April 6 2017 DRB MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
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RECORDER:
Design Review Board
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Beverly City Hall Conference Room
Sandra Cook, Ellen Flannery, Rachel Matthews,
Matthew Ulrich, and Allison Crosbie
William Finch, Joel Margolis, and Karen Bebergal
Brett Bauer
Cook calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Sign: Joe's on a Roll - 61 Federal Street
The applicant is proposing a wall sign in a vinyl screen material to be applied to the
garage door. The sign will be 40 inches by 32 inches and complies with the size
regulations. Phone number on signs are no longer prohibited. Matthews expressed
concerns about the number of typefaces used and the multiple "calls to action" or contact
methods included on the sign. The applicant will consider keeping the font consistent and
rearranging the logo.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Matthews: Moves to approve the wall sign with the marketing suggestion to be
considered at the discretion of the applicant and with the condition that the
final design be submitted to the Planning Department for approval.
Flannery seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Sign: Historic Beverly - 117 Cabot Street (Cabot House), 39 Hales Street (Hale
Farm), and 448 Cabot Street (Balch House)
The applicant is trying to achieve a consistent sign style for all three houses they own.
The goal is to have a simple design that identifies the homes as Historic Beverly
properties, along with a panel that distinguishes each individual property. Two projecting
signs are proposed at the Cabot House, and one free - standing sign each is proposed at the
Hale Farm and Balch House. Two existing signs will remain. Matthews expresses
concerns that there are no unifying characteristics of the logo and the spacing of the
letters makes it difficult to read. Cook comments that the logo does not appear historical.
Matthews elaborates that there is no brand in the current design. The applicant notes that
a flag pole will be removed. Further concerns are expressed about the size of the signs at
the Cabot House blocking the views of the house itself. Projecting signs are limited to 7
Design Review Board Meeting Minutes
April 6, 2017
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square feet in area. The projecting signs as currently proposed are 12 square feet in area.
Cook comments that she cannot support a projecting sign of this size, even with a special
permit. Cook is willing to consult with the applicant to change the projecting sign to a
free - standing sign and reduce the size.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Cook: Moves to approve the free - standing signs at the Hale Farm and Balch
House as presented, and to approve a sign at the Cabot House pending a
consultation to change the projecting signs to a free - standing sign with a
reduction in size. Flannery seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Sign: Salon Willington - 28 Cabot Street
The applicant is proposing two wall signs. The signs will not be illuminated. The total
area of the signs comply with the Sign Ordinance.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Moves to approve the wall sign as presented. Cook seconds the motion.
The motion carries (5 -0).
Sign: Laundry Basket - 409 Cabot Street
The applicant is proposing a wall sign with illuminated channel letters that will be blue
on a white background. The sign complies with the Sign Ordinance.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Moves to approve the wall sign as presented. Ulrich seconds the motion.
The motion carries (5 -0).
Sign: McDonalds - 230 Elliott Street
The applicant is proposing a change to a previously approved sign. An applied metal
floating logo will replace the etched logo previously approved. This change in design will
apply to all locations with a planned branding refresh. Disappointment of this change is
expressed. Along with a replacement of a free - standing sign, the total area of the
proposed signs is 52 square feet.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Moves to approve the wall signs as presented, including the replacement
of a freestanding sign. Ulrich seconds the motion. The motion carries (5-
0).
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April 6, 2017
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Sign: Learning Express - 4 Enon Street, Suite 2
The applicant is proposing a wall sign. It is noted that the address on the application is
wrong and will be corrected. This business is moving into the North Beverly Plaza. The
total square footage of the sign is difficult to calculate because only individual letters are
being mounted. It is determined that the size does comply with the Sign Ordinance.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Crosbie: Moves to approve the wall sign as presented. Flannery seconds the
motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Site Plan Review: Beverly Airport Self Storage - 105 Sam Fonzo Drive
The applicant for this project won a bid from an RFP from the City to develop land by the
airport. The use is allowed by special permit. Two buildings are being proposed for mini -
storage and one building will be leased for industrial use. The special use has been
approved by the zoning board and the special permit has been approved by the planning
board.
The applicant expects the market for this product to develop along with the growth of
apartments in Beverly. The facility will be a state -of -the -art mini - storage with climate
control and security cameras. Garage bays will be along the sides and rear of the
building. Cold storage will be located in the second building. The operating hours will be
7 am - 7 pm. The need for parking spaces is low for this use, but the requirements have
been met. Because emergency access areas may be reduced, the parking configuration
may change. The proposal is currently conforming to all zoning dimensional
requirements.
The goal was to make the limited portions of the building that will be visible to the public
as presentable and to clearly identify the building as a storage center. The corner of the
building will be clad with blue metal and windows that allow one to see the garage doors
inside. The airplane on the building is branding and identifies the entry. The corners of
the building are marked with roof peaks.
The materials proposed include a split -face masonry on the first floor, vertical metal
panels on the upper floors, and a blue smooth metal material for special details.
The third building will be square so that it can be easily divided depending on the number
of tenants.
Cook asks how much of the trees will remain on site and if you will be able to see the
building through the trees. The applicant responds that some trees will remain along the
front edges of the property partially obscuring the view of the building.
The applicant adds that a similar building was constructed on Martha's Vineyard, and
their experiences with the operation of that building has allowed them to learn and make
changes to this proposed project in Beverly.
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April 6, 2017
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Crosbie: Moves to recommend the site plan as presented to the Zoning Board. Cook
seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0).
Site Plan Review (Review minor changes): The Flats - 131 Rantoul Street
This project is approaching completion and the applicant presents some minor changes
that have been made to the exterior design. The court yard has been pushed back. The
storefront windows at the lobby have been extended. Hardy panels will replace the EFIS
materials for the siding. The patio for a retail space has been extended. The second floor
balconies have been extended. An additional storefront door has been added in case there
are two tenants. The roof deck has been enlarged with planters and lighting added. The
gas meter enclosure has been consolidating to one side of the building and reduced in
size. A louver has been added for a retail space air exhaust, which will exhaust into the
garage. This is separate from vents for any restaurant hoods. Some windows have also
been updated.
Adjournment
Cook asks if there is any other business to come before the Design Review Board this
evening. There being none:
Cook: Moves to adjourn the meeting. Crosbie seconds the motion. The motion
carries (5 -0).
The meeting is adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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April 6, 2017
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