2025-1-9 Design Review Board meeting minutes FINAL City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 9,2025
Meeting Minutes
1 CITY OF BEVERLY
2 PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
3
4 BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Design Review Board
5 DATE: January 9, 2025
6 LOCATION: Police Station Community Room
7 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jon Ouellette; Wendy Pearl; Ellen Flannery; Michael
8 Barone Jr.
9 MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice-Chair Rachel Poor
10 STAFF PRESENT: Kenneth Clawson, Assistant Planning Director
11 RECORDER: Kristan Patenaude
12
13 Ouellette called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
14
15 1.Applications:
16
17 Flannery: Motion to amend the agenda to next address item C. Ouellette seconds. Motion
18 carries (5-0).
19
20 c. Beverly Commerce Park,LLP, 50 Balch Street(Cummings Center),Beverly,MA
21 01915. Mod. Site Plan: 50 Balch Street
22
23 Michael Aveni, Cummings Properties, explained that a minor modification was approved in
24 September by the Zoning Board of Appeals to increase the number of units to 59 and increase
25 the building height by 3'. Last month, the applicant went in front of the Planning Board to share
26 these modifications, and the Planning Board determined them to be minor modifications. The
27 applicant was asked to share these modifications with the Design Review Board. Some of the
28 changes include an approved height variance to change the height of the building from 50' to
29 53', and removal of a proposed berm. The roof line is not proposed to change at 74'. There is a
30 proposed increase from 53 units to 59 units. The length and depth of the building have not been
31 changed, and the footprint is roughly the same. The approved project had 106 bedrooms, and this
32 modified project has 113 bedrooms, along with one additional affordable unit. Each floor will be
33 streamlined using minor footprint changes. The original windows were darker, but the color
34 scheme changed based on availability. Some of the balconies have been moved. The previously
35 approved landscape plan has been changed slightly.
36
37 The Board discussed the proposed materials. There was some concern expressed that the
38 proposed color scheme does not make this feel like the rest of the neighborhood. There was
39 acknowledgement that this proposal seems to be a better option overall.
40
41 Ouellette: Motion to recommend that the Planning Board approve the modifications for 50
42 Balch Street, with a condition that the block wall at the east and north elevations
43 have a stone skin added to approve their appearance. Barone Jr. seconds. Motion
44 carries (5-0).
45
Page 1 of 3
City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 9,2025
Meeting Minutes
46 a.Andrew Gerrish, 407 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Sign: Away Games, 407
47 Cabot Street.
48
49 The Board reviewed the sign proposed for Away Games. Clawson noted that the proposal is
50 compliant. There will need to be a separate application for the proposed additional pylon sign.
51
52 Flannery: Motion to approve the signage for Away Games, 407 Cabot Street, as presented,
53 noting that the applicant must return to the Board with a separate application for a
54 pylon sign. Barone Jr. seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
55
56 b. Glovsky& Glovsky LLC, 8 Washington Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Cont. Site Plan:
57 0 Trask Lane
58
59 Ouellette recused himself from this item.
60
61 Miranda Siemasko explained that the Board requested more information regarding grading on
62 the site,the height of the site in comparison to adjoining properties, the retaining walls and the
63 podium exposed portions of the garage, and circulation within and between the buildings. The
64 Board was also interested in understanding how pedestrian circulation would take place in terms
65 of the amenities offered across the site. There was concern expressed regarding landscaping and
66 identifying the limit of work for the retaining walls around the site.
67
68 Matthew Littell,Utile Architecture, displayed a plan diagram that reflects the civil drawings. The
69 distribution of the amenities and circulation of the site was reviewed and there was discussion
70 regarding the proposed sidewalks and pedestrian circulation. There was discussion regarding
71 including additional pedestrian connections around the green space and dog run areas.
72
73 The Board reviewed the proposed landscape plan.
74
75 Siemasko stated that the applicant will be before the Planning Board next week. Comments from
76 other boards and third parry consultants will be incorporated into a new plan set. The applicant
77 will likely not come back before this Board prior to submission of the next plan set. Clawson
78 stated that he would ask City staff to review the submitted plant booklet.
79
80 Barone: Motion to continue this hearing, pending new information from the applicant.
81 Flannery seconds. Motion carries (4-0).
82
83 2. Old Business
84
85 None at this time.
86
87 3. New Business:
88 a. Draft Meeting Minutes (as available)
89 i. September 12,2024
90
Page 2 of 3
City of Beverly Design Review Board
January 9, 2025
Meeting Minutes
91 Flannery: Motion to approve the September 12, 2024, minutes, as amended. Ouellette
92 seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
93
94 ii. October 3, 2024
95
96 Ouellette: Motion to approve the October 3, 2024, minutes, as amended. Flannery seconds.
97 Motion carries (5-0).
98
99 iii. November 7, 2024
100
101 Flannery: Motion to approve the November 7, 2024, minutes, as amended. Ouellette
102 seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
103
104 iv. December 5, 2024
105
106 Flannery: Motion to approve the December 5, 2024, minutes, as amended. Ouellette
107 seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
108
109 4. Adjourn
110
111 Barone: Motion to adjourn. Pearl seconds. Motion carries (5-0).
112
113 Meeting adjourns at 8:30 p.m.
Page 3of3