2011-07-07CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Design Review Board
DATE: July 7, 2011
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Colleen Bruce, Bill Finch, Patrick McGowan, Jane Brusca
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Bruce calls the meeting to order.
Associate Planner Kate Newhall
Kate Newhall
1. 44 Enon Street — Lion Gas & Auto Service — Nasr Daaboul, 3 Kent Street, Danvers, MA
01923
Mr. Daaboul presents the sign design to the Board. He is changing the signs from Sunoco to Lion
Gas. The freestanding sign panel, which will replace the Sunoco sign, measures 3' in height and 8'
in length. The background of the sign is white with red text and will be internally illuminated. The
wall sign measures 60' in length and 12" in height and has the following white text against the red
background, "Mass Inspection Oil Change Brake Complete Autoservice." The awning over the gas
pumps is red with a silver stripe and silver text reading, "Lion Gas & Auto Service.
Finch asks about the words along the top of the building. He states that the applicant is not allowed
to list the services along the wall sign. Mr. Daaboul states that the text existed prior to this
application and that the Building Inspector said it was allowed.
Finch also states that a sign that large should not be allowed. Again, Mr. Daaboul states that the
Building Inspector helped him fill in the application and that the sign met the zoning requirements.
Newhall states that the Board can deliberate on the freestanding and awning signs; she will contact
the Building Inspector to confirm the size of the sign and whether or not zoning allows the applicant
to list services on the sign. She will contact Mr. Daaboul with the inspector's determination.
The board agrees to suspend its vote on the wall sign until Newhall has a discussion with the
Building Inspector.
Finch: Motion to approve the sign design for the awning sign and for the freestanding sign as
presented, seconded by Brusca. All in favor.
2. 240 Cabot Street and 63 Dodge Street — People's United Bank — Kevin Duggan, Metro Sign
& Awning, 170 Lorum Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876
Mr. Duggan presents the sign proposals for both the Cabot Street location of the bank. The signs
for the Dodge Street branch, the ATM kiosk at the Commodore Plaza (43 Enon Street) and the
ATM building at the Cummings Center (Elliott Street) are being handled by a different company —
Sign Power Inc., 67 Route 27, Brentwood, NH 03 83 3 — although Mr. Duggan is presenting these as
well. There are several signs in his proposals; all of them involve refacing and replacing the
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July 7, 2011
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existing Danversbank signs. He states that all of the signs proposed are smaller or the same as
existing ones.
Finch states that he has two issues at the Cabot Street location: W5 and W6. He favors
Danversbank's black smalt black background with gold text on the projecting sign and the
understated burgundy background on the clock sign. He does not like the white background with
the internal illumination.
Duggan states that the background of the sign is subjective. The colors chosen represent the
company's logo.
Brusca wants to keep the sign in character with the neighborhood.
Duggan will relay the board's opinions to the bank representatives to see if they were consider other
colors.
Finch prefers that the background color on the clock sign be opaque. Duggan states that this will
significantly increase the cost of the sign.
Brusca would like to see a crown molding on top of the sign so long as the background is subdued.
However, the rest of the board doesn't feel that the crown molding is necessary. All of the
members feel that the main issue is how bright the sign is when illuminated.
Finch points out the smaller signs that are black and gold and said that this color scheme would be
great if it could be carried through to the other signs. Duggan states that the bank will in all
likelihood not change the signs to the black smalt background.
Duggan suggests a light gray for the background. The Board would like to see samples before
approving a color.
Upon closer inspection of the application, the Board notes that the background color of the signs is
listed as silver. The Board would like to see samples of the silver before approval.
Finch would like to see if the client is willing to change the clock sign.
Finch would like the bank to change the background of W6 to the black smalt with gold text.
Duggan states that his clients will probably not go to the black background. He thinks they would
be willing to change the clock sign to a light gray and change W6 to match.
Brusca needs more information on the two signs before she can vote on them. Duggan states that he
will provide a sample to Newhall.
Brusca states that she does not like the white letters on the brick at 63 Dodge Street. Duggan
hypothesizes the white was done so that it will show up against the brick.
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Bruce: Motion to approve the signs for 240 Cabot Street as presented pending background color
samples for signs W5 and W6, seconded by Finch. All in favor.
Finch: Motion to approve the signs for 63 Dodge Street and the two ATM locations as presented,
seconded by Bruce. All in favor.
3. 501 Cabot Street — U -First Day Spa — Brenda Joy Clark, 501 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA
01915
Ms. Clark presents her sign proposal for a wall sign. The sign will measure 4' in height and 4' in
length. It will have a blue background with white text, matching the bank's signs, and internally
illuminated. The text will read, "U -First Day Spa" "The Specialists in Professional Skin Care ".
The sign is located above the door to the business, which is located on the rear of the building.
Finch notes the vinyl letters on the window. He states that the ordinance allows signage to cover a
maximum of 20% of the window.
Clark states that she wants to identify her services, which is why she needs the signs in the
windows. She states that they are decals on the glass and are not illuminated.
McGowan: Motion to approve the sign design as presented, seconded by Finch. All in favor.
4. 411 Cabot Street — Dunkin Donuts — Dinart Serpa, 411 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
Mr. Serpa presents his sign proposal for three sign replacements at the Dunkin Donuts in the Cabot
Plaza. The wall signs will both measure 39" in height and 76" in length; they will be constructed of
lexan and be internally illuminated. The freestanding sign panel measures 36.25" in height and
97.125" in length. All of the new signs feature the Dunkin Donuts orange and magenta colors along
with the coffee cup logo. They will all be internally illuminated. Mr. Serpa confirms that the only
change to the sign is the addition of the coffee cup logo.
Finch: Motion to approve the sign design as presented, seconded by McGowan. All in favor.
5. 15 River Street — Beverly Auto & Truck Repair — Michael Morris, 15 River Street, Beverly,
MA 01915
Mr. Morris presents his sign proposal for a wall sign. The sign will measure 8' in length and 34" in
height. It will have a white background with black text stating the name of the business, its phone
number and the statement, "All makes and models." The sign will be constructed of wood with a
metal border and vinyl letters. It will not be illuminated.
Finch states that the phone number is not allowed. McGowan suggests putting it in the windows.
Morris states that the number can be removed.
Morris would like to put the address on it instead. The Board is ok with that.
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Bruce : Motion to approve the sign design as presented without the phone number and with the
addition of the business' address, seconded by Brusca. All in favor.
6. 296A Cabot Street — LPF Studio — Per E. Hanson, 30 Dane Street #2, Beverly, MA 01915
Mr. Hanson presents his proposal for the wall sign on the primary facade. It will measure 9" in
height and 69" in length and be constructed of individual aluminum letters mounted directly onto
the facade. The sign will be illuminated with background halo lighting. He is not seeking approval
for the secondary wall sign since the Building Inspector stated that it does not conform to zoning.
Hanson states that he would like to keep the two window signs for symmetry. The proposed
window signs are 9" by 53" each. The Board is ok with this.
McGowan: Motion to approve the sign design as presented, seconded by Finch. All in favor.
7. Approval of Minutes — June 2, 2011 Meeting
McGowan: Motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Brusca. All in favor.
8. New /Other Business
There is no new /other business to discuss.
Meeting is adjourned at 8pm