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2024-09-25 Meeting MinutesDRB September 25, 2024 Page 1 of 4 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, Leeann Leftwich, David Jaquith, Catherine Miller, Elizabeth Murray, Marc Perras, Sarah Tarbet Others Present: Stephanie Owens, Senior Planner Recorder: Christine Petryszyn Chair Durand calls the meeting to order at 6:00PM. Roll call was taken. Signs in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 253 Essex Street: Blackcraft Haunt Ken McTague was present to discuss the signage, which includes the following: • The sign was updated from last month and now includes “entrance.” • The white lettering will be carved and the red lettering will be raised prismatic. • The owners are aware the banner needs to come down. • Board members also noted that there is also Black Craft painted in the windows. • There is also a tent in the handicap spot, a temporary ticket booth, and an A-frame sign that should not be there. • The ticket booth may fall under the responsibility of the Building Department. It would be preferable if the ticket booth was in the back. • The sign is a hanging blade sign, with an existing bracket. The brick appears to be compromised and needs to be repointed. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Miller made a motion to approve the sign standard conditions and with the added conditions that the ticket booth removed and properly permitted, the vinyl sign is removed, the painted name of the company in the windows is removed, the handicap parking spaces are restored to their usable condition, and the A-frame sign comes to the DRB for approval. Seconded by: Jaquith. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. 2. 316 Derby Street: Jolie Tea Company Amy Job and Shirley Phoung were present to discuss the sign, which includes the following: DRB September 25, 2024 Page 2 of 4 • An A-frame sign, with handwritten text to promote specials. • It will say Jolie Tea on the top, with the logo. • Clearances in this location are good. It appeared that the A-frame sign at Rouge is in a similar location. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Perras made a motion to approve the sign with standard conditions and with the title of Jolie Tea Company across the top and chalkboard or marker board below. Seconded by: Miller. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. 3. 7 Crombie Street: Wytchwood Ken McTague was present to discuss the signage, which includes the following: • The sign will be carved in gold leaf, and the secondary font in light green. The icon will be raised off, but on the same color panel. • The sign will be 40” x 41.75.” • The sign will hang over the door with a new scroll bracket. The bottom of the sign will be 9 feet from the ground. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Miller made a motion to approve the sign with standard conditions. Seconded by: Jaquith. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 288 Derby Street: Amendment to the Outdoor Dining Approval – Proposed amendment to the permitted outdoor dining area to include a pergola structure with a half wall around three sides and a roof. Glenn Kennedy was present to discuss the project, which includes: • A return to the SRA for the approval of the outdoor dining space as designed with the corrugated roof. • The roof will not be attached this year, but will be next year. • The wood would be stained a darker color. • This would be a temporary structure to be taken down November 1st. DRB September 25, 2024 Page 3 of 4 • There is currently no plan for the half wall around it, but the applicant is seeking input from the Board. • Mr. Perras noted that they have been asking applicants to paint exposed wood black, and in this case it would include the roof structure and columns. • Ms. Miller noted that the Board has been consistent in requiring applicants to paint the structural elements black. • Mr. Durand felt it was important to look at proposals individually and would be satisfied with a very dark brown. Mr. Jaquith felt the roof structure was so large and wouldn’t look appropriate black. • The top rail of the half wall would be painted, not stained. • Ms. Miller expressed concern about roof structures going up in Salem and the precedent. • Mr. Kennedy said he reviewed the roof structures in Salem with the SRA. They were approved during COVID and then became beneficial spaces. • Mr. Durand felt the cordovan brown was a good balance. He felt we should judge proposals on what is presented. • Ms. Miller inquired as to whether this must go before the Building Department. Mr. Kennedy said that it did. • Mr. Perras believed Ms. Miller brought up a good point, and that the examples presented were pergolas, not closed roofs. • Mr. Kennedy reviewed the examples that he had. Public Comment: No one in the assembly wished to speak. Public comment is closed. VOTE: Perras made a motion to approve the proposal with the pressure treated wood painted cordovan brown, and that if any changes are made it needs to come back before the DRB. Seconded by: Jaquith. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. Projects Outside the Urban Renewal Area There are no projects to review. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. August 28, 2024 VOTE: Miller made a motion to approve the August 28th minutes. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. DRB September 25, 2024 Page 4 of 4 2. Staff Updates, if any • Ms. Owens let the Board know that a Native Spaces project with mural decals on the sidewalk will be installed for Indigenous Peoples Day. The QR codes will link to audio stories from Indigenous people and their experiences. This will be placed in the SRA District and the SRA approved it at their last meeting. • Ms. Owens also reported that the sign manual will be on the October Board meeting schedule. • The next DRB member will also be starting in October. • Tom Daniel will attend the October or November meeting to give a presentation on the SRA history. • The mock-up for the Crescent Lot will be on October 3rd, but may need to be rescheduled due to parade night. • A presentation on the Lapin Park redesign from Landworks Studio will happen on at the November or December meeting. The design is currently at 25%. • The 2025 DRB schedule will be included in the November agenda. Ms. Miller noted that she looked at the ramp at Old Town Hall, and felt that someone is likely to fall, and that it appears to be unnecessary. She asked how the DRB could communicate that. She asked if other Board members could look at the issue. Mr. Durand said that he would investigate what procedural steps they would need to take. Ms. Owens noted that Anthem Group has a contract with the City for Charlotte Fortin Park. The design review has not come before the DRB. She said she would look into what happened. Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: October 9th 2. DRB: October 23rd Adjournment VOTE: Miller: Motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Jaquith. Roll Call: Jaquith, Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, Durand. 7-0 in favor. The meeting is adjourned at 6:56PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033