ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES
June 18, 2009, 5:45 p.m.
Members present: Rob Clapper, Sue Larsen, Charles Regulbuto
Staff present: Michele R. Lipe, Assistant Director of Planning
Chairman Rob Clapper called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
- 09-24P – South Windsor Stone & Landscaping, LLC – request for a special exception to article 4, Table 4.1.1A and site plan approval for a landscape material sales and storage/warehousing business property located at 724 Strong Road, I zone
Ben Wheeler, Landscape Architect with Design Professionals Inc represented the applicant. The business proposed is for retail and wholesale of stone/landscaping materials and potentially 16 self storage units. The applicant is proposing to construct a 2,310 sf landscape center including office space and storage (phase 2 would include 1,680 sf addition) and two self-storage warehouse buildings – one 3,000 square feet with 12 units and the second would be 1,250 sf with four storage units. The 12-unit building would have overhead doors on both sides and the 4-unit building would have doors only on the rear side (away from Strong Road).
There are 12 parking spaces proposed in gravel parking area as well as 16 landscape bins towards the rear of the site.
The landscaping plan was consists of a row of arborvitaes, 4 feet high, 3 feet on center along a portion of the easterly property line to screen the outdoor storage from the neighbor to the east. Other landscape includes flowers around the sign and plantings and flowers around the foundation of the building which include arborvitaes, grasses, perennials and evergreen shrubs. There is a 60 inch maple towards the rear of the site is to be saved and protected during construction.
The proposed signage includes a 20 sf sign that will be an integral part of the stone wall at the entrance. There is also a sign proposed on the building that will be lit by goose neck lights.
The lighting plan proposed includes 4, 25 foot high poles with full cut-off shoebox style lights. The only other lighting consists of two coach lights that will sit on top of the 5 foot high stone columns that will be flanking the site entrance. These pillars will be made of a cultures stone pattern (unless real stone is used).
Tim Stahr with New England Builders reviewed the architectural drawings for the three buildings. The building colors (Sahara Tan with Fern Green trim, green roof) were selected. Three will be window and door treatments and a wrap around porch on the main building. Each of the buildings will have a cupola and the two storage units will match the main building in color. The storage buildings will be 10’ high with a sloping roofline.
The Committee discussed the application. They had the following comments/questions:
- Q: What are the hour’s operations for the warehouse units? Would the applicant consider reducing or turning off some of the exterior lighting when the business is not open? A: The engineer will consult the owner. Q: Does the applicant have rights to use the ROW adjacent to the property? A: They are currently working on acquiring those rights. Q: Would the applicant consider an one-way traffic pattern? A: They will investigate the possibility.
- Q: Would the applicant consider reducing the height of the light poles since there are residential properties in the immediate area? A: That would not be desirable as it would require the applicant to add an additional light pole.
The Committee had the following recommendations:
- the landscaping screening on the easterly side of the site should be extended up to the proposed fence to screen the landscape bins along the rear property line
- details of the landscape bins to be used must be provided
- documented rights must be submitted for use of the ROW
- hours of operation should be reviewed as it relates to the lighting on the site
Respectfully submitted:
Michele R. Lipe, AICP
Assistant Director of Planning
| 
