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2003-09-10 SRA MintuesSRA Minutes September 10, 2003 Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING OF THE SALEM REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 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, September 10, 2003 at 6:00pm. Chairman Robert Curran called the meeting to order and on roll call, the following members were present: Conrad Baldini, Michael Brennan, Michael Connelly, Robert Curran, and Russell Vickers. Joseph Walsh, Executive Director of the SRA, Tania Hartford, Economic Development Planner, and Valerie Gingrich, Clerk were also present. Minutes Mr. Connelly motioned to approve the minutes from the August 13, 2003 meeting. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). Old Business 1. Old Police Station Update Mr. Walsh distributed three documents to each member of the SRA. The first document was the LSP report on the contamination found at the site. The second document was an updated letter of commitment from Beverly Cooperative Bank, which expires on September 30, 2003. The third document was an updated construction schedule, which shows that if construction starts this October, they could be open in June 2004. Mr. Walsh briefed the SRA regarding the meeting that was held one week prior with all the parties involved. Mr. Walsh stated that the Loan Agreement for the abatement work and the LDA were done separately, and the loan agreement is ready to go when the LDA is executed. The loan is for $125,000 and will not be conditioned on the developer closing on the Old Police Station, but will be taken from another source of city funds so that that loan can be done immediately. The loan will be personally guaranteed by Phillip Singleton and Jack French as well as being guaranteed with the second mortgage on the Old Police Station. Mr. Walsh explained that the reason they are not making the loan conditioned with the payment for the Old Police Station to the SRA is that it does not make any sense to close on the building right now, until the developers have a firm financial commitment in place. Mr. Walsh explained that the developer will be allowed to move ahead with the remediation. There is a drop-dead date of December 31, 2003 in the LDA, which requires them to secure financing and close on the property by that date. If they do not, their status as designated developer will expire. Mr. Brennan inquired as to the terms of the loan, and Mr. Walsh replied that there will be a first payment of $35,000 released immediately, upon execution of the loan documents. The balance of the loan will be invoiced and reimbursed in an amount not to exceed $125,000. Mr. Brennan asked if the LSP report estimates the cost of cleanup to be $125,000. Mr. SRA Minutes September 10, 2003 Page 2 of 5 Walsh replied that the LSP report does not contain such an estimate, but there is a separate document, provided by the redevelopers, that estimates the cost at that amount. Mr. Vickers asked if all of the other documents have been signed. Mr. Walsh replied that the series of side agreements included in the LDA have not been delivered yet, but they are expected tomorrow. Mr. Walsh stated that Mr. Curran can sign the LDA prior to receiving the side agreements but the document would not be fully executed until the side agreements were received. Mr. Vickers asked to clarify when the loan is required to be paid back. Mr. Walsh stated that even though the funds for the loan are now City funds and not connected to the SRA, the repayment of the loan will be as the SRA suggested. The terms would be whichever occurs first: when the developer receives funds from the polluter; when they sell the last 4 units; or two years after executing the loan. There being no further questions, Mr. Curran signed the LDA. New Business 1. Executive Director’s Report Mr. Walsh, Executive Director, provided the Board with his report. • The Annual Meeting of the SRA will be in October. This will be a special session in addition to the regular scheduled meeting in which the Board will re-ratify the bylaws and elect officers. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 5. Bowman’s Bakery Redevelopment (266 Essex Street)—Request for an amendment to the Plans approved by the SRA on December 11, 2002. Ms. Hartford informed the Board that the applicant has informed them that when the project was approved, they did not talk about the removal of the chimney. The applicant explained that the chimney is in disrepair and they wanted to make sure the removal of the chimney is properly approved by the SRA. Mr. Curran stated that the Board previously approved the project with plans that do not show the existing chimney. Mr. Brennan asked whether the Board would need to vote on this issue. Mr. Walsh stated that they should take a vote since it has been requested of the Board. Mr. Brennan motioned to approve the removal of the chimney. Mr. Baldini seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). Mr. Walsh asked the applicant to give an update on the status of the project. The applicant stated that the interior and rear portion has been structurally renovated, the exterior on the parking lot side is completed, and the front facade is being worked on currently. SRA Minutes September 10, 2003 Page 3 of 5 DEIGN REVIEW BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS 3. Culver Insurance (20 Central Street)—Consideration of DRB recommendation for proposed signage on Central Street and adjacent alley. PROPOSAL: The proposed signage includes two (2) wall signs: measuring 8” x 48” along Central Street and 12” x 72” in the adjacent alley. The proposed signs will be aluminum with a black background and gold leaf lettering, flush mounted to the wall. RECOMMENDATION: At the August 27, 2003 meeting of the DRB, the members recommended approval of the proposal as submitted. Ms. Hartford presented the sign proposal to the Board. Mr. Baldini stated that all of the other signs in that area are the same and it fits well. Mr. Baldini motioned to accept the DRB recommendation. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). 4. Boston Hotdog Company (60 Washington Street)—Consideration of DRB recommendation for proposed signage. PROPOSAL: The proposed signage includes one (1) 43” x 33” hanging sign with metal bracket and one (1) 1’ x 10’ wall sign. The hanging sign will be hand carved wood with a black background, gold letters and an image of a hotdog. The proposed wall sign will be hand carved wood with a black background and gold lettering in the existing sign band along Washington Street. RECOMMENDATION: At the August 27, 2003 meeting of the DRB, the members recommended that the hanging sign be reduced in size to 24” x 36” and the wall sign be enlarged to 14” x 12’. Ms. Hartford explained that the DRB had recommended that the applicant make the signs smaller than what was originally submitted and the applicant, in turn, changed the signs to make them even smaller than what was recommended. Ms. Hartford stated that the Board has two options: accept the recommendation of the DRB or accept the revised submission by the applicant. SRA Minutes September 10, 2003 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Brennan asked if the DRB recommendation for the sign is the same as the new Color Corner sign, commenting that he would like the signs to be similar. Mr. Walsh suggested that the approval be conditioned on the size of the signs being the same as the two abutting signs. Mr. Curran stated that the DRB recommendation is more in line with the abutting signs. Mr. Walsh asked Ms. Gingrich to pull out the file for Salem Color Corner to satisfy the discussion. Upon reviewing the file, Mr. Walsh stated that the DRB did indeed match the recommended dimensions with that of the approved Color Corner sign. Mr. Brennan motioned to accept the recommendation of the DRB. Mr. Connelly seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). 5. Laura Lanes Skin Care (242 Essex Street)—Consideration of DRB recommendation of proposed signage and awning. PROPOSAL: The proposed signage includes one (1) awning with 6” x 8’ in lettering and two (2) 18’ x 4’ window signs. The proposed awning will be green with white lettering. The proposed window signs will be white letters attached to the inside of the windows along Essex Street. RECOMMENDATION: At the August 27, 2003 meeting of the DRB, the members recommended the approval with the condition that the applicant change the color of the awning to a darker shade of aqua and provide a swatch of the awning material for final DRB approval. Ms. Hartford presented the proposed sign application and the DRB recommendation. Mr. Baldini motioned to accept the recommendation of the DRB. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). 6. Temptations/Balloons & Baskets (304 Essex Street)—Consideration of DRB recommendation of proposed awning and facade improvements. PROPOSAL: The proposed awning will replace the existing awning and be exactly the same dimensions. The awning will be green canvas with gold lettering. The applicant also proposed to repaint the front of the building off-white. SRA Minutes September 10, 2003 Page 5 of 5 RECOMMENDATION: At the August 27, 2003 meeting of the DRB, the members recommended that the building be painted all white and that the letters on the awning be reconfigured and resubmitted for final approval. Ms. Hartford explained that the applicant opted to take off the lettering on the awning and simply recover the existing frame with green canvas. Mr. Brennan motioned to accept the recommendation of the DRB. Mr. Connelly seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). OTHER BUSINESS 7. Edgewater Cafe (155 Washington Street)—Request to change facade along Washington Street to incorporate emergency exit door. Ms. Hartford stated that the applicant, Mr. Moustakis, proposed to take a window and make it into a vestibule/door. Mr. Walsh stated that the Board will be voting for schematic approval, it will then go to the DRB for design review, and it will come back to the SRA for final approval. The applicant described the proposed project, which would create a new second means of egress for the Edgewater Cafe because of a new business next door. Mr. Brennan inquired as to the symmetry of the appearance, and Mr. Moustakis explained that it looks like two entryways. Mr. Brennan motioned to send the project to the DRB for design review. Mr. Vickers seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). Mr. Walsh asked Mr. Moustakis if he was the applicant or if the landlord was the applicant. Mr. Moustakis stated that it was in question as who was responsible for paying for the work, but he will be reconstructing his portion of the building and will not be reconstructing the Liberty Tax door. Mr. Walsh stated that as a matter of form, Mr. Moustakis would need to have a letter of approval of the work from the landlord. Mr. Walsh stated that he would work with the landlord to make sure the other door would be completed. There being no further business, Mr. Baldini motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Brennan seconded the motion. Motion passed (5-0). Meeting stands adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Valerie Gingrich Clerk