|
TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK Architectural Review Board |
David H. Wight, Chairman Elizabeth B. Swenson, Vice Chair Theodore (Guy) Pendleton, Secretary |
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741 Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-1216
MINUTES Regular Meeting Monday, May 14, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room 302 Main Street
|
Jonathan M. Gibbs Kingmon B. Snow, Jr. Vacancy, Alternate Vacancy, Alternate
|
I. |
|
|
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Elizabeth Swenson called the regular meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chair David Wight, Chairman
Kingmon Snow, Regular Member
Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member
Guy Pendleton, Regular Member
Attendant Staff
Janet Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Max’s Place, LLC” Special Exception, Sign
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.
Attorney David Royston, Ron Lyman, John Jendza of Big Y, James Carlin of Ace Signs, and Patrick Moore of Pepin Associates were present. Mr. Royston provided a quick review of the action taken at the previous ARB meeting, citing that the board requested the applicant return with alternative sign designs with an off-white or beige background. Mr. Jendza of Big Y attempted to persuade the board to allow the white background, as it is part of their logo. Additionally, they tried off-white backgrounds in various materials and found that it displayed a dingy appearance particularly when lit. Mr. Carlin discussed a few options to combat the glare of a white background. Mr. Gibbs suggested trying blue/gray shades of white as a background or flipping the color combination to white
lettering with red background. Ms. Swenson informed the applicants that the ARB is encouraging darker backgrounds because white backgrounds emit significant glare. She cited the Sleepys street sign as an example and noted that the Town received many complaints about that sign. Ms. Swenson also suggested that Big Y could reverse their color scheme to white lettering with red background, which in fact is used on their business cards. Mr. Royston requested a few minutes to discuss matters with his clients. Ms. Swenson agreed to suspend the discussion of this application and resume later in the meeting.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Seven Sisters Yoga & Pilates” Sign
100 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 101)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Cynthia Conlon
Ms. Cynthia Conlon was present and stated that the sign for her new business will be the same dimensions and in the location as the previous sign with no illumination. The actual color will be more beige than the green/yellow color as shown in the computer-generated drawing.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented.
MOVED by G. Pendleton SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, K. Snow and J. Gibbs.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. “Saybrook Country Barn” Sign
2 Main Street (Map 40 / Lot 60)
Central Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Saybrook Country Barn
Mr. Keith Bolles was present. Mr. Snow recommended using mercury vapor bulbs and oval reflectors. The two light fixtures will be black traditional goosenecks. Mr. Gibbs would like to see the sign reduced in size just slightly to show more brick all around.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented with the following recommendations: 1) to reduce the size of the sign just slightly to show more brick all around; and 2) use mercury vapor bulbs and oval reflectors for the lighting.
MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, J. Gibbs and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
C. “Equator” Sign
168 Main Street (Map 37 / Lot 128)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Pam Statham
Ms. Pam Statham was present. Ms.Statham would like to re-use her existing signage from her previous store. The board does not like the proposed sign as it is too small for the storefront and will not benefit from the two existing light fixtures. The board would like to see the existing sign board be re-used particularly as it already lines up the horizontal format of the neighboring sign Mr. Gibbs noted that the existing sign board accentuates the curved brick work on the storefront. Ms. Swenson requested the applicant to return at the next meeting on May 30, 2007 with some additional signage options as described by the board.
D. “Annello Landscape Center” Sign
426 Boston Post Road (Map 48 / Lot 16)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant: Annello Landscape Center Agent: Joe Wren, P.E.
Mr. John Annello was present. Mr. Annello confirmed that there will be no illumination of the sign. The board would like the overall height of the sign to be reduced to eight (8) feet, four (4) feet off the ground plus four (4) feet of signage.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented with the stipulation of reducing the overall height of the sign to eight (8) feet. MOVED by J. Gibbs SECONDED by K. Snow
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, G. Pendleton, J. Gibbs and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
E. “Café Niko” Sign
535 Boston Post Road (Map 40 / Lot 16)
Central Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: John Pertesis
Mr. John Pertesis was present. Mr. Pertesis stated that the same sign fixtures and lighting will be used. He is only replacing the sign face for both the building and pylon sign. Mr. Pertesis agreed with the board’s suggestion of a royal blue background with white lettering. Ms. Swenson suggested perennials around the base of the pylon sign. Ms. Swenson would also like to see a border around the outside of both signs. Mr. Snow recommends new 60-watt bulbs for the pylon sign and new 90-watt bulbs for the building sign.
MOTION to recommend approval of the sign as presented with the following recommendations:
1. Royal blue background, white lettering and white border around both signs;
2. Plant perennials around the base of the pylon sign;
3. New 60-watt bulbs for the pylon sign and new 90-watt bulbs for the building sign.
MOVED by G. Pendleton SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and K. Snow.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
“Max’s Place, LLC” Special Exception, Sign – RESUMED
Mr. Royston informed the board that after their brief discussion, his clients would like to further consider the recommendations made by the board and come back to the next ARB meeting with more options. Ms. Swenson agreed to their request and continued this application until the next meeting on May 30, 2007.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Meeting Minutes –April 9, 2007 and April 23, 2007 Regular Meetings
MOTION to amend the minutes of the April 9, 2007 regular meeting with the following corrections:
1. The motion regarding Max’s Place should reflect the date of the site plans presented as March 30, 2007;
2. Item 3 listed in the “Recommendations” for Max’s Place should be a “Stipulation” and should be reworded to state the follow: “There should be no light source visible from off-site or from the wetlands. All outdoor lights to be Dark Skies compliant and the flag pole should be lit from above.”
3. Delete the last sentence of the above mentioned Item 3, “Only true light bulbs should be used.”
MOVED by E. Swenson SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton and E. Swenson.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
MOTION to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2007 workshop meeting.
MOVED by G. Pendleton SECONDED by J. Gibbs
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs and G. Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: K. Snow APPROVED: 3-0-1.
B. Correspondence – no new items.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports – Design Excellence Award
Possible candidates were discussed and the board agreed to purchase more frames.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:06 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, May 30, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St. followed by an outdoor lighting presentation at 7:00 p.m. at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion at 155 College Street Extension.
MOVED by K. Snow SECONDED by G. Pendleton
IN FAVOR: E. Swenson, J. Gibbs, K. Snow and Guy Pendleton.
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet S. Vinciguerra, Recording Clerk
| 
