Minutes

Zoning Commission - Minutes - Feb 18, 2026

Feb 18, 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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Zoning Commission1
Special Meeting2
February 18, 2026 – 6:00 P.M.3
Simsbury Public Library – FSPL Room4
725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705
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MINUTES7
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I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Braz called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M.9
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Present: Chair, Tony Braz; Vice Chair, Shannon Leary; Commission Members: Jackie11
Battos, Kate Beal, and Dagny Griswold; Alternate Commission Members: Stacie Espeso,12
Allen Bradford, and Doug McKown; and Planning Director, George McGregor.13
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Absent: Commission Member Tucker Salls.15
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Seating of Alternates: Commissioner McKown (for Salls) and Allen Bradford (for Beal)17
were appointed as regular member for tonight’s meeting.18
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES20
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January 21, 2026, Regular Meeting22
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Chair Braz identified the following revisions:24
Line 27, “as approved” to read, “as amended”.25
Line 87 “McClean” to read “McLean”.26
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Commissioner Griswold arrived at 6:02 P.M.28
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MOTION: Vice Chair Leary made a motion, seconded by Commissioner McKown, to30
approve the Minutes of the January 21, 2026, Regular Meeting, as amended. The motion31
carried unanimously (6-0-0).32
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Commissioner Espeso arrived at 6:09.34
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III. COMMISSION BUSINESS40
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1. Zoning Regulations Comprehensive Review and Update42
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Presentation by Planning Consultant IMEG/FHI44
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Francisco Gomes of IMEG presented his initial review of the Zoning Regulations46
including a line-by-line review, issue identification, possible categorical additions, and47
the upcoming community open house and input session.48
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Commissioner Beal arrived at 7:09; Commissioner Bradford returned to alternate50
status.51
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2. Public Hearings and Action for Special Exception53
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Application ZC 26-03 of Rosedale Farms Real Estate, LLC., Owner, T.J. Donohue,55
Killian & Donohue, LLC., Applicant; for a special exception pursuant to Section 8.656
and Section 12 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to serve and sell wine in the57
existing wine production facility on site at 25 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map58
H14, Block 108, Lot 003), Zone R-40.59
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Planning Director McGregor, Attorney T.J. Donahue, Esq., and Owner, Marshall61
Epstein provided a brief overview of the proposed special exception consisting of a62
tasting room added to the existing wine production facility.63
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MOTION: Commissioner Battos made a motion, seconded by Commissioner65
Griswold, to close the public hearing for Application ZC 26-03. The motion carried66
unanimously (6-0-0).67
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MOTION: Commissioner Beal made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Battos,69
for the Zoning Commission to approve Application ZC 26-03 of Rosedale Farms Real70
Estate, LLC., Owner, T.J. Donohue, Killian & Donohue, LLC., Applicant; for a special71
exception pursuant to Section 8.6 and Section 12 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations72
to serve and sell wine in the existing wine production facility on site at 25 East73
Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108, Lot 003), Zone R-40 upon a finding74
the application substantially meets the requirements of Section 12 of the Zoning75
Regulations and with the following conditions:76
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1. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the application ZC78
#26-03, dated February 2, 2026.79
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2. Any building and zoning permits shall be obtained prior to the start of the project.81
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The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).83
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3. Application Review and Action for Site Plan85
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Application ZC #25-27 of Chen & Gao Realty, LLC, Property Owner, Ed Lally and87
Associates, Inc., Applicant, for a site plan approval to construct a multi-use structure88
with commercial on first floor and two apartments on second floor at 568 Hopmeadow89
Street. (Map G12, Block 132, Lot 037), Zone B-1.90
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Planning Director McGregor provided an overview of the proposed mixed-use project.92
Ed Lally, Principal Engineer and Land Surveyor of Ed Lally & Associates and Craig93
Chasse, Architect of Architectural Studio 3C spoke on their areas of expertise on behalf94
of the Applicant. The Commission asked a few follow-up questions.95
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MOTION: Commissioner McKown made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Beal,97
for the Zoning Commission to approve Application ZC #25-27 of Chen & Gao Realty,98
LLC, Property Owner, Ed Lally and Associates, Inc., Applicant, for a site plan approval99
to construct a multi-use structure with commercial on first floor and two apartments on100
second floor at 568 Hopmeadow Street (Map G12, Block 132, Lot 037), Simsbury,101
Zone B-1 upon a finding the application substantially meets the requirements of102
Section 11 of the Zoning Regulations and with the following conditions:103
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1. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the site plan titled,105
“Phase 2 Combined Site Plan Prepared for Chen & Gao Realty, LLC,” prepared by106
Ed Lally and Associates, Inc. dated September 28, 2025, revised, January 6, 2026107
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2. The cross-access easements for 568 and 570 Hopmeadow Street, which were filed109
on the Town’s Land Records in 2015, must be maintained.110
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3. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the architectural112
drawings titled, “Schematic Exterior Elevations,” prepared by Architectural Studio113
3C, LLC, dated December 20, 2024, along with comments provided by the Design114
Review Board at the February 18, 2026, meeting.115
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The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).117
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IV. OTHER COMMISSION BUSINESS119
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Appointment of Thomas Mach as an Alternate to the Design Review Board121
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MOTION: Vice Chair Leary made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Griswold to123
appoint Thomas Mach as an Alternate to the Design Review Board. The motion carried124
unanimously (6-0-0).125
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Planning Director Report130
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Planning Director McGregor provided an update on legal cases, pending projects, the132
zoning input session for signs, and legislative action.133
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V. EXECUTIVE SESSION136
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MOTION: Chair Braz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Beal, to go into138
Executive Session, pursuant to General Statutes Section 1-200(6)(B): Discussion of139
Pending Litigation and/or Claim. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).140
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The Commissioner went into Executive Session at 7:49 P.M.142
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The Commission exited Executive Session at 8:29 P.M. No action was taken.144
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VI. ADJOURNMENT147
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MOTION: Commissioner Griswold made a motion to adjourn, seconded by149
Commissioner Battos. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).150
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The Commissioner adjourned at 8:30 P.M.152
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Respectfully submitted,155
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Amanda Blaze157
Commission Clerk158