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These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 11, 2002
CALL TO ORDER
Joan Howard, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Simsbury Planning Commission to order at 7:34pm in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Susan Bednarcyk, David Ryan, Pamela Katz, Ernest Gardow, Carol Cole and John Loomis. Also present was William Voelker, Director of Community Planning and Development, and Leonard Tolisano, Senior Planner.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
None
DISCUSSION OF PRE-PLANNING FOR PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
Draft Regional Plan of Development
Mr. Voelker provided a general overview of section 8-35a of the CT General Statutes regarding the responsibility of the Planning Commission with respect to the Plan of Development, indicating that a good deal of discretion was given to the Commission in terms of deciding what to include in the Plan. However, the town’s Plan must not be in conflict with the CRCOG Regional Plan of Development. Mr. Voelker reiterated that zoning regulation changes/amendments must be forwarded to CRCOG for review to ensure that they do not conflict with the regional Plan. Therefore, it is important for the Commission members to familiarize themselves with the regional Plan to anticipate their concerns when making zoning change referrals, etc. Chairman Howard asked if Simsbury’s Plan had any areas of
conflict with the regional Plan as identified by CRCOG (per the letter dated 5/17/02). Mr. Voelker said he had not been notified of anything, and it was assumed that if no notification had been given, then no conflicts had been identified.
The members examined a number of the charts and tables in the draft regional Plan, and it was agreed that the numbers for Simsbury appeared to be inaccurate. Mr. Voelker will communicate with the CRCOG staff to ensure the accuracy of these tables, charts and graphs, as applicable. The members discussed the relevance of the regional Plan to the updating of the Simsbury Plan, citing access to Bradley Airport as an important aspect of our Economic Development planning, that would mirror the regional Plan’s focus on Bradley as a major hub. Chairman Howard noted that the last Plan does not have very many specific references to the regional Plan, and indicated that it might be good in updating the Plan to incorporate useful items from the regional Plan into our Plan. Mr. Voelker said he has a
colored regional Land Use Map, and Chairman Howard asked him to bring that to the next meeting so the members can compare the regional land uses to the local Land Use Map.
Chairman Howard asked about the lack of technology references in the draft regional Plan, and Mr. Voelker indicated that issue is of greater importance in local planning. Chairman Howard asked Mr. Voelker to obtain information for the next meeting on how the town of Simsbury is or could potentially be wired, as this will be useful information when discussing various aspects of the Plan. She felt technology could be an important means to achieving economic development, but the Commission would need data to support this. Commissioner Gardow asked why the draft
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June 11, 2002
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Plan has no chapter nine, and Mr. Voelker said he did not know why, but he would look into it. Mr. Voelker also indicated he would bring information regarding the Statewide Plan of Conservation and Development for the next meeting and said it would best to address that when they had the information in hand. Chairman Howard indicated the Commission would start examining the State Plan in July. She concluded the discussion of the draft Regional Plan of Development by asking the members to read through the document carefully, making notes on what seems relevant for discussion as it might apply to the Simsbury Plan of Development.
Discussion of 1994 Implementation Guide
Historic Preservation
Economic Development
Mr. Tolisano opened the discussion on Historic Preservation by providing background on this issue. He explained that there is only one local historic district in the community, the East Weatogue Historic District, and there are a couple national historic districts, Terry’s Plain and Tariffville. The center of Simsbury has a number of National Register historic structures, Eno Hall, Boy Scout Hall, and the Town Hall, for example. He mentioned that they cannot classify a building as historic unless the owner agrees to it, and said that a number of sites in the community have reached a high level of national historic recognition. Mr. Tolisano told the Commission about the ongoing Archaeological Sites Sensitivity Project, which will catalog archaeological sites known in the community and then
create a model to predict where other areas might be. The project, conducted by the Historic District Commission, is a townwide study which should be done by September. He indicated the ’94 Plan has a detailed inventory listing all historic properties in town, and said this listing should be fairly accurate.
Mr. Tolisano explained that separate reports must be made for classification on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Almost anything the town lists will be put on the State Register, but it is a much more difficult process to have a listing made on the National Register. He indicated he is unaware of any current/pending applications in progress to get any properties on the National Register. He also said that the architectural style of a building has as much to do with its classification as historic as the age of the property, unless a building is clearly known to be very old. Commissioner Loomis asked Mr. Tolisano to explain Simsbury’s status as a Certified Local Government as it applies to historic preservation. Mr. Tolisano explained the process involved in obtaining
and maintaining that status, and said that certain funding is restricted to towns with this status, thereby reducing the competition for those funds. He said Simsbury has had this designation for approximately eight years, and the town must make its reports annually to maintain the designation. He cited the grant obtaining for creating the new Design Guidelines as being money set aside specifically for this classification, and stated that status is definitely worth retaining.
The members read and discussed the section of the Implementation Guide dealing with Historic Preservation. Mr. Tolisano indicated that objective 1C is being done to some degree as part of the economic development/tourism package with pamphlets on walking tours of Simsbury Center, etc. Commissioner Loomis asked what groups had input on this section during the ’94 Plan process, and should have input now. Mr. Tolisano indicated the Historical Society, the Historic District, and staff of the CT Historical Commission, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and
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interested individuals, all had opportunities to give their input in ’94, and should be able to do so now. Commissioner Katz indicated she would like to get specific in listing areas for historic preservation, and Commissioner Cole remarked that objective 3C could be applied to Tariffville and allow for development under the auspices of historic preservation. Mr. Tolisano agreed, mentioning that the town has now acquired the Blazes property, which might be a good place to start. Commissioner Katz also suggested doing something under historic preservation with respect to the West Weatogue area, defined as the Linden House bed and breakfast to the south, and just past the Post Office to the north. Mr. Voelker agreed that the Post Office/Barber Shop building is a very important site, and Mr.
Tolisano pointed out that there are two historic monuments along that stretch, which is also an important gateway area at Rt. 185 and Rt. 10 by the Chart House. Mr. Voelker indicated that this area might work well for some mixed use, but that would require zoning changes since it is presently zoned residential with commercial uses operating on variances.
Commissioner Katz proposed that under Policy 2 of the Historic Preservation section of the Plan, that the Commission consider adding an Objective D as follows, “Encourage identification of remnants of the Farmington Canal with signage”, or something to that effect, and then enhance those sites. Mr. Tolisano stated that the canal is a nationally registered property, and said that the town owns several parcels with canal on them. Chairman Howard asked the members to think of any other places they might want to list under Policy 2, and Mr. Tolisano indicated sites uncovered by the archaeological survey that aren’t already listed as historic might be listed there. Chairman Howard mentioned that regarding objective 3A, Tourism has asked to speak to the Commission and will probably be at the
next meeting. It was pointed out that the cemetery could be promoted as a historical asset, given the age and significance of some of the stones. Mr. Voelker agreed that would be an interesting possibility, but he also pointed out with regard to objective 3C, that it is up to the Zoning Commission to decide what uses will be allowed in what locations, and that design controls are very limited. The members then discussed the Village District concept and its potential benefits to Simsbury in protecting the town from unwanted types of development. Mr. Voelker said that the Village District idea would go through Zoning for implementation. Chairman Howard wrapped up the discussion by stating it would be interesting to pursue the Village Center idea, since it might allow the town to preserve, if not the buildings themselves, then at least the scale of the Simsbury center. She concluded by saying that the Commission would address the Economic
Development section of the 1994 Implementation Guide at the next meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
V. STAFF REPORTS
Commissioner Bednarcyk will attend the July 18th CRCOG meeting instead of Commissioner Cole.
CORRESPONDENCE
None
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June 11, 2002
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VII. NEW APPLICATION(S)
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of May 14, 2002
Commissioner Katz asked the clerk if the word “biodiversity” was the correct word on page 2, and the clerk indicated that it was. Commissioner Katz moved to approve the minutes of May 28, 2002 as presented. Commissioner Bednarcyk seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Bednarcyk moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:37pm. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
____________________________
Pamela Katz, Secretary
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