2000-07-06 CITY OF BEVERLY
Public Meeting Minutes
BOARD:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Design Review Board
July 6, 2000
Douglas Haring, Margaret O'Brien, William Finch, Debra
Hurlbutt, Assistant Planning Director
Jennifer Palardy
Jeannine Dion
Ms. Hurlbutt calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
1. Sovereign Bank - 4 Enon Street - Sign
Brian Brinkers liom Acme Sign Corporation appears on behalf of the applicant, Sovereign Bank.
Brinkers states the bank would like to replace the existing sign with a new layout and name. He is
proposing one wall sign (same size), two sides of the existing directory and the sign at the 24 hour
ATM. The sign has a red background, black border and white lettering. The sign will be non-
illuminating.
Finch states he would prefer to a deeper shade background color but he does not object to the
proposed color. Brinkers states the color of the logo does not change.
Hurlburr states she does not have a problem with the background color.
O'Brien moves to approve the sign, second by Haring. All members in favor. Motion carries.
2. Exxon - 191 Essex Street - Sign
Richard MarsbaH tiom Garrett/George Assoc., Inc. appears on behalf of the applicant Exxon. He
states BP will be changing to Exxon. He is proposing changing the BP logos with Exxon signs.
The current station has a canopy with a bull nose and a BP on it. The bull nose will be taken off
and it will be replaced with the Exxon hinge. There will be no increase in the square footage of
the signage. The changes will be name and color only.
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2000
Page2
Finch asks if the color strip on the canopy is internally illuminated. Finch states he would consider
that part of the sign if it is internally illuminated. At which point it would exceed the area for a
sign. Finch states the red strip essentially makes the whole strip a sign. Marshall responds that
the red strips are opaque and the fighting is behind it and the light shines down from underneath it.
Finch recommends the applicant put an opaque red material and put a hacker to the light strip so
that the light can't get up behind it. It would simply he a strip of red material. Finch states there
is enough lighting under the canopy and the proposal would create excessive mount of lights.
Marshall recornn~nds lighting behind the Exxon letters. Finch responds that he would accept
that. Marshall agrees to the Exxon back lighting and no lighting on the bar strip.
Marshall provides information on the freestanding sign. Members recommend the applicant
recordigure the sign panels to make it more symmetrical. Marshall agrees to the recommended
changes and will submit revised drawings to Deb Hurlhurt.
Haring moves to approve the signs as revised, second by O'Brien. All members in favor. Motion
carries.
3. Leslie Ray Insurance - 129 Dodlle Street - Silln
Ed Juralewicz from United Sign Company appears on behalf of the applicant, Leslie Ray
Insurance. Juralewicz states he originally applied about 1 1/2 years ago to replace the existing sign
with an internally illuminated sign. The request was denied and he has changed the sign and is
now proposing a wood sign. He states he met with Ms. Hurlburt, Tina Cassidy (Planning
Director) and Rich Jones from the agency to discuss the proposed sign. He states the applicant
would like to replace the existing sign with a new one. Juralewicz states he spoke with Tim
Brennan about another fleestanding sign on the property. Brennan informed Juralewicz that the
house sits on two lots and the applicant is allowed two signs providing it does not exceed the size
of the present sign. He states the applicant will he coming hack in to put 10 panels on the sign,
but they are not asking for that right now. He adds the applicant is asking to take down the
structure and replace it with a new sign.
The proposed sign will he white, with gold borders and blue to match the structure.
Hurlburt states that it is a nice sign. She states when the next sign comes in; she will look at it
very carefully.
Haring moves to approve the sign, second by Finch. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2000
Page 3
4. Zwicker Press - 134 Rantoul Street - Sign
Ed Juralewicz from United Sign Company appears on behalf of applicant, Zwicker Press.
Juralewicz states the applicant is proposing three signs. The applicant is proposing two signs on
the front of the building. One projecting sign (over the door) that is 30 inches x 4 ft. and the
second sign mounted flush to the wall. The third sign is proposed to go on the side of the
building. The signs have white background, blue/pink lettering.
Hurlburt asks why three signs are allowed. Juralewicz responds that the applicant is allowed to
break one sign in the from of the building into two sections. The applicant is proposing one
projecting sign and one flush to the building.
Haring states there are too many signs.
Hurlbutt asks Jumlewicz for an example of a building that has a break in signage. He responds
the photo store on Cabot Street. Hurlburr states she visualizes if you have an angled building,
part of the sign would he on one side of the building and the rest of the sign would continue
around the comer. :
Juralewicz reads from the ordinance. Finch contends that Juralewicz is misinterpreting the
ordinance and going against the intent of the ordinance.
Hurlburt recommends the board look at colors and design. She states she does not have
objections with the sign and the colors, but she thinks there are too many sign. Hurlhurt states the
size makes it almost architecturally unacceptable.
Hating reads from the Sign Booklet the following: that the "...protection of the character of the
various neighborhoods in the city ... protection of the public welfare, including getting through an
intersection without being totally confused. Throughout the city in its most appropriate use and
the protection of the public welfare in general, requires strict limitation to all display signs in the
city." He states this is the purview of the Design Review Board. He states when you go through
an intersection with 37 different company names on it; you can no longer distinguish where you
are going and what you are going to do. Haring adds that if everyone does what this applicant
intends to do, that is what will happen.
Hurlburr states the building fronts on two streets, so the applicant is allowed two signs.
Finch states the internion of the sign band is a place where signs are attached flush and projecting
signs are a totally different thing. He adds that if the applicant prefers to have a projecting sign to
a flat sign, he would be in favor of that.
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2000
Page 4
Hurlhurt asks Juralewicz if he would like to speak with his client and come back to the next
meeting. Juralewicz states he would like to inform his client that he can put up the sign on the
side of the building and either one of the signs (wall or projecting) on the front of the building and
come back before the board.
Finch moves to allow the Pleasant Street sign and either the wall sign or the projecting sign (2
signs total), second by O'Brien. All in favor. Motion carries.
5. Beverly Cooperative Bank - 254 Cabot Street - Silln
Stephan Tanner appears on behalf of Beverly Cooperative Bank requesting permission to put up
two signs totaling less than fifteen (15) square feet. The applicant is proposing individual letters
(electroplated titanium). The proposed lettering will be located above the front and rear
doorways. The letters are 1/2 inch thick and 6 inches tall in the front of the building and 7 inches
tall in the back of the building.
O'Brien moves to approve the signs, second by Finch. All members in favor. Motion carries.
f
6. Commodore RedeveloOment - 45 Enon Street - Site Plan Review
Attorney Thomas Alexander appears on behalf of the applicant, who are purchasing the
Commodore site. He introduces the family members, and Jack Kelliher (contractor), Peter Ogren
(Site Engineer) and Thad Siemasko (Architect). The property is located in a CG zone. Alexander
states this project is 71% coverage ofimpervions surface (parking areas and pavement). There
are three curb cuts on Enon Street as designed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as part of
the recon~guration of Route IA. Mr. Kelliher has met with City Engineer, Frank Killilea to
coordinate the installation of utilities while the street is open. Alexander states there will be
underground parking. Alexander presents a landscaping plan highlighting screening that abuts the
residential neighborhood.
Peter Ogren, Site Engineer, states the proposed restaurant will be approximately 7,600 square
feet. The rest of the construction will be multi-tenant retail space to make a total of about 53,000
square feet of space.
Thad Siemasko, Architect, states the general idea is to produce a building look that is traditional
in overall view. There is a covered walkway that connects the stores. The proposed roofing
material will be metal and traditional colored red tone brick is proposed for the building. The
restaurant building is a freestanding building.
Alexander states the applicant has met with the Police Dept., Fire Dept. and the Parking & Traffic
Commission. The Parking & Traffic Commission has requested that the dumpsters be unloaded
between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The applicant has agreed to that request. In addilion~ the dumpster
areas are screened with stockade fences around the dumpster area.
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2000
Page S
Finch asks what size brick the applicant will use. Siemasko responds 4 x 8 size. Finch
recommends traditional brick versus jumbo brick. Finch asks what the color of the roof will be.
Siemasko responds that it will be a shade of olive.
Haring asks if the applicant is providing extra parking spaces and asks if more trees can be
planted. Siemasko responds that there are 336 parking spaces provided (278 is the requirement),
He adds that they don't want to eliminate any of the prime spots.
Finch states he also would like to see more trees. It is a lot of black top parking witbout relief of
trees interspersed. To try to upgrade the appearance commensurate with the applicant is trying to
do with the architecture would benefit greatly from substantial tree landscaping interspersed.
Finch asks what the size of the trees will be. Siemasko responds that there are some red maples,
(6-7 feet tall) and some rhododendrons (15-18 inches tall).
Finch states the amount of paving rapidly dwarfs small standard trees and adds that it takes a
good slug of time for the trees to get to a level that they really do anything.
The planting strip near Stop & Shop is 10 feet wide. Hurlburt states it would be adequate for
green ground cover versus mulch. Siemasko agrees that it can be green versus brown.
There is discussion regarding alternatives for adding green space. Finch adds adding green space
will substantially improve the quality of the image. Ogren responds that every parking space is
very important because perspective retailers will not want limited parking and the burden of
parking is heavy with a restaurant.
All parties agreed on a compromise for adding islands of green space and the applicant will revise
the plans to reflect the addition.
Hurlburt asks the applicant to modify the plan to show the addition of the islands of green space
and detail the brick size (traditional).
O'Brien moves to accept the site plan as modified, second by Haring. All members in favor.
Motion carries.
Meeting adjoured at 8:15 p.m.