Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting May 12, 2025

Board of Selectmen Meeting May 12, 2025

Compliance with Zoning regulations has continually been difficult to enforce with businesses trying to add additional signage to their property or adding signs along streets that have not been approved.

Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio has displayed a complete disregard for the zoning regulations although owning many businesses in town that require plans and signage approval from the Zoning Commission.

Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio has been on boards, commissions that oversee the land use of the town including business groups that are aware of the Zoning regulations.

However, Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio has knowingly and continually disregarded the Zoning requirements for signage on his business property.

He placed a sign on a tree with information on his outdoor storage facility in a B-2 Zone.

It appears that the outdoor storage facility is non-compliant with the Zone and should not be grandfathered in as an acceptable use.

Recently Steve Anonio was required to come before the Zoning Commission and Design Review Board to remove a sign posted on a tree that was a violation of the Zoning regulations.

After much discussion, a sign was approved that was professionally crafted that will be placed at the entrance to the outdoor storage facilty.

Antonio Restaurant has a sign on the side of the building that was not approved in the site plan when changes were made.

“Call Your Mother” sign was not approved in the original plan and should be removed.

It appears that Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio has a “catch me if you can” mentality that requires town staff to allocate their time to addressing his Zoning violations.

Steve Antonio, as a businessman and leader in the community should not constantly try to “game the system.”

Recently, the Town Planner George McGregor, applied for a moratorium on the Affordable Housing Act, §8-30g.

The denial states, “DOH staff has reviewed the application and comments received and has determined that the Town of Simsbury’s application does not meet the requirements for the issuance of a Certificate of Affordable Housing Project Completion as submitted.”

Listed on the application was Ojakian Commons - 100 Cambridge Crossing, Eno Farms - 1602 Hopmeadow Street , Virginia Connolly – 1600 Hopmeadow Street and Hendricks Lane.

What appears to be missing from the application is Owen Murphy Apartments and Town owned rental properties

The application states that Eno Farms is owned and operated by Konover which is incorrect.

Konover manages the property and CHFA owns the property.

Attorney Timothy Hollister wrote to the DOH after reviewing Simsbury’s application for a Moratorium.

Hollister states, “As you know, I assisted the Department, as a contractor, with drafting the moratorium regulations in 2002.

The letter continues, “The Department should first inquire of the Town of Simsbury as to why this compliance information has not been provided, and declare the application incomplete at this time.”

It appears that the requirements for affordability under §8-30g were written with many restrictions to ensure that compliance is difficult to attain.

The housing market in Simsbury is quite diverse with housing prices at all levels.

Homes and apartments are priced at all levels with some units’ deed restricted.

The market should regulate the cost and supply of housing units.

The Affordable Housing Act has become a “cash cow” for the Attorney’s that defend the Act, the building industry that can use a small parcel of land and develop the land with many units leading to lower costs for the development, land owners who can sell to a developer at an increased price and lobbyists who get paid to promote Affordable Housing.

The Affordable Housing Act places an undue burden on the Towns and the taxpayers who must support an increase in population and increase in services provided that will ultimately increase taxes and impact economic development.

A homeless person has taken residence at the Simsbury Police Department for several weeks.

The Police Department has become a homeless shelter.

The Police Department is open 24/7, giving him a place to reside.

He has slept on the bench in the common area and walks around town during the day.

Other times he remains in the common area.

According to the Police he has not violated any laws.

Social Services cannot provide services against his will since he is an adult.

It appears that he has some mental health issues but with the present-day laws, he cannot get help from the outside without his approval.

Simsbury is not alone with a homeless issue.

Mental health issues are very complex and requires intervention on all levels.

The homeless person in the Simsbury Police Department highlights the inability of the public to give assistance to a needy person against his will until he violates a law.