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2026-01-28 Meeting MinutesDRB January 28, 2026 Page 1 of 4 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, Leanne Leftwich, Kate Martin, Elizabeth Murray, Marc Perras, Sarah Tarbet, and Catherine Miller 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 There were no signs to review. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 73 Lafayette Street: Final Design Review – Review of Phase 2 of the project, which consists of the construction of a new building at the corner of Lafayette and Derby Streets for a health center. Ms. Tarbet reclused herself from this agenda item. Eileen Vogel and Jonathan Evans were present to discuss the project: • Mr. Evans shared an overview of the project, with both phases highlighted. The intent for this meeting is to discuss Phase 2. They are now in a place where there is more confidence with the financial strategies for both phases, including the four-story Health Center. • The project components and schedule were shared and reviewed. Mr. Evans noted that they are mindful of the sequence on construction, demolition, and repair work for the culvert. • Renderings from different views for the proposed design were shared. • Mr. Evans noted that the position of some of the windows has changed. • The material palette was shared and reviewed. • The public art plan was shared which was previously approved as part of the Phase I submission. • The timeline for the 9 Peabody Street building is 18 months. • The timeline for the 75 Lafayette Street building is 18-20 months. The 75 Lafayette work can’t start until the culvert repair work is completed. • The Harbor Walk will be open during the entire construction project. They are working through strategies to keep the existing bank tenant on site during construction and that portion won’t be fenced off for construction traffic. Mr. Evans noted that once the housing at 75 Layfette is finished, they should be able to open a portion of that site. He said they aren’t sure how the fence line will work at this point. DRB January 28, 2026 Page 2 of 4 • Mr. Evans said he believes the Peabody Street landscaping will happen with the building. He thinks the park will happen at the very end. • Mr. Perras encouraged the applicant where possible to keep a connection between the Wendy’s parking lot and the Harbor Walk where possible as many people in the community use that walkway. • Ms. Vogel thought there might be a little corner that they can leave open for people to enter the Harbor Walk. • Images of the temporary bank facility were shared. It will be set back off the street so it is intended to have minimal impact on the public realm. • Mr. Perras noted that he was very pleased with the renderings. • Cement board will be used for a portion of the window wall. • Mr. Evans believed the residential building had always been brick. He thought the view that was shared looked stripier, but that it might be a product of the rendering. A different rendering was shared which was less stripier. Mr. Evans said the intent was have a subtle change in texture. • Ms. Miller expressed concern that the landscape plan had not been approved and said she would like to see the plan as part of the next submission. Mr. Evans asked if the landscape plan could be provided as part of a different submittal. • Mr. Evans noted that they are in conversation with the SRA around the schedule and sequence of construction activities. • There will be overlap in construction between 73 and 75 Lafayette Street. • The bank trailer will be placed onsite before the building is demolished. • Mr. Evans said the timing of the culvert repair is outside of their control, but that it needs to be completed for the 75 Lafayette building to start. There were no comments or questions from the public. VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to recommend approval as presented with a return visit for the landscape plan. Seconded by Miller. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Murray, Miller, Perras, and Durand. 6-0 in favor. Projects Outside the Urban Renewal Area 1. 45 Jefferson Avenue: Entrance Corridor – Design Review for proposed self-storage facility. Christina Granese, representing ZXE, LLC, Todd Waller, owner, and David Wytmar, design architect, were present to discuss the proposal: • Ms. Granese and Mr. Waller reported that they have taken into consideration the DRB’s suggestions. • Mr. Wytmar shared and reviewed the renderings which incorporated the modifications that were suggested. • It was decided that a fence would help the street edge so that was added and the spacing of trees was refined. • Mr. Perras noted that the rendering appeared to be slightly different from the elevations. DRB January 28, 2026 Page 3 of 4 • Mr. Wytmar said it was difficult to show the detail on the rendering. He also reported that the brick wasn’t brought all the way to the ground for flood proofing since they are in a flood zone. • Ms. Miller said she was supportive of the fencing along the sidewalk. She asked if there could be some detail along the watercourse rather than a flat surface. • The corner post is not at the corner due to a functional requirement. The project is still undergoing a peer review. There was concern about cars/trucks hitting the post, so they decided to recess it. • The columns will be covered in bollard or be concrete. • Mr. Perras suggested all four of the columns be in line. Mr. Wytmar said that might not be possible due to the structural load of the building. • The beam and cantilever plan was shown and discussed. • Ms. Miller said she would hate to see buffers or bumpers show up as a lot of effort was put into the fence and walkway along the street. • Mr. Wytmar said they typically do columns and would pick a color that is amenable, complimentary to everything. • The entrance to the property is limited due to a power pole. • Ms. Miller said she was satisfied with that answer and having three bollards that are in a color complementary to the building or fence; nothing historic, no yellow, or stripes. • The building was designed for maneuverability with trucks. There were no comments or questions from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve with the recommendation that the Planning Board consider the bollard locations. Seconded by Tarbet. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Murray, Miller, Tarbet, Perras, and Durand. 7-0 in favor. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. December 17, 2025 Ms. Miller noted a needed correction to Ferry Building windows being 36 inches. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the December 17th minutes. Seconded by Perras. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Murray, Miller, Tarbet, Perras, and Durand. 7-0 in favor. 2. Salem State University, South Campus Chapter 40R Upcoming Joint Meeting with Planning Board Ms. Owens noted that the joint meeting has been scheduled for February 19th at 6:30pm. She said it will be held via Zoom and that it is the first Chapter 40R going before the Planning Board. Different housing and adaptive reuse are being proposed. A quorum of the DRB is available to attend. Ms. Owens said she would send out a letter outlining the process and project as well as the staff memo. DRB January 28, 2026 Page 4 of 4 Ms. Owens described 40R as a state statute which is a specific zoning process that makes it clear at the local level of encouraging affordable housing. She said there is a state application process and the zoning has design standards within the language. Public comment is sought and City Council must approve it. She said the focus is really on affordable housing. Margin Street, Endoicot Street, and Shetland Park are also pending locations. 3. Staff updates, if any Ms. Owens provided an update on sign tracking. She said she heard from Black Cat and they have a new sign fabricator and will be coming before the DRB in February. Window signs will be in place by next month. She reported that the Witch Mansion took down the sign that was not approved. She said work is continuing with some other businesses that Mr. Perras and others had flagged. Ms. Miller noted that Brothers restaurant attached menus to the brick which was a question mark for her. She also noted that the Salem Access TV/Pirate Building still had a vinyl banner on the building. Ms. Owens said that Ms. Newhall-Smith is working with them on that issue. Mr. Perras inquired about the large skeleton at the Village Tavern that may be beyond a seasonal ornament. Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: February 11 2. Joint Meeting with Planning Board: February 19th 3. DRB: February 25 Ms. Martin noted that May will likely be her last meeting with the DRB. Adjournment VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Miller. All in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:00PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033