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, April 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
MOTION to nominate Jonathan Gibbs to serve as acting Chairman for this meeting.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 3-0-0.
Acting Chairman Jonathan Gibbs called the regular meeting to order at 7:41 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member David Wight, Chairman
Kingman Snow, Regular Member Guy Pendleton, Alternate
Frank Vinciguerra, Regular Member
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chairman (arrived at 7:57 p.m.)
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Ford Dealership” Façade Renovation
1 Ford Drive (Map 40 / Lot 28)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: A&B Construction Agent: Alfred Giangrande
Mr. Alfred Giangrande of A&B Construction and Mr. Ted Vecchiarino of the Ford dealership were present. Mr. Giangrande presented the detailed drawings as requested at the March 27, 2006 meeting. Mr. Gibbs recommends an eave return around the northwest corner of the gable end to provide closure around the pediment. Lighting was discussed at the last meeting and indirect down lighting under the canopy was agreed upon.
MOTION to recommend approval of the façade renovation with the recommendation of a partial or full eave return on the northwest corner of the gable end pediment.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 3-0-0.
A. “Wallflower by Design” Sign
670 Boston Post Road (Map 37 / Lot 53)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Barbara Wall
Ms. Barbara Wall was present. Ms. Wall provided photos of the building to show the exact location of the building signs. The Board members requested that the sign on the west side of the building be centered mid-way between the top of the first floor windows and the sill of the second floor windows. The sign on the east side of the building should be centered the same for height but to avoid obstruction from the utility conduit running up the side of the building, the applicant may choose either to center the sign over and between the two sets of first floor windows or center the sign over the double set of first floor windows on the right. There will be no additional illumination.
Ms. Swenson arrived at 7:57 p.m.
MOTION to recommend approval of the building signs as presented with the recommendation to center the sign on the west side of the building and the applicant may choose to either center the sign on the east side over the two sets of first floor windows or center over the double set of first floor windows on the right.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Grossman Chevrolet” Sign
300 Middlesex Turnpike (Map 52 / Lot 74)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: Grossman Chevrolet Agent: Richard Rizzo
Mr. Richard Rizzo was present. Mr. Rizzo stated that the existing street sign is estimated to be at least 30 feet in height, which is well over the current height limit. The new proposed sign will conform to the current height regulations of 20 feet. Mr. Rizzo stated that the aluminum backing of the sign will create a muted internal lighting. Mr. Snow recommends 4 foot high-output energy-saving lamps with low wattage.
MOTION to recommend approval of the street sign as presented.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. “The Tile Shop” Sign
1454 Boston Post Road (Map 26 / Lot 17)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: The Tile Shop Agent: Debra Christoff
Ms. Debra Christoff and Mr. Justin Wyatt were present. Mr. Wyatt explained that the new signs have already been produced and installed using the existing structures. The applicants did not have prior knowledge of the requirement for the ARB to review all new signs. The applicants confirmed that the light fixtures mounted on the ground under the street sign are inoperable. The Board requires that the abandoned ground lights be removed as they are a safety hazard. Mr. Snow recommends the option of a down lit, fully shrouded 120 watts quartz lamp mounted on top of the street sign. For the building signs, should be fully shrouded down lit 48-watt energy saving lamps similar in appearance to the Pampered Pets fixture. Ms. Swenson informed the applicants that the lights must
be turned off one hour after the close of business.
MOTION to recommend approval of the street sign and building signs as presented with the following stipulations:
1. the abandoned ground lights be removed as they are a safety hazard.
2. the light for the street sign be a down-lit fully shrouded 120 watts quartz lamp mounted on the top.
3. the building signs should have fully shrouded down-lit 48 watt energy saving lamps similar in appearance to the Pampered Pets fixture.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to amend the minutes of 3/27/06 by deleting the second paragraph from the bottom of page 3 and replacing it with the following:
“Mr. Gibbs suggested that the placement of the buildings could be shifted to allow for better definition of the common areas. Mr. Gibbs added that there is a problem with many housing developments in that the outside space becomes a no man’s land. He requested boundaries and other elements such as porches, level changes, sidewalks, walkways, walls and fences, as well as both common and private landscaping. These buffers can provide a healthy transition from public to private spaces, which is typical of a New England village. This promotes a stewardship and supervision of the public spaces promoting a well-kept and safe environment. Ms. Swenson agreed that there could be some alternate changes to the site plan to allow more open space that addresses public to
private transition of spaces throughout the development. Mr. Wight stated that he would like to see more personal outside space such as first floor patios to extend out five feet whenever possible.”
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. Correspondence – Minutes, agendas and notices from other Land Use boards and commissions were distributed.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
1. Mr. Snow requested that the minutes reflect that he observed the wall pack exterior light fixtures of the Saymain, LLC building (the old movie theater on Main Street) are angled at 90 degrees.
2. Ms. Swenson asked the clerk if there are any office supply needs at this time and about the status of the digital camera purchased by the Board last year. Ms. Vinciguerra confirmed that the camera is in the Land Use office and from time to time is used by the Town Planner. Mr. Snow offered to use his 35mm camera to take photos of ARB application sites.
MOTION to allow Mr. Snow to take photos of ARB application sites with his 35mm camera and to reimburse him for film and developing expenses.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Ms. Vinciguerra will find out if the Land Use office has an account with Village Photo.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: J. Gibbs, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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