Minutes

Zoning Commission - 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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Zoning Commission1
Regular Meeting2
July 20, 2026 – 7:00 P.M.3
Simsbury Public Library – FSPL Room4
725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705
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MINUTES7
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I. CALL TO ORDER– Chair Braz called the meeting to order at 7:06 P.M.9
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Present: Chair, Tony Braz Vice Chair, Shannon Leary; Commission Members: Jackie11
Battos, Dagny Griswold, and Tucker Salls; Alternate Commission Members: Stacie12
Espeso, Allen Bradford and Doug McKown; Planning Director, George McGregor; and13
Assistant Town Planner, Brittany MacGilpin.14
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Absent: Commission Member, Kate Beal.16
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Seating of Alternates: Commissioner Espeso was appointed as a regular member for18
tonight’s meeting.19
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MOTION: Commissioner Battos made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Leary, to21
amend the Agenda to move Application ZC 26-20 to the first item. The motion carried22
unanimously (6-0-0).23
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES25
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July 6, 202627
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MOTION: Commissioner Salls made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso,29
to approve the Minutes of the July 6, 2026, Regular Meeting as written. Commissioner30
Battos abstained. The motion carried (5-0-1).31
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III. SITE PLAN REVIEW33
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ZC 26-20, An application of Craig Foreman, Owner; Darin Senna, Agent; for the35
installation of a 32 sq. ft. monument sign at 50 Hopmeadow Street (Assessor’s Map36
Block Lot E18 117 001-2) Zone PAD.37
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Planning Director McGregor presented the proposed monument sign. Assistant Town39
Planner MacGilpin further discussed the recommendations from the Design Review40
Board.41
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MOTION: Vice Chair Leary made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Salls, that43
the Zoning Commission approves ZC 26-20, An application of Craig Foreman, Owner;44
Darin Senna, Agent; for the installation of a 32 sq. ft. monument sign at 50 Hopmeadow45
Street (Assessor’s Map Block Lot E18 117 001-2) Zone PAD. The approval is subject46
to the following conditions:47
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1. The project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans received49
by the Planning Department 7/13/26 prepared by Hartford Sign & Design, with the50
conditions provided by the Design Review Board:51
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a. Replace the red detailing with black.53
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b. Use natural brownstone or an engineered stone veneer for the sign base.55
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c. Replace the blue stone cap on the base with brownstone.57
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2. Prior to building permit issuance, the applicant shall submit a landscaping plan to59
the satisfaction of the Planning Department.60
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The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).62
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IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS and POTENTIAL ACTION ON APPLICATIONS64
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ZC #26-18, An application of Dorset Crossing LLC, Owner, Dwight Merriam, Agent,66
pursuant to Section 8 of the Zoning Regulations for a zone change and amendment to67
the Master Development Plan to allow a car wash facility at 10 Dorset Crossing68
(Assessor’s Map Block Lot I04 403 13C-F), Planned Area Development (PAD) Zone.69
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Planning Director McGregor presented the proposed zone change and amendment to71
the Master Development Plan. The Planning Commission had a split vote on a negative72
referral based on environmental impacts. Assistant Town Planner MacGilpin further73
discussed the positive referral and recommendation from the Design Review Board.74
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Attorney Dwight Merriam, FAICP, Esq.; Civil Engineer, Brandon Handfield, PE of76
Yantic River Consultants; Architect, Rocco Petitto, AIA, QA +M Architecture; and 9377
Landscape Architect, Biff Schechinger, ASLA presented the proposed including the78
changes recommended by the commission and public comment given at previous79
meetings. The Commission asked several follow-up questions.80
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Public Comments82
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Thomas Surman, 11 Charlotte Drive, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.84
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Nick Criscitelli (Planning Commissioner), 24 Centerwood Road, Simsbury, spoke in86
opposition.87
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Jamie Skiba, 21 Knollwood Road, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.89
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Ashley Byros, 22 Gordon Street, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.91
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William Otis, 22 Lucy Way, Simsbury, spoke in support.93
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Rebecca Bellon, 55 Dorset Crossing, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.95
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Michelle Ciccaglione, Owner of Simsbury Therapeutic Massage and Wellness,97
Simsbury, spoke in opposition.98
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John Torres, 55 Dorset Crossing, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.100
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Fred Medacordia, 7 Willard Street, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.102
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Dr. Max Grezen, 24 Cobtail Way, Simsbury, spoke in support.104
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Paul Chelsey, 55 Dorset Crossing, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.106
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Robert Demeski, 20 Butternut Lane, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.108
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Susan Vankleef, 6 Mallard Circle, Tariffville, spoke in opposition.110
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Victoria North, 88 Hedgehog Lane, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.112
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Lori Boyko, 15 Oakhurst Road, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.114
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Richard Bidwell, 6 Knollwood Circle, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.116
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Julian Weaver, 13 Willard Street, Simsbury, spoke in opposition.118
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Sharon Byron, 17 Crestview Road, Tariffville, spoke in opposition.120
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MOTION: Commissioner Salls made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Battos, to122
close the public hearing for ZC #26-18. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).123
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Chair Braz recommended referring this application to the Conservation Commission.125
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MOTION: Commissioner Salls made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Espeso,127
to refer ZC #26-18, An application of Dorset Crossing LLC, Owner, Dwight Merriam,128
Agent, pursuant to Section 8 of the Zoning Regulations for a zone change and129
amendment to the Master Development Plan to allow a car wash facility at 10 Dorset130
Crossing (Assessor’s Map Block Lot I04 403 13C-F), Planned Area Development131
(PAD) Zone, to the Conservation Commission. The motion carried unanimously. (6-0-132
0)133
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MOTION: Commissioner Battos made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Leary, to135
forward Application ZC # 26-18 and Application ZC # 26-9 to the September 9, 2026136
meeting. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).137
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V. OTHER BUSINESS139
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Preliminary, informal presentation for the potential redevelopment of a portion141
of 981-987 Hopmeadow St., Zone SC; Phil Doyle, LADA, P.C., representing the142
owner.143
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Mr. Doyle presented the proposed redevelopment project for this site.145
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VI. ADJOURNMENT147
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MOTION: Vice Char Leary made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Battos, for149
the meeting to be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously (6-0-0).150
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Chair Braz adjourned the meeting at 9:36 P.M.152
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Respectfully submitted,154
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Amanda Blaze156
Commission Clerk157