The Simsbury Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a revision to the unified sign plan for Simsbury Commons, allowing nine new under‑canopy blade signs and a standardized system for tenant panels and monument signs at 530 Bushy Hill Road.

The revision, filed as ZC 25‑13 by Artifex on behalf of Simsbury Commons LLC, updates a unified sign plan that the applicant and staff said dates to 1999. "We're requesting 9 of them, for a total of 36 square feet," said Matt Haskell of Artifex, the applicant's design representative. Haskell said the update also adds standardized mounting, lighting and a rail system intended to reduce repeated drilling into building facades.

The commission's approval follows a public hearing and a review of materials Haskell said were supplied in a full package including a project narrative and revised plans. The motion approved by the commission directed that the signage "substantially conform to the plans generated by Artifex, dated 07/10/2025," and commissioners voted to pass the application unanimously.

Why it matters

Commissioners and the applicant described the change as a modernization of an aging document and a way to manage tenant turnover. Haskell said the unified plan will make staff review of future tenant signage simpler and reduce visible wall damage caused by repeated sign mountings. He also said the proposed blade signs improve pedestrian wayfinding within the canopy area.

Key details

- Applicant: Matt Haskell, Artifex, representing Simsbury Commons LLC.
- Location: 530 Bushy Hill Road (Simsbury Commons).
- Proposal: Add nine under‑canopy blade signs (total ~36 sq ft), standardize tenant panels with white backgrounds, revise two freestanding monument signs and adopt a rail mounting system with acrylic backer and halo illumination at 5,000 Kelvin as shown in the submitted plans.
- Earlier action: Haskell said the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance last year to increase reader‑board square footage for the monument signs; he stated that approval allowed an additional nine square feet, attributing that number to his recollection.

Discussion and concerns

Commissioners asked about illumination and dark‑sky impacts. Planning staff told the commission that the town's draft dark‑sky lighting regulations do not yet apply to signage and that existing fixtures would generally be grandfathered if not changed. Commissioners also asked how the plan would interact with previously discussed potential multi‑family development on part of the parcel; staff and the applicant said the unified sign plan applies to the retail portion now and could be revised if a future project alters the site.

Outcome and next steps

The commission approved ZC 25‑13 as submitted with the condition that installed signage substantially conform to the Artifex plans dated 07/10/2025. Staff and the applicant said the unified plan is intended to be scalable — it can accommodate future tenant additions or consolidations without ad hoc sign approvals. The commission did not set additional immediate conditions beyond the approved plan text and drawings.

"This plan allows for scalability," Haskell said, noting it can be adjusted if the parcel is reconfigured in the future.

Ending

With the vote, the approved unified sign plan will form the standard for tenant signage at Simsbury Commons moving forward; any future changes that alter lighting or sign structure would be subject to review under existing permit rules or any subsequently adopted lighting standards.