DRB 7-11-24 City of Beverly Design Review Board
July 11, 2024
Meeting Minutes
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
DATE: July 11, 2024
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3'Floor, Conference
Room A
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette; Ellen Flannery; Michael Barone; Jared
Contrada, Associate Planner; Wendy Pearl; Vice-Chair
Rachel Poor
MEMBERS ABSENT;
STAFF PRESENT:
RECORDER: Kristan Patenaude
Chairman Ouellette called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
There was Board discussion regarding basing signage recommendations on the design itself
instead of discussing items that are outside of the Board's jurisdiction, such as items to be
reviewed by the Municipallnspector and Zoning Board of Appeals. The prohibitions within the
regulations should be reviewed.
1. Applications:
a.Erica Ferreira, 10 Pierpont Street,Peabody, MA 01960. Sign; Tasty Bowl's, 296B
Cabot Street.
Erica Ferreira, applicant, stated that this will be a simple sign of PVC with printed vinyl stickers.
There will be no illumination. The sign will read `Tasty Bowl's Acai and Ice Cream' and be
sized at 53"07". The background is green, with a white edge and purple lettering.
Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Tasty Bowl's, 296B Cabot Street, as presented.
Ouellette seconds. Motion carries (6-0).
b. Xhulio Bleto, 728 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Ellie's Pizza, 723 Hale
Street.
Xhulio Bleto, applicant, explained that the proposal is to replace the existing sign in the same
location with a new sign. The new sign will be exactly the same size as the existing sign,
21"x154". The sign is illuminated with LED lights. The new Blade sign is proposed to be
20"x20".
The Board commented on the vintage, neon look of the sign and that the Blade sign will pull
customers into the site.
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July 11, 2024
Meeting Minutes
Flannery: Motion to approve the design of the wall replacement sign and new Blade sign for
Ellie's Pizza, 723 Hale Street, as presented. Contrada seconds. Motion carries
(6-0).
c. Peter Kelly, 355 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Site Plan Review: 355 Rantoul
Street (Pickled Onion).
Tom Alexander, offices at One School Street in Beverly, MA is representing the applicant, stated
that the proposal is for first floor 100% commercial space, with four floors above, each one
having two condominium units, each approximately 1,100 s.f. in size. The applicant owns land
within 500' of this property where the parking for this project will occur. There may be one or
two tenants on the first floor. There will be an elevator and lobby space, with a bicycle storage
area. The material on the outside will be a Miracle Wood product,with aluminum and glass. The
brickwork from the Pickled Onion will either be preserved or replicated. A standing seam metal
roof is proposed. HVAC units will be out into the pitch of the roof and will not be noticeable. All
energy requirements will be met. The units on the fifth floor will have a lofted bedroom in the
rooftop area. The bay windows create a balcony area for the fourth-floor units. The building will
be 54'9" tall. Trash will be collected in the basement for the residential tenants and be brought
out for trash pickup. There are options for trash collection depending on who the first-floor
commercial tenants are determined to be. The dumpster location has not yet been decided,
pending the end tenant.
The Board discussed that the max height allowed by zoning is 55'. There are no tall building
guidelines in play for this application. The massive scale of the building is out of touch with the
area of West Dane. The articulation of the facade in the upper levels is missing in the first level.
It was noted that if this project includes demolition, it will likely have to go before the Historic
Districts Commission, as the structure and sign are older than 50 years old. There was a
recommendation made that plantings on the south side could be increased to create additional
screening. There was some concern expressed regarding the amount of parking proposed and the
use of the first-floor commercial area. There was note made that only one handicap space is
proposed which may not be adequate. The applicant stated that another handicap space will be
added to the parking lot area. Some of the dumpster area may be reworked to help with parking.
Flannery: Motion to continue the site plan review for 355 Rantoul Street (Pickled Onion) to
August 1, 2024, Contrada seconds. Motion carries (6-0).
d. 478 Rantoul Street LLC, 43 March Street, Unit 3, Salem, MA 01970. Site Plan
Review: 478 Rantoul Street.
Mr. Alexander stated that this project has been scaled down, from 37 new units with two units in
the existing three-unit building, to 30 one-bedroom new units with two units in the existing
building with commercial space on the first floor. The new building will be connected to the
existing building by an underground passageway,which has been reviewed with City officials.
This is being proposed through site plan review,without any special permits needed.
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Dan Ricciarelli, architect, explained that the new proposal shows three stories above parking,
instead of the original four proposed, in order to reduce the number of units. The materials have
not changed from the original submission. The Planning Board was interested in a 24' drive
aisle, which led to a reduction in parallel parking spaces on the site. This allows for an additional
800 s.f. of landscaping for the site. The existing house will be refurbished with commercial on
the first floor. There will be an accessible entrance on the front. The new lobby will be reduced
in size a bit. The emergency access area has increased a bit for the site. There is a passageway
under the site, connecting the two buildings,which will be used as a storage amenity for tenants.
Townhomes are proposed for the top two floors of the new building. Clapboard/Hardie board
will be mixed with wood paneling throughout the project. There will be brick introduced along
the lobby space of the new building.
The Board expressed concern regarding fire truck access. Mr. Alexander explained that the
trucks will not pull onto the site, but a hydrant is proposed in front of the building, or trucks
could access the site through the CVS next door.
There was discussion regarding the back of the property looking into an industrial site area. Mr.
Rieciarelli stated that there is an existing fence in this area on an abutter's property. This will
need to be replaced as it is in poor condition.
The Board noted that there is a set of recommendations from Ms. Pearl that includes a breakup of
the facade for the applicant to consider,
Flannery: Motion to continue the site plan review for 478 Rantoul Street LLC, to August 1,
2024, Contrada seconds. Motion carries (6-0).
2. Old Business
None at this time.
3.New Business:
a. Draft Meeting Minutes (as available)
i. May 2, 2024
ii. June 12, 2024
Flannery: Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 2, 2024, as amended, Contrada
seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
Flannery: Motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 12, 2024, as amended, Contrada
seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
4. Adjourn
Ouellette: Motion to adjourn. Flannery seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
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Meeting adjourns at 8:26 p.m.
The next meeting will be Thursday,August 1, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
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