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2024-06-26 Meeting MinutesDRB June 26, 2024 Page 1 of 5 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, June 26 2024, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting SRA Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, David Jaquith (until 6:15pm), Catherine Miller, Elizabeth Murray (until 6:25), Marc Perras, Sarah Tarbet SRA Members Absent: Leeann Leftwich Others Present: Kate Newhall-Smith, Principal Planner Recorder: Kate Newhall-Smith Due to Mr. Jaquith only able to attend for the first 15 minutes of the meeting and the need for Marc Perras and Sarah Tarbet to recuse themselves from the review of the 10 Derby Square proposal, Chair Durand states that the Board will take the 10 Derby Square agenda item out of order and review it first. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 10 Derby Square: Small Project Review – Proposed replacement of second floor windows on the north side of the building. Mike Proscia from Jones Architecture was present to discuss the project, which includes the following:  Remove existing wood windows on the north side of the building’s second floor while retaining the wood sub-frame and exterior trim, which will be clad in aluminum.  Install new replacement windows, partially set into the sub-frame.  Replacement windows will be simulated divided lite, aluminum-clad wooden windows by Marvin.  Exterior trim dimensions, mullion patterns, and colors will remain the same, though there is an extra trim line on the replacement windows, which results in a modest difference between existing and proposed. Mr. Proscia shares information regarding the increased energy efficiency in the building due to the prior window replacement projects. Mr. Jaquith confirms that this project will use the same exact replacement windows as the prior projects. Members state their support for the proposal as presented. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Jaquith made a motion to approve the proposal as presented. Seconded by: Miller. Roll Call: Jaquith, Miller, Murray, Durand. 4-0 in favor. DRB June 26, 2024 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Jaquith leaves the meeting. Marc Perras and Sarah Tarbet rejoined the meeting. Introductions Ms. Newhall-Smith introduces Senior Planner Stephanie Owens to the Board. She shares that Stephanie started working with the city three weeks ago and will be taking over staff support for the DRB. Chair Durand, on behalf of the Board, welcomes Stephanie. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 2. 41 Lafayette Street: Outdoor Dining – Review of proposed outdoor dining for Barrio Kate Osborn from Barrio was present to discuss the proposal. However, Ms. Osborn had some technical difficulties, so Ms. Newhall-Smith reviewed the outdoor dining proposal for the Board. Mr. Perras asks if Barrio has any accessible tables in the patio space. Ms. Tarbet asks a related question regarding accessibility between the sidewalk planters onto the outdoor dining deck. Ms. Osborn rejoins the meeting via phone so she can hear the Board and respond to questions. Ms. Osborn states that the tables on the patio are the same ones used in the restaurant and that have been used in the outdoor dining area in past seasons. She has had her dining area inspected in the past and the tables were not flagged as being inaccessible. Mr. Perras states that they should have at least one table with legs in the four corners to allow a wheelchair user to fit comfortably between the legs, under the table. Ms. Murray asks if perhaps the tables allow for a side approach. Mr. Perras confirms that restaurants may not depend on a side approach for dining accessibility. Ms. Osborn restates that when her outdoor patio was inspected in the past, the inspector did not raise her tables as a concern. Ms. Tarbet asks about the accessible entrance to the patio space and the planter configuration. She shares that she walked by earlier in the day and it seemed that there was not adequate space to navigate onto the deck. Ms. Osborn states that she has moved the planters around and the entire dining area is accessible. Members confirm that the Accessibilities Commission and the Building Inspector are the appropriate individuals and venues for this topic. Ms. Newhall-Smith shares that she will add these concerns to the DRB recommendation. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. DRB June 26, 2024 Page 3 of 5 VOTE: Perras made a motion to approve the proposal as presented noting their concerns regarding accessibility. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 5-0 in favor. Ms. Murray leaves the meeting. Projects Outside the Urban Renewal Area 1. 75 North Street: North River Canal Corridor – Design review of four-story, 60-unit multi-family residential building on approximately one-acre of land at the corner of North and Commercial Streets, continued from 5/22/24. Chris Koeplin, Beverly Crossing, and Dan Skolski, DMS Design, were present to discuss the project. Mr. Koeplin recaps the project’s progress so far and the estimated timeline for completing the Planning Board Review. He requests the Board consider completing its design review at this meeting, though if more time is needed, they could return in July. Mr. Skolski shares the following plan updates with the Board:  The width of the rear tower on North Elevation has been widened.  The gray grates at the base of the building were swapped out for black grates.  Black elements were swapped for dark gray.  New color variation along South elevation.  The top floor window types were changed to larger, multi-lite windows.  There is a reduction in the number of windows on the East elevation.  Addition of Juliet balconies on South elevation; they coincide with the color variation on the façade.  The lite patterns on the doors are unified.  There is a new canopy over both the entrance to the commercial space and over the garage door.  The metal cornice between the ground and the first floors was removed, a brick course was added in its place.  The applicant has retained the metal spandrels but changed them from black to dark gray with the black mullions running through them.  Mr. Skolski shared the sun study results with the Board. Ms. Miller asks if the awning can be wrapped around the corner to go over the window into the commercial space. Mr. Skolski shared that they did consider this but did not find it to be successful. Mr. Perras suggests raising the height of the sill of the corner window so that it matches the others along that façade. Mr. Skolski and Mr. Koeplin believe this window change is appropriate. Mr. Perras confirms that the mullions will go through the spandrels on the brick façade. Mr. Skolski affirms this and shares that the rendering does not show this on all of the spandrels. DRB June 26, 2024 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Perras requests that the light gray portion of the building on the South elevation be changed to dark gray to match the horizontal banding at the bottom of the building. Mr. Perras asks if the ground floor windows and doors on the West elevation can be rearranged so that they are in vertical alignment with the windows above. Mr. Skolski shares that due to the interior layout of the residential units, parking area, and commercial space, they are not able to adjust the window locations. Mr. Skolski suggests adding a sidelight to the garage door. Mr. Koeplin shares that they can look into various treatments to address this comment. Mr. Perras asks if they can add another recessed window next to the garage door that will be in vertical alignment and match the existing recessed window. Mr. Skolski agrees that this would be a good solution. Related to the recessed windows with the brick infill, Mr. Perras asks if the paneled windows on the ground floor on the North elevation could be swapped out for brick. Mr. Koeplin states that they may need to install louvres in these openings for garage ventilation. Mr. Skolski requests the Board allow for flexibility regarding this request. Ms. Tarbet asks about the width of the brick columns and why it varies. Mr. Skolski responds that the varying widths correspond to interior layouts and that this was an intentional design decision. Ms. Tarbet complements the architect on the improvement to the northeast brick tower element. Ms. Tarbet shares that the horizontal brick banding along the length of the North façade does not seem necessary and can be removed. Mr. Perras suggests using the dark gray material in its place to match the horizontal banding along the South elevation. Chair Durand concurs. Mr. Perras complements the architect on the changes to the fourth floor, particularly the window configuration. Ms. Miller requests the applicant provide material samples to the Planning Department so Board members can view the true colors and see how everything comes together. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment period is closed. VOTE: Perras made a motion to recommend approval as presented with the following proposed conditions: (1) change the color of the South elevation bump out from light gray to dark, (2) infill the North elevation ground floor windows with brick or with louvres if required for ventilation, (3) raise the height of the windowsill of the window into the commercial space on the building’s Southwest corner, (4) add a recessed window with brick infill next to the garage that is in vertical alignment with the windows above. Seconded by: Miller. DRB June 26, 2024 Page 5 of 5 Ms. Newhall-Smith asks if the Board would like to add a condition regarding their review of 50% construction drawings and materials. The Board concurs. Roll Call: Miller, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 4-0 in favor. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. May 22, 2024 Ms. Miller requests that the minutes be reviewed and revised to include more detail of the Board’s conversation of the Peabody Essex Museum mural proposal. She requests they continue this agenda item to the next meeting. 2. Sign Manual Update Project – Update on Project Status Ms. Newhall-Smith shares that due to the discussion of the Peabody Essex Museum mural proposal at the SRA meeting two weeks ago, the text drafted to address temporary murals in the updated manual needs to be reviewed and reconsidered. The SRA requested she pull together a small group of stakeholders to brainstorm and draft guidance and regulations around temporary murals. However, she believes they can move forward with staff, DRB and SRA review of the draft manual while leaving a placeholder for the temporary art text. She will set up a time to review the draft manual with Tom Daniel with the goal of presenting it to the DRB in July. 3. Staff Updates, if any: Ms. Newhall-Smith updates the Board on new businesses that have recently opened or are coming to Salem. She reviews outdoor dining enforcement efforts. She also shares updates on Charlotte Forten projects like the shade structure and the memorial. Adjournment VOTE: Miller: Motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Perras. Roll Call: Miller, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand were in favor. Passes 4-0. The meeting is adjourned at 7:30PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033