Town of East Hampton
Design Review Board
Regular Meeting
June 10, 2009
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room
East Hampton Town Hall
7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Present: Chairman Scott Hill, Kevin Burnham, Diana Marsh,
Mark Sawyer
Alternates: Gary Hall, Mary Ann Ciriello
Also present:Kerry Nielson, Director of Community and Environmental Planning; Kyle and Mary Ann Dostaler, William Drive; Rich Leone, Chair EDC; Sue Weintraub, Town Council; Elizabeth Harris, Streetscape Committee; Teri Prestash, Red Barn Studio Design; and Recording Secretary Lori Lanzi
- Call to Order: Chair Scott Hill called this regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Seating of Alternate: Mary Ann Ciriello was seated.
- Approval of Minutes:
- April 8, 2009 Regular Meeting
Kevin Burnham made a motion to approve the April 8, 2009 regular meeting minutes as amended with the removal of first two sentences in 7.C. and add to 8.D. that Kevin Burnham will do a first cut of the site section, seconded by Diana Marsh. Vote: Yes – 6; No – 0; Abstain – 0. Motion passed.
- Communications and Public Comment: None
- Presentation on Destination Signage Project Presented by the Streetscape Committee: Streetscape committee members Elizabeth Harris and Sue Weintraub, along with Teri Prestash of Red Barn Studio Design, presented a design option for the town’s logo to be used on way finding signage. This logo can also be used on other town signs, town vehicles, and other town buildings. Teri Prestash designed the logo, which includes a bell and ship with various color combinations on it. Note: The cobalt blue background color being represents Cobalt, the bell represents East Hampton, and the ship represents Middle Haddam.
Sue Weintraub presented a “draft” list of where signage would be located and those buildings the signs would be directing the public to. A life-sized sign with the logo and wording was presented to the committee. A picture of a design was presented for signage identifying arrival points as you enter East Hampton. A colored picture of how the way finding sign would look on the pole on the corner of Main Street and Route 66 was passed around to the committee members. Sue noted that we need to clearly size messages and signs appropriately for viewing distances. This would all be subject to DOT approval since the signs would be along Route 66.
Rich Leone, Economic Development Commission Chairperson, asked why the ship was on the logo. Mr. Leone expressed that a great job was done on the presented design, but felt simpler was better. Mr. Leone suggested using the bell logo designed for Old Home Day as it had a more modern look to it.
Sue Weintraub explained shipbuilding flourished in Middle Haddam a few centuries ago. Sue also presented a propose Welcome to East Hampton sign that could be placed at the entrances to East Hampton. She spoke briefly about available property to put the sign on along Route 16 and Route 66. The sign would be made of brownstone quarry stone similar to what was harvested in the area in the past. She also briefly talked about the Gateway sign that used to be present at the corner of Main Street and Route 66 that had been removed by the DOT project. Sue indicated that the sign needed significant repair. She suggested potentially moving the banner portion of the sign to the piece of property the town owns at Route 196 and Main Street.
Mary Ann Dostaler, William Drive, expressed that she felt it was important that the ship and bell be on the logo to represent both East Hampton and Middle Haddam. Ms. Dostaler also suggested asking the EDC to steer some of their monies toward the signage project. Ms. Dostaler suggested we look into putting the welcome sign on the sewer pump station site the town purchased on the Marlborough end of the East Hampton line.
Kyle Dostaler, William Drive, felt strongly all three previous towns that make up current day East Hampton (East Hampton, Middle Haddam, and Cobalt) need to be represented on the logo.
Gary Hall stated the Gateway sign is important and many town residents have expressed concern to him that they fear the town will not put the Village Center sign back up at the four corners.
A poll was taken of board members as to whether they like the logo presented and there was a mixed opinion on the design. Initially most members indicated a preference to a bell only design, however, when the full size sign mock up was shown several members indicated that they now preferred the bell and ship. Mark Sawyer suggested using the bell with a ship inside of it. Mark also suggested if we stay with the current design making the bell more prominent within the logo.
The sign still needs approval regarding font, coloring, etc. from DOT. The Steering Committee will do a presentation for EDC next week and the Town Council in the near future.
It was suggested to poll the town residents regarding the design layout. The sign could be displayed and a press release put in the paper.
- DRB Guidelines – Planting Guidelines: Mark Sawyer proposed keeping the DRB guidelines as they are and revisiting the town’s zoning regulations. Mark suggested Section 28 – Site Plan Requirements, Code 28.1.D. Landscaping, should be where proposed changes are made. Mark will continue to work on the proposed draft to zoning regulations in this section and work with Kerry Nielson on these proposed changes.
- Main Street Bridge – Lighting & Bell Color: Chair Hill discussed the color issues on the bridge. Chair Hill met with the town manager to discuss the color of the bell as it should be bronze. The contractor is aware of the problem and will be correcting it.
- Developing a Developer Checklist: Kerry Nielson will email Kevin Burnham a copy of the checklist developed by the Conservation Commission. Kevin will use that format to develop the first cut of the DRB checklist for the site section.
- New Business: None
- Adjournment
Kevin Burnham made a motion to adjourn this regular meeting at 8:20 p.m., seconded by Diana Marsh. Vote: Yes – 6; No – 0; Abstain – 0. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Lanzi
Recording Secretary
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