Minutes
Zoning Board of Appeals - Minutes - Feb 25, 2026
Feb 25, 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.
Page 1 of 3 Zoning Board of Appeals1 Regular Meeting2 February 25, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3 Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room4 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER - Chair Hogan called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, JoAnn Hogan; Board Members: Sheree Landerman, Ellen Gilbert, Ram11 Kaza, Margaret Rudin, and Jonathan Yeisley; and Alternate Board Member, John Merz;12 and Code Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis.13 14 Absent: Alternate Board Members: Kelly Kearney and Amy Salls.15 16 II. ELECTION OF OFFICERS17 18 1. Chair19 20 Commissioner Landerman nominated JoAnn Hogan to be re-elected as Chair for the21 Zoning Board of Appeals. The vote was unanimous (6-0-0).22 23 2. Vice Chair24 25 Commissioner Kaza nominated Sheree Landerman to be elected as Vice Chair for the26 Zoning Board of Appeals. The vote was unanimous (6-0-0).27 28 III. NEW BUSINESS29 30 Public Hearings31 32 Application ZBA #26-01 of Dennis Orr, Owner, for a variance from Section 3.9 of the33 Simsbury Zoning Regulation to reduce the front yard setback from 50 feet to ±16 feet,34 and a variance from Section 3.5 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to allow an accessory35 structure in the front yard at 8 Up the Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot A09 420 003),36 West Simsbury, Zone R-40.37 38 Page 2 of 3 Mr. Orr provided an overview of the application. The hardships being the pool/patio,39 wetlands, floodplain, septic system, and topography of the lot. Commissioners asked40 several follow up questions.41 42 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kaza, to close the43 public hearing for Application ZBA #26-01. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).44 45 The Board agreed that there are limitations to where the structure can go, but the expansion46 of the non-conformity was unreasonable.47 48 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Yeisley for the49 Zoning Board of Appeals to approve Application ZBA #26-01 of Dennis Orr, Owner, for50 a variance from Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulation to reduce the front yard51 setback from 50 feet to ±16 feet, and a variance from Section 3.5 of the Simsbury Zoning52 Regulations to allow an accessory structure in the front yard at 8 Up the Road (Assessor’s53 Map Block Lot A09 420 003), West Simsbury, Zone R-40.54 55 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the site plan stamped56 received 2/2/26 and the architectural set titled, “Brooke and Dennis Orr Renovations”57 prepared by Taylor Bryan Company, LLC dated 2/2/26.58 59 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following findings:60 the hardship stated is the unusual shape of the lot, topography, location of the septic and61 leach fields, and the pre-existing pool and patio.62 63 The motion did not carry (0-6-0).64 65 Application ZBA #26-02 of Tim Carlson, Owner, for a variance from Section 3.9 of the66 Simsbury Zoning Regulations to reduce the side yard setback from 12 feet to ±9 feet to67 construct a 2-story addition at 70 Simsbury Manor Drive (Assessor’s Map Block Lot F1668 116 060), Weatogue, Zone R-15.69 70 Mr. Carlson provided an overview of the proposed variance consisting of hardships with71 placement due to flood plains, the moderate slope in the rear, and wetlands.72 73 MOTION: Commissioner Gilbert made a motion, seconded by Chair Hogan, to close the74 public hearing for Application ZBA #26-02. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).75 76 The Board agreed that there is no viable place to put the addition due to the flood plain.77 78 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Yeisley for the79 Zoning Board of Appeals to approve Application ZBA #26-02 of Tim Carlson, Owner,80 for a variance from Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to reduce the side81 yard setback from 12 feet to ±9 feet to construct a 2-story addition at 70 Simsbury Manor82 Drive (Assessor’s Map Block Lot F16 116 060), Weatogue, Zone R-15.83 Page 3 of 3 84 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the site plan titled “Zoning85 Location Survey” by Jones Engineering, LLC revised 2/2/26.86 87 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following findings:88 the hardship being the flood plain, wetlands, and location of house on lot.89 90 Vice Chair Landerman opposed. The motion passed (5-1-0).91 92 IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES93 94 December 17, 2025, Special Meeting95 96 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Yeisley, to approve97 the Minutes of the December 17, 2025, Special Meeting. The motion carried unanimously98 (6-0-0).99 100 V. ADJOURNMENT101 102 MOTION: Vice Chair Landerman made a motion, seconded by Chair Hogan, to adjourn103 the meeting. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).104 105 Chair Hogan adjourned the meeting at 8:30 P.M.106 107 Respectfully submitted,108 109 Amanda Blaze110 Commission Clerk111