DRB 5-2-24 City of Beverly Design Review Board
May 2, 2024
Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of 4
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
DATE: May 2, 2024
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3111 Floor,
Conference Room A
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette,Vice-Chair Rachel Poor (late),
Ellen Flannery, Associate Planner Jared Contrada,
Wendy Pearl, Michael Barone (late)
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
Chair Ouellette calls the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
1. Applications:
a. Mehmet Sahin DBA Falcon Graphics, 1151 R Mass Avenue, Arlington, MA
02476. Sign: Maria's Corner Pizzeria,273 Cabot Street.
Business owner Rannis Bido and Mehmet Sahin of Falcon Graphics are present and Sahin says
the application is to replace the existing sign. It will have a plastic face and be illuminated
internally with LED lights. The colors will be black and white and the sign will be mounted on
the existing support bars. The sign will be completely within the area of the existing black frame.
Bido says that the lights will be timed to turn off each business day between 8:30 p.m. and 8:45
p.m. since the business will close at 9 p.m.
6:45 p.m.: Vice-Chair Poor arrives
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Maria's Corner Pizzeria, 273 Cabot Street
as presented. Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (4-0-1). Poor abstains.
Sahin asks whether temporary signage is permitted in case the restaurant opens for business prior
to the permanent sign being installed. Contrada answers that the question should be directed to
the Building Inspector, Director of Municipal Inspections Jim Butler, and a temporary sign is
usually permissible for 10-14 days at the Building Inspector's discretion.
b. Edilson Correa, 297 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: The Whale Tea, 297
Rantoul Street.
The Board discusses that the sign is compliant and although the sign was already installed, the
gesture of completing this process after the fact is appreciated.
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
May 2,2024
Meeting Minutes
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Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for The Whale Tea, 297 Rantoul Street as
presented. Seconded by Ouellette. Motion carries (5-0).
6:49 p.m.: Barone arrives
c. Leslie Gould, 100 Cummings Center, Beverly,MA 01915. Sign: Greater Beverly
Chamber of Commerce (GBCC), 100 Cummings Center.
Sean Shah of Fast Signs is present on behalf of the applicant and says that the client of his
company for this application is Cummings Properties, where the GBCC office resides. Shah says
that the raceway with a notch is somewhat unique due to the age of the building. All the
electrical components are within the raceway. There will be a photocell as well as a timer for the
illumination. Poor asks about the white in the image and Shah clarifies that it shines as white
when illuminated and does not represent negative space. Ouellette asks if the letters are attached
individually to the raceway and Shah answers yes. Shah comments that the Montserrat font lends
itself to the challenge of the area.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce,
100 Cummings Center as presented. Seconded by Vice Chair Poor. Motion
carries (6-0).
d. Beverly Commerce Park,LLP, 200 West Cummings Park,Woburn,MA 01801.
Site Plan: 50 Balch Street,Beverly,MA 01915.
Michael Aveni and Steve Drohosky of Cummings Properties are present and Aveni summarizes
that the project entails a 55-plus subsidized housing with 53 units, eight of which will be
designated Affordable Housing. Aveni shares the site plan and points out the location of the
project on the Cummings Center campus. There will be five three-bedroom units, four
one-bedroom units and the rest will be two-bedroom units. There will be a ramp down to a
below-grade parking area. Aveni shares samples of the materials and color scheme of the design.
The ZBA granted a Special Permit for the permitted use of the subsidized elderly housing and
the height variance and has gone before the Parking and Traffic Commission and the Planning
Board. One topic of discussion has been the site's traffic circulation, one concern being the
connectivity of the site to the campus's many amenities. Aveni points out the plans to build
sidewalks and add a crosswalk.
Aveni summarizes the site's current conditions including elevations. The suggestion by the
neighbors at the Planning Board's most recent meeting was to shift the new entrance so that it is
not directly across from their home. Each ground-level unit will have a dedicated patio, and the
site has more than enough parking. Ouelette asks for more detail on the slopes at the perimeter of
the site and Aveni shows the retaining wall on the site that will contain the excavated fill to berm
up the elevation. The applicant is committed to not removing any extracted fill from the site.
There will be approximately 34 parking spaces in the covered area deeded to the units and the
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
May 2, 2024
Meeting Minutes
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second space per unit will be located elsewhere. Aveni points out that this measure will improve
the water quality.
Aveni says that the water and sewer lines will be moved slightly so they are at least 10 feet apart.
Considering that there may be a new energy code effective July 1, 2024, sheeting will be
installed around the building as an insulation measure. With regard to landscaping, Aveni says
that landscaping is a point of pride across the Cummings Center already, and the planting plan
will harmonize with the existing plantings. Site lighting will be focused downward and there will
be No Trespassing signs posted. The lighting plan will be comprised of Above All LED Moon
Series post lights and Kichler Cylinder Single light outdoor wall sconces.
Aveni says every effort will be made to make the site energy-efficient and that an energy
specialist may be engaged. Aveni shares a sample of the plank material for the outside of the
building.
Barone asks if the wall along Balch Street seen in the architectural rendering is more trough-like,
and Aveni answers that it is an existing wall. There are plantings in place. Poor comments that
from a design and materials perspective, it harmonizes with the space. Pearl comments that the
design fits in the Cummings Center aesthetic but not necessarily the surrounding area, which is
very historical including the Balch House. While the building harmonizes with the Cummings
Center, it feels inward-turning and does not necessarily blend with Balch Street. Incorporating
brick and pedestrian-level transitional elements, for example, may help it harmonize more.
Drohosky agrees and observes that the Beverly Middle School is directly across from the project
and that there is one house on Balch Street directly facing the site.
Poor comments that there is a lot of traffic in the area during school drop-off and pickup, and
Drohosky says that was a topic of discussion with the Parking and Traffic Commission and the
Planning Board. The applicant hired a traffic engineer to analyze the entire street and the project
will generate a comparatively modest number of trips per day. Aveni says that the area is zoned
for zero setback, but the project will be set back 45 feet, nonetheless.
Ouellette observes that while the purpose of the building is residential, in appearance it is similar
to other buildings on the campus; that is to say, a building surrounded by parking. Ouelette
challenges the applicant to create a more cohesive planting plan with landscaping wrapping
around the building and on the island to help the project realize its full potential. Ouellette
recommends not using Juniper as it eventually attracts rats, and planting ground cover that is
tolerant of the partial sun. Ouellette agrees to provide a list of appropriate plantings to the
applicant. Drohosky clarifies that 80% of the units must have one resident age 55 or older to
qualify as Elderly Housing. Ouelette suggests softening the edges of the residence by
surrounding it with attractive plantings to give it the feel of a protected oasis. Ouellette
recommends structural traffic-calming measures such as a textured inlet.
7:41 p.m.: Contrada departs
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
May 2, 2024
Meeting Minutes
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Ouellette and Aveni discuss that the roof equipment will be set back from the roofline. Ouellette
requests that the plan include pedestrian connections and expresses concern that there may be
excessive light spill in some areas.
7:44 p.m.: Contrada returns
Ouellette says that the record should reflect that Tighe and Bond is the parent company of his
current employer.
7:48 p.m.: Pearl departs
The Board discusses whether to vote to approve the site plan with the conditions discussed today
or to continue the item to the Thursday, June 6, 2024 meeting. Aveni advocates moving the item
forward to not cost the applicant a month of the construction season. Contrada clarifies that
administratively, the Board makes recommendations while not having the power to enforce them.
The Board discusses whether a special meeting is appropriate and Aveni says that he is prepared
to draft an amended plan incorporating the Board's recommendations in about one week. The
Board and the applicant discuss holding a special meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Contrada
says that he can complete the recommendation letter for the applicant in time for the May 21,
2024, Planning Board meeting.
Ouellette: Motion to continue the site plan for 50 Balch Street, Beverly,MA 01915 to a
Special Meeting of the Design Review Board on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at
6:30 p.m. Poor seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
2. New Business
a. Draft meeting minutes
i. April 4, 2024
The members review and offer edits to the April 4, 2024 minutes.
Ouellette: Motion to accept the April 4, 2024 meeting minutes as amended. Flannery
seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
3. Adjourn
Ouellette: Motion to adjourn. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
Meeting adjourns at 8:10 p.m.
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