2005-03-03
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board:
Design Review Board
Date
: March 3, 2005
Place
: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street
Members Present
: Leah Zambernardi, Colleen Bruce, William Finch, Douglas Haring
Members Absent
: None
Recorder:
Diane Presutti
Ms. Zambernardi called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
Beverly Paint & Supply – Todd & Karen Bloodgood/317 Cabot Street/Sign
1.
Ms. Zambernardi addressed the Board regarding the ordinance referring to non-
conforming signage. She stated that the new Ordinance of May 2003 states that when a
business changes ownership or closes, the new owner then loses the status of a non-
conforming sign. She states that case law has interpreted non-conforming signs
differently and it has been the practice of the City to allow the face of a non-conforming
sign to change without receiving zoning relief. She explained that she spoke to Mr.
Nelson, the Building Inspector, regarding this issue and was referred to Mr. Gelineau,
City Solicitor, for clarity. She then asked the Board if they wish to continue with any
discussion with Mr. & Mrs. Bloodgood or would the Board like to postpone any
discussion until they receive clarification regarding the Ordinance. The Board agrees to
listen to comments from the Bloodgoods.
Mr. & Mrs. Bloodgood approached the Board and stated that they must remove the word
“Town” from the existing sign stating that the previous owners still have businesses with
that specific name and the Bloodgoods could not use the same business name. They
continued to state that the only changes to the sign would be to replace it with the word
“Beverly”. They also stated that “Co., Inc.” will be removed.
Mr. Finch motioned to refer to Mr. Gelineau, City Solicitor, for clarification on city
ordinance laws regarding non-conforming regulations when business ownership changes
and also added that the Bloodgoods provide the Board with a more accurate layout of the
finished product, seconded by Mr. Haring. Motion carried 4-0.
Design Review Board
Meeting Minutes – March 3, 2005
Page 2 of 3
2. SalemFive Bank – Joseph Reis, 495 Cabot Street/Signs
Mr. Philip Wysor of Glovsky & Glovsky introduced Nick Caporale and Joe Longo of
Salem Five, George Belleau, property owner, and Joe Reis of Batten Bros. Sign
Advertising. Mr. Reis approached the Board regarding multiple signs the bank wishes to
display at 495 Cabot Street. He showed the Board a sketch of a freestanding sign of 12’
high and being 25 square feet. The sign will include an amber lit display of the
temperature and time of day that will change every five seconds. He also stated that the
bank and Mr. Belleau would like to provide this public service to the city. He also stated
that this sign is to provide identification for two buildings and eight businesses. He
continued to explain that the panels on the sign would be opaque and the SalemFive
panel will have a blue background with white lettering. The intensity of the lighting will
be reduced 70% in the evening by not having the tenant panels lit.
The building sign on the west elevation will consist of 1” plastic with letters carved into
back of plastic. The letters will be externally lit from fluorescent lights above. Those
lights will release enough light to light up the letters only. The plastic signs will be
fastened to the building. There will also be clearance signs in place for the drive-up and
entrance and exit signage also. He stated that the location of the bank is in the rear of the
building and multiple signs are necessary to direct their customers to the drive-up and
ATM as well as the entrance.
The Board all agreed that there were too may signs for a CN Zone and provided different
suggestions.
Mr. Finch motioned to accept the freestanding sign to be approximately 12 feet in height
and 4 feet in width. There will be a 6 feet in height by 4 feet in length tenant panel with
room for 8 tenants. Also within this panel will be a time and temperature sign. The top
tenant panel will have white lettering reading “Salem Five” with a black background and
yellow symbols. Above the tenant panel will be an architectural pediment which will
have black lettering within with no background reading “495 Cabot Crossing” on two
lines. This sign was approved with the condition that the tenant panel signs are opaque
and not internally illuminated. Seconded by Ms. Bruce. Motion carried 4-0.
Mr. Finch motioned to accept the wall sign on north facing elevation to measure 19
inches in height and 100 inches in length. It will have a blue background with white
lettering reading “Salem Five Bank” and yellow symbols, seconded by Ms. Bruce.
Motion carried 4-0.
Mr. Finch motioned to accept directional/instructional signs on east facing elevation as
follows: 1) one sign above the ATM measuring 12 inches in height and 40 inches in length
was approved. This sign has white lettering reading "Salem Five" with a blue background and
yellow symbols. The Board recognized that this sign is for direction and identification of a
business and its ATM, which is located at the back of a multi-tenant building. Further this
sign will not have an impact on abutters or on traffic as it is located to the rear of the building;
2) one sign is allowed on the first overhang, which will measure 7 inches in height and 36
Design Review Board
Meeting Minutes – March 3, 2005
Page 3 of 3
inches in length. It will have white and blue lettering reading "9'-0" Clearance, ATM" on a
blue and white background; 3) one sign is allowed on the second overhang, which will
measure 7 inches in height and 36 inches in length. It will have white and blue lettering
reading "9'-0" Clearance, Drive Thru Banking" on a blue and white background. Seconded by
Ms. Bruce. Motion carried 4-0.
Mr. Finch motioned to accept freestanding directional signs as follows: 1) one sign is allowed
at the entrance of the development measuring 18 inches in height and 24 inches in length. It
will have white and blue lettering and yellow symbols on three lines reading "Salem Five" on
the first line, "Enter" on the second line and either "Drive-Thru" or "ATM" on the third line.
The background will be blue and yellow; 2) one sign is allowed toward the rear of the building
measuring 18 inches in height and 24 inches in length. It will have a blue background and
three lines of text with a white arrow on the first line, white letters reading "Drive-Thru" on
the second line, and white letters reading "ATM" on the third line; 3) one sign is allowed at the
exit of the development measuring 18 inches in height and 24 inches in length. It will have a
white arrow with blue lettering reading "Exit Only" and a blue background. Seconded by Ms.
Bruce. Motioned carried 4-0.
3. Election of Officers
Mr. Finch nominated Ms. Bruce as Chairperson for a one-year term. Mr. Finch asked the
Board if there were any other nominations for Chairperson. No other nominations came
forward. Mr. Haring seconded Mr. Finch’s nomination. Motion carried 4-0.
.
Ms. Finch nominated Ms. Zambernardi as Vice-Chairperson for a one-year term. Mr.
Finch asked the Board if there were any other nominations for Vice-Chairperson. No
other nominations came forward. Mr. Haring seconded by Mr. Finch’s nomination.
Motion carried 4-0.
4. Other Business
Ms. Zambernardi stated that with Spring approaching, businesses will be putting their
sandwich signs back on city property and suggested to the Board that they establish a
policy for these businesses to follow. She stated that there is concern regarding liability
insurance, sizes and styles of signs and also sidewalk clearance and she suggested to the
Board that it review the draft she has mailed to them. She also stated that she would talk
to Arthur Daignault, ADA Coordinator; and Sgt. Tarsook, Traffic Sargeant, for their
input.
5. Approval of Minutes for December 2, 2004
Ms. Bruce motioned to approve the minutes of December 2, 2004, seconded by Mr.
Haring. Motion carried 4-0.
Ms. Bruce motioned to adjourn at 8:25 p.m., seconded by Mr. Haring. Motion carried 4-
0.