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2005-04-20 SRA MinutesSRA Minutes April 20, 2005 Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING OF THE SALEM REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD ON APRIL 20, 2005 A Regular Meeting of the Salem Redevelopment Authority (SRA) Board was held in the third floor conference room at the City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street, on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 6:00pm. Chairman Michael Brennan called the meeting to order and on roll call, the following members were present: Michael Brennan, Michael Connelly, Russell Vickers, and Christine Sullivan. Lynn Duncan, Executive Director, Valerie Gingrich, Staff Planner, and Debra Tucker, Clerk, were also present. MINUTES Minutes from meetings held March 3, 2005 (Special Meeting), March 3, 2005 (Special Meeting Executive Session), March 9, 2005 (Regular Meeting), March 9, 2005 (Public Hearing), and April 6, 2005 (Special Meeting) were presented for approval. Mr. Connelly moved that the minutes from the Special Meeting held on March 3, 2005 be approved with correction to the first page as noted. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Ms. Sullivan moved that the Executive Session minutes from the Special Meeting held on March 3, 2005 be approved. Mr. Connelly seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Mr. Vickers moved that the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on March 9, 2005 be approved. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Mr. Vickers moved that the minutes from the Public Hearing held on March 9, 2005 be approved. Mr. Connelly seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Mr. Connelly moved that the minutes from the Special Meeting held on April 6, 2005 be approved as amended. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. Ms. Sullivan abstained. The motion passed (3-0). NEW BUSINESS 1. Executive Directors Report Salem Harbor Walk Salem Harbor Walk drawings from the Salem Implementation Committee were received and ultimately will come before the SRA for approval. DRB has reviewed the initial plans. A number of suggestions were made at that time. The walkway will be a curvo-linear one. Funding was not contingent through the Seaport Advisory Council. The project was put on hold and has been restored. Vine Associates is working on it. Additional design suggestions were received from the public. There will be a committee meeting. A public meeting will be held in May. The DRB has the matter on their next meeting’s agenda. Ms. Duncan wanted the SRA members to have the most recent conceptual plans. Ms. Sullivan asked about public comment. Ms. Duncan said that she has notes from the meeting and the consultants. Ms. Sullivan said that she wants to see what the public has said. Ms. Duncan said that the major difference is that it cantilevers out due to Mass Electric owning adjacent land. This will drive the cost up. SRA Minutes April 20, 2005 Page 2 of 4 Ms. Duncan asked that the May 11th meeting be rescheduled to May 17th at 6:00 p.m. in order to discuss the draft RFP. Ms. Sullivan offered the use of the Enterprise Center at Salem State College if ever it is needed. REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PROJECTS 2. Old Salem Jail Ms. Duncan presented the revised scope of services from the Cecil Group. They will be responsible for the final development of the RFP: This was reviewed on April 19th. Ms. Duncan said that they have good supporting material to move this ahead. The Cecil Group will attend 1 or 2 meetings and prepare the final RFP on disk and submit a camera-ready copy. She said that the fee is now hourly with a not to exceed amount and reimbursable expenses. Mr. Vickers said that this submission was a substantial improvement with no ambiguity that they can work with. Mr. Brennan agreed. Ms. Sullivan said that it is important that they do it and be directed by Ms. Duncan. She asked if they have done a market analysis. Ms. Duncan replied that they would have to submit a pro forma. They will provide a market analysis. Mr. Brennan said that all of that was spelled out in Section IV. Ms. Sullivan moved that the Redevelopment Authority enter into a contract with the Cecil Group for additional services as submitted. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Ms. Sullivan applauded Ms. Duncan for the work that she has done. She asked if the additional services were outside of the scope of the RFP. Ms. Duncan replied that they were. The final report is due this week. Ms. Duncan reported that a meeting had been held with Peter Smith, Andrea Gilmore, Barbara Cleary of HIS, and Larry Spang and Lance Kasperian of the Salem Historic Commission concerning historic preservation issues. The matter is moving forward. They are awaiting Andrea’s report concerning significant architectural features. Concerning the environmental study, Alliance was on site and the survey was completed. Ms. Duncan reported that they may have to update the 2001 appraisal and that she is checking M.G.L. 121B. Ms. Sullivan asked if there were zoning issues. Ms. Duncan stated that they are moving ahead with the rezoning of the parcel. Ms. Sullivan thought it was a great idea. Mr. Vickers agreed. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Project Approval 3. 7 Crombie Street—Review of the proposed Schematic Design Plans for the redevelopment of the Mission at 7 Crombie Street. Mark Meche and Troy Scott appeared before the board to present their most recent plans. They have appeared before the Planning Board and have visited neighbors. The DRB had received the project favorably and suggested a few tweaks. They presented revised drawings and plans. They are proposing a gentle renovation. The rear will be renovated and made into 2 stories. They have been to the Health Department. There are eyebrow dormers and skylights proposed. The rest of the work will be repairs with the exception of the slate roof; the condition of which is unknown. The building’s second floor will have mezzanines and the developers are planning on selling bays of space. SRA Minutes April 20, 2005 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Greene of the DRB suggested the working title of Bluestone Alley. The exterior will include a bluestone- paved patio with a Japanese plaza holding a sculpture garden. Period lighting and new wood doors will be done. There will be small tweaks made. The most difficult question was the parking. They have met with the neighbors. There is a lot across the street, which is empty at night. They have approached Holyoke Mutual and Sovereign Bank with a multi-use parking concept for day/night parking. They have also expressed interest in sponsoring a Zip Car and have approached the developers of Derby Lofts. Parking passes to the garage are also an option. Mark Meche envisions no more than 17 condos and expects 12 to 14 with at least some of the units in the $200,000.00 range. They want to be part of the first time homebuyer program. Their financing should be in place by the end of the week. There is some interest from buyers. They hope to close on the property in June and finish construction by the end of the year. Mr. Connelly moved to approve the schematic design submission for 7 Crombie Street as submitted. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). Mr. Connelly moved to recommend that the final design plans for 7 Crombie Street be submitted to the Design Review Board for review. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). SIGN REVIEW Project Approval 4. 60 Washington Street (Ben & Jerry’s) – Review of proposed signage at 60 Washington Street. Ms. Gingrich presented the revised signage plans submitted by Ben and Jerry’s for 60 Washington Street. The signs will be 34.9” x 34.9” and 38” x 40”. The signs will cover less than 20% of the windows and will be centered. Mr. Connelly noted that they would be proportionate to the window. Mr. Brennan asked if the signs were reviewed by the DRB. Ms. Gingrich replied that they recommended approval. Ms. Duncan said that the signs comply with zoning. Ms. Sullivan moved that the window signs for Ben and Jerry’s at 60 Washington Street be approved as presented and that Ben and Jerry’s be welcomed to Salem. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0). OTHER BUSINESS Old Salem Jail Weathervane Ms. Sullivan asked that the Salem News be contacted and print that the Old Salem Jail weathervane had been found. Ms. Duncan reported that the weathervane had been down for some time and that it was in very bad shape and was broken and rotted. Lappin Park – Proposed TV Land Statue The board discussed the Bewitched Statue proposed by TV Land for Lappin Park. The DRB will take up the matter at their next meeting. Mr. Connelly stated that at the April 6th meeting they had approved the proposal with the condition of approval by the Lappin family and the Design Review Board. Ms. Duncan said that typically the matter comes back to the SRA after the DRB has reviewed the matter. SRA Minutes April 20, 2005 Page 4 of 4 Mr. Vickers stated that the SRA needs to look at it again. Ms. Sullivan said that the DRB is asking for changes to the park. Mr. Vickers said that he thought it was going to be a few small changes. Mr. Brennan said that the previous vote was to advise the DRB to get their final questions in to the SRA for the next meeting. Mr. Vickers asked that the April 6th Special Meeting minutes be amended to reflect that the statue proposal is subject to the approval of the Lappin Family and to the final recommendations of the SRA. Ms. Duncan stated that she would put the statue on the agenda for the next meeting. Kate Sullivan said that Michael Blier is working on the plans and it is moving along. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mr. Connelly motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Vickers seconded, and the motion passed (4-0). Meeting stands adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Debra Tucker Clerk