TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Architectural Review Board
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-1216
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 24, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman David Wight called the regular meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
David Wight, Chairman none
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair
Guy Pendleton
Kingman Snow Attendant Staff
Frank Vinciguerra Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
Jonathan Gibbs (arrived at 7:42 p.m.)
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Strategic Building Solutions” Sign
599 Middlesex Turnpike (Map 57 / Lot 32-10)
Restricted Business B-3 District
Applicant: SBS Properties, LLC Agent: Jonathan Winiker
Mr. Jonathan Winiker was present. Mr. Winiker informed the Board that Mr. Snow met with his sign maker and proposed a Day-Brite fluorescent directional fixture for his street sign. Mr. Winiker handed out catalog photocopies of this item. Mr. Winiker explained that he has not been successful at finding a distributor for this fixture. He then handed out copies of an alternative fixture recommended by Electrical Wholesalers, which is readily available. Mr. Snow offered assistance in tracking down the original fixture. Ms. Swenson made a motion to approve both fixtures with the first fixture as the Board’s preference. Mr. Vinciguerra seconded this motion. During the discussion, Mr. Gibbs stated that he believed the alternative fixture might not be
compliant with the federal dark skies regulation. Ms. Swenson agreed and withdrew her motion. Ms. Swenson then made a motion to approve the first fixture and if unable to obtain such fixture, a gooseneck style for each side of the sign may be acceptable. Mr. Vinciguerra seconded this motion. Mr. Winiker requested the Board not to limit him to a gooseneck fixture because he wants to find something that is architecturally appropriate for the sign. Ms. Swenson withdrew her second motion.
MOTION to table the street sign lighting until the next regular meeting to allow the applicant, with Mr. Snow’s assistance, more time to find an appropriate fixture that is dark skies compliant.
MOVED by D. Wight SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Mr. Winiker also proposed and handed out copies of a new light post fixture for the parking lot. The Board liked the colonial style of the proposed fixture but is concerned with the up lighting, which does not comply with the dark skies regulation. Mr. Winiker stated that he will look for other options.
Mr. Winiker questioned the accuracy of the minutes from the October 12, 2005 meeting which stated that he would come back to this meeting with a landscape plan for the base of the street sign. His recollection was that the sign was approved without a request for landscape required at this time. Ms. Swenson stated that although she believes Mr. Winiker will landscape this area appropriately, she would still like to see a landscape plan for the base of the sign for the Board’s review. Mr. Wight agreed. Mr. Winiker stated that he feels this is an excessive request based on the fact that the landscape plan was approved two years ago and the landscape bond was already been returned from the Town. Ms. Swenson suggested that they will work with Mr. Winiker to sketch out a
plan for their approval. Mr. Winiker agreed. Mr. Pendleton then sketched out a plan for the base of the sign, which consists of two porcupine or zebra grass shrubs on either side of the sign and 6 one-gallon day lilies directly under the sign.
MOTION to recommend approval of the landscape plan for the base of the street sign.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
B. “Guilford Savings Bank” Special Exception, Site Plan and Sign
Boston Post Road & Orchard Street (Map 36 / Lot 164-165)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant: The Guilford Savings Bank Agent: Point One Architects
Rick Staub of Point One Architects and Crystal Sides, Senior Vice President of The Guilford Savings Bank were present. Mr. Staub presented drawings of updated signage, which show the recommendations made by the Board at the last meeting. The words “Guilford Savings Bank” have been removed from the drive thru ATM and replaced with “Access 24.” Ms. Swenson stated that she does not like the change. The Board once again discussed at length whether the ATM as presented should be considered a third building sign. The Board advised the applicant that this ultimately is a determination for the Zoning Commission. Mr. Gibbs suggested that the Bank may be able use a directional sign using the wording ATM.
MOTION to recommend that “Access 24” be removed from the ATM.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by K. Snow
Request to AMEND MOTION to add that any additional lettering on the ATM structure would be allowable only at the discretion of the Zoning Enforcement Officer or the Zoning Commission as to whether such would constitute signage.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Mr. Staub presented a list of plantings which were previously discussed by the Bank’s landscaper, John Cunningham, and Mr. Pendleton. In addition to the plantings, Mr. Staub announced that The Guilford Savings Bank has graciously agreed to have sidewalks in their plan along Boston Post Road. This change will be made to the plans and submitted to the Zoning Commission. Mr. Pendleton stated that the installation of sidewalks would affect the existing trees so caution should be taken in regard to the tree roots.
MOTION to recommend approval of the landscape plan as presented and thank you to Guilford Savings Bank for taking a leadership role in creating sidewalks along Boston Post Road.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Lastly, Mr. Staub presented drawings of the proposed light fixtures. There will be pole-mounted fixtures with goosenecks along the parking area. These will be a total of 12’ in height. The front door sign will have a gooseneck fixture. The stone pillars at the two curb cuts and at both sides of the street sign will have ground mounted low voltage landscape lighting. These fixtures have both directional bulbs and lens so the light can be directed very precisely.
MOTION to recommend approval of the lighting plan as presented with the following stipulations:
1. the parking lights bulbs be 100-watt mercury vapor
2. the front door light bulb be 35 or 70 watt
3. all adjustable fixtures be directed so that no direct glare will be above the horizontal plane.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Steven’s Furniture Outlet” Sign
907 Boston Post Road (Map 29 / Lot 5)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Steven Riccardi
Mr. Riccardi was present. Mr. Riccardi handed out photos of existing signs from neighboring businesses in the shopping center. He stated that he did extensive research of the center and wants to blend in and compliment the other signs, particularly the anchor store, Ocean State Job Lot. He is proposing the same colors, teal green with white lettering and will be using the existing lighting which consists of nine fluorescent tubes each 9’6” long. The total sign length is 33 ft. Mr. Snow recommends reducing the wattage from 115 watts to 90 watts. Mr. Gibbs stated that he would like it noted that the furniture outlet sign should align with the Western Tool Supply sign.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign with the recommendation to reduce the wattage of the bulbs to 90 watts.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 10/12/05.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
B. Correspondence - none
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
1. Ms. Swenson handed out to copies of a Planned Development District regulation recently passed by the Town Of Plainfield. She gave a brief description of how such a district could be used in Old Saybrook for commercial, industrial and mixed-use areas, particularly Boston Post Road. She asked that each Board member read over this plan and discuss it further at the next meeting.
2. Ms. Swenson stated that she would like the Board to propose a text amendment for any new developments to include sidewalks. Any future re-development along Boston Post Road between exits 66 and 67 should have sidewalks in compliance with the Planning Commission’s sidewalk committee regulations.
3. Mr. Vinciguerra stated that at the last Planning Commission meeting in which ARB and ZC members attended, he made a suggestion that he would like applications for large stores and/or developments to come before the ARB for review much sooner in the preliminary process. This would save the companies time and money with their plans if the ARB members could steer them in right direction before the plans were complete and thus allowing such companies to be more receptive to comments and changes.
4. Mr. Vinciguerra brought up again the issue of reporting zoning violations to Town officials. He suggested that such reports should be made via e-mail to the Zoning Enforcement Officer. The other Board members agreed.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November 14, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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