2008-05-01
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Design Review Board
May 1, 2008
Colleen Bruce, William Finch, Kate Newhall
Patrick McGowan
Kate Newhall
Chairperson Bruce calls the meeting to order.
1. 296B Cabot Street - America Meat Market - Edecio Benetati. 6 Chapman Street #3.
Beverlv. MA 01915
Mr. Sobrianho presents his sign proposal on behalf ofMr. Benetati for two wall signs. Both
signs will be 80" long and 36" in height. They will be not be illuminated and made of metal.
Mr. Finch states that the sign is busy, and it would be a lot easier to read the sign if there was less
information and graphics. Ms. Bruce states that photographs do not show on signs well.
Mr. Finch suggests removing the phone number and increasing the size of the word "Meat
Market." He suggests removing the graphic and increasing the letter sizes so that all of the
words are easily read.
Mr. Sobrianho asks if keeping the flags is ok. Mr. Finch states that he doesn't object to them.
Ms. Bruce suggests removing the meat graphic and the phone number, then make the letters
brighter and keep the Portuguese text. She suggests keeping the smaller flags and removing the
larger flag behind the text.
Mr. Finch suggests the applicant revise his drawing and come back for the June meeting. Ms.
Newhall states that the applicant will not have to pay another filing fee, but will be added to the
agenda when he submits a new drawing. The applicant has agreed to come to the June meeting
with a new proposal.
2. 449 Cabot Street - Cabot Street Fuels - Don Booth. NH Si2ns. 60 Londonderrv Road.
Londonderrv NH 03053
Mr. Booth presents his proposal for a canopy and a freestanding sign for his client at 449 Cabot
Street. The size of the signs will remain the same, only the panels will change. He states that the
signs will be internally illuminated.
Mr. Finch asks about the logos on the gas pumps. The applicant states they will not be
illuminated.
Mr. Finch makes a motion to approve. Ms. Bruce seconds. Motion carried 3-0.
3. 125 Brid2e Street - Rinse- Kevin Mitchell. 10 Germano Drive. Danvers. MA 01923
Mr. Mitchell presents his proposal for a freestanding sign at 125 Bridge Street. The sign will be
hung on an existing pole and will replace a previously existing sign.
Ms. Bruce recommends removing the phone number and enlarging his name. The applicant
agrees to remove the phone number.
Mr. Finch makes a motion to approve with the removal of the phone number. Ms. Bruce
seconds. Motion carried 3-0.
4. 342 Rantoul Street - Beverlv Bistro - Geor2e Sfeir. 11 Creesv Street. Marblehead. MA
01945
Mr. Sfeir presents a different proposal than the one he submitted. The new proposal is for a roof
sign along the Rantoul Street fa<;ade and a wall sign on the secondary fa<;ade.
Mr. Finch states that there is no traditional sign band and there are no regulations about roof
signs. Also the current projecting sign is an existing non-conformity. He suggests putting a
vertical sign on the side of the building. He also asks if the signs are illuminated. The applicant
is not sure if the signs will be illuminated.
Ms. Bruce states that the new proposal is attractive, but is not sure she wants to approve a roof
sign with the brackets for the projecting sign still in place. The applicant states that the landlord
has given him permission to remove the framework.
Ms. Newhall states that she would like a letter from the landlord stating his permission for the
applicant to remove the framework for the old projecting sign and DRB approval would be
contingent upon this permission.
Ms. Bruce suggests putting signs in the windows and one on the wall facing West Dane Street,
which would eliminate the need to have the roof sign.
Ms. Newhall states that she would rather not cover the windows with a large sign. She would
prefer the roof sign to the projecting sign even though it sets a "dangerous" precedent.
Mr. Finch makes a motion to approve the sign that will face West Dane Street as presented with
the block letters and requests that the applicant return to the DRB in June with a new proposal of
what to put on the fa<;ade facing Rantoul Street. Ms. Bruce seconds. Motion carried 3-0.
5. Site Plan Review: 363-399 and 380 Rantoul Street - Burnham Apartments - Windover
Properties. LLC
Attorney Mark Glovsky presents the site plan for the proposed Burnham Apartments, which will
be located at 363-399 Rantoul Street with off-site parking at 380 Rantoul Street on behalf of
Wind over Properties. The four-story building will have 32 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The building will be put on the site of the former Kelly Infiniti dealership. The project will
eliminate some existing curb cuts: there will be one way traffic egress, parking in the rear and on
the side, a landscaped buffer between this project and Weaver Glass. The project will be 100%
residential rather than a mix of uses.
Mr. Tucker from Seimasko + Verbridge explains the landscaping on site.
Ms. Carney, an abutter, asks about the height of the fence on the top of the wall as well as the
materials. Mr. Gibbin, from The Architectural Team, addresses her concerns: once the parking is
done, there will be a fence on top. It will be at least 42" high and will be built higher than the car
lights that will shine.
Mr. Finch asks about the building that is coming down. Mr. Gribbin says that the back wall of
the building will remain if it is structurally sound. If not structurally sound, then the applicant
will rebuild it. There has to be a retaining wall to keep the grade in place.
Mr. Tucker is proposing climbing hydrangeas over the wall to make it more visually attractive to
the abutters. However, the abutters do not want the vines.
Ms. Bruce asks about the location of the dumpster. Mr. Gribbin states that there will be no
dumpsters; all of the trash will be kept inside. The applicant is still considering having a
compacter in the trash room.
Mr. Finch asks if there is a curb between the sidewalk and the planting bed. Mr. Tucker stated
that there is no curb. Mr. Finch wants to be consistent with the site plan on Weaver Glass. He
makes a recommendation to install a curb between the sidewalk and the plantings along Rantoul
Street, unless this is inconsistent with the landscaping on the adjacent Weaver Glass site.
Ms. Bruce asks about maintenance of the plants. Mr. Tucker states that most of the plants will
not need much upkeep. The plants closer to the building will be irrigated. A crew will be
brought in to mow the lawns and water as necessary.
Mr. Finch would like to see a variety of trees in the front of the building along Rantoul Street.
Mr. Tucker says they can alternate with another species to add visual diversity.
Ms. Bruce recommends that the applicant include some hedge maples, or some other appropriate
street tree, in among the honey locusts along Rantoul Street, which will add visual diversity.
Ms. Bruce asks about the bollard lights. Mr. Tucker states that the bollards will be about 3' tall
and shine down. The parking lighting will be directional so that they only shine down on the
parking lot. There will be two lights on the side of the building installed 12' above grade and
there will be three lights along the rear of the building, installed 9' above grade.
Mr. Finch asks about materials on the building. Mr. Gibbins states that there will be hardiboard
trim, similar to the Weaver building. The clapboards and building trim will be made of
hardiboard as well. The building will be compatible with the adjacent Weaver Glass building.
Mr. Finch would like to see clear 3d definition with the trim, the window trim and the cornices.
Ms. Bruce asks about the stuff on the roof, air conditioning. Mr. Gribbin states that there will be
units on the roof, 2x2 units per apartment.
Mr. Finch asks about the muttins on the exterior glass of the windows. He strongly recommends
using 3dimenstional muttins on the windows, but recognizes the financial restrictions on the
project.
Mr. Finch recommends the applicant create clear 3-dimensional definition with the trim on the
building, around the windows and around all of the entryways. He would also like to
recommend that the applicant apply 3-dimentional muttins on the exterior of the window glass so
long as it's financially feasible.
6. Minutes
Ms. Bruce makes a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Finch seconds. Motion carried 3-0.
7. Si2n Enforcement
The members discuss the latest in enforcement matters.
8. Adjournment
Mr. Finch makes a motion to adjourn. Ms. Newhall seconds. Motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourns at 8:45.