Minutes
Zoning Commission - 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 Zoning Commission1 Regular Meeting2 May 18, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3 Henry James Memorial School - Auditorium4 155 Firetown Road, Simsbury, CT 060705 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Braz called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, Tony Braz; Vice Chair, Shannon Leary; Commission Members: Jackie11 Battos, Kate Beal, and Dagny Griswold; Alternate Commission Members: Allen12 Bradford, Stacie Espeso, and Doug McKown; Planning Director, George McGregor;13 and Assistant Town Planner, Brittany MacGilpin.14 15 Absent: Commission Member, Tucker Salls.16 17 Seating of Alternate: Commissioner Bradford was appointed as a regular member for18 tonight’s meeting.19 20 II. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ON TEXT AMENDMENTS AND SITE21 PLAN/SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS22 23 ZC 26-06, A Text Amendment application of McLean Affiliates, Owner, Shipman &24 Goodwin, LLP, Agent, to amend select sections of the Simsbury Zoning Regulations:25 Section 4.6.B.2 to remove the requirement that healthcare facilities be located within26 300 feet of an arterial road; Section 8.7.1 to amend and clarify the inclusionary housing27 regulations to exempt certain non-residential uses including healthcare facilities and28 continuing care retirement communities, and; Section 3.7.C.2, to provide that when a29 golf club is in common or affiliated ownership with an adjoining property, no30 separation between the fairways and the adjoining property line is required so long as31 there is at least fifty (50) feet of separation between the edge of fairways and any32 dwellings located on the adjoining property.33 34 ZC 26-07, An application of McLean Affiliates, Owner, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP35 Agent, pursuant to Section 11, Section 4.6.B, and Section 12 of the Zoning36 Regulations for site plan and special exception approval to expand the McLean37 Page 2 of 2 Healthcare Facility. The Applicant proposes to develop 40 new, independent living38 units at 75 Great Pond Rd., Assessor ID Map E08, Block 147, Lot 001, Zone R-40.39 40 Land Use Attorney, Joe Williams Esq.; McLean Affiliates CEO, Lisa Clark; Lead41 Landscape Architect at SLR, Mike Doherty; Lead Project Engineer at SLR, Tom Daly;42 and Project Architect at LaSchafer Connection, Ken Hartsfield, discussed the proposed43 Text Amendment, Special Exception, and Site Plan. Commissioners asked several44 follow up questions.45 46 Public Comments47 48 Mike Long, 8 Erins Way, Simsbury spoke in support.49 Lind Schofield, 3 Ryan Circle, Simsbury, spoke in support.50 Carol Hauss, 55 Woodford Hills Drive, Avon, spoke in support.51 Ruth Kahn, McLean Retirement Community, Simsbury, spoke in support.52 Beverly Earl, McLean Retirement Community, Simsbury, spoke in support.53 Jonathan Picoult, 6 Teachers Turn, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.54 Curtis Looney, 10 Cedar Glen Road, West Simsbury, raised several concerns.55 Terry Lando, 7 Hop Hollow, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.56 Tom Pluta, 2 Country Club Drive, West Simsbury, spoke in opposition.57 Christy Bunn, 15 Hop Hollow, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.58 John Bunn, 15 Hop Hollow, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.59 Jessica Franks, 4 Country Club Drive, West Simsbury, spoke in opposition.60 Veronica Grossman, 17 Hop Hollow, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.61 Andrew Grossman, 17 Hop Hollow, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.62 63 MOTION: Chair Braz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Battos, to extend64 the public hearing until June 15th. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).65 66 III. ADJOURNMENT67 68 MOTION: Commissioner Battos made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Beal, to69 adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).70 71 Chair Braz adjourned the meeting at 9:51 P.M.72 73 Respectfully submitted,74 75 Amanda Blaze76 Commission Clerk77