DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
May 23, 2007
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, May 23 2007 at 6:00 pm.
Members Michael Blier, Ernest DeMaio, David Jaquith, and Glenn Kennedy were present. Kirsten Kinzer, CDBG Planner, and Andrea Bray, Clerk, were also present.
DeMaio opens the meeting.
Other Projects
1. 1 Harrison Avenue (Habitat for Humanity redevelopment) – Schematic design
Kinzer explains that this project is a Habitat for Humanity project and is not in the Salem Redevelopment Authority Area but DRB approval for the design is a condition of their funding by the Department of Planning and Community Development.
Architect Michael Sullivan of Beacon Architectural Associates describes the design of the building which will be a two-family building on the corner of Palmer Street and Harrison Avenue. He explains that the building is currently abandoned and there were plans to make it a community center but those plans have changed. Sullivan states that he will reconfigure the building’s “L”, by removing 10-15 of that building, to provide additional parking to accommodate 2 units. He describes the siding as Hardy Plank, which will simulate clapboard siding and trim. He adds that the windows will be double hung aluminum clad, and there will be two penthouses that provide access a roof garden on a flat roof. He states that the front door will be painted with an accent color such as a soft gray.
Blier asks about the parking surface.
Sullivan says that it will not be a hot top and he is open to suggestions. He says that he wants a porous surface.
Blier suggests eco-stone because it would allow grass to grow but costs $16 per square foot installed.
Sullivan says that he hopes to have the material donated.
Jaquith arrives at 6:11 p.m.
Kennedy asks how wide the side trim boards will be.
Sullivan says that they will be 6? to 8? wide.
Kennedy says that an 8? sideboard would give character to that building.
DeMaio asks about the railing on the roof deck.
Sullivan states that it will be something that will not penetrate the roof, perhaps a bracket system of pressure treated wood or plastic.
DeMaio asks if there will be any screening at the roof to prohibit the view from the street.
Sullivan states that he has not planned to screen that.
DeMaio expresses concern about the visible low roof, especially if people put a clothesline or old furniture on the roof. He suggests putting up some type of low screening as a visual cut-off.
Blier asks if these are rentals.
Warren Sawyer states that habitat does nothing but ownership units.
DeMaio suggests a little more detail on the elevations would be helpful. He adds that they seem a bit bare.
Sullivan states that he had considered using simulated shingle hardy planks instead of the clapboards.
Jaquith states that the problem is that the hardy plank shingles don’t really look like shingles, but the hardy plank clapboards look like clapboards. He adds that the money needs to go into the details in the trim around the windows and corners. He questions why they even have the penthouses going to the roof.
Sullivan states that it is because the site has no outside space so the roof deck will allow the homeowner some exterior space.
Jaquith states that the design starts to fall with the roof deck. He suggests making the roof top work better, stating that the capping element should be a 2 story eave and to play-up the trim around the window.
Blier asks about the base of the building with the foundation exposed.
Sullivan states that the granite foundation will be exposed on all four sides. He adds that the siding will sit about 1.5? out from the granite foundation.
Kennedy asks if a trim piece will run along the bottom of the siding.
Sullivan says that is correct, a frieze board will run at the bottom.
Kinzer reviews the main points of this discussion which are:
1. Install low screening at the roof deck to block the view of activity on the roof from the street.
2. Include more detailing on the elevation, providing a stronger expression of the multiple stories
3. Design the penthouses to place less emphasis on the cap
4. Provide more detailed trim at the windows.
5. Provide trim at the base of the siding.
Jaquith suggests a meeting in 2 weeks.
Kinzer asks for a volunteer to look at the design.
Sullivan states that he is confident that he will come back in June and have all of these issues settled, so they don’t need to meet again until the next meeting.
Kennedy: Motion to approve the schematic design with the above noted recommendations, seconded by Blier. (Passes 4-0)
Urban Renewal Area Projects
2. 155 Washington Street (Edgewater Café) – Proposed revision to outdoor cafe
Kinzer introduces Dennis Moustakis who wishes to replace the existing the chains and planters with larger planter boxes fully surrounding the outdoor dining area.
Moustakis states that he currently has small planters with white chains and he would like to upgrade the look by having planter boxes totally surround the dining area. He shows a model of the proposed planter boxes.
Kennedy asks what type of plantings will be in these boxes.
Moustakis states that there will be annuals in them.
Jaquith asks about the colors the planters will be painted.
Moustakis says they will be a cream with a dark teal green.
Jaquith suggests that the top trim be wider.
DeMaio stresses the importance of getting the right height for these boxes, stating that you don’t want to cut people’s view off from the sidewalk. He clarifies that there should be no signage of any kind on these planters.
Kennedy suggests that Moustakis make one box with the green trim and take a look at it to see if it appears too busy. He states that he might want to have the entire box as cream. Kennedy volunteers to review one planter after it is painted cream and green.
Jaquith says that he should push the planter boxes up against the building in the winter. He suggests filling them with evergreens and small lights in the winter.
Kinzer review the recommendations which include:
1. Maintain a 5 foot sidewalk width on all sides of the outdoor café
2. Use a wider trim at the top of the planter
3. Push the planters against the building in the winter
4. Following the painting of one planter, a DRB member will review the trim color. The remainder of the planters shall be painted to match the DRB member’s recommendation.
Jaquith: Motion to approve the plan with the above noted recommendations, seconded by Kennedy. All members vote in favor. (Passes 4-0)
3. 118 Washington Street (Fresh Taste of Asia) – Proposed revision to outdoor café.
Kinzer introduces Frandy Xu and distributes plans. She states that the outdoor café was approved one year ago and tonight Xu is here to get approval for the furniture, café enclosure and amended seating plan.
Xu shows the photos and drawings and describes the furniture arrangement and the stanchions and the chains.
Kinzer explains that in this new plan, which was not previously discussed with Tanya Hartford, the table configuration has flipped so the tables are now pushed out from the building.
Xu states that even though he was approved for 28 outside seats, he currently has between 22 and 26 seats there.
DeMaio states that they should approve for the same number of seats as was previously approved.
Jaquith expresses concern with the chain which seems to close off the diagonal walkway.
DeMaio agrees and says that we should keep the seating out of that diagonal walkway.
Jaquith suggests that they visit the site at the end of the meeting to look at an alternative plan.
DeMaio mentions that the candles on the table are not the jurisdiction of the DRB. He also makes note of the comment on the drawing which states that umbrellas may be installed in the future. He states that because of the wide deep awning there may not be room for the umbrellas. He clarifies that the DRB approval will be exclusive of the candles and the umbrellas.
The Members decide to continue the discuss of the outdoor café configuration on-site at the end of the meeting. [see below for continuation of discussion]
4. 32 Church Street (Salem Wine Imports) – Proposed signage
Kinzer introduces Eric Olson and states that he is opening a new business in Salem.
Olson describes the sign as colonial in style with a gold leaf on dark blue.
Kennedy states that this color (Moby Dick – C2) will look blue or black or green depending on how the light hits it.
Blier expresses concern about the sign’s size being too big.
Olson says that it is smaller than the Vernon Martin sign next door.
Kennedy suggests bringing the size down 6? in the height and width to 3’6” by 3’-6”.
Jaquith asks about outdoor lighting.
Olson states that there is no lighting proposed.
Kennedy suggests putting beveling the edge of the oval in the upper central portion of the sign.
DeMaio asks about the color of the scrolling graphic on the surface. He states that you won’t be able to see it if it is black. He suggests lightening the scroll.
Olson states that he can do that or change the base color.
Blier asks about the mounting bracket.
Olson states that it is like the Vernon Martin bracket.
Jaquith suggests considering outdoor lighting.
Kinzer asks about the wire on the bracket.
Jaquith states that it should be a rod.
Kinzer reviews the recommendation which include:
1. The sign dimensions shall be 3.6' by 3.6'
2. If the base color changes, the DRB must see it first.
Kennedy: Motion to approve the signage with the above noted suggestions, seconded by Jaquith. (Passes 4-0)
5. 178 Essex Street (Salem Oriental Gallery) - Proposed signage
and
6. 180 Essex Street (Bewitched in Salem) – Proposed signage
Kinzer introduces Marshall Tripoli and states that the proposed signs are located on the metal awnings on the Museum Place Mall building, facing the Essex Street pedestrian mall.
Tripoli distributes material samples.
DeMaio asks if the signage inside the mall needs to be approved by the SRA.
Kinzer states that she will check on that.
Tripoli states that he already put up a sign inside for “Bewitched in Salem”.
DeMaio states that the graphic design of the two signs are nice sign but the problem he has is that both are flat vinyl sign. He suggests having the sign be more three-dimensional.
Tripoli states that he other three-dimensional signs on the mall’s awnings are breaking because the wood behind the awning will not support a heavy sign. He states that he would love to make a routered sign but is not sure if his client will be open to this idea.
Kennedy agrees with DeMaio stating that applied vinyl looks too temporary.
Blier states that he agrees with the others that it should be three-dimensional.
DeMaio asks if they have considered any colors other than the black and white for the “Bewitched in Salem” sign.
Tripoli states that they want to use black and white because their best selling items are black and white, so now all of their marketing pieces are black and white.
Kennedy states that silver could be used and it wouldn’t change the tone too much. He agrees that adding dimension would be nice in that area.
Tripoli agrees to consider silver. He adds that the owner of the Oriental Gallery is in Asia for the next 6 weeks. He suggests that he could just make the sign and have it done when the owner gets back.
Kinzer summarizes the recommendations which include:
1. Both signs should be more three-dimensional, either positive or negative.
2. The “Bewitched in Salem” sign could use a color other than white, possibly silver.
Kennedy: Motion to continue this hearing until the next meeting, seconded by Jaquith. (Passes 4-0)
3 (continued from above) 118 Washington Street (Fresh Taste of Asia) – Proposed revision to outdoor café.
The DRB continued the meeting at the 118 Washington Street outdoor café (See item #3 above).
During the site visit, the members agree on an alternate layout for the seating area and instruct Xu to place the first stanchion 9' out from the post near the side door so that the chain will run diagonally from the corner of the building to the first stanchion. Kinzer updates the site plan to reflect this amendment to the café design.
Kinzer summarizes the recommendations:
1. In order to permit adequate space on the diagonal Lappin Park walkway, the configuration of the café enclosure will match the attached site plan dated May 23, 2007
2. The approval is exclusive of umbrellas and of candles on the tables.
3. The approval is for a maximum of 28 outside seats.
Jaquith: Motion to approve the outdoor café with the above noted suggestions, seconded by Kennedy. All members vote in favor. (Passes 4-0)
Jaquith: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Blier. (Passes 4-0)
The meeting is adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
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