2013-04-04CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Design Review Board
DATE: April 4, 2013
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Finch, Rachel Matthews, Karen Bebergal, Ellen
Flannery, Jane Brusca
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Colleen Bruce
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: None
RECORDER: Leah Zambernardi /Kirk Baker
Leah Zambernardi calls the meeting to order.
1. Sign — Triad Driving Academy — 4A Enon Street
Ross Panacopulos presented a sign request to the Design Review Board. The new use will utilize
half of the old Rugged Bear building. The applicant proposes installation of a mounted wall sign
that will occupy the space of the existing wall sign. There will be no additional area required by
the new sign. The applicant states that the new sign will be illuminated by the existing
fluorescent building lighting.
Jane Brusca made a motion to approve the proposed sign package as presented. The motion was
seconded by Ellen Flannery. All members were in favor.
2. Sign — Sweet Feed Fine Food and Catering — 151 -1/2 Hale Street
Rachel Lincoln, the applicant, proposed to remove the existing Old Tastebuds projecting sign
and to replace it with a new 30" by 107" wall sign. The applicant states that the sign will not be
illuminated and proposes that it will be centered on the front facade of the building. The
applicant does not propose a projecting sign at this time.
William Finch made a motion to approve the proposed sign package. The motion was seconded
by Ellen Flannery. All members were in favor to recommend approval. This recommendation
will be presented to the Zoning Board.
3. Sign and Facade — Cafe Salerno — 73 Cabot Street
Todd Rotondo presented a request for one freestanding sign and one awning sign, both of which
will replace existing signage. The applicant proposed that the freestanding sign will be internally
illuminated, and, slightly shorter in height than the existing freestanding sign. He also indicated
that the sign will have a black background, with white, red, and green backlit lettering. The sign
support pole will be 2 feet wide and constructed of black aluminum. The board recommended
that the top of the sign be cropped off
Draft Design Review Board Minutes
April 4, 2013
Page 2 of 4
The applicant then stated the shedroof awning sign would extend the full width of the building
and have a black background with while lettering. The Board recommended that the extra
wording besides the "Salerno's" name be removed from the awning sign and that the name be
written along the hanging -down vertical portion of the shedroof awning. The Board further
recommended that the font color used for the name match the white, red, and green color scheme
of the proposed freestanding sign.
The Board approved the request with the recommended modifications. The request will be
forwarded along with Design Review Board recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals
for consideration.
[AFTERNOTE: After the meeting, as an alternative to cropping off the top of sign, the applicant
proposed moving the street address to the top of the sign. All DRB members individually
considered this option during the interim and agreed to the applicant's proposal.]
4. Sign: LiShay Hair Design - 70 Herrick Street
Ed Juralewicz, the sign contractor, presented a request on behalf of the applicant to replace the
existing, grandfathered, freestanding sign -face, with a new sign -face that also has 60" x 60"
dimensions. The top two - thirds of the proposed sign -face will be utilized by LiShay while the
bottom portion will be reserved for use by a future tenant. The sign will not be illuminated. The
Board stated that the proposed sign is an improvement over the existing sign.
The Board unanimously approved the sign request as presented.
5. Sign and Facade: Stephanie's Hair Design — 143 Cabot Street
Stephanie Parisella proposed a 24 "x 36" projecting sign located to the left (facing the building)
of the existing wall sign. Ms. Parisella states that this is intended to better advertise the presence
of the salon to passing pedestrian traffic. Board members expressed concern as to the visibility
of the lettering from the ground, but, after looking at the color- rendering, the Board agreed that
the color would make the writing on the sign more distinguishable.
The Board unanimously approved the sign request as presented.
6. Sign: Dawson's True Value Hardward — 56 Enon Street
Ed Juralewicz, the sign contractor, and, Mark Johnson, general manager, stated that the building
will be painted ivory /off - white, and, that the existing sign will be replaced with white,
illuminated, LED letters on a red painted background. The Board suggested that they paint the
sides of the sign ivory also.
The Board unanimously approved the sign request with the suggestion that the sides of the sign
are painted ivory.
Draft Design Review Board Minutes
April 4, 2013
Page 3 of 4
7. Sign: La Victoria TAQUERIA — 6 Wallis Street
Alejandro Barrientos, the applicant, proposed a 28 "x_32" externally illuminated, projecting sign
constructed of plexiglass and steel, with a black background and gold lettering. Mr. Barrientos
also proposes two window typography decal signs (without the black backgrounds depicted in
the sample exhibit). The Board questioned the inclusion of the "Fat Cow — the Grove, LA" sign
included in the packet to which the applicant stated that it was the inspiration for the sign and is
only intended to serve as an example of what his "La Victoria" would actually look like.
The Board unanimously approved the sign request as presented.
8. Sign and Facade: Bella Mia — 218 Cabot Street
Michael Lavita proposed a 4'x_20' awning sign with a depth of 3', and a 4'x_24' wall sign above
the proposed awning. Board members questioned the size of the awning lettering which was
depicted as being 8- inches. The Board pointed out that, according to the zoning ordinance, the
lettering on awning signs was restricted to 6- inches. Mr. Lavita stated that he would comply
with this requirement.
The Board unanimously approved the sign request contingent upon the modification of the
awning lettering to meet the zoning ordinance requirement of 6- inches.
9. Sign: Cost Cutters — 242 Elliot Street
Anastasios Haraktsis, owner, and, David Battcock, the sign maker stated that the Cost Cutters
wall sign currently on the building was installed without obtaining a sign permit. Building
Inspections pointed out that such a sign would require a special permit from the ZBA. Mr.
Battcock presented a revised drawing with updated measurements and contends that the sign
may not require ZBA approval. The DRB members discussed the sign dimensions and agree that
the sign as it exists is too big for the allotted space for the business. The members felt that the
size of the sign should be reduced to 80% - 85% of its current size. Mr. Battcock asked the
Board if the sign can be approved as proposed, contingent on Cost Cutters obtaining approval
from the landlord that the Cost Cutters sign be the only sign within the sign band. The members
were skeptical that the landlord would agree to this since it would leave other tenants without
adequate signage.
A neighbor voiced a complaint about a sign located elsewhere on the building for the other
business and questions whether the zoning allows for it. The members took no position on
whether another sign would be allowed by zoning.
The Board recommended that the sign be reduced to a size that is 80 % -85% of its current size.
They were willing, though, to recommend approval of the sign request as presented, as long as
the applicant obtains an agreement from the landlord allowing the Cost Cutters sign to utilize the
entire sign band area. The entire Board agreed, however, that in either case, the sign needed to
be centered.
Draft Design Review Board Minutes
April 4, 2013
Page 4 of 4
10. Minutes
The Board approves the minutes without revision from its March 2013 DRB meeting.
11. New /Other Business
There is no new /other business before the Board this evening.
12. Adiourn
Meeting is adjourned at 7:10 p.m.