Architectural Review Board
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 27, 2008 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 7:31 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Kingmon Snow, Regular Member Arcangela Claffey, Alternate
Guy Pendleton, Secretary Elizabeth Swenson, Vice Chairman
David Wight, Chairman Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member
Attendant Staff
Joanne Rynecki, Recording Clerk
Jonathan Gibbs, Regular Member arrived at 7:34 p.m.
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Savory” Sign
254 Main Street (Map 37/Lot 128)
Central Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Patsy Berglund
The applicant was not present at tonight’s meeting. However, photos of the building and proposed sign placement were submitted for the Board’s review. The sign will be 3 ft by 8 ft with a white background, red letters and a black boarder. The sign will not be illuminated. From the photos it is clear that additional signage is present and not included in the overall sign/wall dimensions. An awning with lettering is considered signage. The board would like to be sure the overall sign s.f. including the awning is permitted. Mr. Gibbs recommends a minimum of a 5 inch clearance above and below the proposed sign on the exposed shingles (bottom of drip to top of awning roller housing).
MOTION to recommend approval to erect a sign with the stipulation that the sign is centered on the shingled building area leaving a minimum 5 inch clearance above (bottom of drip) and below (top of awning roller housing).
MOVED: by David Wight; SECONDED: by Guy Pendleton
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton. K. Snow, J. Gibbs, D. Wight
OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. “Dirt, LLC” Site Plan - contractor’s businesses, storage, buildings
(1) 1,221 s.f. and (2) 564 s.f., parking and site improvements
47 Spencer Plains Road (Map 25/Lot 25)
Gateway Business B-4 District
Applicant/Agent: Van Epps Construction
The applicant’s attorney Ed Cassella was present to provide information to the Board regarding the application for a site plan review. The Zoning Commission also requested that the ARB review the matter and recommend any modifications.
The property is located on Spencer Plains Road and its boarders are I-95 exit 66 off-ramp to the north, Amtrak railroad tracks to the south and the Town of Westbrook to the west. The property is a narrow strip of land located in both Old Saybrook and Westbrook. The parcel is approx. 5 acres. The site was formerly a DEP approved dump site, which is no longer in service.
The owner operates a construction, demolition and landscaping businesses from the site. There are 3 tenants that share space with the owner/applicant. Currently the owner is working with the town of Old Saybrook to remove non-permitted uses at the site. There are 3 buildings on the site. A 1,221 s.f. building with 2 garage bays and office space, two 564 s.f. buildings with 1 garage bay used for storage of equipment and business related materials. There are farm animals, 3 cows and 15 chickens. There are trailers located in various locations on the property used to store hay and misc. business materials.
Attorney Cassella presented a landscaping plan to screen the 3 buildings from view of the exit ramp traffic with arborvitaes. Also, arborvitaes are planned on the south side of the property to screen the trailers from view of passing railroad passengers. Chairman, Wight’s concern is that this property is the “gateway” into our town. The site doesn’t seem to have any organization and doesn’t give a favorable impression of our town. The board would like to see the parking area at the beginning of the property moved to the Westbrook side of the property near the buildings and the trailers moved if they are in view from the highway exit ramp. The idea would be to keep the business related activity to one section of the property and leave the remaining area for farm
and open space. Guy Pendleton would like to see Eastern Red Cedars planted in place of the proposed pear trees. The cedar trees would be more natural to the area.
A site walk is planned for 8:00 a.m. on Friday October 31, 2008.
The board has the following recommendations:
a. Landscaping: Plant arborvitaes to shield the buildings/trailers from view. Plant Eastern Red Cedars rather than Pear trees where planned;
b. Parking: Do not allow parking by the street, relocate to north west corner near buildings;
c. Relocate trailers if in view from the highway exit ramp to possibly keep business activities in one area of site.
d. Leave remaining property for open space, farm land and let natural vegetation grow.
MOTION to continue application until next regular meeting scheduled for November 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
MOVED: by David Wight; SECONDED: by Guy Pendleton
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton. D. Wight, J. Gibbs, K. Snow
OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0
B. “Lyons II Fabric Warehouse” Signs (3). Illuminated (2)
745 Boston Post Road (Map 36/Lot 86)
Business B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Kathy Lemelin
The applicant/Agent was not present at tonight’s meeting. Application information was submitted to the board members for their review. The applicant is proposing 3 signs. It appears that 2 of signs will be illuminated. The wattage of the bulbs to be used is unknown. It appears updated sign dimensions are proposed however, the application does not reflect the new dimensions. The sign design, a burgundy/red background, black boarder and yellow lettering is well done, good color and design. The front roof sign is unacceptable as currently shown. The height needs to be minimized to float clear of the top arch and below the roof /gutter line. The board would like the applicant to provide clarification of the sign sizes and where each sign will be placed. Illumination information, specifically bulb wattage is requested as well.
MOTION to continue application until next regular meeting scheduled for November 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
MOVED: by David Wight; SECONDED: by Kingmon Snow
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton. D. Wight, J. Gibbs, K. Snow
OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0
C. “SWAG” Sign
117 Main Street (Map 37/Lot 17)
Business B-1 District
Applicant/Agent: Michael Hoinsky
Michael Hoinsky, owner/applicant was present tonight. He explained his new business opening on Main Street and how he designed the signage for the building. The building is one of the largest storefronts on Main Street. There will be 120 s.f. of signage on the building which has 600 s.f. of wall space. The sign will not be illuminated at this time. The colors and design are well done with lettering in burgundy and a logo in multi-colors. One obstacle on the building facia is a vertical band which cuts through just to the left of center. Jonathan Gibbs suggested moving the logo placement or the entire sign over to adjust for the vertical band. Mr. Hoinsky said he will try to replace the band with matching brick or move the sign so it balances with the vertical band. The
building would also benefit aesthetically with an awning.
MOTION to recommend approval of the application with stipulation that sign is clear of the stripe on the fascia and if an awning is installed that the sign be centered vertically in relation to the awning.
MOVED: by Jonathan Gibbs; SECONDED: by Guy Pendleton
IN FAVOR: G. Pendleton. D. Wight, J. Gibbs, K. Snow
OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0
Kingmon Snow was excused from the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
a. Meeting Minutes – September 8, 2008, September 22, 2008 and October 15, 2008 will be approved at the next meeting due to a lack of attendant members.
b. Correspondence
c. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports – The board reviewed, ZEO, Costa’s follow-up letter regarding Mercury Fuel canopy lighting. Jonathan Gibbs stated that flush mounted or fully shrouded/cutoff fixtures would meet our requirements. The lights currently in place at this site and others in town are not conforming. The stipulation for cutoff fixtures that do not throw glare beyond the site line has been requested but many locations remain in violation.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:43 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday November 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main St.
MOVED by Guy Pendelton; SECONDED by Jonathan Gibbs
IN FAVOR: D. Wight, J. Gibbs, G. Pendleton
OPPOSED: none. ABSTAINED: none. APPROVED: 3-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanne Rynecki, Recording Clerk
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