Minutes
Zoning Board of Appeals - Minutes - Apr 22, 2026
Apr 22, 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 4 Zoning Board of Appeals1 Regular Meeting2 April 22, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3 Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room4 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT5 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 Member, Margaret Rudin; Alternate Board11 Members: Kelly Kearney, John Merz, and Amy McLean Salls; Assistant Town12 Planner, Brittany MacGilpin; and Code Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis.13 14 Absent: Secretary, Sheree Landerman; Board Members: Ellen Gilbert, Ram Kaza, and15 Jonathan Yeisley.16 17 Seating of Alternates: Commissioner Kearney, Commissioner Merz, and18 Commissioner McLean Salls were appointed as regular members for tonight’s meeting.19 20 II. NEW BUSINESS21 22 Public Hearings23 24 1. Application ZBA #26-04 of William Keenan, Owner, for a ± 7’ variance from25 Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to reduce the rear yard setback26 from 50’ to ± 43’ to expand an existing deck at 10 Katherine Lane (Assessor’s Map27 Block Lot F03 302 060), Simsbury, Zone R40OS.28 29 Mr. Keenan provided an overview of the proposed deck expansion.30 31 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kearney, to32 close the public hearing for Application ZBA #26-04. The motion carried33 unanimously (5-0-0).34 35 The Board discussed the Applicant’s hardships.36 37 Page 2 of 4 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Merz, that38 the Zoning Board of Appeals approves Application ZBA #26-04 of William39 Keenan, Owner, for a ± 7’ variance from Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning40 Regulations to reduce the rear yard setback from 50 feet to ± 43 feet to expand an41 existing deck at 10 Katherine Lane (Assessor’s Map Block Lot F03 302 060),42 Simsbury, Zone R40OS.43 44 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans stamped45 received by the Simsbury Planning Department March 16, 2026.46 47 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following48 findings: The hardships being the shallow backyard puts the setback close to the49 house.50 51 The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).52 53 2. Application ZBA #26-05 of Sean Brittell, Owner, for a ± 6.5’ variance from54 Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to reduce the side yard setback55 from 12’ to ± 5.5’ to construct an addition at 69 Seminary Road (Assessor’s Map56 Block Lot G08 123 018), Simsbury, Zone R-15.57 58 Mr. Brittell provided an overview of the proposed addition and deck. Their59 neighbor, Lynn Steketee spoke in support.60 61 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Merz, to62 close the public hearing for Application ZBA #26-05. The motion carried63 unanimously (5-0-0).64 65 The Board discussed the Applicant’s hardships.66 67 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kearney, that68 the Zoning Board of Appeals approves Application ZBA #26-05 of Sean Brittell,69 Owner, for a ± 6.5’ variance from Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations70 to reduce the side yard setback from 12’ to ± 5.5’ to construct an addition at 6971 Seminary Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot G08 123 018), Simsbury, Zone R-15.72 73 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans stamped74 received by the Simsbury Planning Department March 30, 2026.75 76 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following77 findings: hardship being location of the septic system.78 79 The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).80 Page 3 of 4 81 3. Application ZBA #26-06 of Mike Vincent, Owner, for a ± 6’ variance from Section82 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to reduce the side yard setback from 40’83 to ± 34’ to construct an addition at 18 West Mountain Road (Assessor’s Map Block84 Lot B10 406 017E), West Simsbury, Zone R-40.85 86 Mr. Vincent provided an overview of the proposed addition.87 88 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kearney, to89 close the public hearing for Application ZBA #26-06. The motion carried90 unanimously (5-0-0).91 92 The Board discussed the Applicant’s hardships.93 94 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Rudin that95 the Zoning Board of Appeals approves Application ZBA #26-06 of Mike Vincent,96 Owner, for a ± 6’ variance from Section 3.9 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations97 to reduce the side yard setback from 40’ to ± 34’ to construct an attached accessory98 dwelling unit at 18 West Mountain Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot B10 40699 017E), West Simsbury, Zone R-40.100 101 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans stamped102 received by the Simsbury Planning Department April 1, 2026.103 104 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following105 findings: the hardship being the angle of the home, proximity to wetlands and106 upland review area, and the location of the septic tank.107 108 The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).109 110 4. Application ZBA #26-07 of Donna Scalla, Owner, for a variance from Section 6.6111 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to install a propane tank below the base flood112 elevation at 60 Riverside Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot G12 107 035),113 Simsbury, Zone R-15.114 115 Assistant Town Planner MacGilpin and Mr. Scalla provided an overview of the116 proposed propane tank installation.117 118 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Merz, to119 close the public hearing for Application ZBA #26-07. The motion carried120 unanimously (5-0-0).121 122 Commission discussion ensued.123 Page 4 of 4 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Merz, that124 the Zoning Board of Appeals approves Application ZBA #26-07 of Donna Scalla,125 Owner, for a variance from Section 6.6 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to126 install a propane tank below the base flood elevation at 60 Riverside Road127 (Assessor’s Map Block Lot G12 107 035), Simsbury, Zone R-15.128 129 The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the site plan titled,130 “Proposed Propane Tanks prepared for Donna B Scalla,” prepared by Denno Land131 Surveying & Consulting, LLC dated 3/11/26.132 133 The applicant has met all criteria pursuant to Section 16.C based on the following134 findings: hardship being entire property is below the BFE and there are no135 alternatives possible.136 137 is completely below the BFE and there is no place to put any mechanicals.138 139 The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).140 141 III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES142 143 February 25, 2026144 145 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Rudin, to146 approve the Minutes of the February 25, 2026, Regular Meeting as written. The motion147 carried unanimously (5-0-0).148 149 IV. ADJOURNMENT150 151 MOTION: Chair Hogan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner McClean Salls,152 to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).153 154 Chair Hogan adjourned the meeting at 7:58 P.M.155 156 Respectfully submitted,157 158 Amanda Blaze159 Commission Clerk160