DRB 1-11-24 City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 11,2024
Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of 3
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
DATE: January 11, 2024
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3rd Floor,
Conference Room A
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette, Ellen Flannery, Associate Planner
Jared Contrada, Wendy Pearl
MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice-Chair Rachel Poor,Michael Barone
STAFF PRESENT:
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
Chair Ouellette calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
1. Applications:
a. Philadelphia Sign, 27 Old Meetinghouse Road, Auburn, MA 01501. Sign:
Santander, 587 Cabot Street.
Heather Dudko of Philadelphia Sign is present on behalf of the applicant and states that
Santander is conducting a universal refresh of the brand, There are two signs currently on the
site. The wall sign on the building will be replaced in kind with a sign of the same dimensions
and same size lettering. The ground sign is internally illuminated and the wall sign is not
illuminated.
The Board discusses that both signs are non-conforming because the wall sign in that zone may
be up to 20 square feet while the existing sign is 35 square feet, and freestanding signs are not
permitted in the zone at all. Santander completed the application process in September of2013
and both the wall sign and freestanding sign were approved. Associate Planner Contrada states
that Dudko will need to pursue the Special Permit with the Building Commissioner and then the
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The Board discusses with Dudko whether the application
should be for an amendment to an existing Special Permit or for a new one.
Pearl asks why the existing sign is so large, and Dudko and Flannery state that they do not know
the history of the sign. Ouellette recommends that the red color be reduced. Ouclette states that
the existing 23.33-foot sign length will need to be reduced to 13.33 feet to come into compliance.
Contrada states that in his research he found that the existing sign was approved unanimously by
the Board that was in place in 2013, with a recommendation to grant a Special Permit.
Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for Santander, 587 Cabot Street as presented
for the monument signs with the recommendation that the ZBA grant a
Special Permit for the building face sign with the following conditions:
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 11,2024
Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 3
reduce the sign size from 280 inches to 160.2 inches in length in compliance
with the 20 square foot requirement. Pearl seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
b. Philadelphia Sign, 27 Old Meetinghouse Road, Auburn, MA 01501. Sign:
UrgentVet, 55 Dodge Street.
Heather Dudko of Philadelphia Sign is present on behalf of the applicant and states that
UrgentVet is a new tenant in the North Beverly Plaza. Dudko states that there is one set of
channel letters on the primary facade wall sign and it will be 17 square feet, which is compliant.
On the double door that has not yet been installed, the applicant is proposing two vinyl window
signs. There will be a hanging interior sign which will be illuminated during operating hours,
which does not fall under the purview of the Board.
The Board discusses that the wall sign is compliant. The second proposed door sign,which is
being treated as a window sign for zoning purposes, would require a Special Permit as only one
sign is permitted provided it does not cover more than 20% of the window opening. Dudko states
that the applicant will likely opt to reduce the plan to a single-pane sign to forgo the step of
pursuing a Special Permit. The Board discusses with Dudko whether the applicant will need to
go before the Board again with the revised plan,whether it is placed on a single pane or reduced
to ten square feet, Dudko states that the applicant will forward the new, compliant design to the
Board.
Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for UrgentVet, 55 Dodge Street as presented
with the following condition: that the window sign is reduced to a total of 10
square feet. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
c. Signarama, 456 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605. Sign: Rucker Investments,
181 Elliott Street.
Mike Wood of Signarama is present on behalf of the applicant and states that the applicant plans
to install channel lettering on a raceway at the Cummings Center. The business is moving into a
space formerly occupied by American Renal. Wood states that the design is for 36-inch-tall
lettering on a raceway with aluminum backing. The light has a sensor that turns on when it is
dark and off when light. There is an option for a timer as well.
The Board discusses that there are restrictions for residential-facing illuminated signs and Wood
proposes tying the sign in with the building's lights,which turn off at 10 p.m. Wood states that
he will remove the photo sensor and set the timer instead. Wood states that Cummings has
approved the sign.
The letters will be white with a cream background tying in with the building face's aesthetic.
Wood proposes setting the timer to be on the same schedule as American Renal's sign. It will
take into account Daylight Savings Time.
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 11,2024
Meeting Minutes
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Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Rucker Investments, 181 Elliott Street as
presented with the condition that the illumination be turned off at 10 p.m.
Seconded by Ouellette. Motion carries (4-0).
d. Sign Art, 60 Sharon Street, Malden, MA 02148. Sign: Rev Burger, 55 Dodge
Street.
Nick Harron, the owner of Rev Kitchen and Ed Spinney from Sign Art are present. Spinney
states that the plan is to install a sign with channel letters to fit into the aesthetic of the plaza and
the neighboring Panera Bread. The word"Burger"will be raised black channel letters and will be
illuminated.
The Board discusses that the sign is not compliant because it is 46 square feet whereas the
zoning allows for 20 square feet maximum. Ouellette observes that the Panera Bread sign is
larger than the allowable maximum and asks if the Rev sign can be aligned on the fagade with
the Panera Bread sign and molding. The Board discusses that it is in keeping with the scale of the
other signs in the plaza. The location is where B Good was located. Pearl comments that the sign
as proposed appears oversized for the scale of the storefront and somewhat crowds the design.
Spinney states that the black of the sign will illuminate white at night and the sign on a timer that
is dictated by the terms of the lease. The Board discusses that the design will need a Special
Permit for the size.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Rev Burger, 55 Dodge Street as presented
with a recommendation to the ZBA to grant the Special Permit. Ouellette
seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
2. New Business
a. Draft meeting minutes
i. December 7,2023
The members review and offer edits to the December 7, 2023 minutes.
Flannery: Motion to accept the December 7, 2023 meeting minutes as amended.
Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
3. Adjourn
Ouellette: Motion to adjourn. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
Meeting adjourns at 7:40 p.m.
The next meeting will be Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
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