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, May 8, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Elizabeth Swenson called the regular meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chairman David Wight, Chairman
Frank Vinciguerra, Regular Member Kingman Snow, Regular Member
Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member
Guy Pendleton, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
Alternate Guy Pendleton was seated.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Village Centre Residences” Site Plan & Planned Residential Dvlpmnt
226 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 132, 134)
Residence A District (Central Business B-1 pending zoning change)
Applicant: BF, LLC Agent: Point One Architects & Planners
Mr. Raymond Jefferson, Landscape Architect, Ms. Jill Caouette from Point One Architects & Planners, Attorney David Royston, Mr. Jerry Brophy and Mr. Jonathan Brophy were present.
Mr. Jefferson provided an overview of the landscape plan. The landscaping of the project has begun with the installation of the picket fence in front of the Gad Baldwin House. The entrance from Sheffield Street will be lined with a new variety of elm called “Homestead.” Mr. Pendleton specifically requested that the Homestead elms, London Plantrees, and Green Spire Lindens be at least 4 inches in diameter. Mr. Jefferson stated that there will be a walkway from the northeast corner of the property leading to Main Street for pedestrian use of both property owners and the public from neighboring Senior Estuary Center and Saye Brooke Village.
Ms. Jill Caouette provided an overview of the site plan and architectural renderings of the existing Gad Baldwin House and the proposed townhouse condominiums. There will be four townhouse buildings consisting of three condominiums each plus a carriage house building for 10 additional parking spaces in the rear of the property. The Gad Baldwin House will be renovated to have three condominiums –one per floor. The renovations will include removing an addition on the lower level that served as a doctor’s office and extending out the back of the house on all three floors. The existing architectural features will remain and new construction will match existing materials, rooflines and trim. The materials will be wood siding, a light color with white
trim, asphalt shingle roof with some copper features. The existing two-car garage will be extended for three bays. The townhouse buildings will have brick end caps on both ends to match the new Town Hall and Park & Recreation buildings. Railings for the balconies will be wooden with metal balusters.
Mr. Gibbs informed the applicants that the ARB is instituting a policy to refer all multi-family unit developments to read Oscar Newman’s “Creating Defensible Space.” Mr. Gibbs also referred to Louisburg Square in Beacon Hill, Boston. Mr. Gibbs encouraged the applicants to provide limited common space and as much private space as possible. Ms. Swenson would like to see more privacy for the patios on the south side of the buildings adjacent to the walkway; perhaps a low white picket fence on top of the stonewall. Mr. Jefferson assured that the stonewall will provide ample privacy which is not depicted well on the renderings.
Mr. Royston stated that the condo association rules will not allow owners to fence in or enclose balconies or other private spaces; the walkway on the grounds will be accessible to the public but will be governed by the condo association; and that an easement has been offered to the town for overflow parking.
MOTION to recommend approval of the preliminary architectural drawings as presented with the following recommendations:
1. better defined more limited common areas, as much private space as possible and appropriate fencing;
2. consider better definition of front vs. back of the building;
3. Homestead Elms, London Plantrees and Green Spire Lindens should be at least four inches in diameter;
4. front yard fences to be four feet in height and backyard fences to be six feet.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
The ARB stated that they would be happy to review any revisions.
Also, Mr. Kingman Snow submitted the following recommendations by absentia:~ 1) For the Zoning Commission to review the height and wattage of the street lamps, and 2) review the wattage of the bollard fixtures.
B. “M + N’s Autohouse” Sign
3 Jade Court (Map 42 / Lot 9-1)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: M. Moran, G. Nichols Agent: Michael Moran
Mr. Michael Moran was present. Mr. Moran informed the board that he is updating his current sign and will be using the same structure. The sign is internally lit. In absentia, Mr. Snow recommends using two to three 90-watt bulbs. Mr. Gibbs recommends reducing glare by putting shrouds on the exterior fixtures.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented with the stipulation that Mr. Snow contact the applicant to confirm the appropriate lighting for the internal illumination of the sign and that other exterior lighting fixtures be shrouded to reduce glare.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
C. “Fashion Imports” Sign
240 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 133)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Shori Velles
Ms. Shori Velles was present. Ms. Velles informed the board that she is moving her business from Boston Post Road to Main Street and she is proposing to use the same sign previously approved by this board last year. There will be no illumination of the sign.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented with the recommendation that it be centered over the windows and match the height of Pietro's sign, if necessary, by adding black trim.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
D. “CVS” Sign
509 Boston Post Road (Map 40 / Lot 16)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: Arnco Signs Agent: Jeremy Waycott
Mr. Jeremy Waycott of Arnco Signs was present. The board members stated that they were not pleased with the baked clay background color for the sign. However, the street sign matches the building signs which were previously approved with the site plan by the Zoning Commission. Mr. Waycott confirmed that there will be no lighting for this sign.
MOTION to recommend approval of the street sign with the following stipulations:
1. use acorn shape for post toppers in gold leaf
2. replace PVC poles with wood 4x4 posts painted black
3. add a black pinstripe between the baked clay background and the gold leaf edging on the sign.~
4. a flowerbed under the sign with perennials
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 4/10/06 as presented.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, F. Vinciguerra, and J. Gibbs.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none APPROVED: 3-0-0.
MOTION to approve the minutes of 4/24/06 as presented.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: F. Vinciguerra, G. Pendleton and J. Gibbs.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none APPROVED: 3-0-0.
B. Correspondence – Minutes, agendas and notices from other Land Use boards and commissions were provided in the agenda packets.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
MOTION that all new internally illuminated signs be permissible by special permit only so that the heretofore routine review of internally illuminated signs by the Architectural Review Board and the Zoning Commission become mandatory.~ Copy to Mark Branse."
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
MOTION~to recommend that town officials and administrators be advised that no recommendation or directive should be made regarding architecturally appropriateness, context or spatial planning before opening discussions with the Architectural Review Board which is solely authorized to make sure recommendations.~ The Design Review Guidelines should be sufficient guidance for preparing applicants for the ARB. Copy to Mark Branse."
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
MOTION to recommend that new more specific lighting and noise regulations be proposed modeled after the Town of Branford's zoning regulations."
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
MOTION that the Design Review Guidelines be supplemented to recommend that the zoning regulation be modified that no light source glare be visible from off-site."
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Design Excellence Awards:~ Mr. Gibbs stated that three buildings were nominated in the past but he does not recall that the board took any final action.~ He recalls the three buildings as the Bessoni building on Ingham Hill Road, the Firehouse and Clock Tower Square at 247 Main St.~ The board agreed to support these nominations and further suggested the following:~ the Train Station, Penny Lane Pub, Vinnie's Fish House, Town Hall, Acton Library, Sleepys, and the Garden Club/light posts on Main street.~ Ms. Swenson will take photos of these buildings for the next meeting and Ms. Vinciguerra will try to find records of early discussions of this award, specifically, categories and criteria.~ This item will be continued until the next meeting. Announcement of the awards will be posted in fall
edition of the Old Saybrook Events quarterly magazine. The purchase of a new archive binder will be postponed until the next fiscal year to use current available funds for the Design Excellence Awards.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:51 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, May 22, 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 G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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