Minutes

Design Review Study Committee

Town of Somers

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Meeting called to order by Chairman David Reed, at 7:04 p.m. in the Somers Town Hall.

Members present were David Reed, Anita Calder, Rick McCullough, and Joe Iadarola. Absent were Jill Conklin, Greg Genlot, and Mark Okun.

Patrice Carson, Somers Town Planner, and Linda Farmer, Tolland’s Director of Planning and Community Development, were present as guests of the Committee.

Copies of the October 11 Meeting were not available for review; accordingly, approval of the minutes for this meeting was deferred to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee.

Correspondence received by the Chairman was a letter of resignation from the Committee by Mark Okun. A motion was presented by Rick McCullough, seconded by Anita Calder, to accept the resignation, with regret. Motion carried unanimously.

Patrice Carson provided handout materials to members present. Included in the package were comments regarding the development of a Design Review Board in East Hampton; Design Review Criteria for Tolland, CT; “Design & the Main St. Approach” slide presentation handout; Torrington, CT Architectural Review Committee Introduction; and Madison, CT Design Standards handout.

Linda Farmer discussed the establishment, organization and makeup of the Tolland Design Advisory Committee. This Committee, now in existence for 6 years, serves as an advisory committee to the Tolland Planning & Zoning Commission, providing design guidance to developers on site plans and architectural design of buildings and structures, seeking harmony with the neighborhood character, improved community appearance and beauty, and preserving property values and the town’s architectural heritage.

Members are appointed by the Planning and Zoning Commission, selected for their training or experience in architecture, site planning, landscape architecture, and other considerations. The board is made up of from 3 to 10 members appointed to one year terms, renewable. Meetings are held monthly.

Tolland’s Design Advisory Board Guidelines consider a project’s overall site design, parking and access, landscaping and lighting, site amenities, signage, and architecture. The Design Advisory Board reviews development proposals at any stage of the development process, but must review site plans, landscape plans building elevations, material lists and color schemes, lighting plans and signage design and locations prior to the developer appearing before the Tolland Planning and Zoning Commission.

Design review is required in Tolland for all new construction and all substantial alterations (10% of greater floor area or exterior alteration) of non-residential and multi-family structures.

Farmer expressed the opinion that Tolland’s Design Advisory Board has been almost 100% successful, and has not received any complaints about the process such as delaying the process, representing another level of bureaucracy, or project being held up. She further thought that the Design Advisory Board has helped developers create approvable projects that contribute to the town’s heritage and character, and in some cases expediting the approval process as proposals seem to go faster through the Planning and Zoning Commission when they have gone through the Design Advisory Boar

A question and answer period followed.

There was no old business.

There was no new business.

The Chairman’s report announced that the next meeting will be held at the Kibbe-Fuller Building at 7:00 p.m., November 8^th. Phillip Chester, Suffield Town Planner, is expected to be present to discuss his town’s design review process.

There being no further business, a motion by Joe Iadarola, seconded by Rick McCullough to adjourn was passed unanimously. at 8:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

David Reed, Chairman