DRB minutes_ 03.08.22 final DRAFT
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Design Review Board
DATE: March 8, 2022
LOCATION: Hybrid Meeting;City Hall Conference Room A
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ellen Flannery, Caroline Baird Mason, Rachel Poor
STAFF PRESENT: Chelsea Zakas, Associate Planner
MEMBERS ABSENT: Sandy Cook, Joel Margolis
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury
Zakas calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
This is a hybrid meeting with special meeting format as required to honor Governor Baker's Executive
Order declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19.
Signs
1. Sully's& Bridge Nine, 282 Rantoul St Christopher Wrenn
This is in the CC zoning district. The application includes two projecting signs with business name and
external illumination. The signs comply with the ordinance.
Christopher Wrenn addresses the board.This is a split retail space for each separate brand, Sully's and
Bridge Nine. Flannery inquires what Sully's is. It is a New England centric clothing brand. Flannery
confirms with Zakas the signs comply. Zakas answers in the affirmative.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Zakas moves to approve the signs as presented. Flannery amends motion to specify
approval for each sign. Zakas seconds. Motion amended: Zakas moves to approve the
signs for both Sully's and Bridge Nine as presented. Flannery seconds. The motion
carries 4-0.
2. Off Cabot Comedy&Events, 9 Wallis St Cabot Performing Arts Center, Inc.
This is in the CC zoning district. The application includes one projecting sign with business name and
type; external illumination. The sign complies with the ordinance.
Casey Soward presents to the board. Explains the history of turning space into a comedy club. Discusses
material, illumination and continuity for maintaining a similar design as the prior sign.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Flannery moves to approve the Off Cabot Comedy& Events sign as proposed. Mason
seconds.The motion carries 4-0.
3. DeCarney Roofing, Beverly MA, EST 2017, 385 Cabot St Batten Bros. Signs (Ed Batten)
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This is in the CN zoning district. The application includes three roof signs with business name; and one
window sign with business name and hours of operation. The roof signs on the building sides are not
illuminated. The front roof sign is internally illuminated. The signs require special permit.
Ed Batton presents to the board. Mario DeCarney(business owner) is present. DeCarney roofing
acquired the Carroll Floral shop. The existing roof sign will be replaced with an internally luminated roof
sign of slightly smaller square footage. Only the letters within the sign will be internally luminated. The
roof signs facing Cabot and Colon Street will not be luminated; only the primary sign facing Rantoul
Street. Mason asks Zakas to explain why the roof signs will require a special permit. Due to the internal
illumination the sign will require a special permit. Batton clarifies if the sign reverts back to external
illumination, allowed by right, the sign will be approved through the building inspector; Zakas confirms.
The other two signs require special permit since the building inspector determined they are roof signs,
not wall signs.
Batton informs the board there is a non-illuminated sign option and gages the board's preference for
illumination and conformity with the neighborhood comparing the neighboring businesses with their
signs. Poor agrees with the internal illumination due to the location of the business, does not find the
design overbearing for the area and location. Batton confirms the sign can be linked to a timer in order
to comply with neighborhood standards. Members are in favor of keeping neighboring business light
hours. Members agree the sign is taller than they prefer; seems out of scale within the gable. Batton and
members discuss options and scaling. DeCarney discusses his logo and confirms the signs will not project
as far out as the presentation suggests. Batton will further coordinate with Zakas for administrative
review of an updated rendering to scale.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Flannery moves to recommend the Zoning Board of Appeals approve the proposed
signage for DeCarney Roofing as presented; with the condition(s)the applicant submit
to city staff an updated rendering showing the appropriate scale for administrative
approval. Mason seconds.The motion carries 4-0.
Sidebar:
Batton inquires if they can remove the existing sign without it affecting the project moving forward.
Zakas concurs they will be coordinate with the building owner to inform them of sign replacement.
Batton also inquires about temporary banner signs. Zakas confirms temporary signs have a limit of 14
days.
4. Kaffmandu Coffee House, 280B Cabot St Om Shrestha
This is in the CC zoning district. The application includes one awning sign with business name, no
illumination; and three window signs.The signs comply with the ordinance.
Om Shrestha presents to the board. Explains the signage will mimic his Danvers location and lets the
board know they can accommodate size. Members discuss the window signs. They appear not to scale
(greater than 20%). Zakas confirms with Shrestha with font and size. Members believe the window signs
should present to scale and there is too much window coverage. Zakas inquires if the sign maker can
present updated renderings to scale for the members to conceptualize the proper size. Shrestha will
look to reduce to the business of the window signs. Members discuss the different fonts. It detracts
from the design. Mason provides examples of other small coffee shops where the windows are not
cluttered. Poor provides suggestions for selecting one font to maintain consistency. Shrestha asks if he
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may submit updated renderings of scale and font to city staff for administrative approval. Flannery
comments to Shrestha she truly enjoys his Danvers location and finds the Kaffmandu awning inviting.
Shrestha is willing to accommodate a similar style to the Danvers location with clean windows and the
Kaffmandu font with awning. Poor clarifies earlier comments.The font on the awning will be kept.
Flannery inquires if Zakas will be comfortable approving the door sign with business hours to
appropriate scale.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Flannery moves to approve the signage as presented for Kaffmandu font on the awning;
to approve the signage as presented on the front door with logo; with the condition(s)
of administrative approval for the sign to scale of location of the business hours and
days open; and no signage on the windows. Mason seconds. The motion carries 4-0.
S. Reverie 73, 350-354 Rantoul St NH Si&ns
This is in the CC zoning district. The application includes three wall signs with business name and internal
illumination. There is one projecting sign with business logo and external illumination. The signs comply
with the ordinance.
Paul Martin presents to the board. Represents the applicant. Discusses the dimensions and illumination
for each sign. Mason inquires what dimension of the west store frontage for the blade sign. Martin
confirms the dimensions are 45 feet left to right, the drawings are to scale. Martin and members
discusses the honeycomb structure. Martin confirms the business type will be a cannabis dispensary.
There is a similar location in Lowell, MA. Mason asks how the building inspector approved three primary
entrances to one building. Zakas explains the building inspector, Frederickson, found the ordinance
defines a primary facade as an entrance(s)that"face a public way". Since Reverie faces three main
streets, it is determined there are three primary entrances, Creek Street, West Dane Street, and Rantoul
Street. Martin confirms for the members the illumination can be on a timer to turn off one hour after
business close. Members determine the signs are a clean look.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Moves to approve the signage for Reverie 73 as presented with the condition the
signage be turned off one hour after business close. Poor seconds. The motion carries 4-
0.
Site Plan
6. Site Plan: 105 Sam Fonzo Drive Brandon Purrington, Green Leaf Construction
This is in the IR zoning district. The site review details new construction. New construction includes small
office; breakroom; warehouse storage and warehouse functions.
Tom Ford, the developer, presents to the board and introduces Jim Emmanuel, landscaping architect;
Mark Schryver, building architect; Rick Salvo, civil engineer; Brandon Purrington, contractor. This
building will overlook the soccer fields off LP Henderson. This building is expected to be occupied in its
entirety by Excellus, a software chip manufacturer. There will be quality assurance, assembly, crating,
and shipping functions.
Schryver reviews the building architect designs and floorplans. Schryver details the split elevation of the
proposed front street elevation (LP Henderson). There are two colors used cobalt blue and dark gray as
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well as vertical components to break up the massive length of the building. The material is MBCI
signature 200 silicon. Ford confirms the proposed right-side elevation is Sam Fonzo. Schryver details the
fagade and materials. Mason and Schryver discuss window composition and materials. Schryver
confirms the windows will have a slight tint to them. The left side elevation will be the landscaped area.
Schryver reviews the less prominent rear elevation, explains the shielding and fencing for the loading
dock area.
Salvo presents to the board the civil engineer plans. Describes the truck access coming in off Sam Fonzo
Drive to the loading dock area. The employee traffic will direct from LP Henderson and the top of Sam
Fonzo to access two parking areas. They are proposing 76 parking spaces, exceeding the 46 required.
This is based off the practical need of the user, not so much the zoning. The land was assembled from
two parcels. water and sewer are brought into the site from the previous project approved.The front
part of the parcel was already started from a prior project.
Emmanuel presents to the board the landscaping plans. Emmanuel points out the paved areas and the
vegetated areas.The vegetated areas will have shrubs. The paving areas will add trees in addition to
keeping the existing trees (mostly oa and evergreen). They will keep away from the wetland areas per
the Conservation Commission requirements. Vegetations, trees, shrubbery will be native which will
enhance the wetland and sensitive areas as well as serve as a buffering function in addition to
landscaping and aesthetic functions. Mason inquires if this project adheres to the wetlands setback
requirements. Salvo admitted they are still before the Conservation Commission. Salvo explains the
rendering top righthand corner parcel refers to an isolated wetland that was part of an environmental
cleanup years ago. They plan to relocate that to the southern border and expand the BBW to make a
more meaningful wetland resource area. Otherwise, the project is largely outside the wetlands setbacks.
Zakas echoes Mason's sentiments that the renderings do not show the existing wooded areas. Members
approve of the efforts to keep the existing woodlands. The elevations look stark without the woodlands
incorporated. Zakas inquires if they would consider landscaping along the north side of the building as it
appears stark. Many residents walk along the LP Henderson side. Mason suggests breaking up the
parking lot with some greenery to humanize and soften the aesthetic. Flannery concurs with members
regarding the lack of greenery expressed in the renderings as well as a tree screening on LP Henderson.
The site plan appears almost barren. Flannery asks Ford for his thoughts. He informs members they have
agreed to pickup a sidewalk with 5 feet of pavement along LP Henderson through the length of their
property. The public and employees will share this paved walkway. This will take up the right-way. Ford
is open to upgrade and add tree wells.
Flannery asks if there are HVAC on the roof, anticipating Planning Board questions. Schryver admits they
are still in the beginning stages of designing the HVAC components. Assures members there will be
some type of screening with the HVAC location as inconspicuous as possible. Flannery also inquires after
the noise factor.
There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter:
Motion: Zakas moves to recommend to the Planning Board they approve the site plan at 105
Sam Fonzo Drive with the condition(s) the applicant adds landscaping to the LP
Henderson Road elevation. Flannery seconds. The motion carries 4-0.
7. New/Other Business
a. Approve draft meeting minutes
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i. January 6, 2022
Motion: Flannery moves to approve the minutes as amended. Zakas seconds. The motion carries
4-0.
ii. February 3, 2022
Motion: Flannery moves to approve the minutes as amended. Mason seconds. The motion
carries 4-0.
Sidebar:
Flannery asks about the follow up on the administrative review for the Cabot Street businesses night
light curfew, specifically referencing Delphine's Kitchen. Zakas will provide the updates.
8. Adjournment
Mason moves to adjourn. Poor seconds. The motion carries 4-0.
Meeting adjourned 8:52 p.m.
Next meeting Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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