Design Review Board Minutes
Regular Meeting- Tuesday December 12, 2006
Simsbury Town Offices- 5:30PM- Main Meeting Room
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Dahlquist called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM in the Main Meeting room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Charles Stephenson, Kevin Gray, William Gardner, John Carroll, Anthony Drapelick, and Richard Schoenhardt. Also present was Mr. Howard Beach, Compliance Officer.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
John Carroll was appointed to serve for John Stewart.
Mr. Carroll was appointed to serve for Ms. Kennedy. Mr. Carroll arrived at 6:20pm.
III. PRESENTATION(S), DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
Application of Phyllis Hoffman, Hoffman Enterprises – Owner, T. J. Donohue, Killian & Donohue, LLC, Agent, for Site Plan Approval for redevelopment on property located at the Hoffman Plaza West site on property located at 28 - 44 Albany Turnpike. (tabled at 11/14/06 meeting)
T.J. Donahue, Attorney- Killian & Donahue, Mark Erigone, Licensed Landscape Architect-Milhone & McBroom, and Rich Keiser, Architect were present to discuss the application
Mr. Donahue explained that the Marke property is under a contract option with the Hoffmans. He explained that the 5.7-acre lot, which is separated by a 50’ wide strip of land that is a right of way over which the Marke property has prescriptive rights and the applicant has full deeded rights. Mr. Donahue explained that Ms. Betty Fiore owns the strip of land, and they are currently in discussions with her. He noted that the deed states that his applicant has full access rights forever and that if the Town of Simsbury wishes to construct a road there the town is within their right to do so.
Mr. Mark Erigone said they received some good criticisms from the Design Review Board, and have come back to show the changes and additions implemented. It was explained that there is an application for the new site plan dated December 12, 2006 in process. Chairman Dahlquist asked that the Board be given a copy of the plan for the file.
Mr. Erigone showed and explained the new site plan changes. There is a change in regards to traffic circulation. He explained how customers, service/delivery, and pedestrian foot traffic will flow through the site. Traffic will be lead towards the businesses by a defined main spine road and access roads which will have entry nodes, sidewalks, landscaping accents, signage, and a lighting scheme. The layout of the parking lots remains the same with minor adjustments in road layout. The detention basin has primarily remained the same, but has been reengineered to function better than it does currently. The back parcel lot, currently being worked out with Ms. Fiore, provides an excellent buffer given its’ topography and the good mix of hardwood vegetation. Mr. Erigone guaranteed that in the spring and summer the
detention basin cannot be seen through the trees.
Mr. Erigone stated that there is a landscape berm at the back of the site, constructed when the dealership was last modified, planted with evergreens and white pines. He disclosed that the trees on the berm have a canopy of 4-5’, allowing a view into the existing parking lot. He stated that instead of cutting down the trees, they will supplement the area with understory vegetation and possibly some fencing.
Mr. Erigone stated that the sidewalks will be concrete 4’ wide walks on the curbing, without a grass shoulder in between. The more formal cross walk areas will be constructed of textured pavers. Further back on the site, the crosswalks will likely be striped crosswalks. Mr. Erigone noted that the site will be handicap accessible.
Chairman Dahlquist asked whether there are any natural watercourses on the site. Mr. Erigone showed on the plan the location of the one natural wetland on the site, which has been flagged, and also the detention basin. As far as watercourses that run through the site, Mr. Erigone explained that almost everything is left in the catch basin.
Mr. Gray asked about water coming down onto the site from West Mountain Road. Mr. Erigone said that there is a catch basin on the east side of West Mountain that drains into the catch basin onto the Hoffman site.
Mr. Stephenson asked Mr. Erigone about the building elevations and what their affect is on the view from West Mountain Road. Mr. Erigone said that the berm in the back of the site as seen from West Mountain Road is about shoulder height, and explained that the addition of understory vegetation and fencing will help greatly with buffering.
Mr. Erigone explained that the site flows downhill, and showed on the plan the low areas, the Toyota dealership and Best Buy, and the high areas, the Honda and Nissan dealerships.
Mr. Gardner asked how McDonalds will connect to the site. Mr. Erigone said there will be a sidewalk that ends at the property line of McDonalds, they could possibly connect the sidewalk the driveway area.
Mr. Gray asked why the McDonalds entrance is not the first entrance node. Mr. Erigone said that the entry node for the new development wanted to be at the access point for Best Buy and Toyota. Mr. Gray said that in the minds of customers, McDonald’s is considered part of the site
Mr. Gray asked about stop signs and signage. Mr. Erigone said they have not gotten to the point where signage, lighting, and photometrics are a part of the application package. Chairman Dahlquist expressed that those issues are critical ones for the Design Review Board to consider.
Chairman Dahlquist asked whether any changes to the entrance will be made. Mr. Erigone said the curbs and landscaping will be upgraded. The changes to the curb line will begin at the first left-hand turn going into Best Buy.
Mr. Schoenhardt asked where car display parking and customer parking will be located. Mr. Erigone showed on the site plan where these areas, along with the handicap spaces will be located. He explained that they will match the zoning regulations as to how many parking spaces will be allowed.
Mr. Gray asked about the triangle shaped area located between Honda and Nissan. Mr. Erigone said that the area will be used for Nissan and Honda as a show room, and will possibly be elevated.
Chairman Dahlquist asked what physically the main spine road. Mr. Erigone “walked” the Design Review Board members through the site. He explained that as one enters the site there is a sidewalk on the left-hand side with some ornamental tree plantings. On the adjacent right side of the entrance one encounters the two access points off of the spine road to the Toyota dealership. Continuing into the site from the right, there is an outside curb with a landscape feature where a flagpole might be located, and a landscaped 5-20’ area occupied by shade trees. Mr. Erigone noted that there are landscaped areas at all four quadrants of the site. At some areas no shrubs are to be used, but if the Board so desires, the applicant would be glad to look into filling those spaces. He expressed that will be an
opportunity to provide landscaping along the Munson’s building.
Mr. Erigone said that on the back of the Nissan dealership they have provided a courtyard in front of the canopy sales area, and between the parking lot of the Honda building there is a landscaped island. He explained that in order to get a bit of a buffer from the pavement; the pavement has been taken off from the front edge of the buildings. At the service areas, the pavement will be right up to the building.
Mr. Stephenson voiced that there is pavement all the way up to the front of the buildings. Mr. Erigone agreed that is true. Best Buy has textured concrete along the front of the building. As for the car dealerships there are landscaped islands on either side and landscaped beds on the end of the buildings. He noted however that Best Buy likes to have the concrete hardtop along their front entry. For the dealerships, there is nothing between the showroom and the sea of cars, as the dealers want to have the cars as visible as possible.
Chairman Dahlquist asked about the snow removal plan. Mr. Erigone said that snow storage would be in the back of the site, and snow would melt into the detention basin, but added that they do not have a specific snow removal plan.
Mr. Rich Keiser-Architect was present to discuss the architecture. The 30,000 square foot, 28’ high Best Buy building is a composition of spilt face blocks at the base of the building and a modular brick on the upper parts of the building, samples of which he showed the Board. In reaction to comments from the Board, articulation has added on the side and some canopies added. He explained that Munson’s Chocolates desire to retain their different look/identity in keeping with their corporate image.
Mr. Keiser stated that the Toyota and Nissan buildings remain unchanged, as the Design Review Board members expressed their appreciation for their look. The buildings are composed of metal panel glass and aluminum framing, showing a sample of the material to be used for the Toyota building. The entrance elements on both of these buildings utilize a metal panel system with an accent color. The rear of the Toyota building is constructed of drivet material. Significant changes have been made to the Honda building, as per the comments made from Board members. Mr. Keiser said they spoke with Honda representatives and redesigned the building, making more compatible with the Toyota and Nissan buildings.
Mr. Schoenhardt expressed that the applicants have made some nice changes to the Honda building. He asked if the Toyota building could contain more grey color, thereby seeing more continuity of color. Mr. Keiser agreed, adding that they would ultimately like to lighten up the Honda building and darken up the Toyota building.
Mr. Stephenson asked about rooftop mechanicals. Mr. Keiser said the rooftop units on the Toyota and Honda building will be hidden behind some of the parapets, on the Nissan building the rooftop units will be visible, but they will try and place those units as far back as possible. The mechanicals on the Best Buy building will be screened.
Mr. Stephenson asked about the visibility of the rooftop mechanicals from West Mountain Road. Mr. Keiser said the Honda and Toyota buildings will be seen from West Mountain Road.
Mr. Stephenson expressed concern about the color used on the rear of the Toyota and Honda buildings, and asked if the color makes the rear of the buildings more visible from West Mountain Road. Mr. Keiser answered that with the proper screening he does not see a problem with rear color of the buildings.
Mr. Drapelick said that in television commercials for Best Buy, the blue tag piece on the façade is nonexistent. Mr. Keiser said that Best Buy’s representative said the blue tag is on 99.9 % of their buildings, but said they would look into this issue.
Mr. Schoenhardt said he does not have a problem with the blue tag, but expressed discontent with its size, and the way it crowds the pillars to the right.
Mr. Gray asked about the difference in scale between the buildings. Mr. Keiser said that when done the dealerships will be larger than the Best Buy building.
Mr. Gray asked what one will see of the site while traveling Rt. 44. Mr. Keiser noted that one would first see the tree line before seeing rooflines. He explained that the trees are not on the Hoffman property, but are instead on CT State property.
Mr. Keiser expressed that if it the Board felt the rear of the buildings should be a darker tone, they would not have any objection to that. Mr. Stephenson said that the Design Review Board is always mindful of the impact a project has on an adjacent neighborhood, adding that in the case of this project, the Board might ask see more muted colors used, as well as screening of rooftop mechanicals.
Mr. Donahue expressed that the project is going before the Planning Commission 7pm, right after the Design Review Board meeting, and the public hearing is scheduled for the second week in January 2007. He expressed that they have a time constraint, but will gladly meet with the Board at their next meeting January 9, 2007.
Chairman Dahlquist expressed that lighting is critical and the Board needs to see the plan, the photometrics and any samples and literature on lights. Mr. Gardner said the Board needs to see a landscaping plan. Mr. Erigone said that they are show the placement of the trees on the plan he showed at this meeting, but are still working on the quantities and the palette. Chairman Dahlquist said they would like a copy of the Mr. Erigone showed.
Mr. Stephenson complimented them for their work on site organization. He asked that the landscaping adjacent to the buildings be worked on, and also asked them to contemplate using different types of buffer plantings along West Mountain Road. The Board asked the applicant to investigate whether the blue tag piece is on its way out, to explore the prospect of shrinking the scale of the tag piece, to better blend the gray color on the facades of the buildings, to change the color of the back of the Toyota and Honda dealerships to a darker gray color, and to screen the rooftop mechanicals. Mr. Gardner asked the applicant to consider and pay attention to the intersection associated with McDonald’s.
Mr. Carroll said that he is happy with the changes made to the Honda building, and agrees that the Best Buy issues need to be dealt with.
Mr. Erigone said there is a traffic engineer working on the project. Mr. Schoenhardt said he would like to hear the traffic engineer’s comments about the McDonald’s entrance.
Mr. Gray expressed that the columns on the Munson’s Chocolate building seem to be too small for the overhang.
Chairman Dahlquist said that materials on all of the building are fine, there is a nice similarity. He added that when the signage plan is finished they should bring this plan to a future Design Review meeting.
Mr. Beach said the town received a letter from Atty. Sherwood, Ms. Betty Fiore’s attorney, addressing the 50’ strip parcel. The suggestion was made that until the issues are resolved the architectural aspect can be done because the concern is more of a zoning issue.
There was no motion on the application. Applicant will return at the January 9, 2007 meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter received from Ms. Betty Fiore’s attorney.
The letter concerning the rules and regulations was sent out to members. The change regarding the issue of the Chairman voting on applications will be discussed and voted upon at the next meeting.
V. STAFF REPORTS
None
VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 14, 2006 and November 21, 2006
Mr. Schoenhardt made a motion to approve the November14, 2006.
Mr. Drapelick seconded with all in favor, Mr. Gardner abstaining.
Mr. Drapelick made a motion to approve the November 21, 2006.
Mr. Gray seconded with all in favor, Mr. Schoenhardt abstaining.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Gray made a motion to adjourn at 6:55pm.
Mr. Gardner seconded, with all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Kevin Gray, Secretary
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