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2013-05-02CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: DATE: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Bill Finch calls the meeting to order. Design Review Board May 2, 2013 Bill Finch, Karen Bebergal Rachel Matthews, Ellen Flannery, Jane Brusca Kirk Baker Kirk Baker 1. Sign and Facade — Aligned for Life Chiropractic at 317 & 319 Rantoul St The applicant is requesting a 75.27 inches by 14.96 inches mounted wall sign with 15 -inch high, Gemeni, Plastic letters that will match the wall signs of the adjacent storefront in the same building. The Board asks the applicant about the sign lighting. The applicant states that the existing external lighting will be used. William Finch makes a motion to approve as presented. Karen Bebergal seconds the motion. All members vote in favor of the application. 2. Sign — Cape Ann Waldorf School at 701 Cabot St [NOTE: The applicant for this application had not arrived in time to be heard as the second case on the agenda. Instead this application was actually considered as the third item on the agenda just after the Beverly Hospital sign application.] The applicant proposes to replace the existing two -sided monument sign with a new two -sided monument sign that is taller but of lesser width. Bill Finch asks about whether the zoning classification allows for signs of this sort. Kirk Baker (staff) explains that residential zoning districts typically would not allow for commercial signage, however, the existing sign is "grandfathered" within a 50 -foot by 50 -foot sign easement, and, that the City has also allowed an exemption from the sign ordinance for non - profit, educational organizations. [Both Cape Ann Waldorf School and Project Adventure have submitted documentation which confirms their non- profit status.] Kirk Baker also advises that City staff had decided in accordance with State regulation, that despite such exemptions, signs which fall into the exemption category will still be subject to review to ensure compliance with "reasonable regulations ". Design Review Board Minutes May 2, 2013 Page 2 of 4 The existing monument signage is, at its highest point, 7 feet in height and is 13.67 feet wide. The proposed sign is to be 11.17 feet high but only 8 feet wide. The Board notes that the proposed location of the new sign is closer to the road so that the edge of the panels will be located slightly beyond the existing stone wall, and, questions whether this would create traffic visibility issues which do not currently exist. The Board asks whether the applicant would mind moving the sign back to improve visibility. The applicant affirmed they would be willing to do so up to five feet. The Board also questioned whether the lower panels would be interchangeable. The applicant stated that they would be and would serve to indicate the current activities available at each facility. The Board also asked if the applicant would reduce the height of the new sign somewhat. The applicant said that it was not up to him and that he would have to check with his superiors. Bill Finch stated that he would prefer that they reduce the height of the proposed sign and revise the dimension of the lower hanging panel signs from 30-inch by 30-inch squares to rectangular shapes with a lesser height dimension. The Board also suggests an overall height of 8 or 9 feet instead of 11 feet, and that the hanging signs should be revised to be 15 inches in regards to their height dimension. The Board also suggested that they move the sign back from the road so that the outer edge of the hanging sign should be just inside the wall. The Board said that the applicant does not need to return to the Design Review Board, but they will need to submit a revision of the sign exhibit in accordance with the Board's recommendations for the Board to sign off on. William Finch made a motion to this effect and Karen Bebergal seconded the motion. All members were in favored of the proposed recommendation. The Board will await a revised submission of the sign exhibit. 3. Sign — Beverly Hospital at 85 Herrick St Ed Juralewicz, the sign contractor, starts by presenting the Board members with new sign drawings intended as a revision to the submitted version contained in the DRB agenda packet. The applicant describes the location of the existing two -side V- shaped sign to the Board. The existing sign faces will be replaced to reflect the Hospital's current logo and necessary directional information with backlit letters. Karen Bebergal stated that she liked the new color scheme better than the old one. William Finch asked whether the gray letters will light up sufficiently. Mr. Juralewicz says that the sign -face is designed so that all the letters light up in their respective colors. He further confirms that the background of the sign is opaque and that only the letters will be illuminated. William Finch makes a motion to approve as presented. Karen Bebergal seconds the motion. All members vote in favor of the application. Design Review Board Minutes May 2, 2013 Page 3 of 4 4. Sign - Mike's Pizzaria at 377 Cabot St The applicant submitts a revised sign design exhibit that depicts a 1.96 -foot high by 10.08 -foot wide (19.76 square foot) sign consisting of individually backlit letters and which is now to be centered within the existing sign band. The Board is satisfied with the new lettering and color- scheme as well as the fact that the sign is now centered in the building's existing sign -band. William Finch makes a motion to approve the revised version of the sign as presented at the meeting by the applicant. Karen Bebergal seconds the motion. All members vote in favor of the application. I A Min»tpc The Board approves the minutes without revision from its April 4', 2013 DRB meeting. 11. New /Other Business Sign - Sweet Feed at 151 V2 Hale Street [This application for a mounted wall sign was previously considered by the DRB at its April 4' 2013 meeting] Rachel Marks of Sweet Feed presents her new proposal for a 32 -inch high by 48 -inch wide projecting sign using the existing projecting sign mounting hardware. The sign is oval in shape with red letters and white background. Ms. Marks agrees to remove the phone number from the sign per the Board's request. The Board members ask about lighting but the applicant says she does not intend at this time to light the sign. Bill Finch states that the pictures indicate existing external lights. The applicant indicates she may or may not use the existing lights sometime in the future, but that for now she doesn't intend to use the lighting. She states that the sign is made of a composite wood material. The horse logo in the sign can be moved down William Finch makes a motion to approve the sign as presented with the exception that the phone number be removed from the sign. Karen Bebergal seconds the motion. All members vote in favor of the application to approve with the condition that the phone number be removed from the sign. 12. Adjourn Meeting is adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Design Review Board Minutes May 2, 2013 Page 4 of 4