Loading...
2025-02-26 Meeting MinutesDRB February 26, 2025 Page 1 of 5 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Acting Chair Marc Perras, Catherine Miller, Sarah Tarbet, Elizabeth Murray, Leeann Leftwich, Kate Martin DRB Members Absent: Paul Durand Others Present: Stephanie Owens, Senior Planner Recorder: Christine Petryszyn The meeting was called to order. Roll call was taken. Signs in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 100 Washington Street: Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe Dan Minkle was present to discuss the proposal, which includes: • Signs with a wood aged appearance to them. They will be carved sign foam. • Sketches were shared of the signs for the two different institutions. • Mr. Perras noted that information right behind the glass windows may be exceeding what is permitted. Mr. Minkle said they have pushed back the displays. Seasonal displays will be used. • Ms. Owens will calculate the square footage of the window banners. • The awnings are gone, and the applicant is talking with the landlord about possibly painting the building. • Ms. Leftwich inquired about whether the board will see a more final rendering beyond the sketches provided. Mr. Perras felt it wasn’t necessary. • Ms. Miller raised the issue of the signage in the windows and suggested the proposal should be continued to the next meeting. Mr. Perras agreed and suggested the application could be approved with the caveat that they come back to discuss the window display and signage in more detail. • Ms. Tarbet asked about the mounting. Mr. Minkle said it would be glass and metal. He said the glass is not good quality and will cover the full rectangular glass area. There were no comments from the public. Ms. Tarbet noted that she wishes to continue so that she can see more about what the sign design will look like. She felt the aged by hand could be done well, but not always. Ms. Leftwich noted that matching the scale to the space more precisely will be helpful. Mr. Perras requested an additional rendering that position the signs on the building. VOTE: Ms. Tarbet made a motion to continue the application to next month’s meeting. Seconded by: Leftwich. DRB February 26, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. 2. 253 Essex Street: Blackcraft A-Frames The applicant was not present to discuss the project. VOTE: Ms. Tarbet made a motion to continue the review to the next meeting. Seconded by: Miller. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. 3. 17 21 Front Street: Georgia’s Little Salem Shop Ken McTague was present to discuss the proposal, which includes: • Carved, gold leaf lettering with a raised skull graphic in the center. The sign is 30’x30’. • Members of the board were very pleased with the design. There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the sign as presented. Seconded by: Leftwich. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 1 Sewall Street: Final Design Review – Proposal to utilize approximately 5,600 square feet of exterior rooftop space for exercise opportunities and play space for the YMCA’s early learning and school-aged children. Gillian Kazzaz, Charity Lezama, Abby Gordan, and Robert Freni were present discuss the proposal: • Images of the existing playground and renderings of the proposed playground were shared. • The playgrounds will be separated by age groups. • A demolition plan was shared, along with proposed reallocation of mechanical equipment. • Elevations of the whole building were shared. • The new vestibules and elevator shaft will be clad in standing seam metal on antique bronze with a board and batten style. The perimeter fence will be 10ft high, black, and anti-climb. The color palette of the rubber surface was shared. Lighting will be pointed towards the playground and only used when the playground is in use. • The basketball hoop will be mounted to the structure. • A cedar plat fence will be used to separate the two playgrounds. • Ms. Miller noted that many rooftop plantings die because they don’t get enough water. Ms. Kazzaz noted that they have irrigation plans for the roof. Mr. Freni noted that they can share the plantings their landscape architect recommended. • Ms. Miller noted that the trellis does not appear in the elevation. Ms. Kazzaz said she would update that on the plan. Ms. Miller expressed concern that roof not get cluttered. Abby noted that they do have shade requirements. Ms. Martin wished to ensure that that the trellis is not climbable. Mr. Freni said it would not be. DRB February 26, 2025 Page 3 of 5 • Sun shades were value engineered out of the project. Wind was also an issue. • Abby noted that the playground will be supervised at all times. • Ms. Lezama noted that that they have been working hand-in-hand with their licensing agent on the design. There were no comments from the public. • Ms. Tarbet noted that elevation showing the parking lot was very cluttered and asked if there was any way to screen some of the elements. She felt the stairwells were drawing attention to that area. Ms. Kazzaz said they are trying to streamline those elements and keep them consistent and read with the same language. Mr. Freni said he believes they will actually be hiding more with the new approaches. Ms. Miller recommended that they paint all the elements the same color. Mr. Freni agreed and felt that could be great lower cost solution. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the project with a paint solution that will clean up the Sewell Street side. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. 2. 20 Central Street: Small Project Review – Repair of courtyard plaza surface to include adjoining stairs and walkways. Richard Frank was present to discuss this project: • The plaza is situated near Red’s Diner, Old Town Hall, Hotel Salem, and Front St. alley. • The architectural drawings and photographs were shared. • The applicant will be working with the City. • Water infiltration is causing damage to the building’s storage unit. • The applicant is working with an architect who is assisting with the replacement to help it look exactly as it currently does. The courtyard is currently mortared together. The pavers will be laid back down with a material that is more flexible. • The concrete stairs will also be replaced with solid granite. Railings will be the same. • The walls are not being touched. • The granite will match what has already been replaced. • The applicant is aware of the property line and will take responsibility for any damage on City property. • Wire cut brick will be used. • Mr. Perras suggested bringing the stair straight down rather than having it open on three sides. Mr. Frank was supportive of that idea and said he would bring it back to the design team. The railings would be impacted with the change and the stairs may need to be brought up to code if they are changed. • Mr. Frank said that concrete walkway will be the most effective way to direct water to the drains. • Ms. Miller noted that she feels that it is private property and would be satisfied it was all brick. Mr. Perras felt the opposite and would be happy to have one row of squares up the middle. DRB February 26, 2025 Page 4 of 5 • The aerial photo shows all the squares throughout the area. Mr. Perras felt one row of squares would work. • The fountain works and will be used following construction. • The planters will be returned to their location at the courtyard. There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the project with the condition that the applicant bring a plan back for approval. The plan should show paving patterns, materials and site furniture. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. 3. 288 Derby Street: Small Project Review – Construction of a new accessible ramp and landing deck on the north side of the Salem Wax Museum building. Mark Meche from Winter Street Architects, and Kayla Lumbra were present to discuss the proposal: • The project site is next to the Salem Witch Trail Museum, and near the PEM. • There is a significant slope from the site to the sidewalk. • A goal of the project is accessibility and safe egress from the building. • Images of the proposal were shown. The proposal is for an incline pane, with less than 2% cross slope. A guardrail isn’t needed. A handrail is included. • There will be ornamental porch rails. • The ramp will be hard paved stone or concrete and the deck wood framed. • There is no direct stair, everyone will use the ramp. • Ms. Miller noted that a less than 2% land at the bottom of the slope may be needed. • There are no new signs proposed at this time. • It is unclear as to whether there will be any changes to the curb cuts. • Mr. Perras noted that there are elements of the landing that don’t seem to work. He wondered whether brick knee wall is needed and if the language could be simplified. • Mr. Meche will work on the elements and have the brick start at the landing and do a wrap to the extent possible and have ornamental hardware throughout. • Ms. Tarbet inquired about the entrance to the abutting cemetery. There is a retaining wall along the cemetery that is now railroad ties. Ms. Miller is concerned about what the wall structure will look like. Mr. Meche said his focus is narrow and there are others working on the other elements. • The applicant should coordinate with the City on entrances to the cemetery. • Ms. Owens will confirm that any work associated with this project will fall under SRA approval. • Ms. Martin said she likes the way the plan looks. Ms. Tarbet agreed. • Mr. Meche said he would appreciate support of the concept and someone on the board to assist with final feedback on the design. • Mr. Perras said the applicant can send along an updated design and she will forward to the board for review. DRB February 26, 2025 Page 5 of 5 There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Tarbet made a motion to continue the review to the next meeting and that it would be conveyed to the SRA was supportive of the concept. Seconded by: Miller. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. Projects Outside of the Urban Renewal Area There are no projects to review. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. January 22, 2025 VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the January 22, 2025 minutes. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, and Tarbet. 6-0 in favor. 2. Staff updates, if any Ms. Owens reported on a sign condition walk around that was held with Mr. Perras and Ms. Leftwich. She will compile the information that they observed. Ms. Owens asked the board to keep an eye out for a required conflict of interest training. There are deadlines associated with the training. Mr. Perras noted that the new condos that came before the DRB behind Speedway that are littered with white details, downspouts, etc. He wondered whether there was any recourse as they did not follow the renderings. Mr. Perras shared the rendering that was provided to the DRB and discussed how different the building looks like now. Ms. Owens said that she will follow-up and determine the process getting the issue resolved. Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: March 12th 2. DRB: March 26th Adjournment VOTE: Tarbet: Motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Miller. The meeting is adjourned at 8:30PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033