CITY OF BEVERLY (2)CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS:
RECORDER:
Design Review Board
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Beverly City Hall Conference Room
Chair, William Finch, Sandra Cook, Ellen Flannery,
Joel Margolis, Allison Crosbie
Karen Bebergal and Rachel Matthews
Eileen Sacco
Finch calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Sign: Town Homes of Beverly, 201 Broughton Drive, Beverly — Back Bay Sign,
Wilmington, MA
Jason of Back Bay Signs addresses the Board and states that he is representing Town
Homes of Beverly located at 201 Broughton Drive. He explains that the existing sign is
out dated and they are proposing to swap out the panels noting that everything else will
remain the same.
Crosbie explains that the City Ordinance on signs does not allow phone numbers on signs
and the number will have to be removed.
Cook questions if we allow for sale or for lease signs on the sign that bears the name of
the business. Jason explains that this will be a temporary sign and that they are working
on some other things.
Crosbie states that the Board could put a time limit on the temporary sign if the Board
would feel more comfortable.
Jason states that they will come back with a more permanent sign proposal when they
have it planned.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Cook: Motion to approve the temporary signs for Town Homes of Beverly, 201
Broughton Drive, for a period of one year. Flannery seconds the motion.
The motion carries (5 -0).
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December 3, 2015
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Sign: Cabot Variety — 196 Cabot Street, Beverly
There was no one present for this application. The Board moved on to the next item on
the agenda.
Sign: Flourish Bake Shop — 79 Rantoul Street, Beverly — Jean Sword
Jean Sword addresses the Board and explains that they are proposing awning signs that
will be 5'x7'x2' feet. She explains that the letters will be 6 inches and the awning will be
fabric with the letters imprinted on it and there will be no illumination of the sign. Sword
explains that the colors for the sign are white and pink and shows the Board a photograph
of the proposed sign.
Crosbie states that the lettering proposed for the sign falls within the requirements of the
City Ordinance.
Flannery states that the colors for the sign are great.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Cook: Motion to approve the awning signs for Flourish Bake Shop, 79 Rantoul
Street, Beverly, MA as presented. Flannery seconds the motion. The
motion carries (5 -0).
Sign: Brookwood Financial Partners LLC, - 138 Conant Street, Beverly — Ed
Juralewicz
Ed Juralewicz addresses the Board and explains that he is representing Brookwood
Financial Partners located at 138 Conant Street. He explains that the applicant is moving
across the street from their present location and the proposed sign is allowed by a
variance a copy of which is attached to the application.
Juralewicz explains that they are proposing 2 wall signs that will be 48 "x 222" x 4" that
will be mounted on the building. He explains that they will be constructed of stainless
steel, aluminum and acrylic. He reviews a draft of the sign and notes that the signs will
be halo lit channel lettering. He further notes that the letters will be white with white
LED modules.
Margolis asks what the total square footage of the sign is. Juralewicz states that they are
just under 75 s.f.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this application:
Crosbie: Motion to approve the signs for Brookwood Financial Partners LLC as
presented. Margolis seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
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December 3, 2015
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Sign: Beverly Bootstraps — 35 Park Street — Ralph E. Bates Center for Support
Heather Johnston addresses the Board and explains that they have purchased the building
at 35 Park Street and are currently doing renovations on it. She notes that the first floor
of the building will be for office space and the food pantry. She notes that the thrift shop
will remain on Rantoul Street. She explains that the entrance to the building will be on
the Park Street side of the building
Johnston explains that Mr. Ralph E. Bates donated a large sum of money to them and
they are naming the building after him, calling it the Ralph E. Bates Center for Support.
The Board has a discussion as to whether the sign ordinance allows for signage
recognizing the building name as well as the building being named for someone.
Margolis states that a sign Bates Center for Support will change it from the name of the
business to the purpose of the building. He also notes that he does not want to set a
precedent.
Crosbie suggested that they may be able to get the sign approved by Special Permit.
Finch agrees and states that he would like to think that we would not set a precedent by
approving this but notes that the public perception could be different. He states that he
thinks that the best way for them to handle this is to apply for a Special Permit from the
Zoning Board of Appeal. He suggested that the Design Review Board can approve the
sign for Beverly Bootstraps and the address tonight and send a letter to the ZBA
recommending approval of the Special Permit.
Crosbie: Motion to approve the sign for Beverly Bootstraps and the address as and
that the Design Review Board send a letter of support for a Special Permit
for the sign noting the Ralph E. Bates Center for Support. Flannery
seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Site Plan Review: 33 Balch Street - Beverly Commerce LLP, Cummings Properties
LLC — 100 Cummings Center
Steve Drohosky of Cumming Properties addresses the Board and recalls that when they
met with the Board in October the Board asked that they make some changes to the
southwest corner of the site. He reviews the location and notes that the footprint is
11,000 s.f. and they are proposing 40 units of subsidized elderly housing.
Drohosky explains the revision that they made to the plan noting that they have
connected the external walkway and made improvements to the circulation of the site.
He notes that residents will be able to walk to the garage via the walkway.
Margolis asks if there will be dedicated parking for these housing units in the garage.
Drohosky states that they have thought about dedicated parking and explains that
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December 3, 2015
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typically they offer shared parking. Margolis clarifies that the parking for the units will
be outside. Drohosky agrees.
Flannery states that she like the changes that they have made to the plan and notes that it
looks very inviting.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this project:
Cook: Motion to recommend approval of the project to the Planning Board.
Flannery seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Site Plan: CEA Beverly LLC — North Shore Crossing — Brimbal Avenue
Attorney Thomas Alexander with offices at 1 School Street, Beverly MA, addressed the
Board and explains that he is joined this evening by Steve Cohen of CEA Group and Ron
Mueller, the Traffic Engineer for the project.
Attorney Alexander explains that since the Site Plan and Special Permit were approved
they have met several times with representatives of the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation ( MADOT) regarding the curb cut proposed within their jurisdiction. He
reported that MADOT has recommended that access on the connector road be modified.
He explains that the original configuration was a right turn in and a right turn out for all
vehicles. He explains that they have moved the curb cut 50 feet closer to the Brimbal
Avenue Round -About and the right turn in for all vehicles will be allowed but the right
turn out will be limited to trucks only.
Mr. Cohen addresses the Board and explains that they have widened the driveway on
Sohier road from 24 feet to 26 feet, and increased the landscaped area between Sohier
Road and Northridge from 10 feet to 18 feet and added a 10.5 foot landscaped area to
building A on the Northridge side of that building. He explains that they have eliminated
11 parking spaces next to building A on the Northridge side of that building to
accommodate the widened driveway and landscaped areas. He notes that parking on the
site still far exceeds the parking required by the City's zoning ordinance.
Mr. Cohen also explains that the throat of the main drive has been severly narrowed to
prevent customers from using the exit to the connector road and further notes that signage
will be installed as well.
Mr. Cohen stated that MADOT insisted that a gate be installed for truck egress and
explains that a gate will be installed that can only be accessed for Whole Foods trucks
and it will be controlled from the loading dock.
Mr. Cohen introduced Ron Mueller to review the plans.
Muelller addresses the Board and explains that they have been working with MADOT on
approval of the access for the site. He explains that their concerns were that the exit was
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December 3, 2015
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too close to the round - about. He notes that they looked at many variations of proposals
for the site and MADOT agreed that the exit could be for trucks only onto the connector
road. He states that the only affect on the access change is the Sohier Road access
driveway has been widened from 24 feet to 26 feet and they have increased the
landscaping along the Northridge building. He also notes that they have shifted the
connector road driveway 50 feet to the east closer to Brimbal Avenue.
Alexander reports that there are no changes to the Level of Service regarding traffic
because of the revisions to the plan. Cohen states that there is no impact to Brimbal
Avenue as a result of these changes.
Flannery states that the changes to the landscaping is a huge improvement to that area.
Finch asks if the changes made to the building layout reported will include a garage door
type of door. Cohen explains that there will be a metal door and the color will be
appropriately finished. Cook suggests that they should make it blend in and disappear or
spice it up.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Motion to send a letter of recommendation to the Planning Board for
approval of the modification to the Site Plan and the Special Permit for
140 Brimbal Avenue, North Shore Crossing. Cook seconds the motion.
The motion carries (5 -0).
Adjournment
Finch asks if there is any other business to come before the Design Review Board this
evening. There being none:
Flannery: Motion to adjourn the meeting. Cook seconds the motion. The motion
carries (5 -0).
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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December 3, 2015
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