Loading...
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). Design Review Board Meeting Minutes December 3, 2015 Page I of 5 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). Design Review Board Meeting Minutes December 3, 2015 Page 2 of 5 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 Design Review Board Meeting Minutes December 3, 2015 Page 3 of 5 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 Design Review Board Meeting Minutes December 3, 2015 Page 4 of 5 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. Design Review Board Meeting Minutes December 3, 2015 Page 5 of 5