2006-09-07
Design Review Board
Meeting Minutes of
September 7, 2006
Date: September 7, 2006
Commisson: Design Review Board
Members Present: Leah Zambernardi, Colleen Bruce,
William Finch, Larry Jaquith
Members Absent: None
Others Present: None
Recording Secretary: Leah Zambernardi
Ms. Zambernardi called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
1. Phone Depot – James Farrell/34 Cabot Street/Sign
Mr. James Farrell presents two options for a sign to replace the existing roof sign on his
business. Option 1 would involve changing the background color of the lexon sign from
yellow to white. The letter would be black, reading "SPRINT" and the symbol would by
yellow. Mr. Finch asks about the height of the letters and notes the sign would be
internally illuminated. Mr. Farrell states that the height of the letters is about 18-inches.
Mr. Farrell states that Option 2 would be freestanding channel letters mounted on a metal
raceway. The letters would be white and the symbol would be yellow. He states the sign
would measure 18-inches in height and 90-inches in length.
Ms. Bruce asks about the existing signage for Nextel and asks about whether it is being
replaced. Mr. Farrell states it would not be replaced at this point but would probably be
replaced in the future. Ms. Bruce cautions Mr. Farrell that changes to signage need to
come back to the DRB for review.
Mr. Jaquith states his opinion that window signage seems excessive and he asks Mr.
Farrell to consider removing some of it. He also states that the business is located at a
gateway entrance to Beverly and that cleaning up the window signage could go a long
way. Mr. Farrell states he has spent much effort trying to give the window signage a
pleasant appearance. Ms. Zambernardi states that the signage needs to conform to the
Zoning regulations. Mr. Farrell states that he believes it does.
Ms. Bruce asks Ms. Zambernardi if the City Arborist could prune the trees in front of the
business to frame the business better and to help it with its visibility issues. Ms.
Zambernardi agrees to draft a letter to the City Arborist with Ms. Bruce's assistance.
Mr. Finch states he prefers Option 2. The other members concur.
Design Review Board
September 7, 2006
Page 2
Mr. Jaquith makes a motion to approve sign Option 2. The zoning regulations for
window signage shall be transmitted to Mr. Farrell along with the sign approval letter and
he should determine whether his signage complies. Mr. Finch seconds the motion. All
members are in favor and the motion carries unanimously.
Mr. Farrell states that he will contact Ms. Zambernardi early the following week to give
the Board a sense of when the new sign can be installed.
2. Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill/150 Cabot Street/Sign
Ms. Regina Mastrangelo presents an awning sign for Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill. She
states the sign has already been installed. She states that the sign measures 6-inches in
height by 8-feet in length and reads "Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill". The red and black
letters are placed on a white background.
Mr. Finch and Ms. Bruce concur that the sign is pleasing.
Ms. Bruce motions to approve the sign as presented. Mr. Finch seconds the motion and it
carries unanimously.
3. Beverly Gas & Tire/383 Cabot Street/Sign
No representative is present to present this sign proposal. Members review the
application. Mr. Finch notes that the letters are very large. He states that the proposal for
lettering reading "Brakes, Alignment, Front End" seems excessive and not with the intent
of the Sign Ordinance. Ms. Zambernardi states that only 20 s.f. is allowed for wall signs
in the CN Zone, however there is a notation on the sign application from Building
Commissioner Robert Nelson that "the signage asked for is the exact same sign as existed
prior to the new owner". She states that this appears to be the replacement of
nonconforming signs.
Ms. Zambernardi displays photographs she took earlier that day showing the business
from the north end of Cabot Street and showing the front of the building as viewed from
Rantoul Street.
Mr. Jaquith notes that the proposed signs seem appropriate at the proposed locations.
Ms. Bruce makes a motion to approve the signs as presented. The motion is seconded by
Mr. Jaquith. Discussion on the motion: Ms. Zambernardi states that a notation should be
added to the Board's approval letter indicating that this is a replacement of
nonconforming signs. The motion carries unanimously.
4. Approval of Minutes
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September 7, 2006
Page 3
Mr. Jaquith makes a motion to approve the minutes of July 6, 2006 and August 3, 2006.
Ms. Bruce seconds the motion. The motion carries unanimously.
5. Other Discussion:
Ms. Bruce states that Mandrake Restaurant has installed an awning sign that does not
comply with the August DRB approval of the sign. Ms. Zambernardi states she is
playing phone tag with the owner. She will ask them what their intentions are with the
sign that was put up. If they want to keep that sign, Ms. Zambernardi will have them
come back to the Board for review.
6. Adjournment
Mr. Jaquith makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Finch seconds the motion and it
carries unanimously.