MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:30 P.M.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M.
II. ROLL CALL
Present
D. Wight
J. Gibbs
T. Pendleton
K. Snow
A. Claffey
The Chairman recognized C. Nelson, Town Planner, as attending.
III. OLD BUSINESS
A. “Between the Bridges, LLC” Site Plan
142 Ferry Road, (Map 45/Lots 29, 33, 11 & 14)Marine Commercial District, Residential A DistrictApplicant/Agent: Attorney William Childress
Ms. Cartagena, an architect from Point One Architects, introduced herself, landscape architect Mr. Cunningham, and their client Ms. Gallagher. Ms. Cartagena presented updates to the lighting plan, including 8 separate functions of lighting throughout the site and the streetscape. The developer broached the subject of the redundancy of high intensity cobrahead street lighting mounted high on utility poles, and the Board agreed that it has been an initiative of the Board of Selectmen to reduce and refine lighting to levels appropriate to the intended tasks. The town planner emphasized that the balance of comfort and aesthetics must be balanced with safety and security; Town consensus around which has resulted in policies that street lights remain at intersections, sharp curves and dead-ends of public
streets. With regard to all lighting presented for the development, the Board approves of that presented and recommends that which was presented: downcast light fixtures, a color that is in the warmer end of the light spectrum (rather than increasingly prevalent “blue” light), compact fluorescent bulbs to conserve energy consumption, ground lighting for the neighborhood markers and project sign. The Board recommends all existing wall-mounted “pack” lights be removed or replaced with full cut-off fixtures to eliminate bulb glare off-site, including out onto the river.
Ms. Cartagena indicated that she did not have the final dimensions or colors of the signs; the names of the tenant businesses are not yet established. The Board recommends that this information be presented as a part of the permitting to the Zoning Commission so that details are defined for long-term compliance. The Board approves of the external illumination of the restaurant and retail signs. The Board recommends that the round shades of the gooseneck lighting be made oval, if needed, to spread the light horizontally along the surface of the signs. If internal illumination is proposed, the Board prefers the background to be at least 50% lighter than the text for an easy-to-read contrast and for light control.
The Board reiterated its recommendations for more delineation of individual units: 1) individual access from the Ferry Road to the individual doors along the common porch of residential buildings C and D to allow units owners direct access without needing to always pass through the porch areas in front of other units; and 2) individual landscape buffers of at least 3’ in depth to be delineated on the plans as limited common area on the exterior units of the residential Cottage buildings to allow unit owners direct planting space within the project’s larger, general scheme of thematic planting. Mr. Gibbs suggested to the developer to consider offering an option to the project’s eventual unit owners to be able to “opt out” of the association’s landscape contract
for these areas, subject to covenants of the association (e.g. no invasive plants) so that the project has a manageable element of neighborhood character based on the personalities of the owners.
Ms. Cartagena indicated that she did not have the locations, dimensions or product details for privacy fences, gates, on-site vehicular direction or flow, guide rails, or security lights. The Board recommends that this information be presented as a part of the permitting to the Zoning Commission so that details are defined for long-term compliance; the site engineering of the project is not yet complete.
Ms. Cartagena indicated that she did not have the details of the public access to the coastal environment (visual), including provision for handicap-accessibility, materials delineating the dedicated walkway nor guiderail. The Board recommends that no future addition of on-site fences be allowed without a full permit review to ensure continued public access along the water. The Board recommends that this information be presented as a part of the permitting to the Zoning Commission so that details are defined for long-term compliance; the site engineering of the project is not yet complete.
MOTION to send a recommendation for approval with modifications as described in the minutes of the 1/11/10, 1/25/10 and 2/8/10 meetings of the Board; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by K. Snow; APPROVED (4-0-1) by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow; ABSTAINED by A. Claffey.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
None.
V. DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The Board considered commercial and multi-family development for which permits were granted during the 2008 and 2009 calendar years and for which certificates of occupancy were obtained or will be soon as candidates for its annual Design Excellence Awards ceremony.
MOTION to award the 2008 Design Excellence Award to GeoMatrix LLC and its designer for renovation of 114 Mill Rock Road East; MADE by J. Gibbs; SECONDED by K. Snow; APPROVED by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow, A. Claffey (5-0-0).
MOTION to award the 2009 Design Excellence Award to Patricia Walden and her designer Point One Architects for renovation of 1234 Boston Post Road; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by A. Claffey; APPROVED by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow, A. Claffey (5-0-0).
The Board discussed options for possible changes to the format of its ceremony. The Board will consider photographs and descriptive language of the elements of design of these developments at its next meeting for use at its ceremony and for printed/on-line publication.
VI. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers
The Chairman opened the floor to nominations for officer for the upcoming year and received a single slate of candidates.
MOTION to elect T. Pendleton for Chairman, J. Gibbs as Vice Chairman, and A. Claffey as Secretary; MADE by D. Wight; SECONDED by K. Snow; APPROVED by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow, A. Claffey (5-0-0).
B. Meeting Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of 1/25/10 with a correction on page 9 to correct the annual date of December 14 for removal of the portable toilet at the Van Wilgen nursery to December 24; MADE by D. Wight; SECONDED by K. Snow; APPROVED by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow, A. Claffey (5-0-0).
C. Correspondence
The Board received no new correspondence. The Board discussed using Old Saybrook Events as a medium for initiating a call for candidates to fill the 3 vacant positions.
D. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
The Board received no committee or representative reports. The Board received a report from the Town Planner on the progress of an on-line image bank of photographs to accompany and further illustrate good, local examples of implementation of the new design standards.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 P.M. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of Monday, February 22, 2010 at 7:30 P.M. in the Town Hall, 2nd floor conference room, 302 Main Street; MADE by K. Snow; SECONDED by T. Pendleton; APPROVED by D. Wight, T. Pendleton, J. Gibbs, K. Snow, A. Claffey (5-0-0).
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
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