[NOTE: These minutes are made available to the public prior to Design Review Advisory Committee acceptance.]
Members absent: Joe Hickey.
Mr. Mozzicato said he wanted to continue with his plan to put up a free standing sign out near the Silas Deane highway. Mr. Mozzicato showed a example picture of what the sign would look like: brick exterior with multiple slots for multiple signs for the names of the different tenants in the building. The individual signs would all be about the same size, with the top tenants at the top of the sign. Mr. Bockstael asked if the sign would be placed on his land or DOT land. Mr. Mozzicato said it would be on DOT land, for which he has already received permission. He said he knows there is a risk that the sign could be destroyed if DOT needed to do something with that land, such as widen the road. Mr. Bockstael asked Mr. Mozzicato to submit all of that information to the Committee in writing.
Ms. Boyle asked about the color of the individual signs, and whether there would be any landscaping or lighting. Mr. Mozzicato said the individual signs would all be a consistent, light color background with different lettering and/or logo per the specifications of the tenant. Mr. Mozzicato also said that he planned low landscaping and no lighting. Mr. Bockstael suggested creeping juniper for a good type of plant for that application. Mr. Mozzicato added that he planned to install smaller one way signs at the entry and exit driveways. He has large signs in place now to help get customers used to the traffic flow directions, but realizes they are a little unsightly. The review of the proposal was preliminary, so no vote was taken. However, Committee members gave Mr. Mozzicato positive feedback about his plans.
Ms. Bradley said that Leonardo Gugliotti is seeking the Committee approval needed prior to an Economic Development and Improvement Commission meeting. The EDIC will be considering a façade loan for which Mr. Gugliotti has applied. Mr. Gugliotti said that the façade and signage were approved by the Committee in 2005, but he wanted to change the color slightly. He said that the main color would be light beige, and the top and columns would be moderate darker brown. Window treatments would be blue, consistent with the Cosmetology Institute's sign. The utility panel would be screened by covering it with "dryvit" material. No change in the sign is planned, it would remain as an internally lit sign. Ms. Bradley said that a condition of the 2005 Committee approval was that the sign dimensions needed to be submitted. Mr. Gugliotti said that he will provide the dimensions to the Committee, but that the proposed sign will be no bigger than the current sign. Mr. Margiotta made a motion to approve the design for the façade loan program, Mr. Hine seconded, and the vote showed all members in favor of approval.
Ms. Boyle asked if the front of the building is intended to be the main entrance. Mr. Johnson said the side entrance would function as the main entrance as it is closer to most of the parking. Ms. Boyle said that the overall design of the building and site layout was somewhat inconsistent with the Town's interest in making streetscapes more pedestrian-friendly. That is, the main entrance is on the side of the building, the building is set back from the street, and the drive-thru roadway isolates the building from the sidewalks and makes crossing more dangerous. Mr. Hine asked if the drive-thru menu board would be screened, and if the utilities on the roof needed screening. Mr. Harvey said that the menu would be screened, and that the roof-line was designed to serve as its own screening from normal viewing angles. Mr. Johnson added that a low, decorative wall with shrubs is planned for the corner of the lot adjacent to the intersection of Mill Street and the Silas Deane Highway.
Mr. Hallinan made a motion to approve the building design and materials with the brick lower exterior option, Mr. Hine seconded, and the vote showed all in favor of approval. Mr. Bockstael said that the approval did not include the site plan, and the pedestrian access issue would be considered further when the site plan came before the Committee.
Mr. Bockstael asked why translucent panels were being used instead of glass. Mr. Yaekel said that the panels are cheaper than glass, and are safer than glass in a gymnasium. Mr. Margiotta asked if there would be any new parking area, and Mr. Yaekel said that no new pavement or drainage is needed, and the number of handicap parking spaces will stay the same. Mr. Bockstael suggested that alarm units be placed on some of the internal doors to deter people from roaming through other parts of the building. Ms. Bagley said that there is currently a gate in the hallway for that purpose, but alarms would be worth considering. Mr. Bockstael asked about the height of the wall for the viewing area, and Mr. Yaekel said it had been sized in consultation with the fire marshal to maximize egress. Mr. Hallinan made a motion to approve the project, Mr. Hine seconded, and the vote showed all members in favor of approval.
Ms. Bradley noted that a site plan was submitted that day by Jack Gilmartin, but it had not yet been reviewed. Mr. Bockstael commented that the drawings submitted were the type of information and level of detail the Committee had been seeking previously. Mr. Hallinan made a motion to approve the building design details, Mr. Margiotta seconded, and the vote showed all members in favor of approval.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin T. Sullivan
Committee Recording Secretary