Agenda
Board of Selectmen - Agenda - Apr 9, 2026
Apr 9, 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.
933 HOPMEADOW STREET SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 06070 Watch Board of Selectmen meetings LIVE and rebroadcast on Comcast Channels 96, 1090, and LIVE streamed or on-demand at www.simsburymedia.org and www.youtube.com/@simsburymedia BOARD OF SELECTMEN Special Meeting Agenda – April 9, 2026 – 8:30 A.M. Main Meeting Room, Simsbury Town Hall CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SELECTMEN ACTION a) Pursuant to Town Code Chapter 85-6.1 Referral from Conservation Commission for Board of Selectmen Approval of Fee Proposal for Third Party Technical Review of a Complex Project b) Discussion on Nod Road Solar Siting Council Application ADJOURN Town of Simsbury933 HOPMEADOW STREET SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 06070 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING AGENDA SUBMISSION FORM 1. Title of Submission: Pursuant to Town Code Chapter 85-6.1 Referral from Conservation Commission for Board of Selectmen Approval of Fee Proposal for Third Party Technical Review of a Complex Project 2. Date of Board Meeting: April 9, 2026 3. Individual or Entity Making the Submission: Town of Simsbury Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency/Conservation Commission through George K. McGregor, AICP, Planning & Community Development Director Brittany MacGilpin, Assistant Town Planner 4. Action Requested of the Board of Selectmen: Motion to adopt the third-party peer review consultant fee is as follows: Move, effective April 9, 2026, Pursuant to Section 85-6.1 of the Simsbury Town Code of Ordinances, to adopt the recommendation of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Agency to engage a consulting firm, Clough, Harbor & Associates, LLP (CHA), to perform an independent third party peer review of Application CC 26-02, 200 Hopmeadow Street, of SL Simsbury, LLC. The review shall substantially conform to the “Proposal for Services” dated March 31, 2026, and not exceed $17,475. The BOS further directs the Town Manager, to execute a contract to this effect. 5. Summary of Submission: The Town Code allows outside technical assistance for its land use commissions when reviewing large and complex projects. Section 85-6.1 states that commissions may engage subject matter experts such as engineers, traffic consultants, or soil scientists to assist the Commission when the nature, scope, or intensity of an application is beyond the technical capacity of Town Staff to fully evaluate. At the March 17, 2026 meeting, the Inland Wetland & Watercourse Agency determined that the proposed Hartford South Residential Proposal, Application CC #26-02, 200 Hopmeadow Street, may have a significant impact to surrounding wetlands/watercourse. A public hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2026. The Agency then deemed that the application meets the criteria for “large and complex projects” and therefore, requires the services of a qualified third-party soil/wetland scientist and professional engineer to conduct an independent review of the application. In response, Town Staff developed a scope of services and solicited fee estimates from two “on-call” multi-disciplinary firms for selection by the Agency. Once the Agency selects a consultant and fee (which is anticipated at an April 7, 2026 Regular Meeting), the applicant is informed of the selection. Pursuant to Section 85-6.1, the BOS is then asked to adopt the fee by resolution. The Town Manager would execute the contract. A written report is expected prior to the scheduled public hearing, prior to May 5, 2026, within the required statutory timeframe for holding a public hearing. The Third-Party review is expected to have no impact on the standard timeline. 6. Financial Impact: There are no public impacts related to this matter. All costs of the Third-Party Review are borne by the Applicant. 7. Description of Documents Included with Submission: a) Inland Wetland Agency Approved Scope and Estimated Fee for Services for Third Party review (Available after April 7, 2026) b) Section 85-6.1 Large and Complex Projects Section of the Simsbury Town Code of Ordinance March 31, 2026 Brittany MacGilpin Assistant Town Planner Town of Simsbury 933 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT 06070 Sent via Email: bmacgilpin@simsbury-ct.gov RE: Proposal No. Y10387 IWWA CC 26-02, 200 Hopmeadow Street, SL Simsbury Wetland and Stormwater Review Dear Brittany: We understand the Town of Simsbury requests professional services to review plans for 200 Hopmeadow Street, application IWWA CC 26-02. The review would include stormwater and wetland impacts and findings, and attendance at up to two IWWA meetings. Pursuant to our general Consultant Agreement, CHA will provide this review with Ecomaps LLC. We prepared the attached scope and fee estimate for assistance in the plan review for IWWA CC 26-02. This proposal will remain valid for 90 days. Please contact me with any questions regarding this proposal. Sincerely, Chuck Eaton Senior Project Manager PROPOSAL FOR SERVICES IWWA CC 26-02, 200 Hopmeadow Street, SL Simsbury Wetland and Stormwater Review EXHIBIT A: SCOPE OF SERVICES & DELIVERABLES Scope of Services CHA and Eco Maps LLC propose the following scope and fee estimate to assist the Town in reviewing submission material for application IWWA CC 26-02. We anticipate the following approach to the application review: • Meet with staff and design engineer to discuss the project. • Review application materials, visit the site, and provide written comments. • Meet with staff and design engineer to discuss and coordinate review comments. • Review revised application materials and provide comments. • Attend IWWA meetings as required. • Application Review and Meeting Attendance CHA and Eco Maps LLC will review application materials in regard to standard engineering practices including: o Verify the completeness and accuracy of the submitted application materials pursuant to State Code and Town of Simsbury Wetlands regulations and requirements. o Review the Applicant’s conclusions related to the assessment of function and value of the wetlands, considering factors such as hydrology, vegetation, and habitat. o Evaluate the project's submitted Biological Assessment. o Ensure the project's design and submitted documentation complies with all state, federal, and local standards. o Evaluate the project's environmental impact on the wetlands and watercourses. o Evaluate and assess the degree in which the project avoids, minimizes, and, or mitigates impacts on the wetlands and watercourses. o Confirm that proposed stormwater design and calculations meet accepted engineering design standards. o Review and analyze the project's impact on surface and groundwater hydrology. o Review the project's stormwater management plan and confirm that post development runoff is adequately controlled from a quantity perspective and confirm that the plan meets state DEEP water quality standards. o Assess the proposed grading and erosion control plans and their potential effect on the wetlands and watercourses. o Assess whether or not the project is expected to increase flood hazards for neighboring properties. o Review and recommend construction phasing and methods which most effectively limits negative impacts on the wetlands and watercourse. o If applicable, review the Applicant's demonstration of reasonable and prudent alternatives, under Connecticut State law. o The review will include a site visit to understand the project and surroundings. (It is assumed that access to the site is granted by the Applicant.) CHA and Eco Maps LLC will prepare a written comment letter regarding the findings of the application review. Deliverables: o PDF File of comment letter and one follow up report based on revised application materials o Answer Staff, Agency, and Applicant questions o Attendance at a maximum of two public hearing meetings EXHIBIT B: SCHEDULE Initial review and report on applicant submission within 15 days of engagement, estimated no later than May 1, 2026. Subsequent review deadlines TBD. EXHIBIT C: FEE PROPOSAL The following will be billed on an hourly basis: • Wetlands and Stormwater Review $17,475.00 estimated (invoiced hourly, not to exceed $17,475.00) This work will be performed per our existing agreement for engineering services with the Town of Simsbury, dated October 17, 2025.