DRB 2-1-24 City of Beverly Design Review Board
February 1, 2024
Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of 6
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
DATE: February 1, 2024
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3"Floor,
Conference Room A
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette, Ellen Flannery, Associate Planner
Jared Contrada, Wendy Pearl, Michael Barone
MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice-Chair Rachel Poor
STAFF PRESENT:
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
Chair Ouellette calls the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
1. Applications:
a. Montserrat College, 9 Dane Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Montserrat College,
9 Dane Street.
Creative Director of Montserrat College Serena Green is present and states that the property was
acquired recently by the college and the porch has since been removed for structural reasons. The
reason for the new sign is to identify the building as part of the College. The design is in keeping
with the architectural style of the building and the location of the sign will be set far back from
the street so that only the front side of the sign is visible. The reverse side of the sign will be
solid blue. The contractor is White Light Visual
Barone asks what the current use of the building is, and Green answers that it houses an
admissions office, wellness center, student affairs center, and a student lounge.
The building serves the purpose of being a first stop for students and families that are new to the
institution. Pearl asks if it matches other signage for the College, and Green answers that the
exact blue matches all the College's signs around town, and the College logo that was introduced
a few years ago will also be on the sign. The building is referred to as "9 Dane Street" across
campus, so the sign displaying that information will be helpful.
Contrada explains that freestanding signs are not permitted in the district,which is a CC Zone.
The Board discusses that it is appropriate for the applicant to seek a special permit through the
ZBA.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Montserrat College, 9 Dane Street as
presented and recommend to the ZBA the approval of the Special Permit that
is needed due to its noncompliance. Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
b. Briscoe Village LLC c/o Glovsky and Glovsky LLC, 8 Washington Street,
Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Briscoe Village, 20 Colon Street.
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February 1,2024
Meeting Minutes
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Miranda Siemasko of Glovsky and Glovsky is present on behalf of the applicant and states that
the site would not allow the signage without relief, which was already granted as part of the City
Council Special Permit. There are two identical signs to be placed in two separate locations on
the site and both are double-sided. The signs will be placed at the Colon Street and Sohier Road
entrances on the site. They are internally illuminated.
Ouellette recommends that the height of the sign be reduced to 48 inches from the finished grade
due to concerns about wind load.
Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for Briscoe Village, 20 Colon Street as
presented with the condition that there be a structural review of the
foundations. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
c. UPS Store--Maha Sign, 47 Enon Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: UPS,47 Enon
Street.
Bill Kielbasa of Signarama is present on behalf of the applicant and states that the UPS store is
being established at the Commodore Plaza and the sign will consist of 16-inch unlighted letters
totaling 20 square feet on the building face. Contrada asks if there is room on the directory sign
at the entrance of the plaza and Kielbasa states yes,but it has not yet been addressed by the
client.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for UPS, 47 Enon Street as presented.
Seconded by Ouellette. Motion carries (5-0).
d. Signverse, 24 Spencer Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. Sign: Jolie Tea, 192 Cabot
Street.
Michael Giuliano of Signverse is present and states that the sign will replace the existing Tartine
sign at the site. It will be made of applied vinyl and the colors are black and white. Ouellette
expresses gratitude that the sign will keep the same aesthetic and complement the building's
style.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Jolie Tea, 192 Cabot Street as presented.
Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
e. MT Hospitality Partners LLC, 185 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. Sign:
Jaimie's Roast Beef, 374 Rantoul Street.
CFO of Serenitee Restaurant Group Michael Smith is present and states that the site will be the
third sister location of the restaurant. Smith clarifies that the cow design will not be on the sign
and should not be considered as part of the application. Smith states that the site will have about
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Meeting Minutes
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25 seats and the concept will be a craft-style New England roast beef menu, focusing mainly on
counter service.
Ouelette asks if the sign matches the 16-inch trim and if it will be centered as it is shown on the
design, and Smith states yes. Smith states that the existing exterior lighting may be angled to
illuminate the sign. There will be no additional lighting installed.
The Board discusses whether angling the existing lights should be considered a change to the
application, and since they will not be relocated it is not. The Board agrees that proposing a
motion on the sign only is appropriate. Contrada agrees to research whether the inclusion of new
or relocated lights would change the way an application is handled on future applications.
Barone asks whether the sign will be primed, painted, and then coated with waterproof gloss.
Smith says yes, and it will match the Manchester-by-the-Sea location. Smith states the yellow of
the design will be textured for visual interest, the white will not be included, and the sign will be
fabricated in three pieces and then assembled.
Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for Jaimie's Roast Beef, 374 Rantoul Street as
presented. Barone seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
f. 478 Rantoul Street LLC, 43 March Street, Unit 3, Salem, MA 01970. Site Plan:
478 Rantoul Street Apartments, 478 Rantoul Street.
Sanir Lutfija of Seger Architects, engineer George Zambouras, Tom Alexander of Alexander and
Femino, and principal Vin Orlando are present. Alexander states that the site currently holds a
house structure that will be converted into two units with the lower unit being commercial and
the upper unit residential. The rear building will be new construction. Lutfija states that Bobrek
Engineering rendered a photometric plan of the building. Lutfija presents the lighting design,
pointing out the light fixtures which include bollards across the parking lot and
building-mounted lights at the entries to the building.
Lutfija states that there will be ribbon lighting and the recessed balconies will be friendlier to the
residents of the building and residents of Rantoul Street overall. The balconies will somewhat
break down the scale of the building. There will be clapboard siding, paneling, balcony rails, and
vertical elements. All mechanicals will be on the roof, set back 10 feet from the edge, and thus
not visible from the street.
Ouellette asks whether the visibility of the mechanicals takes into account the elevation of
Rantoul Street, and Lutfija states that with the building being four stories, the mechanicals will
not be visible because of the 10-foot setback. Ouellette states that on the Rantoul Street side, the
design shows the setback as 6.5 feet, and Lutfija states that that is an inaccuracy on the design
because the mechanicals will be at least 10 feet from the edge, and if it were less, a guard rail
would be required.
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Lutfija states that the existing house will be clapboard and be handicapped accessible. Alexander
states that the Parking and Traffic Commission has reviewed the site and recommended approval
to the Planning Board. Barone asks if any vote has yet been taken on the matter and Ouellette
states no. The Board discusses that the tree part of the rendering is incorrect. The mature Elm
tree is not on the planting plan and the Board requests confirmation that it will remain. Orlando
confirms that the Elm will not he removed. Ouellette points out that the planting plan is
incomplete as compared to the renderings.
Ouellette suggests that the landscaping design introduce columnar trees at the entrance to match
the rendering and to offset the removal of the grove of trees at the edge of the wetlands. This
planting will offer relief from the loss of tree cover. Barone agrees that introducing greenery at
the entrance will make the site look more inviting.
Ouelette and Alexander discuss that the two-year establishment of the plantings will require a
Certificate of Compliance from the Conservation Commission. Lutfija comments that the
planting may be impacted by the retaining wall's shadow. Ouelette suggests adding a condition
for additional landscaping, multi-stem shrubs, shade-tolerant plants, columnar species, and
shade-tolerant shrubs below the wall. Ouellette states that columnar trees are defined as trees that
reach a maximum height of six to eight feet.
Ouellette expresses gratitude for keeping the house that is already on the site and for the
enhancements to the house.
Ouellette: Motion to approve the site plan for 478 Rantoul Street Apartments, 478
Rantoul Street as presented with the following conditions: that additional
landscaping be added between the existing retaining wall along the south side
of the building and the new building facade to include columnar trees and
multi-stem shrubs. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (3-1-1). Contrada
against. Barone abstains.
g. Janick Company LLC, 1 School Street, Beverly,MA 01915. Site Plan: 397 Cabot
Street.
Property owner John Mancini, engineer George Zambouras, and Tom Alexander of Alexander
and Femino are present. Alexander states that the commercial building on the site housed a
dry-cleaning business for many years and occupies almost the entire parcel. There is no parking
on the site and there is no on-street parking on either side of the site. The building has been
sitting unoccupied for 10 to 15 years and the applicant has received relief from the ZBA to
construct a two-family residence. Its proximity to public transportation, both bus and train,
makes it an advantageous site for a residence.
Zambouras states that the lot was historically a rectangle with a two-foot margin around the
building. Zambouras presents the site plan, which includes four parking spaces in the rear
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dedicated to each unit. The housing units will be side by side. Alexander states that with the
redesign of this portion of Cabot Street, on-street parking has been eliminated.
Barone asks what the snow removal arrangement will be, and Zambouras states that a small
amount of snow storage is possible on site, and in heavier snow events the snow will need to be
removed off site.
Ouellette states that more detail, such as materials,will be helpful. Ouellette requests a
Iandscaping plan or site plan with landscape information. Alexander states that it is a marginal
project and points out that the budget is limited but the applicant will make every effort. Mancini
asks for clarification on what Ouellette means by materials, and Ouellette states clapboard or
vinyl siding are examples of information that will be helpful. Mancini asks whether the Board
has specific requests for types of windows and siding, and Ouellette states that the Board will
review the design rendering presented by the engineer as a starting point. Ouellette offers photos
of designs for window proportions and entrances that the applicant may refer to and suggests
observing the style of the surrounding properties.
Flannery: Motion to continue to the March 7, 2024 meeting. Ouellette seconds. Motion
carries (5-0).
2. Old Business
The members review and offer edits to the November 2, 2023 minutes.
Flannery: Motion to accept the November 2, 2023 meeting minutes as amended.
Contrada seconds. Motion carries (3-0). Pearl and Barone abstain.
3. New Business
a. UrgentVet update
Contrada states that Building Commissioner Jim Butler worked with the applicant to scale the
signs on the doors down to 10 square feet and that both doors are considered as a single sign.
b. Santander update
Contrada states that Santander agreed to the condition to scale down the dimensions of the sign
to become compliant.
c. Draft meeting minutes
i. January Il, 2024
The members review and offer edits to the January 11, 2024 minutes.
Flannery; Motion to accept the January 11, 2024 meeting minutes as amended. Ouellette
seconds. Motion carries (4-0). Barone abstains.
4. Other business
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The Board discusses that there is one position open for a Beverly business owner. The individual
does not have to be a resident of Beverly. The Board discusses that there is a total of seven
positions on the Board.
S. Adjourn
Ouellette: Motion to adjourn. Contrada seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
Meeting adjourns at 8:15 p.m.
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
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