2024-10-3 Design Review Board meeting minutes City of Beverly Design Review Board
October 3,2024
Meeting Minutes
1 CITY OF BEVERLY
2 PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
3
4 BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
5 DATE: October 3, 2024
6 LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3rd Floor, Conference
7 Room A
8 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette; Michael Barone Jr.; Jared Contrada,
9 Associate Planner; Wendy Pearl
10 MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice-Chair Rachel Poor; Ellen Flannery
11 STAFF PRESENT:
12 RECORDER: Kristan Patenaude
13
14 Chair Ouellette called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
15
16 1.Applications:
17 b.ADD-A-SIGN LLC c/o Tim Grautski, 136 Pond Street, Leominster, MA 01453.
18 Sign: BTone Fitness, 4 Enon Street.
19
20 Applicant stated that there is one wall sign proposed, and a window decal proposed. The colors
21 are part of the corporate brand for the company. The wall sign is 19.9 s.f.
22
23 Contrada stated that typically dimensions for the wall decals are submitted. One window sign per
24 business is allowed, whether on the door or window itself. The Zoning Board of Appeals will
25 need to grant relief for requests outside of what is allowed. He asked for specifications of the
26 wall decal and a percentage of color proposed on the window, with 20% allowed.
27
28 Ouellette: Motion to approve the wall sign as presented with the condition that the applicant
29 submit the area for the graphics within the large window, and the window sign
30 within the door. Contrada seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
31
32 a.HKL Realty,LLC c/o Jesse Jalbert, 8 Enon Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: The
33 Enon Apartments, 8 Enon Street.
34
35 Jesse Jalbert,representing the applicant, stated that the proposal includes two foam signs under
36 existing lights on the building. One will display The Enon Apartments and the other is for a
37 business that leases the lower level. The signs are 10 s.f. each and will not be internally
38 illuminated.
39
40 There was discussion that one of the proposed signs has a border, and it was noted that the signs
41 will be more cohesive if they match.
42
43 Ouellette: Motion to approve the signage for HKL Realty, LLC, at 8 Enon Street as
44 presented with the addition of a border to match The Enon apartments color.
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
October 3,2024
Meeting Minutes
45 Barone Jr. seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
46
47 c. Cabot Performing Arts Center,Inc., c/o Alexander & Femino, 1 School Street,
48 Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: The Cabot, 286 Cabot Street.
49
50 Tom Alexander, Alexander& Femino, explained that The Cabot is renovating and restoring its
51 facade.
52
53 Stefano Basso,Architect for the project, gave a history of previous renovations and restorations
54 done to the building. The intention is to open up the space to expose an existing rose window.
55 The existing marquee is a replica from the 1960s. A metal mesh scrim will be added to the
56 canopy,mounted on flagpole-type structures. This will be fit with LED lights. The goal is to be
57 able to backlight the area and display for different events.
58
59 Alexander explained that this is not subject to site plan review,but the applicant hopes to get the
60 Board's endorsement.
61
62 Contrada explained that the projecting sign is proposed at 71.875 s.f. and the ordinance allows
63 for 7 s.f. This will need to go through the Zoning Board of Appeals. The wall sign under the
64 canopy of 13.75 s.f. which is appropriate. The screens proposed are 55 s.f. each but treating those
65 as wall signs will lead to another request for relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
66
67 Pearl stated that this proposes to remove a lot of historic materials such as the storefront and
68 windows. Calling this a restoration is incorrect. This is a project to modernize the building. This
69 will remove more historic material than it preserves. Contrada stated that this will need to also go
70 before the Historic Districts Commission.
71
72 Pearl asked why the lit up scrim is not considered a sign. This is a large feature and the Board
73 reviews much smaller decals on windows due to public interest. The area is going to be very
74 bright with all of the proposed lighting. Contrada stated that this is unclear and a gray area.
75 Alexander stated that no commercial information is being displayed on the scrim. Basso stated
76 that this will serve as screening for mechanical on the roof as well.
77
78 Basso stated that this may not be a full restoration, but it will bring back an older style for the
79 building,notwithstanding the modern lighting.
80
81 The Board discussed the colors of the proposed blade sign.
82
83 Contrada: Motion to approve the wall sign reading The Cabot as presented in the plans.
84 Barone Jr. seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
85
86 The Board stated that more information is needed for the LED signs, including potential
87 architectural treatments, and the blade sign before making a determination.
88
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City of Beverly Design Review Board
October 3, 2024
Meeting Minutes
89 Ouellette: Motion to continue the application regarding The Cabot blade signs and LED
90 signs on the north and south of the building. Barone Jr. seconds. Motion carries
91 (4-0).
92
93 2. Old Business
94
95 None at this time.
96
97 3. New Business:
98 a. Draft Meeting Minutes (as available)
99 i. September 12, 2024
100
101 The Board agreed to table discussion on the meeting minutes until the next meeting.
102
103 5. Adjourn
104
105 Ouellette: Motion to adjourn. Barone Jr. seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
106
107 Meeting adjourns at 7:41 p.m.
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