Simsbury Planning Commission finds FY26 capital projects consistent with POCD; motion passes unanimously

The Simsbury Planning Commission voted unanimously to find that the Board of Selectmen’s fiscal year 2026 capital projects referral is consistent with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

Commissioner Polly read the motion to members, saying, “The Planning Commission finds that the, fiscal year 20 26 capital projects, as described in the staff memorandum dated 03/11/2025, are consistent with plan of conservation and development, which seeks to provide community facilities to meet the community needs and desires as effectively and efficiently as possible.” The commission seconded the motion and approved it without recorded opposition or abstention.

The 08/24 referral under state law required review by the Planning Commission. Planning staff and commissioners discussed nine items summarized in the referral and related packet materials: two board of education projects (including Eno Hall entrance/accessibility work and the town’s purchase of a property known as “2 Farms Village” for special‑needs use), a set of public‑works improvements including sidewalk and pavement management, a Tariff/East Coast Greenway gap‑design request, a septic/septage receiving station for the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA), vehicle replacements for public works, and a line of community‑facility projects tied to the Simsbury Farms special revenue fund.

Planning Director George (Planning Director, Town of Simsbury) told commissioners the packet contains a summary sheet and two charts showing project costs and funding sources (bonding, general fund, capital nonrecurring/CNR). He said some projects have been carried forward from prior years because of design delays and rising costs.

Notable items discussed: - Eno Hall entrance improvements: Funded since FY2023 with supplemental requests to address ADA access, stairs, parking lot reconfiguration and direct pathways into the community building. - 2 Farms Village: Town purchase completed for board of education use as a special‑needs facility; the FY26 request covers post‑closing renovations. - Tariff/East Coast Greenway: Request is for design to close gaps; construction funding remains subject to state/federal program priorities and potential 80% federal/20% state construction funding for eligible segments, while the town covers design costs. - Sidewalk/pavement management: Public works maintains an annual replacement/prioritization program; some sidewalk work is separate from a Firetown Road sidewalk project that is in right‑of‑way negotiation. - WPCA septage receiving station: A public improvement to accept private septage flows into the town treatment system in exchange for fees. - Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund: Staff clarified the fund is financed by operations (golf course/pool/skating rink) and that budgeted uses in the packet are projected beginning FY2028 for several items.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm items shown as project savings (the packet shows a $90,000 figure noted on the funding chart for one Greenway line item) and to continue coordinating where state or federal funds (or grants) may offset town expenditures. Planning Director George said the town pays for design phases and hopes construction will be funded through state/federal programs where eligible.

The commission’s formal finding does not appropriate funds; it is the Planning Commission’s advisory consistency determination on the 08/24 referral. The motion carried unanimously; the transcript records an aye vote from the body and records the motion as passing unanimously, but individual roll‑call votes were not recorded in the transcript.