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, August 8, 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 7:41 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
David Wight, Chairman Jonathan Gibbs
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair Kingman Snow
Frank Vinciguerra
Guy Pendleton
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “U Store It” Sign
167 Elm Street (Map 39 / Lot 7)
Industrial I-1 District
Applicant: Arnco Sign Co., Inc. Agent: Jeremy Waycott
Mr. Waycott was not present. Application was tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
B. “Community Cultural Arts Center and Theatre” Special Exception, Site Plan and Building Renovation
300 Main Street (Map 33 / Lot 63-1)
Residence A District
Applicant: Town of Old Saybrook Agent: Thomas J. MacDonald
Mr. Thomas MacDonald of East Wharf Architects, Inc., Mr. Walter S. Hirsch, Chairman of the Town Hall Restoration Committee and Ms. Lisa J. MacCartney of East Wharf Architects were present.
Mr. MacDonald gave an overview of the project and informed the members of the revisions made to the plan since the last presentation in May. The new name for the building will be the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. The dumpster will be relocated further from the back entrance of the building. A new crosswalk is being proposed. The removal of an elm tree is also being proposed and is currently being discussed with the tree committee in town. The memorial tree near the front entrance will be replaced with a Golden Rain Tree. Mr. MacDonald discussed the handicap access and restrooms for both the disabled and general public.
Mr. Vinciguerra inquired about his suggestion at the May meeting to replace the front steps with risers that are less steep. Mr. MacDonald stated that the front risers are currently 8 ¼” high and current code is 7 ½” or 7 ¾”. Mr. MacDonald stated that the committee discussed this suggestion but decided against it. The estimated cost to replace the steps is around $25,000. Mr. Vinciguerra stated for the record that he opposes this decision not to replace the front steps. Mr. MacDonald said that he will include replacement of the front steps in the project as an “add alternate.”
Mr. MacDonald stated that the railings on the front steps are deteriorating in areas and will need to be replaced. Ms. Swenson urged him to reuse the lighthouse icons currently on the middle railing. Mr. MacDonald agreed that the lighthouse design will be incorporated in the new railings.
The large window facing Main Street in the new entryway has been reduced by two feet in width and shortened by around one and a half feet. Ms. Swenson and Mr. Wight were still not happy with the appearance of this large window. The members and Mr. MacDonald agreed that this window should have more of a rounded arch on top.
Mr. MacDonald informed the board that the addition on the back of the building will have a large air handler unit on the roof which will be screened in with copper sheeting.
Mr. MacDonald stated that the side plaza area will have 21,000 crocuses in the spring. Mr. Pendleton suggested an underground irrigation tank to catch the run off in the plaza area. Mr. MacDonald stated that he will forward this suggestion to the engineer on the project.
Mr. MacDonald stated that he will be coming back to this board for the sign application and discussed the preliminary ideas. The target completion date is spring of 2007.
MOTION to approve the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center site plan and building renovations as presented with the following recommendations: 1) replace the front steps to reduce the height of the risers; 2) keep the lighthouse icons on the front railings; and 3) make the new window facing Main Street have a more rounded arch.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, F. Vinciguerra, and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Bessoni Industrial Building” Special Exception, Site Plan, Elevations
90 Ingham Hill Road (Map 35 / Lot 12)
Industrial I-1 District
Applicant: Blue Point Inc. Agent: George Bessoni, Sr.
Mr. Bessoni left the meeting early. His application was tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting. The board members noted that a site plan will be required to review the application at the next meeting.
B. “Sea Shell Plaza” Sign
835 - 843 Boston Post Road (Map 36 / Lot 003)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant: Darshan Sachdeva Agent: Bernie Rosenblatt
Mr. Bernie Rosenblatt was present. The merchants of the Sea Shell Plaza would like to paint the front façade sea foam green and have uniform signs with black backgrounds and sea foam green lettering. Mr. Rosenblatt also proposed that the sides of the building be painted sea foam green. Ms. Swenson suggested that a brick red color to match the rest of the building would be better. The street sign will be made of metal and wood composite materials and will be installed with 4x4 wood posts in concrete. Mr. Pendleton suggested sealing the posts to help prevent the wood from deteriorating. The street sign will be 10 ft. from the road and a planter will be constructed under the sign with railroad ties and low plantings and flowers. Mr. Wight cautioned
that the plantings must be low enough to prevent obstructing the line of vision for motorists. The street sign will be centered in the parking lot. The board also suggested planters in front of the building with ornamental grasses. There will be no lighting on the signage.
MOTION to approve the sign application as presented with the following recommendations: 1) the sides of the building be painted a brick red color; 2) decorative planters be placed in between the windows on the front of the building with ornamental grasses; 3) a planter with railroad ties and low growing plantings and flowers under the street sign; and 4) the style chosen by the board for the street sign is the left sign of the two proposed options.
MOVED by D. Wight SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, F. Vinciguerra, and G. Pendleton. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 07/11/05 with one correction to change “Mr.” Swenson to “Ms.” Swenson in the middle of page 3.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. Correspondence – none.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
The board reviewed the minutes of recent Zoning Commission and Planning Commission meetings.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on September 12, 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, E. Swenson, F. Vinciguerra, and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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