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2025-10-22 Meeting MinutesDRB October 22, 2025 Page 1 of 5 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, Leanne Leftwich, Elizabeth Murray, Marc Perras, Sarah Tarbet, and Catherine Miller DRB Members Absent: Kate Martin Others Present: Stephanie Owens, Senior Planner Recorder: Christine Petryszyn The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. Roll call was taken. Signs in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 10 Blaney Street: Schematic Design Review – Review of new multi-functional ferry terminal building at Salem Wharf Aaron Udy and Deborah Fennick with Fennick Architecture, Tim Arnold with Accenture, Daniel Collins, Seaport Waterfront Planner for the City of Salem, and Bill McHugh, Salem Harbormaster, were present to discuss the proposal: • Mr. Collins gave an update on the project. He noted that the Salem Ferry Terminal design is not under the purview of the DRB, but they are hoping for a peer review. • Mr. Collins noted that they are working with a constrained environment, near the water and needing to locate the ferry terminal building adjacent to the berth and close to the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal. • He noted that they are hoping for feedback on the resilience of the materials proposed. • Capt. McHugh reiterated the limited amount of space they must work with and that they need to preserve the parking and enhanced ferry operations. He said with this building they have functionality in mind along with sustainability and resiliency. He said they are hoping this building will be able to serve the City of Salem, its residents, and visitors for decades. • Mr. Udy reviewed the PowerPoint presentation. He said the building will be primarily serving the ferry. There will be a waiting room, ticketing area, and public restrooms. There will be offices on the second floor that will serve maritime related activities. The building will also provide security and IT infrastructure. • Ms. Fennick reviewed the six guiding principles and goals of the project; port operations, design for resiliency and sustainability, focus on passenger experience, flexibility for year- round services, connection to harbor with public amenities, and a civic landmark honoring Salem’s maritime heritage and future. • Mr. Udy reviewed and shared images of the floor plans, which also include event space, a warming kitchen, observation deck, etc. • Capt. McHugh noted that some of the office space is mandated by federal law under MTSA. Office space will be rented by tenants, such as Crowley. • Landscape design is still in progress. • Mr. Udy reviewed the site plan which included the velocity flood zone. DRB October 22, 2025 Page 2 of 5 • Images of the proposed building from various views were shared. • Ms. Fennick reviewed the proposed building materials, which include zinc standing seam roof or prefinished steel standing seam roof. The enclosure is proposed to be a terracotta tile, slate tile, or a high-density fiber cement. Images of each were shared. • Ms. Fennick also reviewed interior views of the building. • Mr. Perras noted that stretch code will require the windows to be triple pane. He said he likes the shingle aesthetic and encouraged the use of stainless-steel clips but that they not be exposed. He thought the fiber cement could work, but needs to be done very well. He thought the masses could be setting up a material challenged and perhaps could be two different materials as it looks like the building from one view could be two masses. He likes the round window and suggested the mullion pattern be revisited. He liked the zinc roof. • Ms. Murray thought the zinc roof with terracotta slated overlapping tiles would be fantastic. • Ms. Miller inquired about the small windows and wondered if they could be larger on the city-facing side of the building. She also raised the issue about the building only being one color. • Ms. Miller encouraged the landscape plan to include trees for shade. • Capt. McHugh noted that lack of trees was intentional because of port operations. He said next door at Crowley has a very robust landscape plan. He noted that they are hoping to capture maritime granite for the landscape plan. • Ms. Tarbet inquired about the orientation of the building and exposure on the southwest could make heat gain and issue. Ms. Fennick said they may need shading devices for the large windows. • Capt. McHugh noted that the large window faces southeasterly. • Ms. Tarbet said she likes the material choice and singular color. She asked if any kind of wood was considered. Ms. Fennick said they did look at thermally modified wood. • Ms. Tarbet asked if the ramp could be bridged with the landscape plan as it looks like a lot of handrails. Mr. Udy said they are looking at that as it’s a lot of rise in a short amount of time. He said re-grading parking is a possibility, but cost would be an issue. Capt. McHugh said he shares the concern, and they are hoping they can address it. • Mr. Durand said he liked the building in white. He thought the standing seam roof would be great and that he would like to see solar panels added if budget allows. He thought the queuing around the corner may be going in the wrong direction and suggested moving the security door around the corner. There were no comments from the public. • Mr. Perras said he liked the nautical feeling on the ramps and the articulated outdoor stairway. He asked that they do everything possible to keep them very thin. • Ms. Miller reinforced that the mid-century, steamship feel to the railings are one of the strongest, nicest beautiful parts to the design. • Mr. Durand noted that the DRB will not be voting. • Ms. Owens said all the comments will be compiled for the other City board presentations. • Capt. McHugh thanked the DRB for their time, review, and input on the design. DRB October 22, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Projects in the Urban Renewal Area There were no projects to review. Projects Outside the Urban Renewal Area There were no projects to review. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. September 25, 2025 VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the September 25th minutes. Seconded by Leftwich. Roll Call: Leftwich, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 6-0 in favor. 2. Staff updates, if any Ms. Owens noted that the SRA will be holding their November meeting at which they will present the SRA sign manual. She noted that the DRB’s November meeting will be held on November 19th, the 3rd Wednesday of the month instead of the 4th Wednesday to account for the Thanksgiving holiday. Mr. Durand read the following email into the record: Email from Heather Famico Received 10/22/25 at 3:49pm RE: Accessibility: Salem downtown & outdoor dining Good afternoon Mayor, City Staff, City Council, Members of the Commission on Disabilities, Members of the Design Review Board, and Members of the Salem Redevelopment Authority, I first reached out about accessibility concerns at outdoor dining back in 2020, and continued to write every year since. Most recently I reached out before the middle of September, outlining ongoing non-compliance with state and federal regulations for outdoor dining. Unfortunately, these problems still exist. As some of you might know, I live right in the middle of downtown Salem. In order for me to get home I drive by outdoor dining as well as other venues. What pains me is seeing locals and visitors unable to navigate our areas that they should be able to, and to not have a proper place at a table, especially when these areas are places for the public with many utilizing public spaces. I have family and friends who both require DRB October 22, 2025 Page 4 of 5 space to navigate the streets, and a place at a table that allows them to be within inches of their meals, just like the rest of us. I see people daily need to go further distances to get around blocked sidewalks. I see people who are nearly 1.5 feet from their food because the correct type of table wasn't purchased. Yet, they have been allowed to operate. Just this afternoon I went by an area of public space that was blocked off, an area which I have reported several times because of the retractable belt barriers they have blocking off a sidewalk for a line that is non-existant. I walked by outdoor dining without even one table that is accessible. Other outdoor dining locations that have accessible table(s) that aren't even accessible because even a person who doesn't utilize a wheelchair or walker couldn't easily get to because of a lack of proper clearance to navigate to the table. You all may remember that a restaurant previously built the wrong setup, which wasn't approved, and it got shut down. Yet with this, restaurants and other businesses submitted a plan which said they would have accessible seating, and they didn't, yet they continue to operate. Salem pledges to be Age Friendly, a City for All, yet, it hasn't taken action on accessibility. I applaud the Design Review Board for its members continuously bringing up their concerns about non-compliance. During a recent meeting a member even suggested that non-compliant businesses have to go back before them for approval, as the condition of not returning was that everything was built as presented. I hope that you all do consider doing this. Local regulation and state and federal law should be abided by, and not just overlooked. You are all now aware that members of our community and people who visit our community are being discriminated against, laws and regulations are being overlooked, and our public spaces aren't for all. Please, I urge all of you to take action on this. Although my most recent email was September 11 of this year, that was still 1.5 months ago, and original complaints were sent to the city by myself and others years ago. There has been more than enough time to fix the problem. A table can be purchased and delivered within days! We have places that have done the right thing. Now is the time to take action to ensure all are compliant, and that all are welcomed, and all can enjoy our city and its public places. Respectfully, Heather Famico 195 Essex Street Salem MA 01970 DRB October 22, 2025 Page 5 of 5 Ms. Owens reported that Lisa Cammarata, the staff liaison with the Disabilities Commission Board said that she would be meeting with the Building Inspector to discuss the issue. She said Barrio reported that their tables were in compliance, but that she heard they were not. Ms. Owens said she would raise the issue with Ms. Cammarata. Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: November 12 2. DRB: November 19 Adjournment VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Miller. All in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:06PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033