Minutes
Planning Commission - Minutes - May 12, 2026
May 12, 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 Planning Commission1 Regular Meeting2 May 12, 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 Leavitt-Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, Erin Leavitt-Smith; Secretary, William Rice; Commission Members:11 Holly Beum and Nicholas Criscitelli; Alternate Commission Members: Donald12 Colantonio and Paul S. Sullivan, Sr.; and Planning Director, George McGregor.13 14 Absent: Commission Members: Julie Eaton and Marcus Furze; and Alternate15 Commission Member, Peter Harrison.16 17 Seating of Alternates: Commissioner Colantonio and Commissioner Sullivan were18 appointed as regular members for tonight’s meeting.19 20 II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES21 22 April 28, 2026, Regular Meeting23 24 Commissioner Sullivan amended his name to read “Paul S. Sullivan Sr.”25 26 MOTION: Chair Leavitt-Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner27 Colantonio, to approve the Minutes of the April 28, 2026, Regular Meeting, as28 amended. Commissioner Beum abstained. The motion carried unanimously (5-0-1).29 30 GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS31 32 Referrals from the Zoning Commission33 34 ZC 26-10, A Text Amendment application of Dr. Wynee Lou, to amend section 4.5 of35 the Simsbury Zoning Regulations to permit personal service uses, including yoga36 studios, health and fitness, and other exercise facilities or studios, in the Professional37 Office (PO) zone.38 Page 2 of 3 39 Planning Director McGregor and the Applicant, Dr. Lou, provided an overview of the40 proposed text amendment.41 42 MOTION: Commissioner Beum made a motion, seconded by Secretary Rice, that the43 Planning Commission gives a positive recommendation to the Zoning Commission ZC44 26-10, A Text Amendment application of Dr. Wynee Lou, to amend section 4.5 of the45 Simsbury Zoning Regulations to permit personal service uses, including yoga studios,46 health and fitness, and other exercise facilities or studios, in the Professional Office47 (PO) zone. The Commission finds a request consistent with economic development48 policies found in the POCD which seeks to foster a dynamic and prosperous climate49 for economic development to provide goods and services, employment, and fiscal50 benefits to the community. POCD, chapter 8, page 86. The motion carried unanimously51 (6-0-0).52 53 ZC 26-06, A Text Amendment application of McLean Affiliates, Owner, Shipman &54 Goodwin, LLP, Agent, to amend select sections of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations:55 Section 4.6.B.2 to remove the requirement that healthcare facilities be located within56 300 feet of an arterial road; Section 8.7.1 to amend and clarify the inclusionary housing57 regulations to exempt certain non-residential uses including healthcare facilities and58 continuing care retirement communities, and; Section 3.7.C.2, to provide that when a59 golf club is in common or affiliated ownership with an adjoining property, no60 separation between the fairways and the adjoining property line is required so long as61 there is at least fifty (50) feet of separation between the edge of fairways and any62 dwellings located on the adjoining property.63 64 Planning Director McGregor provided a overview of the proposed text amendments.65 Mr. Joe Williams and Mr. T.J. Donohue provided a justification of the request on behalf66 of the Applicant. The Commission asked several follow-up questions that President67 and CEO of McLean Lisa Clark responded to.68 69 MOTION: Secretary Rice made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Beum, that:70 71 1.The Commission provide a POSITIVE referral regarding Section 4.6.B.2 and the72 elimination of the requirement for a healthcare facility to be located on or within 30073 feet of an arterial, based on a finding the amendment was consistent with the Plan of74 Conservation and Development (POCD).75 76 2.The Commission provide a POSITIVE referral regarding Section 3.7.C.2 and revising77 the required separation between golf course fairways and residential structures when78 under common ownership, based on a finding the amendment was consistent with the79 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).80 81 82 Page 3 of 3 3.The Commission provide a PARTIAL POSITIVE referral regarding the exemption83 certain non-residential uses including healthcare facilities and continuing care84 retirement communities based on a finding that although the POCD supports85 expanding housing opportunities, especially for seniors, minimum affordability86 requirements should be considered at facilities like McLean where independent living87 units are provided. The Commission recommended that the Zoning Commission88 request that the applicant consider a reasonable formula to provide at least two89 affordable units as a part of this expansion.90 91 92 Chair Leavitt-Smith opposed the motion. The motion carried (5-1-0).93 94 III. ADJOURNMENT95 96 MOTION: Chair Leavitt-Smith made a motion, without objection, to adjourn the97 meeting.98 99 Chair Leavitt-Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:56 P.M.100 101 Respectfully submitted,102 103 Amanda Blaze104 Commission Clerk105