Minutes
Design Review Board - Minutes - May 18, 2026
May 18, 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 2 Design Review Board1 Regular Meeting2 May 18, 2026 – 5:30 P.M.3 Henry James Middle School – Auditorium4 155 Firetown Road5 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Lang called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, Elaine Lang; Vice Chair, Polly Rice; Board Members: Anca Dragulski,11 Joleen Benedict and Andrew Tarpill; Alternate Board Members: Kristin DuBois,12 Thomas Mach, and Bill Clegg; and Planning Director, George McGregor and Code13 Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis.14 15 Seating of Alternates: Commissioner DuBois was appointed as a regular member.16 17 II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES18 19 May 4, 2026 Regular Meeting20 21 MOTION: Vice Chair Rice made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tarpill, to22 approve the Minutes of the May 4, 2026, Regular Meeting, as submitted. The motion23 carried unanimously (6-0-0).24 25 III. NEW BUSINESS26 27 ZC 26-07, An application of McLean Affiliates, Owner, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP28 Agent, pursuant to Section 11 and 4.6.B of the Zoning Regulations for site plan and29 special exception approval to expand the McLean Healthcare Facility. The Applicant30 proposes to develop 40 new independent living units at 75 Great Pond Rd., Assessor31 ID Map E08, Block 147, Lot 001, Zone R-40.32 33 Kenneth Hartfiel of Dimella Shaffer, provided an overview of the architecture for the34 proposed duplexes on site.35 36 Joseph Williams of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, presented the landscaping and lighting37 plans for the project.38 Page 2 of 2 The Board discussed suggestions for breaking up the two-car garage façade.39 40 MOTION: Vice Chair Rice made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tarpill, that41 the Design Review Board submits a positive referral to the Zoning Commission on ZC42 26-07, An application of McLean Affiliates, Owner, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, Agent,43 pursuant to Section 11 and 4.6.B of the Zoning Regulations for site plan and special44 exception approval to expand the McLean Healthcare Facility. The Applicant proposes45 to develop 40 new independent living units at 75 Great Pond Rd., Assessor ID Map46 E08, Block 147, Lot 001, Zone R-40. The referral was based upon a finding that the47 application substantially meets the applicable design guidelines and the requirements48 of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations with the following conditions:49 50 1. The applicant shall consider architectural elements to break up the two-car garage51 façade.52 53 2. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the site plan set for54 the Meadow Homes at McLean, dated October 7, 2025, revised through May 18,55 2026 (Listed as May 18, 2025), prepared by SLR.56 57 3. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with McLean Homes58 Design Review Board architectural submission dated May 18, 2026, prepared by59 Dimella Shaffer, et.al.60 61 4. The Board authorizes Staff to approve minor modifications to the approved plans.62 63 The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).64 65 IV. ADJOURNMENT66 67 MOTION: Commissioner Tarpill made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Rice, for68 the meeting to be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).69 70 Chair Lang adjourned the meeting at 6:16 P.M.71 72 Respectfully submitted,73 74 Joseph Hollis75 Acting Commission Clerk76