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, June 13, 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 7:40 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
David Wight, Chairman Bette Del Giorno, Secretary
Kingman Snow Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair
Frank Vinciguerra
Guy Pendleton Attendant Staff
Jonathan Gibbs Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Fashion Imports” Sign
1712 Boston Post Road (Map 25 / Lot 2)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant/Agent: Shori M. Velles
Ms. Shori M. Velles was present. The proposed signs are exactly the same as her other locations. The front entrance faces parking lot on the east side of the building. Ms. Velles feels strongly about having a sign to indicate the front door versus a sign on the wall facing Boston Post Road. The second sign will be on the west side of the building facing oncoming traffic from the west. Mr. Wight stated that he did not like the proposed location of the front entrance sign over the door. Mr. Gibbs proposed under the roof overhang to the right of the door. The sign could be hung with an eyehook and two inch chain. A strut could be placed on back of the sign and secured to the building to stabilize the sign from swinging. The length of
the sign for the front entrance should be reduced to fit in the space under the roof overhang.
MOTION to approve both signs with the recommendation to reduce the width of the front entrance sign by eliminating the logo and moving the location of that sign to under the roof overhang to the right of the front door. The second sign is approved as shown. Both signs are to be hung under the roof overhang.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, F. Vinciguerra, K. Snow and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
B. “Saybrook Country Barn” Special Exception, Building Addition, Sign
Main Street and Boston Post Road (Map 40 / Lot 53-56,59,60,61-1)
Central Business B-1 District and Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Keith Bolles
Mr. Keith Bolles was present. Mr. Bolles gave an overview of the site plan. The two existing buildings north of the current Saybrook Country Barn will be torn down. The expansion consists of two additions to each of the existing buildings. The parking lot is approved by Zoning for mixed use with 115 spaces. The additional parking will match the existing lot of oil and stone. The lot will have a subsurface infiltration system for drainage which will flow into catch basins. Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Pendleton would like to see more trees in the north parking lot island. Mr. Pendleton advised against white pines for the north side of the property and recommends saving the maple tree in this area. The curbing on the east side of the north island
will have to be shortened to allow tractor trailers more turning room. The parking lot will not have curbing except for the new spaces adjacent to the new buildings. The parking lot lights will match the existing post lights.
Architecturally, the expansion along Boston Post Road is designed to look like two colonial homes with connectors in between. Flowing north of the original Georgian style building at the corner will be a connector followed by a federal style structure, another connector and then a structure modeled after the James Getty House in Colonial Williamsburg. Mr. Gibbs recommends lowering the eaves of the connectors to emphasize the three structures and break up the horizontal roofline. Mr. Bolles agrees with the suggestion for aesthetics but is concerned with how it will work with the interior construction. Mr. Bolles also stated that he may vary the window treatments and eaves. The sign will be on the northwest corner of the property perpendicular to Boston
Post Road. It will be externally illuminated with two can lights on either side to match the existing street sign. Mr. Bolles is considering British red (the trim for the existing corner building) for the federal structure and Franklin tan or a colonial yellow for the Getty structure. Mr. Bolles will vary the materials for the gutters and the roofing material will be cedar non-splits.
Mr. Bolles described the addition of the existing “barn” building as a basic extension of the current building. It will be used for office space. Mr. Gibbs suggested that the barn addition have some sort of metal roof feature to match the existing building.
MOTION to approve the site plan, building addition and signage with the following recommendations:
1. consider different window treatments for the front of the building.
2. make the eaves discontinuous on the front of the building.
3. consider a metal feature on the barn building expansion.
4. advise against white pines and propose eastern red cedars along the north property line.
5. supplemental plantings along the north parking lot island.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, F. Vinciguerra, K. Snow and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
C. “OS High School Addition” Site Plan, Building Renovation
1111 Boston Post Road (Map 28 / Lot 14)
Residence A District
Applicant: Board of Education Agent: Raymond A. Giolitto, A.I.A.
Mr. Raymond A. Giolitto, A.I.A. and Mr. Robert Wendler, Chairman of the Board of Education School Building Committee were present. Mr. Giolitto provided an overview of the site plan. The west side of the school will have the band room and art room expansion. The north end will have upgraded and expanded science classrooms and a courtyard. There will also be a new main entrance. Eighty spaces will be added to the existing parking lots. The courtyard will have plantings for 60% of its space and trees will be added around the west addition. There will also be additional softball, soccer and practice fields on the north side of the property.
Architecturally, the additions will match the existing building. The band and art rooms will have curved roof structures for acoustics and natural light. All windows will have forest green trim. The walkway leading to the new entrance will have pavers with concrete trim. The new entrance will have a curved canopy with three sets of double doors. The front entrance currently has 5 mature trees in planters in height of 25 – 30 ft. each.
After reviewing the landscape plan, Mr. Pendleton stated that he is concerned that there may not be enough sun for the proposed plantings on the north side of the addition. Mr. Giolitto stated that he will pass these concerns on to the landscape architect. Mr. Pendleton requested that the two trees proposed for the southwest corner be separated. Mr. Pendleton stated that he likes the proposed plantings for the courtyard. The variety will be more interesting for the students to view compared to the proposed plantings for the Middle School courtyard. The board also recommends that the grassy area in front of the main entrance be increased.
MOTION to approve the site plan and building renovations with the following recommendations:
1. Review the plantings on the north side.
2. Separate the two proposed trees on the southwest corner.
3. Increase the grassy area in front of the main entrance.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, F. Vinciguerra, J. Gibbs, K. Snow and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
D. “Chubby Marcella’s” Sign, Facade Renovation
117 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 17)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Erin Atkinson
Ms. Erin Atkinson was present. Ms. Atkinson briefed the board members on her plans to relocate her business to Main Street. She has leased the entire building but will use only three-quarters of the space for her shop and will sublease the remaining space. Her sign will be located on the face of the building over her shop’s portion of the building leaving space on the right side of the building for a sign for another tenant. Her sign will be 8’ x 42” and externally lit with two small bulbs on each side. The lettering will be white with periwinkle background. The sign will also have a multi-colored flower box in the middle of the sign. The board members suggested the addition of flower boxes to the front of the building. Ms. Atkinson stated
that she is considering benches with flower boxes on side. Ms. Atkinson will provide photos or drawings at the next meeting to show the proposed location of the sign.
MOTION to approve the sign and continue the façade renovation application until the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 27, 2005 to allow the applicant to provide documentation showing the location of the sign to scale.
MOVED by D. Wight SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, F. Vinciguerra, K. Snow and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
Mr. Pendleton noted an error on page 3, line 7 of the May 23, 2005 minutes. The word “red” should be deleted and replaced with “blue.”
MOTION to accept the minutes of 05/23/05 with one correction as noted.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, G. Pendleton, F. Vinciguerra and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: J. Gibbs. APPROVED: 4-0-1.
B. Correspondence
1. Mr. Wight read aloud a letter from First Selectman Michael Pace regarding the Board’s comments concerning the proposed new electronic sign for the Town Green.
2. Mr. Wight read aloud a letter of resignation from Dr. Bette Del Giorno. Mr. Pendleton suggested a gift to commemorate the years of service Dr. Del Giorno has given to the Board. Mr. Snow will gather information for such gift and will report back to Mr. Wight.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 27, 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 G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, F. Vinciguerra, K. Snow, and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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