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Simsbury Conservation Commission outlines advisory recommendations on wetland permit for McLean Retirement Community
Summary
On Feb. 17 the Simsbury Conservation Commission reviewed Application CC #25-25 from McLean Affiliates for a wetland permit to build 40 residential units at McLean Retirement Community and agreed on advisory recommendations for the Zoning Commission, directing staff to draft formal language for the March 3 meeting.
The Simsbury Conservation Commission reviewed Application CC #25-25 on Feb. 17, 2026, an application from McLean Affiliates, Inc., seeking a wetland permit to construct 40 new residential units at the existing McLean Retirement Community at 75 Great Pond Road in Zone R-40. The application includes a proposed wetland crossing and disturbance in the upland review area. The Commission discussed advisory recommendations to forward to the Zoning Commission for its site plan and special exception review.
Commissioners concentrated on environmental controls and site mitigation measures. Key topics the Commission agreed should be addressed in advisory language included lighting standards tied to the Kelvin scale to limit glare and reduce impacts on habitat; tree protection measures to be enforced during construction; consideration of additional protected tree-planting areas or an enhanced tree-planting plan; enhanced meadow and meadow-edge plantings with maintenance plans; and an invasive-plant management program. The discussion did not record a formal vote on the permit application itself; rather, members instructed staff to prepare draft recommendations for the Commission to review on March 3, 2026.
The Commission’s direction to staff will give the Zoning Commission a set of conservation-focused advisories for its pending site-plan and special-exception review. The minutes note the application’s parcel (Assessor’s Map E08, Block 147, Lot 001) and that the matter involves a wetland crossing and upland review-area disturbance; those details will be preserved in the draft recommendations.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (Feb. 3, 2026): Commissioner Charles Haldeman moved; Commissioner Jason Berman seconded. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Chair Margery Winters abstained).
- Adjournment: Commissioner Charles Haldeman moved; Vice Chair Jason Levy seconded. Motion carried unanimously (5-0-0). The meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.
What happens next
Staff was directed to prepare formal draft advisory recommendations reflecting the items discussed and present them for Commission review at the March 3, 2026 meeting. The Zoning Commission will receive the finalized advisory language as part of its forthcoming review of McLean Affiliates’ site-plan and special-exception applications.
