Minutes

Historic District Commission - Minutes - Feb 5, 2026

Feb 5, 2026

A public record published by the Town of Simsbury (simsbury-ct.gov). mySimsbury indexes it and makes it readable; it is not the official copy. View the original file.

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Historic District Commission1
Regular Meeting2
February 5, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3
Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room4
933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705
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MINUTES7
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I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Goetz called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M.9
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Present: Chair, Heather Goetz; Commission Member, Garrett Espeso; Alternate11
Commission Member, Ieke Scully; Planning Director, George McGregor; and Code12
Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis.13
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Absent: Vice Chair, Dianne Mead; Commission Members, Elaine Lang and Erin15
Leavitt-Smith; Alternate Committee Members, Chad Alfeld and Mark Nyquist.16
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Seating of Alternate: Commissioner Scully was appointed as a regular member for18
tonight’s meeting.19
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MOTION: Commissioner Espeso made a motion, seconded by Chair Goetz, to amend21
the Agenda to move Application #26-01 to the first item under Applications. The22
motion carried unanimously (3-0-0).23
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II. APPLICATIONS25
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1. Application #26-01 of Rob Pomeroy, Owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness27
for the total siding replacement for the barn at 16 East Weatogue Street using like28
materials (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 109, Lot 015), Zone R-40.29
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The applicant provided a brief overview of the application. The existing wood31
siding was being replace with #2 1” x 6” pine boards. The applicant requested to32
box out two additional windows on the barn that were covered by the existing33
siding. The Commission agreed that change would not require an additional COA34
because the applicant would use the same windows that were approved in35
application HDC 23-03.36
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Scully, to37
close the public hearing for Application #26-01. The motion carried unanimously38
(3-0-0).39
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Scully for the41
Historic District Commission to approve Application HDC #26-01 of Rob42
Pomeroy, Owner, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the total siding43
replacement for the barn at 16 East Weatogue Street using like materials44
(Assessor’s Map Block Lot H14 109 015), Zone R-40.45
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Certificate of Appropriateness is subject to the following conditions:47
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1. Once issued, Certificates of Appropriateness will be valid for five years from49
the approval date with an optional five-year extension.50
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2. The Commission authorizes staff to approve minor modifications to the52
application.53
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The project shall be developed in accordance with the plans stamped received55
1/14/26.56
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The motion carried unanimously (3-0-0).58
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2. Application #25-06 of Michael and Gretchen Bennett, Owner for a Certificate60
of Appropriateness for all new Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) siding for the home on61
the property located at 19 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108,62
Lot 004), Zone R-40.63
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso, to65
open the public hearing for Application #25-06 of Michael and Gretchen Bennett,66
Owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness for all new Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)67
siding for the home on the property located at 19 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s68
Map H14, Block 108, Lot 004), Zone R-40. The motion carried unanimously (3-0-69
0).70
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Code Compliance Officer Hollis introduced the application to the Commission,72
documenting the storm damage to the home in 2023, the process the applicant went73
through to choose materials and the funding available to the applicant.74
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The Commission asked a few follow-up questions concerning the proposed76
product. These were answered by Michael Massarelli of VERSATEX Building77
Products and Kean Lister of Carden Home Improvement.78
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Public Audience81
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Duane Doot, 16 East Weatogue Street, Weatogue83
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso to85
close the public hearing for Application #25-06. The motion carried unanimously86
(3-0-0).87
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso, for89
the Historic District Commission to approve Application HDC #25-06 of Michael90
and Gretchen Bennett, Owner, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for all new91
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) siding for the home on the property located at 19 East92
Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108, Lot 004), Zone R-40.93
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Granting the Certificate of Appropriateness is based on the following95
findings:96
1. State Statute and the Historic District Handbook allows the Historic97
District Commission to permit variations to the standards of the98
Handbook.99
2. Pursuant to CGS. 7-147.g/7-147.v, the Historic District Commission finds100
that the strict application of the provisions in the Historic District101
Handbook creates an undue hardship for the applicants.102
3. The Commission finds the hardship is that the damage to the home103
occurred because of an act of nature and because of the limited level of104
funding available to the applicants.105
4. The applicant has demonstrated sensitivity to the existing siding106
material.107
5. The Commission finds approving the Certificate of Appropriateness108
ensures that substantial justice is done.109
6. Once issued, the Certificates of Appropriateness will be valid for five-110
years from the approval date with an optional five-year extension.111
7. The Commission authorizes staff to approve minor modifications to the112
application.113
8. The project shall be developed in accordance with the plans stamped114
received 12/17/25.115
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Commissioner Scully opposed. The motion carried (2-1-0).117
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III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES119
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December 4, 2025 Regular Meeting121
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MOTION: Chair made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Scully, to approve the123
Minutes of the December 4, 2025, Regular Meeting as written. The motion carried124
unanimously (3-0-0).125
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IV. COMMISSION BUSINESS128
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Election of Officers130
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Tabled until the next meeting.132
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V. ADJOURNMENT134
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MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso, to adjourn136
the meeting. The motion carried unanimously (3-0-0).137
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Chair Goetz adjourned the meeting at 7:45 P.M.139
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Respectfully submitted,141
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Amanda Blaze143
Commission Clerk144