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.

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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
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MINUTES7
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I. CALL TO ORDER - Chair Hogan called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.9
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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
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Absent: Alternate Board Members: Kelly Kearney and Amy Salls.15
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II. ELECTION OF OFFICERS17
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1. Chair19
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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
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2. Vice Chair24
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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
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III. NEW BUSINESS29
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Public Hearings31
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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
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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
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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
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The Board agreed that there are limitations to where the structure can go, but the expansion46
of the non-conformity was unreasonable.47
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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
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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
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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
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The motion did not carry (0-6-0).64
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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
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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
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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
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The Board agreed that there is no viable place to put the addition due to the flood plain.77
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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
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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
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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
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Vice Chair Landerman opposed. The motion passed (5-1-0).91
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IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES93
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December 17, 2025, Special Meeting95
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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
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V. ADJOURNMENT101
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MOTION: Vice Chair Landerman made a motion, seconded by Chair Hogan, to adjourn103
the meeting. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).104
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Chair Hogan adjourned the meeting at 8:30 P.M.106
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Respectfully submitted,108
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Amanda Blaze110
Commission Clerk111