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 25, 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 7:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
David Wight, Chairman Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair
Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member
Guy Pendleton, Alternate Member
Kingmon Snow, Regular Member
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
Alternate member Guy Pendleton was seated.
III. OLD 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, and Ron Lyman, owner, were present. Attorney Royston summarized the discussion from the previous ARB meeting. After Mr. Royston’s comments, Mr. Gibbs suggested that the town should treat window signage which blocks or restricts windows differently versus the display of goods or wears which should be allowed and encouraged to enhance transparency of the windows.
Mr. Gibbs also suggested that the current text “in keeping with the character of the surrounding area” in Section 51.5.8 Lighting needs to be quantified somehow. He would like to come up with language that would specifically address “no direct bulb glare.”
Mr. Wight suggested that ground signs must be adjacent to secondary entrances.
Both Mr. Wight and Mr. Gibbs questioned the language in Section 64.5.3, B.1.(a) concerning pitched roofs. The board has consistently discouraged signs on roofs. Mr. Wight suggested that perhaps signage relating to this issue could be tied to the height of the eave. Both Mr. Wight and Mr. Gibbs would like this paragraph to be re-worded.
Mr. Gibbs suggested to exclude the Marine Commercial district from the allowable areas for internally illuminated signs.
Mr. Snow suggests requiring the use of lower/miser wattage for each bulb.
Mr. Pendleton would like to see the 50% of allowable wall signage bonus for windows to be reduced. Mr. Wight suggests reduce this “bonus” to 25% or 50% of the window area. Furthermore, all indoor signs in excess of the allowable wall sign area should not be illuminated.
Mr. Snow requested that all sign installers should submit documentation or a statement to the Land Use office showing the exact bulb and installation details upon completion to ensure the use of lower wattage bulbs.
MOTION to recommend approval of the referral of Max’s Place, LLC Petition for Change in Zoning Regulations – Signs Only – Amended 9/6/06 with the following stipulations:
1. Set standard of decreased intensity of new or refurbished internally illuminated signs.
2. In the definition of signs, the display of wears or goods should be allowed and excluded as indoor signage. Indoor sign bonus be reduced to 25% or 50% of the window area, whichever is less.
3. Indoor signage in excess of the allowable wall signage as provided for in this petition shall not be internally illuminated.
4. Where there is more than one allowable ground sign, all signs must be at or adjacent to entrances.
5. Internally illuminated signs in the Marine Commercial district be excluded from the permitted districts.
6. Section 64.5.3, B.1.(a) not be adopted at this time pending further discussion and clarification.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. “Children’s Tree Montessori, LLC” Sign, Site Plan, Special Exception
96 Essex Road (Map 59 / Lot 5-1)
Shopping Center Business B-2 District
Applicant: Marci Martindale Agent: Joe Wren
Mr. Joe Wren and Ms. Marci Martindale were present. Mr. Wren explained the revisions and updates to the site plan including parking and the playground area. Mr. Pendleton advised Ms. Martindale to obtain “playground” mulch as defined by State regulations. Mr. Wren stated that the landscape plan is more intensive than originally approved. Mr. Pendleton suggested adding one-gallon zebra grasses. As previously recommended by the ARB, Mr. Wren said that the sign will include the street numbers at the top and will have two gooseneck lights as presented. Mr. Snow suggests the 70W MH HPF bulbs. The dumpster enclosure fencing will match the newly erected fencing.
MOTION to recommend approval of the site plan dated August 24, 2006 and new street sign and lighting as presented with the following recommendations:
1. add one-gallon zebra grasses in between the azaleas,
2. 70W MH HPF bulbs for fixtures,
3. dumpster fencing to match newly erected fence.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Corner Music” Sign
265 Main Street (Map 30 / Lot 52)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant: Jonathan Kehew Agent: Mike Abel, Essex Sign Carver
Mr. Mike Abel of Essex Sign Carver and Mr. Jonathan Kehew, owner of Corner Music were present. Mr. Abel described the sign as dimensional, 17 ft. long, on foam board with no illumination. The sign will be located under the window in the current location of the temporary banner.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. “Classic Auto Appearance” Sign
375 Boston Post Road (Map 42 / Lot 10-2)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicants/Agents: Michael Crivelli and Susan Murray
Mr. Michael Crivelli and Ms. Susan Murray were present. The new signage is to update and replace the existing signage. The new signs will be placed in the same locations as the existing signs. There will be no illumination as there is plenty of illumination on the property from the streetlights.
MOTION to recommend approval of the street sign and building signs as presented with the following recommendations:
1. for the building sign facing the street: justify the lettering to the left side of the window and the baseline of the lettering should be at the first block coarse from the window.
2. for the sign on the west side of the building: right side of lettering should be equal distance from corner of building as the sign facing the street and lettering should be same height.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes – A quorum of members from the September 11, 2006 meeting was not present. Approval for the September 11, 2006 minutes will be continued until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2006.
B. Correspondence – Minutes, agendas and notices from other Land Use boards and commissions were handed out.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
1. ARB Vacancies – Ms. Vinciguerra reminded the Board that two vacancies currently exist; one regular member and one alternate member. Mr. Wight will inquire about changing Mr. Pendleton’s alternate membership to a regular member status. The board members also discussed giving Mr. Frank Vinciguerra, who recently retired from the board, a certificate of appreciation.
2. Design Excellence Award invitations– members discussed whom to invite to the awards presentation at the October 24, 2006 Land Use Quarterly meeting.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St.
MOVED by D. Wight SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton, and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
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