Minutes

Design Review Board - Minutes - Jul 20, 2026

Jul 20, 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.

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Design Review Board1
Regular Meeting2
July 20, 2026 – 5:30 P.M.3
Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room4
933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705
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MINUTES7
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I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Lang called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.9
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Present: Chair, Elaine Lang; Vice Chair, Polly Rice; Board Members: Joleen Benedict and11
Andrew Tarpill; Alternate Board Members: William Clegg; Assistant Town Planner, Brittany12
MacGilpin; and Code Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis.13
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Absent: Board Members: Anca Dragulski; and Alternate Board Members: Kristin DuBois and15
Thomas Mach.16
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Seating of Alternates: Commissioner Clegg was appointed as a regular member for tonight’s18
meeting.19
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES21
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July 6, 2026, Regular Meeting23
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MOTION: Commissioner Clegg made a motion, seconded by Chair Lang, to approve the25
Minutes of the July 6, 2026, Regular Meeting as submitted. The motion carried unanimously26
(5-0-0).27
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III. NEW BUSINESS29
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ZC 26-19, An application of Dorset Crossing LLC, Owner, Dwight Merriam, Esq. Applicant,31
for a site plan approval to develop a 7,275 sq. ft. car wash facility at 10 Dorset Crossing32
(Assessor’s Map Block Lot I04 403 13C-F), Planned Area Development (PAD) Zone.33
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Commissioner Tarpill recused himself.35
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Attorney Dwight Merriam, FAICP, Esq.; Civil Engineer, Brandon Handfield, PE of Yantic37
River Consultants; Architect, Rocco Petitto, AIA, QA +M Architecture; and 93 Landscape38
Architect, Biff Schechinger, ASLA presented the proposed car wash facility. The Board asked39
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follow-up questions and recommended that the freestanding canopies match the colonial40
architecture of the main building.41
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MOTION: Vice Chair Rice made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Clegg, that the Design43
Review Board submits a positive referral to the Zoning Commission for ZC 26-19, An44
application of Dorset Crossing LLC, Owner, Dwight Merriam, Esq. Applicant, for a site plan45
approval to develop a 7,275 sq. ft. car wash facility at 10 Dorset Crossing (Assessor’s Map46
Block Lot I04 403 13C-F), Planned Area Development (PAD) Zone. The referral is subject to47
the following conditions:48
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1. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance to the following plans:50
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a. Dorset Crossing PAD Master Development Plan dated April 30, 2026, REVISED52
June 26, 2026.53
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b. Architectural plans prepared by QA&M Architecture dated June 29, 2026.55
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c. Landscaping plans prepared by Robert Schechinger sheet L1 revised June 27,57
2026, sheet L2 revised June 29, 2026, and the associated Site Plant schedule.58
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2. Staff may approve minor changes to the approved plans.60
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The motion carried (4-0-1). Commissioner Tarpill abstained.62
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ZC 26-20, An application of Craig Foreman, Owner; Darin Senna, Agent; for the installation64
of a 32 sq. ft. monument sign at 50 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map Block Lot E18 11765
001-2) Zone PAD.66
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Gerian Williams of Hartford Sign and Design presented the proposed monument sign. The68
Board asked follow-up questions and provided the following recommendations:69
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1. Replace foam faux stone base and blue stone cap with real brown stone or brown stone71
veneer.72
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2. Replace the red detailing with black detailing.74
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MOTION: Commissioner Benedict made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tarpill, that76
the Design Review Board submits a positive referral for ZC 26-20, An application of Craig77
Foreman, Owner; Darin Senna, Agent; for the installation of a 32 sq. ft. monument sign at 5078
Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map Block Lot E18 117 001-2) Zone PAD. The referral is79
subject to the following conditions:80
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1. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans stamped received82
by the Planning Department 7/13/26 prepared by Hartford Sign & Design with the83
recommendations previously described.84
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2. Prior to building permit issuance, the applicant shall submit a landscaping plan to the86
satisfaction of the Planning Department.87
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3. The Board authorizes Staff to approve minor changes to the application.89
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The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).91
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Zoning Compliance Review of Avon Marketplace Investors, LLC, Owner; Arnco Sign93
Company, Agent; for the installation of a ± 49 sq. ft. wall sign for Bareburger at 530R Bushy94
Hill Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot B20 508 002A) Zone B-3.95
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The owner of Arnco Sign Company presented the proposed wall sign. The Board asked follow-97
up questions.98
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MOTION: Commissioner Clegg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Benedict that the100
Design Review Board submits a positive referral for the Zoning Compliance Review of Avon101
Marketplace Investors, LLC, Owner; Arnco Sign Company, Agent; for the installation of a ±102
49 sq. ft. wall sign for Bareburger at 530R Bushy Hill Road (Assessor’s Map Block Lot B20103
508 002A) Zone B-3. The referral is subject to the following conditions:104
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1.The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans stamped received106
by the Planning Department 7/9/26 prepared by Arnco Sign Company, Inc.107
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2.The Board authorizes Staff to approve minor changes to the application.109
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The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).111
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IV. OTHER BUSINESS113
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Preliminary, informal presentation for the potential redevelopment of a portion of 981-115
987 Hopmeadow St., Zone SC; Phil Doyle, LADA, P.C., representing the owner.116
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Mr. Doyle presented the proposed redevelopment. The board was in favor of the design and118
recommended the porch roof be extended to the entry way of the unit.119
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V. ADJOURNMENT121
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MOTION: Chair Lang made a motion, without objection, to adjourn the meeting (5-0-0).123
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Chair Lang adjourned the meeting at 6:45 P.M.125
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Respectfully submitted,127
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Amanda Blaze129
Commission Clerk130