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2007-07-12 Design Review Board July 12,2007 Design Review Board Meeting Minutes July 12,2007 Meeting: Date: Members Present: Design Review Board July 12,2007 Colleen Bruce, William Finch, Larry Jaquith, Kate Newhall, Dai Shi, Scott Houseman Diane Presutti Members Absent: Recording Secretary: The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm. 1. A.S. Auto Repair-Silvia Andrade/26 Cabot Street/Si2n Ms. Andrade presented a design of a sign measuring 30SF of orange lettering with blue shadowing, non-illuminated. The sign will be centered over the garage door entrance. The sign will include the address and phone number of the business. Mr. Jaquith indicated that phone numbers were not allowed according to the ordinance and that signage is for business identification only. Mr. Jaquith motioned to accept the sign contingent upon removal of the business phone number, seconded by Mr. Finch. Motion carried 5-0. 2. Weaver Glass-Dave Weaver/399 Rantoul Street/Si2n Mr. Weaver approached the Board with a design for two signs to be placed on his new building to be constructed at 399 Rantoul Street. The signs will 12.5" x 108", on front and 6" x 51" on the side fa<;ade. The signs will be black individual letters with red accenting; the red accenting will also be on the building in an architectural detail to enhance the signage color. There will be gooseneck lighting for illumination. Mr. Finch motioned to accept the sign as presented, seconded by Ms. Bruce. Motion carried 5-0. 3. St. John's Church-Gerald D' Alfonso/Dan Driscoll/552 Cabot Street/Si2n Mr. D' Alfonso and Mr. Driscoll presented a sign design to the Board measuring 40" x 72" x 2", double sided which will be displayed perpendicular to Cabot Street. There will be a panel sign attached to the bottom to display mass schedules. The sign will have a burgundy background with white lettering and a gold cross. It will utilize ground-mounted spotlights. They indicated that the existing sign is 29' from the sidewalk and they would like to place the new sign closer to the sidewalk and asked the Board for the setback regulations. Ms. Newhall stated that she would review the Zoning Ordinance and enclose the setback guidelines in the approval letter they will receive. Ms. Bruce motioned to approve the sign as presented contingent upon no other detachable panels be added without the prior approval of the Board, seconded by Mr. Jaquith. Motion carried 5-0. 4. Tiffanv's Hair Desi2n- Tiffanv Wilson/393 Cabot Street/Si2n Ms. Wilson approached the Board with sign designs, one for the primary fa<;ade. measuring 30" x 120" x 1.25" and a hanging sign that measures 18" x 33" x .5". The signs will have an antique gold background with black lettering. The front fa<;ade sign will be made of aluminum and the second sign will be made of wood. The signs also will list the phone number of the business. Ms. Shi indicated that signage is for business identification only and that the phone number must be removed from the signs. Ms. Shi motioned to accept the sign contingent upon removing the phone number, seconded by Mr. Finch. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Dress Barn-Ravchel Greenwald/37 Dod2e Street/Si2n Ms. Greenwald from Lexington Signs & Grafix approached the Board with a new sign design for an existing business. She indicated that the business is remodeling and wish to display a new sign. The sign will be red lettering consisting of three words, "Dress Barn, Misses, Women." The "Dress Barn will measure 30" x 19' 10". The "Misses" will measure 14" x 6' 3" and the "Women" will measure 14" x 7' 9". Ms. Bruce asked how many businesses will be occupying their space and the answer would determine whether or not the "Misses" and the "Women" signs could be displayed. She also stated that the other signs in the plaza measure 24" in height and that they would have to follow the precedent they have established for the other tenants. Mr. Finch motioned to accept the "Dress Barn" signage only contingent upon maximum letter size being 24" in height. He also stated that further clarification needed to be obtained regarding one or two businesses occupying the space for further discussion regarding signage "Misses" and "Women". Motion seconded by Ms. Bruce. Motion carried 5-0. 4. 480-486 Rantoul Street-Dinart Seroa/Site Plan Review Mr. Finn of Landry Architects, Mr. Ogren of Hayes Engineering and Mr. Serpa approached the Board with a site plan for the above address owned by Mr. Serpa. He also stated that Mr. Glovsky, Atty., could not attend this meeting. The design consists of three buildings to be constructed on the old "Friendly's" location. The buildings will be CC Zoned measuring 5000 SF single story, 4000 SF single story and a two story containing 6500 SF. Some existing utilities will be utilized as well as some new. They will use the existing sewer connecting 8" cast iron piping. The ConCom has been involved regarding replicating the wetland area. The elevation will range from 25.8' to 26' and there will be parking for 125 vehicles. The dumpsters will be placed behind the buildings and there will be a two-lane drive thru for a possible bank. The buildings will be clapboard with asphalt shingles, canopy covered entrances and the design is intended to be residential friendly. There will be an island at the entrance for a freestanding sign; the name of the plaza has not yet been determined. They also indicated that the sign height would allow for visibility. There is some space behind one of the buildings for a possible cafe type patio that Mr. Serpa would like a restaurant to occupy. The plans did not include irrigation or specific lighting fixtures. Ms. Bruce stated her concern regarding excessive pavement and parking. She also showed concern for excessive low growing vegetation and would like to see some higher trees to possibly offset the concrete parking lot. Mr. Serpa indicated that businesses would occupy the space during the day; however if a restaurant does occupy one of the buildings they would need the extra parking for lunch and evening business. Ms. Newhall also stated her concern for excessive parking. She also asked that when they return for the September 6 meeting they provide an irrigation plan, lighting fixtures, landscaping providing larger trees, fencing material, and signage. They also suggested adding the patio for outside dining. 7. Holcroft ParkHomes-Mill Street & Grant Street/Informal Site Plan Review. Joe Luna of Luna Design and Mickey Northcutt of Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition approached the Board with a site plan for the following addresses: Mill Street: 5,9,17-19,21,25,33 & 37 Grant Street: 10,22,28-30 Mr. Northcutt indicated that Atty. Alexander and Jack Meany from the YMCA could not attend this evening's meeting. He stated that the YMCA is currently managing the property and will continue management when the new construction is complete. He stated that the properties were purchased about one month ago and some are in disrepair. He distributed some photos of the existing properties. Mr. Northcutt indicated that they would comply with the Uniform Relocation Act; they would be applying for funding from the government, and following certain Cori guidelines for tenants to move back into the neighborhood. He did state that it is currently a problematic neighborhood and the new units will be rental properties, therefore they can use certain screening techniques upon selection of tenants. The units will consist of two bedrooms and some large efficiency loft units. He also indicated that a forecast for long-term maintenance must be submitted to the Federal Government and they will be held to high standards. He also stated that this is a long-term commitment for the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition. Mr. Northcutt also indicated that they have met with the neighborhood numerous times for ideas on what the tenants wanted to see and their main concern was providing parking. He also stated that the city has redone and maintained a park adjacent to the properties that would provide use for the tenants for picnics or entertaining their children; therefore they concentrated on parking rather than green space. He also stated that a fence or landscaped area would be constructed to eliminate cut through pedestrian traffic between the Grant and Mill Street properties. They have met with Art Daignault regarding handicap accessibility, and all the handicap units will be designed on the first floors. Ms. Newhall indicated that the ZBA has asked the DRB for their thoughts and concerns regarding this project. She noted that the Board seems to support the project but the following recommendations were stated: OEnhance parking area with planting strip OCreate lighting plan/safety lighting oEnhance landscaping throughout the properties oEnhance and differentiate the building entrances by colors and textures oDiscourage pedestrian traffic through the parking areas between Mill and Grant Streets by adding landscaping or fencing o Add trellis or window boxes to the units in the two large Mill Street buildings 8. Approval of Minutes: _Ms. Bruce motioned to accept the minutes of May 3, 2007, seconded by Mr. Finch. Motion carried 4-0. Please note that Ms. Shi was not a member and did not vote. Mr. Finch motioned to accept the minutes of June 7, 2007, contingent upon adding the approval vote for Ms. Maglio to speak, seconded by Ms. Bruce. Motion carried 5-0. 9. Other Business: Ms. Shi suggested implementing incentives for businesses that follow the sign ordinance. Ms. Newhall suggested a flipbook with approved signs oflocal businesses. The Board also discussed non-compliant signs. Ms. Newhall stated that the sandwich board ordinance have been approved and will email ordinanceguidelinestomembers.Mr. Jaquith also brought up sidewalk seating and ice cream cone trash bins. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm.