Simsbury zoning panel approves two wall signs for Goddard School at 1 Cooper Avenue

The Simsbury Zoning Commission on March 17 approved a permit for two non-illuminated wall signs for the Goddard School at 1 Cooper Avenue (also listed as 250 Hot Meadow Street), voting 6-0 to allow a 49-square-foot sign and a 36-square-foot sign with one condition to remove the trademark symbol from the final design.

The vote follows a presentation by Marissa Pratt, an owner and applicant representative, who described the two signs — one facing the parking-lot entrance and one visible from Hot Meadow Street — and noted the design-review board's recommendation about sign stacking and color. "My name is Marissa Pratt," Pratt told the commission before explaining the building readdressed to 1 Cooper Avenue and the proposed signage.

Why it matters: the signs identify the childcare tenant that will occupy most of the building and affect wayfinding for families and emergency personnel. The commission treated the request under the town's Hartford-Simsbury form-based code (HSFBC) because the property's development plan predates strict sign numeric limits.

Commission discussion focused on aesthetics and consistency between the two signs. Kate, a member of the design review board who attended the prior design meeting, said she had no strong objection to the applicant's preferred proportions: "I don't know that I have a strong preference either way," she said, noting the proposed horizontal proportions fit the façade. Commissioners debated whether the western-facing sign should use the same blue background and white lettering as the north-facing sign to create a cohesive look; the applicant agreed to match colors.

A motion approving application ZC-2502 (SL Simsbury LLC, owner; Hartford Sign and Design LLC, applicant) as presented — permitting two non-illuminated wall signs of approximately 49 square feet and 36 square feet, subject to the sign plan titled "Sketch No. 112124" and the removal of the trademark symbol from the final sign — carried unanimously, 6-0. Chairman Bruce Elliott announced, "Motion passes 6 to 0." The commission did not place additional dimensional limits beyond those on the submitted plan.

The record includes the application materials and the design-review recommendation; commissioners noted design review is advisory and the zoning commission may approve different conditions. The permit as approved allows the applicant to proceed with final sign fabrication and installation subject to the conditions stated in the motion.

No formal appeals or permit-issuance dates were recorded during the meeting. The commission closed the item after the vote and moved on to other agenda topics.