Jan 7 2016 DRB minutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE=
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT=
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS:
RECORDER:
Design Review Board
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Beverly City Hall Conference Room
Chair, William Finch, Sandra Cook, Ellen Flannery,
Rachel Matthews, Joel Margolis and Allison
Crosbie
Karen Bebergal
Eileen Sacco
Finch calls the meeting to order at 6.30 p_m_
Sign: 30 West Street — Lux Realty North — Continued from December — Patricia
Murray
Crosbie explains that this application was continued from the December meeting of the
Design Review Board_
Patricia Murray addresses the Board on behalf of the applicant Deborah Lunt and
explains that they are requesting to install a wall sign and a projecting sign as well as
awnings_
Murray explains that the proposed signs are similar to what was there before_ She
explains that the proposed projecting sign is 9 square feet_
Cook reviews the sign dimensions and calculates and notes that the zoning ordinance
allows for a maximum of 7 square feet_ The Board discussed the proposed location of the
signs and made suggestion that the projecting sign be placed in line with the brackets for
the previous sign that was on the building_
Crosbie notes that the proposed wall sign and awning lettering complies with the
Ordinance but suggested that the wall sign be placed on the side of the building for better
visibility_
Finch notes that the draft for the signs shows telephone numbers which need to be
removed because they are not allowed on signs_ He suggests that they can put the phone
number in the window but the sign may only show the name of the business_
Murray states that they will not be installing the awnings right away, noting that they will
be installed later this year_
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Page I of 6
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter=
Margolis: motion to approve the signs for 30 West Street — Lux Realty North, with
the circle sign being placed in line with the brackets from the previous
sign_ Flannery seconds the motion_ The motion carried (6 -0)_
196 Cabot Street — Cabot Variety — Continued from December — Mac Beverly
Realty - M. A. Maloney
Maloney addresses the Board and explains that they are proposing to install two (2) wall
signs on each facade of the building_ He explains the dimensions for the signs with the
Board_ He explains that the letters for the signs will be applied to the background_
Finch asks what color the letters on the sign will be_ Maloney states that the letters will
be burgundy_
Finch notes that he noticed that there is an electric sign in the window of the property and
the City does not allow them
Maloney explains that he got a notice from the City of Beverly regarding the electric sign
and he has stopped using it_
Crosbie states that the proposed signs meet all of the ordinance requirements_
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter=
Cook: Motion to approve the proposed signs for 196 Cabot Street — Cabot
Variety as depicted_ Flannery seconds the motion_ The motion carried (6-
0)_
201 Broughton Drive — Townhomes of Beverly — Jason Parillo — Back Bay Sign
Parillo addresses the Board and explains that they are proposing to install a monument
sign on the corner of Broughton Drive and Brimbal Avenue_ He explains the proposed
location and notes that the existing sign will be removed_
Parillo explains that they are proposing a double -faced monument sign with white push
through acrylic letters and translucent vinyl applied to the faces of "Townhomes of
Beverly" with a 1/8" white border left around the letter_ He also notes that the sign will
be lit internally with white LED's and the sign cabinet is direct burial with 4" square x 9'
steel tube and a stone base will be built after the sign is installed_
Parillo explains that they are proposing the new sign because they want more name
visibility_
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Page 2 of 6
Finch states that it is hard to judge a free standing sign with a stone base and questions
the proposed location of the sign_
Cook suggests that the sign could be imbedded into the wall itself_ Parillo states that they
had a discussion with the owner about that approach but they did not like it_
Flannery notes that a sign for a residential space should be inviting_
Cook suggests that they remove the two flanking logos for a cleaner look_
Crosbie notes that this sign requires a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeal_
The Board discussed alternatives to the details of the sign and suggested a flat surface_
Finch states that he would like to see alternatives_ Cook states that there should be
enough sense of the new stone wall_
Parillo states that he will meet with the owner and relay the comments from the Board_
Finch suggest that the Board continue the matter to the next meeting in February_
Cook: Motion to continue the matter to the February 4, 2016 Design Review
Board meeting_ Flannery seconds the motion_ The motion carries (6 -0)_
131 Brimbal Avenue — Sunoco Gas Station — Michael Grendal — Atty. Thomas
Alexander
Attorney Thomas Alexander addresses the Board and explains that the existing
convenience store and gas station will be tom down and replaced with a new larger store_
Steve Harrison explains that they are proposing signs that are similar to what is presently
on the site and explains that they are proposing 2 wall signs on the primary facade of the
building, canopy signs consisting of 5 separate signs, window signs and a gas station
sign_
Finch questions the history of the existing signs and asks if they were approved by a
variance_ Alexander states that he checked with the Zoning Board of Appeal and there
are no sign variances on file for the site_
Finch estimates that the signs date back to at least 2008 noting that he looked at the City
GIS maps and the sign is in the photo in 2008 but not back in 2002_
Flannery questions when the Official NASCAR reference was added to the signs_
Harrison explains that they have been using that for about 10 years_
Harrison reviews the proposed signs and notes the dimensions of the signs and the
proposed locations of them_
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Page 3 of 6
Harrison reviews the text for the signs and explains the text that on the Building &
Canopy_ Sunoco, APlus, Official Fuel of NASCAR, Official Pit Stop_ He states
that for the most part the signs are similar in size to what is there now and notes
that they have applied to the Zoning Board for variances to increase the number of
the signs for the site_
Cook asks if APLUS will be the name of the convenience store on the site_
Harrison states that it is the name of the store_
Finch states that he has a problem with the increase in the number of signs for the
site_ He notes that he doesn't have a problem with the design of the signs but he is
concerned about increasing the size of them He further notes it is an issue of
trying to keep things consistent_
Attorney Alexander explains that the location of the property is near the highway
and they are looking to increase their visibility from the highway_ He states that it
would be different if this were a downtown location_
Cook states that the proposed highway sign is super high_
Margolis questions the need for the wording on the signs regarding the "Official
Fuel of NASCAR" Grendal states that he does not have a problem eliminating
that language_
Margolis also states that he would like to bring the height of the free standing sign
down a few inches_
Finch states that he is not sure that four signs were ever approved for the site and
notes that the Board tries to keep clutter and white noise down in the city_
Harrison suggests that they eliminate one of the NASCAR signs facing the front of
Brimbal Avenue_
Margolis notes that the convenience store has many additional signs on the site
advertising items for sale such as Coca Cola, Beer and Cigarettes and questions if
the DRB has jurisdiction over those signs as well_
Atty_ Alexander states that they would accept a condition that no other signage is
allowed on the site_ Finch notes that sandwich board signs are not allowed_
Crosbie explains that the applicant needs a special permit for the signs and the
Board can make a recommendation to the Zoning Board on that_
The Board discussed sending a recommendation to the ZBA and conditions to
recommend as follows=
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Page 4 of 6
L The "Official Fuel of NASCAR" should be removed from the gasoline
price sign and the overall height shall be reduced to 19 feet, 9 inches_
2_ One "Official Fuel of NASCAR" shall be removed from the canopy facing
Brimbal Avenue_
3_ There will be no additional merchandising sandwich board signs on the
site_
Sign: 145 Cabot Street — Bloom Beauty — Sherry Murphy_
Murphy addresses the Board and explains that they are proposing a projecting sign 24 x
36 x 3 /4-
Cook notes that the application does not show the color of the sign_ Murphy explains that
the sign will have gold letters on a dark brown background_
Crosbie states that the proposed sign complies with the Ordinance_
Crosbie: Motion to approve the proposed sign as submitted_ Flannery seconds the
motion_ The motion carries (6 -0)_
Site Plan Modification Review —10 -12 Congress Street — Windover Development
Attorney Thomas Alexander with offices at 1 School Street addresses the Board and
explains that he is joined this evening by Thad Siemasko, the Architect for the project
and Chris Coaklin of Windover Development_
Atry_ Alexander explains that the property is under agreement with Windover
Development and they will be going to the Planning Board for a modification of the
Special Permit and the Site Plan Review that was approved in 2007 for 10 -12 -16
Congress Street_ He explains that the applicant is presently allowed to build 72 units
containing 164 bedrooms and the modification they are seeking would reduce the number
of units to 62 and the number of bedrooms from 164 to 87_
Atty_ Alexander explains that the approved plan calls for _88 parking spaces per bedroom
as opposed to the modified plan which provides for 1.0 parking space per bedroom_ He
further explains that the reduction in parking under the Request for Modification is in
keeping with a recent City of Beverly study of seven large apartment/condominium
complexes in the downtown area_
Atty_ Alexander also notes that the height of the building is being reduced by five feet
and there will be no underground parking on the site as originally proposed_
Siemasko addresses the Board and reviews the approved plans and the proposed changes
with the Board_ He notes that the modification includes smaller buildings and reduces
the footprint_ He reviews the layout of the units and the elevations of the site_
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Page 5 of 6
Siemasko reviews the materials they are considering for the project as well as proposed
color schemes for the buildings, lighting for the site_ He notes that the plan drawing
attempts to show the level of detail in the buildings_
Siemasko reviews the proposed shingle materials for the project noting that they are
considering five quarter board which is a Hardy board shingle with muttons between the
glass with a historical looking sill_ He notes that the proposed trim etc_ with details as to
size_
Siemasko reviews the landscaping plan for the site_ Crosbie notes the proposed use of
Green Ash trees on the site and suggests that they not risk it as it is susceptible to emerald
ash borer and suggests that hearty spruce trees would be appropriate_
Finch asks if they have met with the neighbors of the site_ Alexander reports that they are
meeting with neighbors on Monday evening at 6 =00 p_m_
Siemasko reviews the colors for the buildings and notes that they are proposing that one
building be red and the other green_ Flannery asks Matthews for a suggestion on the
colors proposed_ Matthews states that she would be fine with one of each of the proposed
colors, noting that they are compatible_
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter=
Crosbie: Motion to recommend approval of the applciation as presented with the
conditions that the proposed Green Ash trees on the site be replaced on the
plan, and that the buildings will be painted two different colors as
presented at the meeting which are compatible_ Flannery seconds the
motion_ The motion carries (6 -0)_
Election of Chairperson
Crosbie explains that the Board is required to elect a Chairperson annually_
Flannery nominates Sandra Cook to serve a Chairperson of the Design Review Board for
the year 2016_ Margolis seconds the motion_ The motion carries_
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_ Matthews seconds the motion_ The
motion carries (6 -0)_
The meeting was adjourned at 8 =00 p_m_
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
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