2012-07-12CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Design Review Board
DATE: July 12, 2012
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Colleen Bruce, Rachel Matthews, Karen Bebergal, Jane Brusca, Bill
Finch
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Associate Planner Kate Newhall
RECORDER: Kate Newhall
OTHERS PRESENT:
Newhall calls the meeting to order.
1. 38R Enon Street — Blade Barbershop — Joseph Haddad, 38R Enon Street, Beverly, MA 01915
The Board reviews Mr. Haddad's application. He has returned with new renderings of his proposed signs.
The members review his design and have no comments
Matthews: Motion to approve the sign design as presented, seconded by Finch. All in favor.
2. 100 Cummings Center, Suite 107L — Cummings Center sign, near McKay Street — Beverly
Commerce Park, LLP, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 107L, Beverly, MA 01915
Mr. Stephen Drohosky presents his sign design on behalf of Beverly Commerce Park. He passes around
photos of the granite, the black frame and a map of where the sign will be located on the property. He
states that he wants to welcome people to the property from all of the entry points.
Members review the sign and offer only positive comments regarding its size, material and color.
Bruce: Motion to approve the sign design as presented, seconded by Brusca. All in favor.
3. 240 Rantoul Street — Facade and Sign Improvement Program: Prides Bar & Grill — Michael
Magner, 240 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915
Mr. Magner presents his proposed changes for the facade of his restaurant that include painting the upper,
residential stories red /maroon and the lower story, where the restaurant is located, black. The Board is not
reviewing the signage; Mr. Magner will plan on attending the August DRB meeting for official sign
approval for the business.
Finch states that he believes the black is too dark.
Magner states that the space gets a lot of sun during the day and that there is also a tree in front of it. He
has painted some tinted primer and the neighbors have already stopped by and expressed their support of
the black color. He believes that it is a different color on the street, that you don't see the black very
often. He also states that Waters and Brown helped with color process. He chose the maroon for the
upper stories since that is the color of the business group and will help to expand his brand. He is
planning on using gold text on the signs to help make the facade "pop."
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July 12, 2012
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Brusca thinks the gold in the sign will be enough to help lighten the facade. She confirms, with Magner,
that the windows will not be tinted.
Brusca asks if the black paint will be glossy. Magner states that it will be a semi -gloss with a little sheen,
but not too heavy.
Newhall asks Magner if he intends to install lighting under the awnings; he replies there will be lights.
Magner states that he is aiming for an August 1 st opening.
Newhall: Motion to recommend approval of the proposed facade improvements as presented to Main
Streets, seconded by Finch. All in favor.
4. 130 Cabot Street — Site Plan Review — 130 Cabot Street LLC c/o Holloran Co., 100 Cabot Street,
Beverly, MA 01915
Attorney Alexander introduces the project team and the revised site plan for 130 Cabot Street. He states
that the team incorporated some of the Board's suggestions from the June meeting.
Dan Skolski, the architect, presents the changes: added an elevator; the vertical piers protrude 12" rather
than the 6 "; the roofline is raised 18" at vertical elements with cornice details on vertical piers; there is a
deeper overhang with brackets along the roofline; continuous sign banding on the front facade; and
cement panel were added to the third story. The facade colors range from a light beige on the base of the
building and the vertical towers, cream windows, darker gray on the third story, darkest gray for the trim,
including the cornice and brackets and sign banding. The vinyl siding has been removed and replaced
with Hardiboard clapboards and cement panels. The trim is Azac and windows are vinyl with the mullions
between the glass. Also added, larger windows in the retail space.
Finch believes that this is a slight improvement over the original presentation; the building is still a box
with stuff tacked onto the building. He believes that the concept is good, but the materials are cheap. He
is glad there is now an elevator, but the cement panels don't add much visual interest.
Both Finch and Brusca would like to see three- dimensional muttons on the windows. Skolski replies that
they are cost - prohibitive. Brusca suggests removing the cement panels and continuing the clapboards,
which may reduce costs, allowing the addition of the muttons.
Newhall asks about the windows on the upper stories of the front facade and why they are pushed to the
corners of the building. Skolski responds that they did this for the interior appearance of the units. The
rest of the Board is not concerned with the window configuration.
Brusca asks about the cornice detail. Finch clarifies that it is a parapet around the roof, not a real cornice.
Brusca asks about signage for storefronts and who will occupy the spaces. Skolski responds that the
signage will be in the sign band; Alexander states that they do not currently have tenants.
Newhall, Brusca and Bruce do not like the cement panels on the third story.
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July 12, 2012
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Finch suggests a subtle color difference between the clapboards on the two stories rather than the panels.
The belt course can act as a border to break up the spaces as well.
Matt Ulrich, the landscape architect, presents the landscaping plan. He proposes perennials along the two
corner spaces on Cabot Street, red maples along Vestry Street set into a planting strip with day lilies,
hostas, evergreens and no grass. He chose drought tolerant species that can withstand winter conditions.
There is a 2' planting strip along the building with low, small groupings of boxwood hedges with splashes
of color. At the entrance to the parking lot there will be low junipers and day lilies in front of the
retaining wall.
Bruce asks about sidewalk trees and if they will have grates around them. Ulrich states that they are
existing trees, which will remain, as they are currently — no grates.
Finch states that the planting strip on Vestry Street will take a beating during snow plowing. Ulrich
responds that the species he has chosen will die back in the winter.
Finch confirms that the HVAC is next to Siam Delight, between the two buildings and that the only thing
on the roof is the elevator penthouse. He confirms that the first floor unit is an accessible one.
Bruce concerned about the Vestry plantings. Ulrich states that he has used similar species in other urban
areas and has been successful.
Newhall reviews the recommendations the Board will make to the Planning Board: third story facade
changes and three- dimensional muttons.
Bruce states that the design is much improved and she appreciates the project team's responsiveness.
5. Approval of Minutes — June 7, 2012 Meeting
Brusca: Motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Newhall. All in favor.
6. New /Other Business
There is no new or other business to discuss.
7. Adiourn
Meeting is adjourned at 7:45 p.m.