Design Review Board Minutes
December 6, 2007
Special Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Dahlquist called the meeting to order at 5:37 PM in the North Conference Room of ENO Memorial Hall. The following members were present: William Gardner, Mark Naccarato, John Carroll, John Stewart, and Rita Bond.
II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Chairman Dahlquist appointed Commissioner Bond to serve in the absence of Richard Schoenhardt and Commissioner Carroll to serve in the absence of Charles Stephenson.
III. DISCUSSION ON DEVELOPING DESIGN IDEAS FOR THE COURTYARD AND LAWN AREA ALONG HOPMEADOW STREET AT ENO MEMORIAL HALL, 754 HOPMEADOW STREET.
Chairman Dahlquist stated that he received information and copies of original drawings of the site from Richard Sawitzke, Town Engineer. Since he is part of the Mainstreet Partnership, Chairman Dahlquist stated that after this Commission discusses these issues, he would like to make a presentation to Mainstreet. He got involved with Mainstreet Partnership because of their interest in promoting and developing the Town Center.
Tonight, Chairman Dahlquist stated that he would like to talk about the possibilities for the entrance to ENO and the general landscaping of the whole site. He showed the Commission the drawings and handed out a copy of the Charet that was done, which included ENO. Many of the pictures showed ENO in its original form. He read from the Charet, “The main recommendation for the Town Center area is that a proactive effort be taken to find Railroad Street as a central focus for new development. This north/south right-of-way, parallel to the old rail line, has a present and attractive urban design ambiance that is a pedestrian oriented street, still allowing traffic should reinforce this potential.” Chairman Dahlquist thought it interesting that they saw this area as a potential site for re-development.
As the Commissioners were looking through copies of the original drawings of ENO, there was a consensus among them that since the walls near the entrance were not there when ENO was built and because of their current condition, they should not keep the walls. By getting rid of the walls, the monument could become much more inclusive and not as isolated as it seems to be now. Regarding the utilities poles, Chairman Dahlquist stated that there was substantial discussion in the past regarding getting the poles off of Hopmeadow Street. The Commission discussed having utilities underground.
Commissioner Stewart stated that ENO is a centerpiece of Simsbury and it is a gathering place. He feels that the entrance should be more of a place where groups of people could gather together before or after different functions. He suggested that benches might be added in this area. He feels that these ideas should be considered and discussed. Also, he would like to see a low hedge, an Evergreen hedge, instead of the wall. This hedge would be very easy to maintain. Commissioner Bond stated her only concern regarding if one hedges die, the whole hedge will look terrible. The Commission also discussed having not as much lawn area in the front with more pavers. Commissioner Naccarato suggested continuous benches along the sides of the entrance with a light fixture, which is a “Central Park” look. The Commission discussed the sidewalk and the possibility of extending the sidewalks and using pavers as well as Bluestone. They discussed the different types of stone that could be
used for more detail throughout the sidewalks.
The Commission also discussed the monument and different types of plantings for landscaping and the possibility of planters. A company called Longshadow makes beautiful Limestone planters. Commissioner Stewart stated he would e-mail the other members the website for this company so they could see pictures and get information regarding these planters. They also discussed the flagpole in the front of the building and all members believe it should stay where it is currently located.
Chairman Dahlquist stated that after tonight’s meeting, he would like to develop a schematic site plan of the entrance. It could be a free-hand sketch with some color, which would describe the ideas that they have talked about tonight. Commissioner Stewart volunteered to work on this.
Regarding lighting, the Commissioners discussed low-level lighting and also the option of casting lights from the trees downward. The Commission thought casting lights from above was a better idea; they liked not being able to see the source of the light. Chairman Dahlquist suggested that if they were thinking of stone slab benches, they could have a bollard made out of stone that has a light in it. The Commissioners liked both of these suggestions.
Chairman Dahlquist will be presenting these recommendations and ideas to the Mainstreet Partnership at their meeting on Tuesday, December 11, 2007. He invited all of the Commission members to attend if possible.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Gardner made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 PM. Commissioner Bond seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
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Kevin Gray, Secretary
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