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, January 9, 2006 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 7:36 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
David Wight, Chairman Kingman Snow
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chairman
Guy Pendleton
Frank Vinciguerra
Jonathan Gibbs
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Bessoni Industrial Building” Special Exception, Site Plan Revision
90 Ingham Hill Road (Map 35 / Lot 12)
Industrial I-1 District
Applicant: Blue Point, Inc. Agent: George Bessoni, Sr.
Mr. George Bessoni, Sr. was present. Mr. Bessoni informed the Board that at the request of the IWWC, the proposed building has been reduced in length by 85 feet. The new total length of the building will be 160 feet by 70 feet wide. Ms. Swenson asked Mr. Bessoni if he has addressed the concerns of one neighbor who complained about bright exterior lighting. Mr. Bessoni replied that he would make sure that all wall fixtures shine down and he will also change the bulbs to reduce the wattage if necessary. Mr. Gibbs inquired about the landscape buffer toward the Oyster River. Mr. Bessoni replied that the existing 40 to 50 foot deciduous trees provide a full buffer. He stated that Russian shrubs have already been planted in the front of the building. Mr. Pendleton and Mr. Wight suggested planting four red cedar junipers or arborvitaes spaced across the rear of the building.
MOTION to recommend approval of the revised building design as presented with the following stipulations:
1. four red cedar junipers or arborvitaes spaced across the southwest rear wall of the building, and
2. reaffirm the previous lighting recommendation of 90-watt, fully shrouded, down lit fixtures.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “West Marine” Sign
1654 Boston Post Road (Map 26 / Lot 39)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: CT Sign Co. Agent: David Hemming
Mr. John Morrison of CT Sign Company was present. Mr. Morrison stated that because West Marine purchased BoatU.S., all stores in New England are undergoing new West Marine signage. The letters for the building sign are internally illuminated white Plexiglas topped with dark blue perforated vinyl to give the lettering softer lighting. Ms. Swenson suggested reducing the height of the lettering from 4 feet to 3 feet. Mr. Morrison informed her that only the capital letters W and H are going to be four feet and the rest of the lettering will be three feet. Mr. Gibbs stated that he would like to see at least 6 inches of gray trim band both above and below the lettering. Mr. Morrison agreed. When questioned about the exact location of the building sign
in relation to the columns, Mr. Morrison admitted that Drawing A is most likely not to scale and therefore the lettering on Drawing A is shown wider than actual size. Most likely, the lettering will have 7-8 feet on either side from the outside columns.
MOTION to recommend approval of the building sign (Drawing A) as presented with the following stipulations:
1. there be 6 inches of gray space above and between any part of any letter and the dark trim band,
2. to be centered between the three columns in the drawing.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to recommend approval of Signs B and C as presented provided that it is established that both signs are legal. Also recommend that Sign B, if legal, be repaired and non-evasive plantings be added to the base of the sign.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINING: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 12/12/05.
MOVED by D. Wight SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: J. Gibbs. APPROVED: 4-0-1.
B. Correspondence
1. Founders Memorial Park Workshop, December 20, 2005. Mr. Pendleton attended this workshop and provided the ARB with an update.
2. Final Draft Amendments to the Plan of Conservation & Development for “Economic Development” and “Conservation & Open Spaces”, Planning Commission public hearing February 1, 2006. This item was continued until the next regular meeting on January 23, 2006.
3. Draft Sidewalk Plan, Planning Commission public hearing February 1, 2006. The ARB supports the plan and in the future will review ARB applications with these sidewalk specifications in mind. Where safety barriers are required, the ARB recommends them to be aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the ARB recommends that the sidewalk plan prohibit the planting of hedges within 3 feet of the edge of the sidewalk. Ms. Swenson and Mr. Pendleton volunteered to attend the public hearing on February 1, 2006 as representatives from the ARB.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
1. Election of Officers 2006
MOTION to nominate David Wight as Chairman for 2006.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to close the nominations for Chairman.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
The Chairman requested the Secretary to cast one vote in favor of the nomination.
MOTION to nominate Elizabeth Swenson for Vice Chairman for 2006.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by D. Wight
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to close the nominations for Vice Chairman.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
The Chairman requested the Secretary to cast one vote in favor of the nomination.
MOTION to nominate Guy Pendleton as Secretary for 2006.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to close the nominations for Secretary.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by D. Wight
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
The Chairman requested the Secretary to cast one vote in favor of the nomination.
2. Thank you note from Dr. Bette – a Thank You note from Dr. Bette was distributed for each Board member to read.
3. Chairman Wight provided an update of the ARB budget.
4. The new Design Review Application Form for 2006 was reviewed. A suggestion was made to print this form in color.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 11:11 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and F. Vinciguerra. OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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