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Simsbury commission continues hearing on proposed 689‑unit Hopmeadow development after residents oppose project
Summary
The Simsbury Conservation Commission on May 19 continued a public hearing on Application CC #26-02, a wetland permit by SL Simsbury, LLC to build approximately 689 residential units at 200 Hopmeadow Street, after an intervenor petition and numerous residents spoke in opposition; the hearing was continued to June 9 and the application was tabled.
The Simsbury Conservation Commission continued the public hearing on Application CC #26-02 on May 19, 2026, after residents and an intervenor petition raised environmental concerns about a proposed development at 200 Hopmeadow Street.
The application, filed by SL Simsbury, LLC, seeks a wetland permit to construct approximately 689 residential units with associated site improvements, including disturbance within the upland review area in the Hartford South zone (Zone HS-FBC). Paul Vitaliano, civil engineer with VHB, presented for the applicant and told the commission the project team is working on responses to third‑party review comments.
The hearing drew an intervenor filing from Christine Sinopoli, who submitted a Notice of Intervention under Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-9 and, according to the meeting minutes, cited environmental reasons for intervening. Attorney T.J. Donahue, representing the applicant, urged the commission to deny or strike the intervention petition as legally insufficient under CGS Sec. 28-19. Town staff said the Notice of Intervention will be reviewed by the Town Attorney to determine whether it is a verified pleading; the Commission deferred action on the intervenor determination.
Chair Margery Winters and Vice Chair Jason Levy posed follow-up questions to the applicant’s engineer, and commissioners continued to press for more detail on third‑party review responses. After the exchange, Commissioner Donald Eaton moved, and Vice Chair Levy seconded, to continue the public hearing to June 9; the motion passed unanimously, 6-0-0.
Multiple residents spoke during public comment in opposition to the proposal. Those recorded in the minutes were: Kris Barnett (15 Ox Yoke Drive), Todd Angus (20 Red Stone Drive), Jennifer Smolnik (5 Simsbury Manor Drive), Nevin Christensen (44 West Mountain Road), Michael Salter (2 Harriet Lane), Alex Reger (43 Latimer Lane), Taylor Leyden (4 Powder Horn Drive), Eden Weisberg (5 Highwood Road), Linette Branham (31 Canton Road), Lisa Harris (436 Firetown Road), Ellen Gilbert (136 Hopmeadow Street) speaking for herself and Beth Balletine (31 Metacomb Drive), Deborah Bishop (126 Hopmeadow Street), Tyler Meeker (291 Hopmeadow Street), and Christine Sinopoli (16 Clay Creek Drive). The minutes record they spoke in opposition but do not include verbatim statements or the full text of the intervenor petition.
The application was recorded as tabled until the next meeting. Commissioners briefly recessed at 8:11 P.M.; the meeting resumed at 8:16 P.M. Later, with no designated agent actions or other reports to consider, Vice Chair Levy moved to adjourn, Commissioner Jason Berman seconded, and the commission voted to adjourn unanimously (6-0-0); Chair Winters adjourned the meeting at 8:22 P.M.
Next steps: the public hearing on Application CC #26-02 is scheduled to continue on June 9; the Town Attorney will review the Notice of Intervention to determine whether it is a verified pleading and the commission will consider that determination at a future meeting.
