MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, February 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
T. Pendleton called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Theodore Pendleton I. Ben Akin
Anthony Brodeur Jennifer Hoben
Susan Missel Anita Yust
Barbara D’Agostino (arrived at 7:10 p.m.)
Attending Staff
Susan Beckman, Economic Director
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
- Minutes of December 8, 2014
MOTION to approve the December 8, 2014 minutes as presented; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by B. D’Agostino; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
MOTION to elect S. Missel as Chairperson of the Architectural Review Board.; MADE by B. D’Agostino; SECONDED by A. Brodeur; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
MOTION to elect A. Brodeur as Vice Chairman of the Architectural Review Board. ; MADE by B. D’Agostino; SECONDED by S. Missel; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
MOTION to elect B. D’Agostino as Secretary of the Architectural Review Board.; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by S. Missel; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
- Correspondence & Announcements
There was no new correspondence, and there were no new announcements.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Board Members talked about Town Planner Christine Nelson’s request for them to write about 4 topics for the 2015 Old Saybrook Events quarterly newsletter.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
- “The Cedar Chest” 2 Signs
907 Boston Post Road, Map 29/ Lot 5
Shopping Center B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Nancy Briggs
Nancy Briggs presented her application. She is proposing a 30” x 216” internally illuminated wall sign for the building and a 16” x 34” multi- tenant free standing monument sign which will be illuminated by a beam aiming upward onto the sign.
T. Brodeur suggested the wall sign would look better if it was dark with white lettering. The monument sign is already dark with white lettering.
MOTION to recommend approval of “The Cedar Chest” 2 Signs, 907 Boston Post Road, Map 29 / Lot 5, Shopping Center B-2 District, Applicant/Agent: Nancy Briggs with the following condition: the wall sign will have a dark background and all white letters as the multi-tenant free standing monument sign does.; MADE by A. Brodeur; SECONDED by B. Missel; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, B. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
- “Ocean Star Nail Spa” 2 Signs
907 Boston Post Road, Map 29/ Lot 5
Shopping Center B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Ying Jia
This application is being continued to the Special Meeting of the Architectural Review Board which will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street.
- “Shoreline Pet & Aquarium” 2 Signs
719 Boston Post Road, Map 36/ Lot 101
Shopping Center B-2 District
Applicant/Agent: Jeromy Reynolds
J. Reynolds presented his application. He is proposing a 3’ x 30’ aluminum tube frame sign with vinyl graphics. The sign will be illuminated by 4 spotlights. Also, he is replacing the directory sign which is 22.5” x 69.5”. He also would like to propose a 3rd , 4’ x 8’ sign which will be a side wall sign with the same materials as the front sign.
There was a discussion about the cost of spotlights versus a backlit sign and the importance of dark sky compliance with floodlights and spotlights. Also, Board Members talked about the consistency of the proposed sign as compared to the other tenants’ wall lit signs on the building.
There was also discussion about the coral on the sign and the colors the applicant has proposed. The applicant said he is planning to specialize in fish and aquarium products, and he would like to use the red, navy and aqua colors with the pictures of the coral, fish, cat and dog to convey that message to the public. He would like to keep the logos in place as they are located presently on the proposed sign.
The applicant did not have a drawing for the 3rd proposed sign, which is the 4’ x 8’ side wall sign. After discussing this sign, Board Members and the applicant agreed to withdraw this sign from the application.
MOTION to recommend approval of “Shoreline Pet & Aquarium” 2 Signs, 719 Boston Post Road, Map 36 / Lot 101, Shopping Center B-2 District, Applicant/Agent: Jeromy Reynolds as presented with the following condition: the wall sign will be internally illuminated and not lit with spotlights, and the 3rd proposed sign which is the 4’ x 8’ wall sign will be withdrawn from the current application.; MADE by A. Brodeur; SECONDED by B. D’Agostino ; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
- Petition to Amend the Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations Section 64, Signs, in B-1 & B-2, B-3, B-4, MC & SP-2 Districts to change setbacks from the street for freestanding signs and add/increase size of second freestanding signs on corner lots and allow three wall signs per tenant that may be increased to over 100 s.f. as a SPECIAL EXCEPTION; first wall only.
Petitioner: Max’s Place, LLC & 75 Old Saybrook, LLC
Agent: Attorney David M. Royston
Attorney D. Royston presented. He explained that the property owners and districts applied under a joint petition. This petition was sent to numerous boards and commissions because it affects all of the commercial zones in town. With this regulation change, third signs would be allowed under certain conditions. This petition was reviewed and commented on by Town Attorney Mark Branse. Board Members received copies of the petition with Attorney Branse’s comments
In November 2014, the Planning Commission denied the original application. Attorney Royston stated that the Planning Commission felt that the petition was requesting too much, and the signs requested would be too large.
Attorney Royston explained that the only time a business would be able to get a 2nd free standing sign would be if the lot had frontage on 2 streets, the 2nd sign would only be allowed by Special Exception so there is more discretion by the Zoning Commission to deny a 2nd free standing sign, and the sign will be oriented to the entrance. The signs have to be 100 feet apart from any measurement. The sign can be no more than 25’ back from the vehicular entrance which is serves, and the sign will be oriented to the entrance itself.
Board Members shared concerns that there are already too many signs in certain commercial parts of town which create confusion and sign clutter.
Attorney Royston responded by explaining that this petition has been cut down only allowing 3rd signs in a few select cases and reducing the size of the signs.
Under the current regulations, each tenant of a multi-tenant building can have a 100-s.f. sign for up to ten tenants. On the second wall, up to 4 tenants are allowed to have wall signs.
In summary, Attorney Royston stated that there must be 2 streets, 2 entrances, each 3rd sign will be required to go before the Zoning Commission as a Special Exception, and the orientation of the sign must be toward the vehicular entrance which it serves.
Board Members requested more time to review this petition. They agreed to continue this matter at the Special Meeting of the Architectural Review Board which is going to be on Wednesday, 2/11/2013 at 7:00 p.m., 2nd Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street.
MOTION to table the Petition to Amend the Old Saybrook Zoning Regulations Section 64, Signs, in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, MC & SP-2 Districts to change setbacks from the street for freestanding signs and add/increase size of second freestanding signs on corner lots and allow three wall signs per tenant that may be increased to over 100 s.f.as a SPECIAL EXCEPTION; first wall only. Petitioner: Max’s Place, LLC & 75 Old Saybrook, LLC ; Agent: Attorney David M. Royston until the Special Meeting of the Architectural Review Board which will be held on Wednesday, 2/11/2015, 7:00 p.m., 2nd Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by A. Brodeur; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING:
None; (4-0-0).
- “Eastpointe” Incentive Housing Development – 186 units (10.78 ac)
7 North Main Street, Map 40/ Lots 5 & 6-1 and Map 39 / Lot ()
Shopping Center Business B-2 District, Pedestrian Node, Incentive Housing IH Zone (Multi-Family MF Subzone)
Applicant: Eastpointe, LLC., contract purchaser; Agent: Edward M. Cassella, Esquire
This application is being continued to the Special Meeting of the Architectural Review Board which will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Conference Room, Town Hall, 302 Main Street.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. to the Special Meeting to be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street at 7:00 p.m.; MADE by T. Pendleton; SECONDED by S. Missel; APPROVED by T. Pendleton, A. Brodeur, B. D’Agostino, S. Missel; ABSTAINING: None; (4-0-0).
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
Recording Secretary
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