor.
b. Simsburytown Shops
Mr. Steve Walker was present to discuss the proposal.
The proposal is to have direct access from the sidewalk to “Say Cheese” and “The Workshop”, and also have signage above each of the two businesses. Gooseneck lamps will light both signs. The double doors will be anodized black with a gray trim and the handles will be stainless steel. The signage would have a white background and the tenants could choose the color of the lettering. They also want to develop signage for the tenants located in the lower levels, accessed currently by a stairway in this entrance section. Their thought is to label the entrance “Lower Level Shops.”
Chairman Dahlquist spoke about the window patterns. He stated that eliminating the grided muntin pattern on the windows is a significant change to the façade.
Mr. Stephenson said that while he understands the desire of management to respond to the tenants expressed desire for clear display windows, in this case it would be an inappropriate architectural treatment. This barn with its current symmetrical pained windows and center entrance as the anchor of the Simsbury Town Shops complex and needs to remain so. He expressed concern over the number of signs on the façade.
Chairman Dahlquist stated that the main concerns are the windows and doors, and the signage. Mr. Walker said that they have tried to take off some of the signs from the building. He showed the board pictures of some current signage.
Mr. Grey said that what has been done with the current signs is an improvement but he expressed his dislike with the proposed windows. He noted that as far as the signs he feels that the white background does not help with visibility from the street. He mentioned Mr. Stephenson’s idea of having a darker background and a lighter letter type for more visibility. Mr. Walker explained that some retailers have certain colors for their business, so the white background was chosen in order to accommodate each retailer’s chosen letter color.
Mr. Stewart stated that SimsburyTown Shops is very unique and he is concerned that the façade will lose its’ distinct look by implementing the changes proposed, and feels strongly that the building must keep its’ own character. As to the sign issue, he mentioned that if a kiosk could be implemented for lower level shops, it might help. Mr. Walker stated that they also struggled with the sign issue for the lower level tenants, and does not want to reduce their signs or reduce their visibility.
Chairman Dahlquist stated that the signs for the lower level could be smaller because they are being read not by traffic from Hopmeadow Street, but instead by pedestrian traffic. Mr. Walker stated that minimizing the signs it would be a tough sell to the tenants.
Mr. Schoenhardt asked if the seven lower tenants could be put on one large sign over the entrance. Chairman Dahlquist said that it might get a little busy for that area.
Chairman Dahlquist asked board members about their ideas on the window patterns.
Mr. Schoenhardt said that the windows in this building should have its’ own distinctive window pattern whatever it may be, and that the false bay windows should be changed to windows with a muntin pattern.
Mr. Carroll agreed that the changes do not fit in. He does not think that by giving each of the businesses their own entrance enhances the character of the building.
Mr. Schoenhardt said that it would be a shame to lose the charm of the center entrance. Mr. Walker said that one of the problems of this front entrance is that the two businesses use the space as a delivery area for their product. It looks messy with boxes all over, and the Fire Marshall also has a problem with it as well. He said that that is one of the design elements they are trying to clean up for the lower level tenants.
Mr. Walker asked if there could be a possibility of having the mullion and muntin bars in the doors. Chairman Dahlquist said that yes, they would like to see them in the doors as well as the windows.
Chairman Dahlquist stated that by making these small incremental changes for practical reasons, the look and character of the buildings will be lost in the end. Mr. Walker said that they are trying to blend the look of the complex. Chairman Dahlquist said that there is some charm in having different buildings because each building is a different form. He noted that instead of unifying everything into one strip center, they should build on what they have, highlighting the differences.
Mr. Stewart expressed that they should take what was recommended for Starbucks in regards to the mullions for the windows. He said that the proposed changes don’t have any place in the complex.
Chairman Dahlqust asked for summary of the board’s comments.
Mr. Stephenson reiterated his position that the barn is a central organizing element to the shops complex and would best be left with its current symmetrical window and door treatments. He indicated that if there had to be multiple entrances, then they be treated in a more symmetrical fashion and that the doors and windows be designed to have mullions. He also indicated that signage with a consistent dark background where the tenants can vary the typeface would be an attractive course of action.
Mr. Carroll asked that the lower panel of the door matches the lower panel of the window, so that the glass on the door is the same size as the glass on the window and whatever is below it is panel.
Chairman Dahlquist summarized said that the dark background with light letters for the signage is more readable from the road and is the recommendation of the board. The windows ought to have a mullion or muntin pattern to them. If there are to be two distinct entrances, the doors should also have the muntin pattern, and there should be a box bay on either side of the door. He said that the smaller signs should be kept to a minimum inside the main entrance door and with the same darker background and lighter type.
Mr. Walker stated that it is important to the tenants not to have mullions and muntins, but he will work with the architects to come up with something. He also noted that most tenants he has worked with want to have a white background for their signs, which is the reasoning it has been proposed.
Chairman Dahlquist said that Mr. Walker should develop some of the board’s ideas, and bring back their ideas to Mr. Voelker and a board member to look over.
No motions made.
DISCUSSION OF TOWN CENTER SIGNAGE
Not discussed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Chairman Dahlquist said that he received a letter from the Gozzo family. He will look up what was approved for the project they have concerns about.
STAFF REPORTS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of March 14, 2005 and March 22, 2005
Mr. Carroll motioned to approve the minutes of March 14, 2005.
Mr. Gray seconded with all in favor.
Mr. Gray motioned to approve the minutes of March 22, 2005 with a correction.
Mr. Schoenhardt seconded with all in favor. Mr. Carroll, and Mr. Stephenson abstaining.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Schoenhardt motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 PM
Mr. Gray seconded with all in favor.
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