ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 15, 2015 5:45 p.m.
Members present: Marshall Montana, Dave Goslin, Charles Regulbuto, Terri Parrot (arrived 6:00 PM)
Staff present: Michele R. Lipe, Director of Planning
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Appl. 15-06P, Residences at Evergreen Walk Unit 7B, request by South Windsor Developers, LLC for a site plan modification including changes to the building layouts and architectural changes of the apartments approved with Town Square at Evergreen Walk (Appl. 11-24P), on a portion of 151 Buckland Road [within "Evergreen Walk"], and being approximately 1,200 feet west of Buckland Road and 400 feet north of Smith Street, Buckland Road Gateway Development Zone
Attorney Leonard Jacobs representing the applicant, Mr. Howard Rappaport of South Windsor Developers, LLC, explained the change in design for the 200 units which will now be located in nine smaller buildings to be located in the same general area.
The clubhouse will be located at the entrance of the originally designed Town Square at Evergreen Walk. The size remains the same as previously approved with the addition of 30 garages and the addition of a side road. Parking will be distributed throughout the property. Dumpsters are to be scattered throughout the site.
Jason Williams, landscape architect and site designer with Milone & MacBroom, reviewed the site plan, landscaping, and architectural renderings of the buildings and clubhouse.
Mr. Williams indicated that many young people are moving to areas where sustainable green growth is key by having buildings closer together served by public transportation and amenities. The design for this proposal brings the buildings closer together circling around the Town Square green with lots of shade trees, sculptures and flagpoles and with very easy access to the commercial area. Rain gardens will be located throughout the site using a mix of native trees and shrubs to break up the vertical lines with the plantings.
Building materials described were architectural shingle with trim panels, white in color, throughout the development with cedar impression siding and stone veneer along the bottom of the buildings. The clubhouse has many amenities with art, flags, bike share locations, outside patio dining on patio furniture with a fire pit. The inside of the clubhouse contains a big open interior space, cinema, library, sports lounge, and yoga studio. There will be solar panels on the garages. All lighting will be full cutoff. Samples of the materials and colors were shown and discussed by the Committee.
The ADRC was very pleased with the change in design to smaller buildings creating a community feel. The Committee gave a favorable recommendation for the proposal shown.
- Appl. 15-05P, Commercial Development Units 7D & 7E - request by Evergreen Walk, LLC for a site plan modification to the commercial component of the approved Town Square at Evergreen Walk (Appl. 11-24P), on a portion of 151 Buckland Road [within "Evergreen Walk"], and being located approximately 1,200 feet west of Buckland Road and 400 feet north of Smith Street, Buckland Road Gateway Development Zone
Mr. Alan Lamson, FLB Architecture & Planning, Inc., representing Evergreen Walk described the commercial units which will be set out onto Tamarack Avenue. The buildings have not yet been designed. Mr. Lamson will return with building design when available. The landscaping will be similar to residential sample plan presented for the barrier areas behind the existing commercial areas.
- Appl. 15-03P, Regional Distribution Center – request by Scannel Properties #205 LLC for site plan approval for a 292,000 sq ft distribution facility on 16.4 acres of property, located on Lot #2 of Sullivan Avenue Industrial Park, to be known as 135 Sullivan Avenue (southerly side of Sullivan Avenue, easterly of John Fitch Boulevard), I zone
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Mr. Ben Wheeler of Design Professionals, Inc. and Ms. Jill Marcotte, development manager from Scannell Properties, were present to discuss the application.
The 40 acres are being subdivided into three industrial lots. Lot #2 is 16 acres and a 292,000 sq ft warehouse distribution facility building is proposed to be situated toward the back of the lot. A berm will be 6-8 feet high along the Sullivan Avenue frontage. Street trees are shown as maple and pin oaks with a mix of flowering trees. The east side of the building will have loading docks which will be screened from Route 5 and will also be screened from Sullivan Avenue with evergreens and the berm.
Route 5 is the lowest part of the site where, in the southwest corner, there will be a native mix of wildflower to make it look nice around the basin which will be a wet pond. There will be a continuation of street trees along Route 5 and will continue as further development happens in the industrial park. Additional plantings will be added to the wetlands mitigation area located at the southeastern part of the site where the property is currently wooded.
A 3D rendering was presented showing the buildings from an aerial perspective. Site lighting will include building mounted full cutoff lights located 24 feet high on the building. There will be seven light poles around the front of the building with two building mounted 24 ft high lights in front of the building. There will be another five poles measuring 35 feet in the loading area. Signage will be meet all codes.
The building will be constructed of tilt concrete reveals within concrete panels with clear story windows proposed every fifty feet across the elevation. There will be 25 overhead doors with another two doors on the east side. Five thousand square feet of office is proposed. There will be a 40 ft height vertical element along the office to break up the massing. Secure truck court rod iron fencing is proposed for the truck court. There will be two rooftop units in the front office area.
The Committee expressed no concerns and had no comments on this application.
- Preliminary discussion/review of a potential hotel on the easterly side of Buckland Road, BG zone
Mr. Jay Ussery, engineer with JR Russo & Associates and representing Mr. Anthony Mamontov, General Manager, Mr. Rustam Egamov, CEO with Samarkand Enterprises LLC introduced the hotel concept they have been working on for a facility to be located opposite the LA Fitness site in the open field (south of the Messiah Lutheran Church) with a proposed entrance at the traffic light. The design of hotel is for 120 rooms in a 4 story building. The building would have a drop-off canopy area in the front and would be U-shaped with 140 parking spaces scatted on the three sides. The building will have stone across the lower level. The second and third levels will have a brick façade. A hearty plank would be used on the upper floors. The front entry would have an atrium and in the back of the building they are
proposing to have a courtyard which would include a pool and other amenities such as picnics areas with a fire pit.
An architectural perspective was presented. The committee had questions and discussed specific aspects of the proposal with the perspective owners. The committee was pleased with the direction of the project. The developer will return once a site plan is finalized and an application is submitted.
- Appl. 14-57P, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company – request for a site plan of development for a 14,500 sq ft facility to include a brewery, warehouse, and tasting room on property located at 765 Sullivan Avenue, GC zone
Mr. Jay Ussery of R.J. Russo & Associates presented the proposed changes to the plans for Connecticut Valley Brewing Company.
The roof line has been changed and stone has been added from the ground up to the windows. Supports have been added on the columns (including a stone base) and some additional clapboard siding has been added to the front elevation. The underside of the roof will now be finished and accent lighting has been added under the porch eaves.
The materials to be used and color palette was presented.
The Committee was very satisfied with changes made to the elevations complimented the applicant on the redesign presented.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele R. Lipe, AICP, Director of Planning
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