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2005-04-27 DRB MinutesDRB Minutes April 27, 2005 Page 1 of 5 DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES APRIL 27, 2005 A regular meeting of the Salem Design Review Board (DRB) was held in the third floor conference room at the City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street, on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 6:00pm. Members Paul Durand and David Jaquith were present. Tania Hartford, Economic Development Planner, and Debra Tucker, Clerk, were also present. Minutes Minutes for the Regular Meeting held on March 23, 2005 were presented and approved. 112 Washington Street & 237-245 Essex Street (TV Land): Review of Plans TV Land Vice President Rob Pellizzi addressed the board concerning the proposed Bewitched statue for Lappin Park. He displayed pictures other portrait work done by Studio EIS. Michael Blier showed his site plan drawings of the park. He stated that his changes will connect the inside and outside of the park. There will be granite curbing 8 inches wide by 6 inches high replacing the brick wall to define the park. The planted areas have been increased. There will be a clearer walkway with more of a relationship to the street. The grade changes will only be at the statue and are estimated to be 3.5% with a 1.5% pitch to the catch basins. Stone aggregate concrete will be placed in the center where the statue will go. The statue has been moved back from the street approximately 4 feet or so and will be nestled in the trees. The existing park plaque will be placed on a granite pillar. Mr. Jaquith commented that these plans were a big improvement. Mr. Durand agreed and said that the wall had kept people out. He thought that it would work and that pulling the statue back from the corner will help. Mr. Jaquith asked if there would be new benches and that he would want to see the proposed benches. Mr. Blier said that there would be new benches. He stated that there would be a decorative triad pebble product with exposed aggregate used that will recede into the landscape. The path will be reset with brick. The sidewalk, which is in bad shape, will be concrete to match the existing. He is in the process of designing the lighting and envisions ADA compliant recessed ground lights as well as a pole-mounted light in the grass or directed light from the existing park light. The lights will be timer controlled and will be used to highlight or enhance the statue. Ms. Hartford stated that they had received the design as changed with details on the bench and lighting to be submitted at a later date. Mr. Jaquith and Mr. Durand approved the concept. The next step will be to take the proposal back to the SRA at their meeting on May 17, 2005. The SRA has the authority to approve the project and use the DRB recommendation to guide their decision. Mr. Pellizzi asked about the timing since they were aiming for a mid-June dedication and there is a lot of work to be done. Ms. Hartford told Mr. Pellizzi that he could request a special meeting from Lynn Duncan, Executive Director of the SRA. DRB Minutes April 27, 2005 Page 2 of 5 John Carr stated that the decision had been made without public comment and added that it was an insult to those who had come out on the matter and felt that the process was flawed. Mr. Durand replied that the appropriate venue to make comments is to appear before the SRA, who makes the actual approval on the project. Ms. Hartford asked if any members of the public had comments on the design of the park. Meg Twohey said that the City does not light other statues in the City and asked why this one would be. She said that the DRB had not asked what the statue looked like. Mr. Duran d and Mr. Jaquith stated that they had seen the clay mold rendering of the statue, which will be 9 feet tall. A member of the public asked why a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery, who only had been in Salem for 2 weeks and had no relation to Salem, was being put up. Mr. Pellizzi said that the statue association was to a magical witch that celebrates fun. Another member of the public, a trolley driver, said that the statue is to be located in a serious part of town and that it was off base. Ms. Hartford replied that the SRA had approved the statue siting and the next step for them is to approve the changes to the park. John Carr said that the problem is not in the micro details but in the macro and faulted the procedure. He said that the SRA approved the statue subject to the DRB approval. Mr. Carr said that it is not the way to go. He referred to the new ad campaign being launched for Salem to get away from the schlock side. Mr. Carr commented that the DRB is privileged and elitist to be the only ones to see the plans for the statue. Ms. Hartford said that the DRB was making a recommendation the design of the park and that the SRA approved the site. The DRB is to make comments on the park plan and make a final recommendation tonight to the SRA. A member of the public said that he was disappointed and saddened. He said that the plan was a dramatic change to the park because it has been an eyesore. He said that Salem is a great city and that the design is impeccable. Walter Power said that he would like to see the pedestal moved northwest towards the intersection to connect the walkway from the building to the center in bring it line. He did not think it was integrated to the park. Mr. Blier spoke of a double row of trees causing problems due to spacing and the root system. He did not want to damage or remove any trees. A member of the public stated that there was probably a more appropriate statue to go there such as Alexander Graham Bell, who made the famous telephone call from Salem. Mr. Durand said that the DRB was reviewing the statue plan as presented. He felt that there is lightness to urban living and this TV pop culture would pull people across the street. This, he felt, would be a great economic vehicle. The weight of tourism is across the street. The location is excellent from an urban planning perspective. He felt that it was celebrating Salem. Mr. Pellizzi said that the first thing that TV Land did was to send someone to Salem to meet with the City and scout the location. They took the lead from Salem and looked for an appropriate site. He said that they were sensitive to the history and added that they had been embraced in every other city where they had donated statues. They were under the impression that his was an appropriate location. DRB Minutes April 27, 2005 Page 3 of 5 A member of the public asked if they would consider re-siting the statue. Mr. Pellizzi said that they had looked to the City for the site. Ms. Hartford added that it was not within the purview of the DRB. Paul Durand recused himself from the next two items. 7 Crombie Street – Review of the Final Design Plans for the redevelopment of 7 Crombie Street Mark Meche of Winter Street Architects addressed the DRB concerning the project at 7 Crombie Street. He reported that the SRA accepted the conceptual plan presented. He reviewed the plans for Bluestone Alley, the working title for the project. The floor plan has been tweaked, eyebrow dormers will be added, as will period lighting, and a metal gate. The slate roof will be repaired and brick and copper added. Existing windows will be repaired and painted. A mezzanine will be added to the 3rd floor instead of skylights and will bring it up to a barrel dormer with a sill height of 6 feet 6 inches. Mr. Jaquith asked if there was an egress problem. Mr. Meche replied that the windows will be carved out and an ornamental balcony will be added. Mr. Jaquith recommended a change of course at the balconies and brick. Mr. Meche said that he would look at that. The storage area for garbage will be behind wood paneled doors of plywood with trim and look like a barn door. Mr. Jaquith instructed him to make them good and heavy to stand up to heavy use. Ms. Hartford added that Mr. Greene had reviewed the plans and had sent her his comments that he was fine with the changes as presented. Mr. Jaquith recommended that the final approval be sent to the SRA. 284-296 Essex Street & One Sewall Street (YMCA) – Review of proposed signage The revised plans for the YMCA remodel were presented to the DRB a few months ago. The signage recommendations by Mr. Greene had been incorporated and presented. Mr. Jaquith said that he liked them as well but suggested that the lettering be tightened up a bid to lessen the white space. The plans were approved with the condition that the white space on the signs be tightened up. Mr. Durand returned to the meeting. Salem Harbor Walk – Continued Review of the Schematic Design Plans for the Salem Harbor Walk Rebecca Longley presented the proposed schematic design plans for the South River Harborwalk. Design issues will be ironed out with Mass Electric, who abuts the land. There were comments submitted from the last committee meeting. David Vine of Vine Associates said that there would be approximately 1,100 feet along the entire length of the walk. It will be handicapped accessible. The walkway will be 10 feet wide and made of DRB Minutes April 27, 2005 Page 4 of 5 concrete with a 10-foot buffer zone to transition the existing grade. There will be lights and benches along the way. Minor repairs must be made to the old seawall. There will be a 4-foot high metal rail. Part of the walkway will be supported on piles and will span out over the water to avoid the Mass Electric property. There are some security issues to that site and a 6-foot high black chain link fence with barbed wire will be installed. There will be a stairway onto the bridge. The project will be similar to one done in Fall River. The city standard will be used for the features. A brick archway with stamped brick features on the ground was planned. Ms. Longley stated that Mr. Greene previously gave his comments and was disappointed with the archway. He wants to see some historical aspects of the South River incorporated. Mr. Durand agreed that the arch was not what he had in mind and was not inviting and he wanted to see something more playful and fun. He agreed with the plan for fencing due to Mass Electric’s high voltage equipment on the nearby property. Steve Cecil said that in combination with the railing the fencing keeps thing s simple and they will work with Mass Electric. Mr. Durand said that a stairway up to the bridge was a good idea. Steve Cecil said that they were thinking of taking the archway out. There was the suggestion of a flagpole shaped like a ship’s mast with the opportunity for pennants. Mr. Durand said that he thought that that would be playful and entertaining. Mr. Jaquith said that the site should be lit at night and that the rhythm of the light pole placement should be carefully planned out. Mr. Cecil thought that the effect of a string of pearls would be good. Mr. Jaquith referenced the Beverly Common lighting. Mr. Durand said that he did not love the brick in the walkway. Mr. Cecil suggested finishing the edge with a texture in concrete with a curved edge and the landscape coming up against it. Mr. Durand suggested a subtle 2”-3” rise. Mr. Cecil added that there would be hardy low coastal plantings such as rosa rugosa that can survive with minimal maintenance planned for the hot and dry landscaping area. This would reduce the maintenance costs. Mr. Durand asked about trash receptacles. Mr. Vine said that they would be placed along the benches and light poles. Ms. Longley said that some of the public comments on the project were more signage at Congress and Derby and wood chips instead of grass. The Beverly Cooperative Bank landscaping featuring granite benches was referenced. Mr. Jaquith and Mr. Durand felt that granite benches are not that comfortable. Mr. Cecil said that the benches would be staggered in response to Mr. Jaquith’s request that the walkway not be so symmetrical. Mr. Durand suggested intermittent historical references. Mr. Jaquith stated that the plan was a good start. Ms. Longley said that she would take t he suggestions and do a re-design. Mass Electric will review the plan. Then all will be brought back to the public probably at the end of May or beginning of June. Ms. Hartford said that the DRB will see the plans after they have been revised. Mr. Dura nd stated that the most intensive areas are the entrance and edging. DRB Minutes April 27, 2005 Page 5 of 5 Doug Haley asked that the archway celebrate marine history. He is part of SAFE and the Implementation Committee and asked that no pesticides be used near the water. He referred to the granite benches at the National Park Service and said that they would not be subject to vandalism or people sleeping on them. Hans Weedon added that he hoped marine barrels and not iron be used. Dave Fix suggested that the outside border or berm might be cobblestone. Mr. Durand said that those could be thrown in the water. Mr. Cecil stated that granite might be too expensive for the project. Mr. Durand suggested the use at the entryway. Ms. Hartford stated that the project has direction. 289 Derby Street – Review of final construction plans for 289 Derby Street. Ms. Hartford said that the project manager dropped off the plans that were included with the member’s packets. She asked if any members had questions or comments on the plans. Mr. Jaquith and Mr. Durand asked if they could have more time to review them. Ms. Hartford asked that they call her should they have any questions or concerns on the submitted plans. Adjournment There being no further business before the board, the meeting was adjourned.