May 5, 2016 DRB MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Design Review Board
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: Thursday, May 5, 2016
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Conference Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair, Sandra Cook, William Finch, Ellen Flannery,
Joel Margolis, Allison Crosbie, and Matthew Ulrich
MEMBERS ABSENT: Rachel Matthews
OTHERS:
RECORDER: Eileen Sacco
Cook calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Sign — Law Offices of Daniel A. Tesler, LLC — 141 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA
Atty. Daniel Tesler addresses the Board and explains that he is opening a law practice at 141
Cabot Street. He explains that he is proposing a new sign within the existing sign border.
Crosbie explains that the sign ordinance for the City of Beverly in the ID Business District does
not allow for patents and trademarks on signs. She notes that he could put that information in the
window if he would like. Crosbie further explains that the sign proposed does not conform to the
size requirements for a sign, noting that 20 square feet is allowed and the proposed sign is 63%
larger than what is allowed.
Cook notes that it is hard to tell with letter sizes noting the existing letters and suggests that
Tesler try and match the size of the lettering on the Union Club sign. She estimated that they are
10 inch letters and states that she would like to see some consistency in all of the signage on the
building.
Ulrich suggests that they should use the same font as the other signs on the building.
Cook agrees and suggests that she could approve the sign if they remove the patents and
trademarks and drop the sign down a little. Crosbie added that as long as the sign looks similar
to the existing signs it should be acceptable.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to approve a sign for the Law Offices of Daniel A. Tesler LLC — 141
Cabot Street, Beverly, with the suggested revisions to remove the patents and
trademarks, and that the lettering on the sign be consistent with the other existing
signs on the building. Flannery seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
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Sign — North Shore CDC — Welcome to Gloucester Crossing Sign — Beckford Street Island
— Andrea Rhodes — 102 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA
Andrea Rhodes of the North Shore Community Development Corporation addresses the Board
and explains their proposed sign to be placed at the Beckford Street Island with the phrase
Welcome to Gloucester Crossing.
Cook states that the sketch submitted does not really show the Design Review Board what the
sign will look like.
Rhodes explains that they are proposing a stained wood sign with letters painted on it. She
estimates that the letters would be 6 " -8" inches. She also notes that they will be repurposing two
existing poles on the site to attach the sign.
Margolis states that the sign as proposed at 6 feet seems big for the wording proposed. Rhodes
explains that the picture looks bigger than what will actually be there.
Cook questions if the City could remove the existing poles and they could set pressure treated
4 "x4" posts explaining that it would make it a lot neater. Crosbie states that she could look into
that, noting that it shouldn't be a problem.
Cook suggests that the minimum letter size could be 4 inches and suggested that the sign should
be 5'x4' feet wide noting that it has to be to scale for the space. She also stated that she would
like to see a draft of what the sign will look like.
Margolis asks how far off the ground the proposed sign will be. Rhodes states that it will be
three feet off the ground.
Crosbie suggests that they could submit a draft of the revised sign to her for administrative
review and the Board could approve the sign as revised pending that review this evening.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to approve the sign Welcome to Gloucester Crossing at the Beckford
Street Island with the suggested revisions and a revised sketch shall be submitted
to Crosbie for administrative review prior to the installation of the sign. Flannery
seconds the motion. The motion carried (6 -0).
Sign: Dom's Pizza and Subs — 81 Bridge Street — Ed Juralewicz — 33 Tozer Road, Beverly,
MA
Ed Juralewicz addresses the Board on behalf of the applicant Dom's Pizza and Subs located at 81
Bridge Street. He explains that the property is located at the former Ralph's Market Plaza. He
explains that the owners of the plaza were under the impression that when they got approval for
the signs for the site that they had a blanket approval for signs as long as they did not change the
color.
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Juralewicz explains the sign proposed for the site and notes that the proposed color is Benjamin
Moore cottage red. The Board reviews the draft of the sign submitted.
Cook states that it is pretty straight forward and notes that she has no questions regarding this.
She asks members of the Board if they have any questions or comments at this time. There are
none.
There being no questions or comments regarding this proposed sign:
Flannery: Motion to approve the sign for Dom's Pizza and Subs at 81 Bridge Street as
submitted. Margolis seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
Sign: - Dress Barn — 37 Dodge Street, Beverly — Back Bay Sign — 65 Industrial Way Unit 1,
Wilmington, MA
A representative of Back Bay Sign addresses the Board representing the applicant, Dress Barn,
located at 37 Dodge Street, Beverly, MA.
He explains that the owner of the plaza has been replacing signs, noting that he has been before
the Board in the past few months for other signs at this plaza. He explains the proposed sign
noting that they are proposing one inch LED letters and the sign will be 50.7 s.f. He states that
they will patch and paint the sign band in the location of the previous sign and install the new
sign.
Cook states that she has no questions regarding this proposed sign. She asks members of the
Board if they have any questions at this time. There are no comments regarding the proposed
sign.
There being no questions or comments regarding this proposal:
Margolis: Motion to approve the sign for Dress Barn at 37 Dodge Street as submitted.
Flannery seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
Sign: Beverly Arts District — 301 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA — Gin Wallace, Director of
Beverly Main Streets
Gin Wallace, the Executive Director of Main Streets addresses the Board and explains that she is
representing the Beverly Arts District this evening. She explains that they are proposing to
install a sign at the entrance end of the Beverly Arts District and replace the existing sign at the
gallery at 301 Cabot Street with the proposed sign that they have submitted. She explains that
the Beverly Arts District sign will be a free standing sign and the sign at 301 Cabot Street will be
a projection sign on the building. She notes that the existing sign post will be removed. She also
notes that they are using the same vendor for both signs.
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Cook states that she has no issues with the sign. She asks the members of the Board if they have
any questions or comments regarding the proposed sign. There are no questions at this time.
There being no questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to approve the signs for the Beverly Arts District, as proposed. Flannery
seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
Sian: Gold Coast Gallery — 71 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA — Thomas Dowd
Thomas Dowd addresses the Board and explains that he is proposing to install a sign at the Gold
Coast Gallery located at 71 Cabot Street. He explains that the location is the former antique
business that was run by his Mother -in Law. He shows the Board photographs of the site and
notes the location of the proposed sign. He further notes that they are using the same sign and
will be changing the lettering.
Cook suggests that they consider putting a gold border on the sign to add a more finished look to
the sign. She notes that other than that suggestion she has no other comments.
Cook asks the members of the Board if they have any questions or comments regarding this
matter. There are no questions or comments regarding this matter at this time.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to approve the sign for the Gold Coast Gallery as submitted with the
addition of a half inch gold border on the sign. Flannery seconds the motion. The
motion carries (6 -0).
Site Plan Review: 480 Rantoul Street — Beverly Crossing 480 LLC — Windover
Development 15 Rantoul Street, Beverly, Ma.
Atty. Miranda Gooding addresses the Board and states that she is joined this evening by Chris
Koeplin of Beverly Crossing 480 LLC, Thad Siemasko of Siemasko and Verbridge, the architect
for the project, and John Harding of Siemasko and Verbridge. She explains that they are
scheduled to go before the Planning Board with the proposed project on May 17, 2016 for Site
Plan Review, and a Special Permit for the mixed use of the building. She also reports that since
they last met with the Board they have decided to request a Special Permit to reduce the parking
requirements on the site. She explains that they are required by zoning to have 118 parking
spaces on the site and they are proposing to reduce that number by 10 for a total of 108 spaces on
the site.
Atty. Gooding explains that they have looked at their experiences with residential use of parking
downtown and the location in proximity to public transportation and feel that the reduced
parking ratio is adequate.
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Atty. Gooding states that the Board had substantial comments at the last meeting regarding the
facade of the building and they hope that their presentation this evening will address the
concerns that were raised. She introduces Thad Siemasko to make a presentation on the site
plan.
Siemasko reviews the site plan for the project and notes the changes that have been made to the
plans since they met with the Board informally last month.
Margolis asks what the setback is for the building. Siemasko explains that the cornice is 7 feet
wide in front of the building.
Margolis notes that last winter we had 4 -5 feet of snow and questions where they would store
snow should there be a bad winter like that. Siemasko explains that some snow would melt
though energy loss in the building but notes that they would have to remove excess snow should
there be a big storm.
Crosbie asks if they are using Juliette balconies on the building. Siemasko explains that the
Juliette balconies will be 1 foot deep.
Cook states that she likes the vertical awnings on the retail space on the first floor.
Crosbie asks if they are metal awnings. Siemasko explains that they will be painted a silver
color for a more finished look.
Siemasko reviews the colors on a rendering of the site. Harding notes that the printed copy of
the slide shows the colors to be an earthier tone.
Cook asks if there is anyone present this evening who wishes to comment on the project.
Gin Wallace, Executive Director of Beverly Main Street addresses the Board and states that this
proposal is in line with the Downtown 2020 Project. She states that her Board had a favorable
reaction to the design and they are in support of the project and the modifications that have been
made to it.
Wallace also reported that the Sports Page Bar is looking at providing outdoor seating in that
area as well and they are looking at installing garage doors like A & B Burger did.
Cook states that she likes the modifications that have been made to the plan since their last
presentation.
Flannery states that she thinks that the building has a much cleaner look and is very appealing.
She states that they listened to what the Design Review Board had to say at the last meeting and
thanked them for that.
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Margolis states that although he likes what they have done to the building he still feels that the
building is too big and oversized for the neighborhood. He states that he would rather see it be
four floors and he was hoping to see more green space on the site.
Ulrich states that the future of that area could be very different.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Cook: Motion to recommend approval of the Site Plan Review and the requested Special
Permits for 480 Rantoul Street LLC as presented. Flannery seconds the motion.
The motion carries (5 -1)
Informal Review: 2 Hardy Street — Hardy Street Realty, LLC — 15 Rantoul Street, Beverly
Attorney Miranda Gooding of Glovsky and Glovsky addresses the Board and states that when
they met with the Board informally last month they received positive feedback for this proposal
for a six unit apartment building that will be all two bedroom units and they have incorporated
the suggestions of the Board in the revised plans. She explains that the property is located
behind the building being constructed at 131 Rantoul Street. She also notes that there will be 6
parking spaces on site, one per unit.
Gooding explains that they are also seeking a Special Permit for a 100% residential building in a
CC zoning district.
Siemasko addresses the Board and explains the site plan. He notes that they will be installing
gutters except in the area of the entrance to the building. He reviews the materials they are
proposing and notes that they will have mansard style roofs.
Flannery states that she has no questions at this time, noting that they did everything that the
Board suggested.
Cook agrees and states that she has no questions at this time. She asks if members of the Board
have any questions or comments at this time. There are no questions or comments.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to recommend approval of the site plan and the requested special permits
to the Beverly Planning Board in support of the project. Flannery seconds the
motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
There being no further business to come before the Design Review Board this evening:
Flannery: Motion to adjourn the meeting. Margolis seconds the motion. The motion carries
(6 -0).
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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