Minutes
Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency - Minutes - May 5, 2026
May 5, 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 Conservation Commission / Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency1 Regular Meeting2 May 5, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3 Simsbury Public Library – Tariffville Room4 725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER- Chair Margery Winters called the meeting to order at9 7:00 P.M.10 11 Present: Chair, Margery Winters; Secretary, Joseph Campolieta;12 Commission Members: Charles Haldeman, Jason Berman, Donald Eaton,13 and Michael Luzietti; Alternate Commission Member, Sue Brittell; Director14 of Planning and Community Development, George McGregor and Assistant15 Town Planner, Brittany MacGilpin.16 17 Absent: Vice Chair, Jason Levy and Alternate Commission Member, Alison18 Wilcox.19 20 Seating of Alternate: Commissioner Brittell was appointed as a regular21 member for tonight’s meeting.22 23 II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES24 25 April 21, 2026, Regular Meeting26 27 Minutes approved without objection.28 29 III. NEW IWWA APPLICATIONS FOR RECEIPT AND30 DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE31 32 No items.33 34 35 36 Page 2 of 3 IV. PUBLIC HEARING AND/OR ACTION ON IWWA APPLICATIONS37 38 Application CC #26-02 of SL Simsbury, LLC applicant and owner,39 for a wetland permit to construct +/-689 residential units with40 associated improvements that includes disturbance in the upland41 review area at 200 Hopmeadow Street (Hartford South) (Assessor’s42 Map F17, Block 154, Lot 009-2) Simsbury, CT 06089, Zone HS-FBC.43 44 Assistant Town Planner MacGilpin provided an overview of the proposed45 wetland permit for the site. The attorney for the applicant, T.J. Donahue,46 provided a brief introduction of the project. The applicant’s consultants47 from VHB provided an overview of the application, addressing wetland and48 stormwater impacts. The independent, third-party consultant, Michelle49 Ford from EcoMaps, LLC (a subconsultant for the contracted firm, CHA),50 presented their review of the application.51 52 Commission members asked follow up questions to all parties.53 54 Public Comment55 1. Christine Sinopoli, Suffield, CT asked the Commission to ensure that56 no unintended consequences occur as a part of the review process.57 2. Robert George,126 Hopmeadow Street, recommended that Talcott58 Acres be protected from development through the preservation of the59 existing berm and landscaping.60 3. Tyler Meeker, 291 Hopmeadow Street, expressed concern about the61 rate of apartment development and growth in Simsbury.62 4. Ellen Gilbert, 126 Hopmeadow Street, recommended that Talcott Acres63 be protected from development through the preservation of the existing64 berm and landscaping.65 5. Taylor Lyden, 9 Oakhurst Road, questioned whether any recourse by66 Town/Residents exists if mistakes during development are made.67 6. Debra Bishop, 126 Hopmeadow Street, was concerned with storm68 water currently coming from properties to the north and would like the69 application to clarify how additional storm/surface water resulting70 from this project will be handled so as to not impact housing units at71 Talcott Acres.72 7. Beth Ballentine, 31 Metacom Drive was concerned about possible73 relocation of wildlife from this development.74 8. Christine Sinopoli, Suffield, CT, asked if there will be another public75 hearing so that questions raised from consultants can be addressed.76 77 Page 3 of 3 MOTION: Secretary Campolieta made a motion, seconded by78 Commissioner Luzietti, to continue the public hearing of Application CC79 #26-02 by SL Simsbury, LLC, 200 Hopmeadow Street for May 19, 2026 at80 Simsbury Public Library. The motion carried unanimously (7-0-0).81 82 V. CONSERVATION COMMISSION BUSINESS83 84 Chair Winters stated there will be an invasive plant removal occurring on85 May 23, location TBD.86 87 VI. DESIGNATED AGENT ACTIONS AND OTHER REPORTS88 89 No items.90 91 VII. ADJOURNMENT92 93 MOTION: Secretary Campolieta made a motion, without objection, to94 adjourn the meeting.95 96 Chair Winters adjourned the meeting at 8:55 P.M.97 98 Respectfully submitted,99 100 Brittany MacGilpin101 Assistant Town Planner102