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, September 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
Secretary Guy Pendleton called the regular meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Guy Pendleton, Alternate Member David Wight, Chairman
Kingman Snow, Regular Member Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member
Frank Vinciguerra, Regular Member
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair (arrived at 8:05 p.m.)
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
Alternate member Guy Pendleton was seated as Acting Chairman.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Max’s Place, LLC” Petition to Amend Zoning Regulations
Section 64, Signs and Section 51, Lighting
Boston Post Road/Spencer Plain Road/Center Road West (Map 25 / Lots 2, 28, 29, 30), (Map 26 / Lots 6-10, 6-11, 6-12, 32, 32-1, 6-16)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Petitioner: Max’s Place, LLC Agent: David M. Royston, Esq.
David M. Royston, Esquire, was present and distributed updated versions of the Petition for Changes in Zoning Regulations – Signs Only - Amended September 6, 2006. This updated version includes recommendations by Attorney Mark Branse. Mr. Royston stated that Max’s Place, LLC is primarily interested in zoning changes pertaining to two sections of the Zoning Regulations: 1) in the B-4 zone any lot can have only one free standing sign; and 2) the allowable 20% of wall square footage for a building sign currently applies to only one sign even if there are multiple entrances on much larger buildings. The petition before the Zoning Commission includes other changes as well as requested by the Land Use staff in an effort to address recent concerns and make appropriate
changes to enhance and streamline signage and lighting in the zoning regulations. These other changes include: all internally illuminated to be approved by the Zoning Commission; all internally illuminated signs must be turned off one hour after the close of business; window signs will be limited to 50% of the first wall sign allowed; and the height of ground signs to be determined based on distance from the street line.
(Ms. Elizabeth Swenson arrived.)
Mr. Snow stated that he would like lighting standards to be added to the Zoning Regulations to address the brightness of illumination. Mr. Royston suggested that such language could be added to Section 51.5.8.
Mr. Royston stated that this petition is currently being reviewed by both the Planning and Zoning commissions so there is enough time in the hearing process to continue this referral for further discussion at the next ARB meeting. Mr. Pendleton suggested using this opportunity to allow Mr. Wight and Mr. Gibbs to contribute to this discussion.
MOTION to continue the referral of Max’s Place, LLC Petition for Changes in Zoning Regulations – Signs Only – Amended 9/6/06 until the next regular meeting on September 25, 2006.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton. E. Swenson, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. “Liberty Bank” Sign
860 Boston Post Road (Map 36 / Lot 161)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant: Liberty Bank Agent: Richard Rizzo
Mr. Richard Rizzo was present. The proposed signage is backlit aluminum channel lettering on the Liberty Bank drive-thru structure on Boston Post Road. Mr. Snow is satisfied with the proposed wattage.
MOTION to recommend approval of the signage as presented.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
C. “Peter Indorf Jewelers” Sign
137 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 14)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Peter Indorf
Mr. Paul Indorf was present. Mr. Pendleton informed the applicant that the town will soon be planting a pin oak tree in front of the store. It will be about 8 feet when planted. The board members expressed support of the business coming to Old Saybrook and agreed that the new signage is much improved from the previous business.
MOTION to recommend approval of the signage as presented.
MOVED by F. Vinciguerra SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
D. “John Deere” Sign
400 Boston Post Road (Map 36 / Lot 161) (New England Power Equipment)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: Saxton Sign Corp Agent: Stacey Richards
Mr. Louis Secki, co-owner of New England Power Equipment was present. The proposed street sign is 15 feet high, reduced from the original proposal of 20 feet. Mr. Secki believes that only the encircled deer logo in the middle of the sign and the John Deere lettering will be illuminated at night but not the white background. Mr. Pendleton inquired about the schedule for planting the remaining landscaping. He recommends that Fall is the best season for planting trees.
MOTION to recommend approval of the street sign as presented with the following recommendations:
1. Lighting be 90-watt high output bulbs.
2. Sign to be turned off one hour after the close of business.
3. Ornamental grasses and day lilies planted around the base of the sign.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, E. Swenson, K. Snow and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 8/14/06 as presented.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: E. Swenson APPROVED: 3-0-1.
B. Correspondence – Minutes, agendas and notices from other Land Use boards and commissions were handed out.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
1. Design Excellence Award – The framing is in production and the recipients will be presented with their awards at the October 24, 2006 Land Use Quarterly meeting.
2. ARB Vacancy – Mr. Vinciguerra reminded the Board that this is his last meeting. Again, the Board thanked him for the contributions made during his term.
3. The Recording Clerk, Ms. Vinciguerra, requested authorization to process payment for film developing for the Design Excellence Awards.
MOTION to authorize payment of $48.96 for film processing for the Design Excellence Awards.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, E. Swenson, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
4. Rockfall Symposium on October 20, 2006. This year’s topic is towns and neighborhoods in 2020.
MOTION to authorize payment for any ARB member to attend the Rockfall Symposium on October 20, 2006.
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by F. Vinciguerra
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, E. Swenson, K. Snow, and F. Vinciguerra.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:36 a.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, September 25, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by E. Swenson
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton, 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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