2004-07-01Design Review Board
Meeting Minutes - July 1, 2004
Page 1
CITY OF BEVERLY
Public Meeting Minutes
BOARD: Design Review Board
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: July 1, 2004
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Colleen Bruce, William Finch, Jane Brusca,
Douglas Haring
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Leah Zambernardi
RECORDER: Leah Zambernardi
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.
1. Nextel Authorized Representative - Paul Tripp, Classic Signs Inc. - 34 Cabot Street
The Board continues discussion on this proposal, which was opened at the June meeting.
Zambernardi reads a legal opinion from City Solicitor Roy Gelineau on the Latham Act and
its applicability to this application.
Mr. Tripp states that they would like to keep the roof sign as they presented it in June, but
would make the awning sign a shed-style awning with a blue color to match the other blue
awnings on the building and white letters.
The Board discusses options for signage with Mr. Tripp and storeowners Jim Farrell and Jim
Carmilia. Option A would include the signs as presented in the original application. Option B
would be a sign that is reversed in colors, with yellow lettering and a black background.
Option C would be to eliminate the roof sign and install three wall signs, which have yellow
backgrounds with black lettering. None of the signs would have internal illumination, but
would be opaque with external illumination. Option D would be to have three signs with
black backgrounds and yellow lettering with external illumination only. Option E would be to
keep the existing roof sign and allow two yellow signs on either side of the building. These
signs would not be externally illuminated, but would have black lettering on a black
background with external lighting. The yellow background would match the yellow tone of
the "Nextel" brochure, which was submitted into the record. One sign would be placed on the
west side of the building facing Rantoul Street while the other sign would be placed on the
east side of the building facing Cabot Street.
After some discussion, Mr. Finch motions to approve 2 wall signs and an awning sign.
The existing roof sign reading "PHONE DEPOT, ONE STOP FOR WIRELESS
SERVICE" shall remain the same. An opaque, shed-style awning shall be hung over the
transom of the front door. It will be blue with 6-inch, white letters reading "34 CABOT
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Meeting Minutes - July 1, 2004
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STREET" on one line. The two additional wall signs measuring 15 inches in height and
48 inches in length shall be externally illuminated and will have yellow backgrounds with
black lettering reading "NEXTEL AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE". The letters
"AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE" shall be placed below the text "NEXTEL". The
yellow color of the sign shall match the color of the attached "NEXTEL" brochure. One
sign will be placed on the west side of the building facing Rantoul Street while the other
sign will be placed on the east side of the building facing Cabot Street. Ms. Brusca
seconds the motion and it carries 4-0.
2. 240 Conant Street Residential Project Sign - Jason Wedlick - 240 Conant Street,
Danvers
Mr. Jason Wedlick states the residential building at 240 Conant Street is located in
Danvers although, the entrance to the property lies in Danvers. He states that the
residential project sign will be placed on the Beverly side of the property. He states that
the sign will measure 4-feet in height and 5 feet in length. It will be externally
illuminated and supported by 8-inch by 8-inch granite posts. The sign will have an ivory
background (AZKO NOBEL CHROMATIC Ivory 116 IE) with red (AZKO NOBEL
CHROMATIC Carmine 106 B) and blue (AZKO NOBEL CHROMATIC Brilliant Blue
156 BE) lettering reading "240 Conant, Managed by Peabody Properties, Inc."
Mr. Haring motions to approve the sign as presented contingent upon the type font of the
numbers "240" being enlarged and the line beneath the word "Conant" being thickened.
The motion is seconded by Mr. Finch. Motion carries 4-0.
3. Thai Orchid Restaurant - Sanom Siri - 150 Cabot Street
A representative for Ms. Sanom Siri states that she erected an awning sign at her property
without DRB approval. After City Staff notified Ms. Siri that she was in violation of the
City Ordinances, she filed her application with the Design Review Board. She states that
the sign originally had two lines of lettering. Once she was notified that this was illegal,
she removed the second line of lettering.
Ms. Bruce notes that the awning sign has telephone numbers on the sides and asks the
applicant to remove them. She also notes that the awning sign is the only sign to identify
the business.
Mr. Haring motions to approve the awning sign contingent upon the phone numbers
being removed. Mr. Finch seconds the motion and it carries 4-0.
4. Harmonious Interiors - Debra McGee - 140 Elliott Street
Ms. McGee presents a request for 4 awning signs. Two of the awnings will measure 12 feet
seven inches in length while the other two awnings will measure 6 feet 4 inches in length. The
awnings will be placed above the window openings of the building facing Cabot Street. They
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Meeting Minutes - July 1, 2004
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will have 6-inch, white letters reading "Harmonious Interiors", and a Concord Style 4665
background.
Ms. Bruce asks about the existing window signage and wall sign. Ms McGee agrees to
remove this signage.
Ms. Brusca motions to approve the signs as presented. Mr. Haring seconds the motion and it
carries unanimously 4-0.
5. Glee - Stephen Orne - 29 West Street
Mr. Stephen Orne presents a circular sign measuring 30 inches in diameter. He states that the
sign will be externally illuminated and will have white letters reading "glee" and an orange
background. He also notes that they will be changing the color of the existing awning.
The Board ensues in a lengthy discussion whereas they make recommendations on the color
of the awning. Zambernardi states that because, no signage/lettering is proposed on the
awning, it is not technically a sign. Mr. Orne agrees to take the Board's recommendations on
the awning color under advisement.
Mr. Finch motions to accept the sign as presented. Mr. Haring seconds the motion and it
carries 4-0.
6. Julianne Handbags - Denise Severino - 125 Cabot Street
Ms. Severino states that she installed two wall signs on her storefront at 125 Cabot Street
without proper approvals. She states that upon City Staff notifiying her of this violation,
she submitted a sign proposal.
Mr. Haring asks that she remove the phone numbers from the signs. He also notes that
the sign is oversized and exceeds the height of the sign band on the building.
Ms. Severino agrees to remove the phone numbers from the signs. She states that the
sign maker incorrectly installed the sign, which was meant for the main entrance, on the
parking lot side of the building. The sign currently over the main entrance was meant to
be placed on the parking lot side of the building.
Mr. Haring motions to approve the signs contingent upon switching the signs and
removing the telephone numbers. Mr. Finch seconds the motion and it carries 4-0.
7. Zinnia - Pamela Jaynes - 2 Enon Street
Ms. Pamela Jaynes presents a wall sign measuring 30 inches in height and 96 inches in length
to be displayed at her business. She states that the sign will have black lettering reading
"ZINNIA COLORFUL LIVING" set on a sage green background. The top and bottom of the
sign will be framed by magenta, tangerine and dark pink horizontal stripes. She states this
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sign will replace the existing sign, which reads "From the Heart". She states the existing signs
will be removed.
Mr. Finch motions to approve the sign as presented. Ms. Brusca seconds the motion and it
carries 4-0.
8. Site Plan Review - Attorney Mark Glovsky on behalf of Roof Investors - Pleasant
Court Apartments, 116-128 Rantoul Street
Mr. John Leary explains that the ZBA reviewed the plans at their June meeting and made
a general finding that they were in support of the plan. They indicated that they wanted
that the architectural design to be completed before they took a final vote. The applicants
are before the Board tonight trying to finalize the architectural plans.
Mr. Phil Hresko from Hresko Associates presents revised elevation plans of Pleasant
Court Apartments for review and comment by the Board. He notes that he has further
broken up the elevations with various terraces and projections. He will also play with
texture, color and fenestration in order to increase the three- dimensionality of the
elevations. He is using the garage access area on Pleasant Street as a means to further
break up the building. He will also step up the use of stone.
Mr. Haring states that he likes the direction they are heading in. Mr. Finch and Ms.
Bruce make comments on which elements of the elevation plans work well.
Mr. Finch states it is important that the volumetrics are expressed a little more. It would
help increase the comfort levels of the Board.
Mr. Leary agrees and notes that their intention is to go through this process with the DRB
and the Planning Board and get their approval, with the hopes that this will increase the
comfort level of the Zoning Board. He states that they have demonstrated good faith in
their intentions on this project as they have already invested much money in the design
work.
The Board concurs that progress is being made and asks Mr. Hresko to bring revised
plans back to the Board before the July Planning Board meeting. They agree to meet
again on July 8, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
9. Modification to Site Plan Review - Attorney Thomas Alexander on behalf of Beverly
National Bank - Commodore Plaza, 45 Enon Street
Attorney Thomas Alexander and a representative from Beverly National Bank address
the Board with a request to install an ATM machine with an associated traffic island at
the Commodore Plaza. Attorney Alexander requests that the proposed signage be
included in the Board's review. Attorney Alexander states that the applicant went to the
additional expense of designing a structure that compliments the architecture of the
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existing plaza. They incorporated a green tin roof and used brick and granite. Attorney
Alexander states that the ATM will be set back from the street.
Mr. Haring asks about lighting. Attorney Alexander states that the ATM will be lit by
down-lighting located beneath the overhang. Mr. Haring notes that they are creating a
glowing white band surrounding the entire kiosk. He asked if the band couldn't be
opaque to match the sign bands of the existing plaza. He also suggested that the letters
for the words ATM be reduced in size and made into individual letters set on the sign
band.
Mr. Finch asks if they will forego the letters ATM on the backside of the ATM.
Ms. Bruce notes that the parking lot has enough ambient lighting in the Plaza. She states
that she would prefer that the applicants use the ambient lighting only to light the sign or
exterior gooseneck lighting.
There is some discussion over the size of the letters of ATM.
Mr. Finch motions to recommend that the Planning Board approve the site plan as presented
with the following conditions:
1. That the sign band shall be opaque (not internally illuminated) and shall match the
cream color of the other sign bands in the Commodore Plaza
2. That the letters "ATM" be installed on the side of the ATM kiosk facing Enon Street
only and that these letters are 11-inches in height and blue in color.
The Board also recommended that the signs within the kiosk utilize the ambient lighting from
the Commodore Plaza parking lot. If lighting is necessary, the Board suggested external
gooseneck-style lighting.
10. Site Plan Review - Richard Doherty, Hancock Associates on behalf of Northeast
Health Systems - Beverly Hospital, 85 Herrick Street
Mr. Richard Doherty from Hancock Engineering, Mr. Paul Galzorano from Beverly Hospital,
and Mr. Bob Holloway and Mr. Kevin Neuman from Steffian Bradley Architects address the
Board. Mr. Doherty presents the Beverly Hospital Master Plan. He states the hospital
currently has 227 beds and 330,000 gross square feet. The hospital is trying to improve access
to the buildings, and to make it easier for visitors to find their way around. They are
proposing 37,000 square feet total of new building additions and a 120,000 s.f. parking garage.
They will modify the access ways on Herrick Street. They will add 219 parking spaces. They
will address drainage by reducing flows leaving the site. All drainage will be subsurface and
the discharge will be less than what it is today. Surface parking is being changed to
accommodate circulation and landscaping. A 1/2 story will be added to the single-story
portion of the Women's Health Center. VHB was hired to do a traffic study and they found
there would be approximately 55 to 60 additional car trips generated during peak hours.
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Mr. Haring asks about the back angle of the building. Mr. Holloway explains that the back
portion of the building will be enhanced to be identifiable as the main entrance to the hospital.
Mr. Haring suggests that a focal point be added to the landscaped island in front of the main
entrance. He suggests that they create way-finding views of the garden and a water and light
feature for the circle.
Mr. Haring asks if the main entrance sidewalks would be heated. Mr. Holloway states they
would be heated.
Ms. Bruce notes that Austrian and white pines can get very big over time and that their
placement near the entry might be an obstruction. She suggests breaking them up some more
and varying their heights.
Ms. Bruce also notes that the rear corner of the parking garage is very close to the path of
traffic circulation. She suggests cutting the building corner back to increase site distances.
Mr. Haring makes a motion to recommend that the Planning Board approve the site plan as
presented. They made the following suggestions for the applicants to consider: 1) that the
southeast corner of the parking garage be cut out to increase site distance and visibility for
traffic; 2) that the Austrian and White Pine trees near the main entrance be broken up
somewhat, perhaps by varying their heights from one side to the other to increase visibility of
the entrance; and 3) to consider placing a water and light feature in the circular focal point
near the main entrance.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.