06.16.2020 BPB MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board:
Planning Board Meeting
Date:
June 16, 2020
Location:
Google Meet virtual meeting
Members Present
Chair Ellen Hutchinson,Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen
Flannery, Wayne Miller, Andrea Toulouse
Members Absent:
Allison Kilcoyne, Vice Chair Alexander Craft
Others Present:
Planning Director Darlene Wynne
Recorder:
Jodi Byrne
Chair Ellen Hutchinson calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and reads a prepared statement
introducing the meeting, the authority to hold a remote meeting, public access and public
participation, and meeting ground rules. She takes roll call attendance.
Members, when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Names of members.
Sarah Bartley Allison Kilcoyne (absent)
Derek Beckwith Wayne Miller
Alexander Craft Ellen Hutchinson
Ellen Flannery Andrea Toulouse
1. Subdivision Approval Not Required Plans
a.
There are none.
Flannery:
Motion to recess for a Public Hearing. Derek Beckwith seconds the motion. There
is a roll call vote with each member voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith,
Ellen Flannery, Wayne Miller, Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson.
The motion passes (6-0).
2. Public Hearing: Major Modification request to Site Plan Review #146-19 - 0 Everett
Street - 0 Everett Street LLC
Architect Dan Ricciarelli provides a brief review of this Site Plan modification which includes
the removal of the retail portion of the structure. Darlene Wynne displays the Site Plan images.
Ricciarelli describes each of the proposed modifications. He says that his team will meet with the
DRB after receiving approval from the Planning Board. He also says that his engineer will be
meeting with the City Engineer to review all stormwater calculations.
Wynne confirms that the City has determined the official address to be 718 Hale Street; however
It is noted by Ricciarelli
that Everett Street holds the widest front elevation of the building.
if it is damaged by the
new landscaping. Ricciarelli says that the new landscaping will be placed in front of the fence.
Beverly Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2020
Property owner Joe Skomurski answers that if a part of the fence is damaged, he can work
something out with the homeowner. It is confirmed that the old trees have been removed and six
Armstrong maples will be planted in their place. The landscape plan is projected onto the screen
and reviewed.
Wynne reads the Public Hearing notice for this project.
There is a discussion of the stone wal. Skomurski states that the placement is due to
neighbor requests as well as to optimize a clear site line to Hale Street. Wynne says that the stone
fence is consistent with the Parking and Traffic Commission advice on the project.
Miller asks if the balconies will offer privacy to the abutting property. Ricciarelli says that
privacy screens are being added to both balconies to provide privacy to the abutting property.
Ricciarelli notes that the DRB will be reviewing this plan.
Beckwith states that the parking appears tight. Ricciarelli says that a hammerhead turn around
area is planned for the driveway to prevent the need to back up onto Everett Street. Beckwith
also asks how the front of the structure will be designed to complement other street front designs.
Ricciarelli says that they are working with the DRB, and that there is a new design that will keep
the style of other Beverly Farms structures. Ricciarelli notes that this design will be presented to
the DRB on July 9, 2020.
Hutchinson opens the discussion up for public comment.
1.Peter Johnson
eight slides that address his concern that this structure will be the first building people will see
upon entering Beverly Farms. He shows an image proposing that the building be set back five
feet further from the front of the street. He also suggests that the new building be kept in scale to
match the village of Beverly Farms.
Ricciarelli says that they are aware of neighbor concerns and are working with the DRB to
address them. He says that they want to get a move ahead from the Planning Board in order to
work with the DRB in addressing these concerns. He also states that the DRB is split about
moving the property back five feet.
2.Effie Panagiotakis/Rebecca Dunn (formally Rebecca Swanick)
Dunn speaks first and says that privacy is her primary concern. She shows an image of the
property and explains how the construction plan for a different adjacent project behind her house
has changed from a reported breezeway to a large deck structure. This project was not subject to
Planning Board review. Dunn is against the proposed structure moving back five feet. She is
worried that the structure will devalue her property and that the planned screening will not
accommodate the two balconies that face her backyard. She asks for the fence to be extended
with one surrounding barrier.
at there is concern
that the new maple trees being planted will only measure 3 ½ feet high. She says that while her
Ϯ
Beverly Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2020
clients understand that building is inevitable, they are concerned about enjoying what they have
and their future property values. She also says that Skomurski had previously agreed to replace
the fence. Panagiotakis states that her clients have not been kept in communication with any of
Ricciarelli reports that the maple trees will be planted at fifteen feet and will grow to thirty feet,
and the arborvitae plantings will grow to twenty feet. Hutchinson states that in Attny.
ce the fence only if it is
damaged during the removal of trees.
Planning Board approved the construction at 722 Hale Street. Chair Hutchinson states that the
Planning Board approved an ANR (Approval Not Required) whereby the owner of the property
made a request to shift 1,000 sq. ft. of land area away from 722 Hale Street over to 726 Hale
Street. She says that this is the extent to which the Planning Board approved, and that the
concern should be taken up with the Zoning Board of Appeals who granted a Special Permit
giving the developer the right to construct at that location. Hutchinson also says that the
homeowner (who purchased in 2016) knew that the home was bordering a property with two
large parking areas with potential for development.
Attny. Panagiotakis apologizes for the error in her letter. She says that her priority is to share the
ng affected by construction.
Dunn says that the Zoning Board of Appeals had approved a one-story structure, and now it is a
large two-story design [this relate to the 722 Hale Street project]. Dunn says that when she asked
the City how this could have changed, she was told that since the first floor was approved, they
did not need approval for the second floor. Dunn says that she has been supportive of this
construction, but that the two-story plan is concerning in regards to privacy and value.
Skomurski states that the agreement with the abutting homeowner was to repair any section of
the existing fence damaged by tree removal or replanting, but that he did not agree to fix the
whole fence.
Beckwith notes that the Planning Board did not see these modifications as minor, and supports
the Chair in her leadership of providing time for this thorough review. He requests details on the
setback of other structures in this area. Skomurski says his engineer has stated that pushing this
building back will not work. Hutchinson notes that other local businesses are set back to allow
for parking. Wynne adds that this type of setback with front parking would not be consistent with
current zoning requirements and may have been created under different circumstances. Beckwith
says he has concerns with the current line of the building in order to keep the historic design of
the Beverly Farms area.
Hutchinson notes that this has to go back to the DRB for review. She confirms that both
Skomurski and Dunn will meet in order to clarify what will happen with the fence. Chair
Hutchinson says that the Planning Board will wait to hear a report on this agreement and also on
the review of the DRB.
ϯ
Beverly Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2020
Nicole Everett says that she is a neighboring property owner. She states that she hopes that the
builder will communicate with the abutting property owner in the hopes that there can be some
compromise between the two parties and that things can move forward.
Miller:
Motion to continue this Public Hearing until the next Planning Board meeting
scheduled for July 16, 2020. Beckwith seconds the motion. There is a roll call
vote with each member voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen
Flannery, Wayne Miller, Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson. The
motion passes (6-0).
Flannery:
Motion to amend the motion to correct the Planning Board meeting date to July
21, 2020. Toulouse seconds the motion. There is a roll call vote with each
member voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen Flannery, Wayne
Miller, Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson. The motion passes (6-0).
3. Minor Modification Request: 5 West Dane Street - Benco, LLC
Ben Carlson reports the Minor Modification request to switch the color of the 80+ window
sashes on this structure from green to white as requested by the DRB.
Flannery:
Motion to deem the modification is minor. Miller seconds the motion. There is a
roll call vote with each member voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen
Flannery, Wayne Miller, Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson. The
motion passes (6-0).
Flannery:
Motion to accept the modification of the color of the window sashes from green to
white at 5 West Dane Street. Miller seconds the motion. There is a roll call vote
with each member voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen Flannery,
Wayne Miller, Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson. The motion passes
(6-0).
4. Appointment of Planning Board Member to Community Preservation Committee
Hutchinson states that Derek Beckwith is the current Planning Board Member on the CPC and
confirms that he would like to continue his service.
Flannery:
Motion for Derek Beckwith to continue to be the Planning Board representative to
the CPC. Miller seconds the motion. There is a roll call vote with each member
voting yes: Sarah Bartley, Derek Beckwith, Ellen Flannery, Wayne Miller,
Andrea Toulouse, and Chair Ellen Hutchinson. The motion passes (6-0).
Beckwith reviews the last City Council meeting where it was voted unanimously to approve a
$240K emergency housing fund for those affected by COVID-19. He reports that the CPC is
doing many important things, and he is grateful to be part of this Committee.
ϰ
Beverly Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2020
5. Approval of Minutes: October 22, 2019; November 19, 2019; January 28, 2020; May 5,
2020; June 9, 2020
The January 28, 2020 minutes are tabled until the next meeting.
6. Discussion
a.Planning Department update on any relevant matters
Wynne reports that all CPC applications have been approved by the City Council. She adds that
the City has a pending application for a Community Development Block Grant for up to $400K.
Wynne explains that these funds are for small business loan grants (regional with other
communities) to encourage CDBG monies, and that they target businesses with five employees
or less, allowing $10K per business.
establishments approved for outdoor dining and are now reviewing 20 that are interested. She
said that the City hopes to get artists to design the cement barriers and beautify the outdoor
dining areas. Wynne explains various restrictions and allowances for restaurants to open and how
the City is trying to work with various establishments.
Miller asks about the permitting on the property at 43 Whitehall Circle. Wynne says that a curb
cut permit was pulled with the Engineering Dept. She notes there was a legal settlement for the
project and she is trying to find the settlement copy to see if there was a restriction in place.
Miller says that he has concerns this work may ruin the existing stone wall. Wynne notes that the
Engineering Department is the group who oversees driveways and curb cuts.
Wynne says that she is still hoping to wrap up the Master Plan this summer and that her staff is
also working on a public meeting for the Preservation Plan. She adds that the City has selected a
consultant for the Climate Action Plan with Salem, and that this process will be kicked off in the
next few weeks.
Miller:
Motion to adjourn the meeting. Beckwith seconds the motion. The motion passes
(6-0). The meeting is adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
ϱ