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DRB 3-7-24 City of Beverly Design Review Board March 7, 2024 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board DATE: March 7, 2024 LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3`d Floor, Conference Room A MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette,Vice-Chair Rachel Poor, Ellen Flannery, Associate Planner Jared Contrada, Wendy Pearl, Michael Barone MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: RECORDER: Naomi Moca Chair Ouellette calls the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. Barone asks how the square footage of signs is calculated and who calculates it, giving the example of the circular sign for Score and Slip pottery studio. Barone states that the memo shows the square footage as 7.1 square feet for its 32-inch circular sign,but by his calculations it is 5.6 square feet. Contrada states that the area is calculated based on a hypothetical square behind the circle that is 32 inches by 32 inches. The Board discusses that this guideline may be worth revisiting in the future. 1. Applications: a. Peter Bakhit, 480 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Score & Slip Pottery Studio,480 Rantoul Street. Business owner Peter Bakhit is present and states that he is originally from Egypt and stayed in the Beverly area after graduating from Gordon College. Bakhit explains that"score" and"slip" are pottery terms. The application is for one projecting sign on the corner of the building and a series of 24-inch circular signs on the side. Bakhit clarifies that the store is located on a corner. Flannery clarifies that the dimension requires either a special permit or to reduce the scale of the sign to be compliant. Contrada states that this minuscule discrepancy may be left to the discretion of the Building Inspector. Ouellette explains to Bakhit that the circular sign's square footage is calculated by the square behind it. Vice-Chair Poor and Ouellette agree that the style of the design is appropriate. Flannery observes that a special permit is required for the number of window signs that are proposed. Bakhit clarifies that he plans to reduce the number of window signs to comply with the guidelines in lieu of going before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Pearl asks whether the applicant redesigns the proposal to become compliant, he will still need to go before the Board again, and Contrada states no, but he will need to go before the Building Inspector either way. The Board discusses that reducing the scale of the sign to 31.5 inches x 31.5 inches will eliminate the need to obtain a special permit. 1 City of Beverly Design Review Board March 7, 2024 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Ouelette states that shortening the arms of the blade sign so that it does not project as much from the wall is an alternative to bring it into compliance. Barone and Flannery express uncertainty about that option. Bakhit expresses his intention to reduce the scale of the blade sign and the number of window signs to bring the design into compliance. Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for Score & Slip Pottery Studio, 480 Rantoul Street as presented with following conditions: that the sign be reduced in scale to 31.5 inches by 31.5 inches, and that the number of window signs be reduced to a single sign. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (6-0). b. Kristen Paulin, 15 Rantoul Street, Beverly,MA 01915. Sign: Tozer Storage, 12 Tozer Road. Chris Koeplin and Kristen Poulin of Gateway Beverly Crossing are present and Koeplin states that they are working with Mr. Zampell who currently owns 12 Tozer Road. Koeplin states that the application is for the signs to replace the existing Comeast signs. There will be a wall sign and a road sign. Koeplin states that the building sign will be illuminated and the road sign will not be illuminated. The windows on the second floor show the hallway showing the corrugated metal of the storage units and the signs' design echoes that. The lights on the front of the building will be removed and a banner will be placed on the glass. Poulin states that they already applied to the ZBA for a Special Permit for the freestanding road sign and the marketing banner. Contrada clarifies that a Special Permit is required for the additional window sign. Pearl asks whether the sign aligns with the top of the glass. Poulin states that they are being placed exactly where the existing signs are. Ouelette summarizes that the wall sign is compliant, the freestanding sign has already been applied for a Special Permit, and only one window sign is compliant, so a Special Permit is required for the remaining three. Poor asks if the four window signs are necessary, and Poulin explains that the window signs are beneficial for visibility due to the building's somewhat nondescript aesthetic and its location far from the road. Koeplin states that the exterior of the building will be cleaned and painted. Barone comments that he likes the colors of the logo. Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for Tozer Storage, 12 Tozer Road as presented for the wall sign, the freestanding sign, and one window sign, with the following condition: that a Special Permit be obtained from the ZBA for the three additional window signs. Seconded by Poor. Motion carries (6-0). c. Batten Bros Sign, 893 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01880. Sign: Allara Care, 900 Cummings Center. Richard Batten of Batten Bros Signs is present on behalf of the applicant and states that the design proposed is illuminated channel lettering on a raceway with the wording "Medical Group 2 City of Beverly Design Review Board March 7, 2024 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Primary Care." The office will be located in the Cummings Center and Batten states that the Cummings Properties has already approved the design. The lettering at the top of the sign is 17 inches in height, and the lettering at the bottom of the sign is 10 inches in height. The letters are translucent vinyl and the raceway will match the color of the building, which is a concrete gray, Oullette asks whether the photocell is timed or activated by light, and Batten states that the photocell is in conjunction with a time clock, so that the photocell will activate the light whenever it gets dark, and the clock will override that and turn off during evening hours. Flannery and Barone state that they are comfortable with the design and the Board discusses that the design is compliant. Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Allara Care, 900 Cummings Center as presented. Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (6-0). d. .Alberto Lima, 299 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Spoleto, 293 Rantoul Street. Edilson Correa is present and states that the design is for a plug-in sign with low-LED lights to conserve energy. Correa states that it is smaller in scale than the signs of the adjacent businesses. The Board discusses that the design is clean and appealing. Flannery; Motion to approve the signage for Spoleto, 293 Rantoul Street as presented. Barone seconds. Motion carries (6-0). e, Janick Company LLC, 1 School Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Site Plan: 397 Cabot Street. Thomas Alexander of Alexander and Femino, Engineer George Zambouras, and property owner John Mancini are present. Alexander states that the design has been revised to incorporate the Board's suggestions. Zambouras added a schedule of species that will be used for the plantings. Barone observes that the improvements to the design such as the windows, the color of the entrance door, and the latticework harmonize with the aesthetic of the area. Flannery observes that the design has clean lines and complements the neighborhood. Poor agrees that the design is an improvement over the last version and admires the pop of color on the doors. Pearl observes that fenestration helps break up the facade to enhance visual interest. Ouellette expresses gratitude that the applicant incorporated the Board's advice. Ouellette states that Rhododendron may grow up to 10 feet tall and Blue Holly may grow up to 15 feet tall and thus may overtake the facade. Ouellette offers a list of suggestions for smaller species that will complement the facade without overpowering it, such as Olga Mezitt Rhododendron, Boule de Neige, Arborvitae, Ilex glabra"Shamrock," Ilex crenata"Japanese Holly," and Cunninham's White Rhododendron. Ouelette recommends Millican Nurseries in New Hampshire as a resource. 3 City of Beverly Design Review Board March 7, 2024 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Ouellette: Motion to recommend approval of the Site Plan at 397 Cabot Street with the recommendation that the following plant material be considered in lieu of the plant material shown on the drawings: Shamrock inkbeny, Green Lustre Japanese Holly,Boule de Neige rhododendron, and Olga Mezitt rhododendron, the primary reason being that the height of the plant material specified on the applicant's documents may be too large for the building facade. Barone seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 2. New Business a. Draft meeting minutes i. February 1, 2024 The members review and offer edits to the February 1, 2024 minutes. Flannery states that she recently observed the directory sign on the UPS store even though it was not included in the application noted in the February 1, 2024 meeting minutes. Barone comments that landlords may at times place signs without consulting with tenants, so it is possible that the applicant is not aware of the directory sign. The Board discusses what its recourse may be in this situation and Contrada states that the Board does not have enforcement capacity. The Board discusses that Contrada is working on revising the sign ordinances. The Board discusses that there are businesses that do not follow City guidelines with regard to signage, such as The Whale tea shop on Rantoul Street that has never come before the Board, while Spoleto and China River on either side of it have. The Board discusses that it seems unfair to applicants who follow the correct steps. Pearl comments that the billboard above Little Italy, and the many billboards in the Gloucester Crossing intersection appear incongruous with the City's look and feel. The Board discusses that billboards are not under the puzview of the Board, and that they are unsightly and arguably not necessary to the City's functioning. Barone states that New York City had significant actions with regard to billboards. Flannery: Motion to accept the February 1, 2024 meeting minutes as amended. Barone seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 3. Other business Flannery: Motion to continue the hearing for the applications for Montserrat College, 23 Essex Street and for Chanphaly Oak for Colorful Nails, 83 Hale Street to the April 4, 2024 meeting. Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 4. Adjourn Flannery: Motion to adjourn. Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (6-0). Meeting adjourns at 7:40 p.m. 4 City of Beverly Design Review Board March 7, 2024 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 The next meeting will be Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. 5