CITY OF SALEM MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 2009
LOCATION: 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Paul Durand, Ernest DeMaio, David Jaquith (at 6:10 pm.), Glenn Kennedy, Helen Sides
MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Blier
OTHERS PRESENT: Planning Director Lynn Duncan, Economic Development Manager Tom Daniel
RECORDER: Andrea Bray
Chairperson Durand calls the meeting to order.
Urban Renewal Area Projects Under Review
1. South River Harborwalk: Discussion of design revision
Engineer Susan St. Pierre of Vine Associates explains that the redesign of the Harborwalk is necessary to reduce the costs of construction, and the Board has previously approved other modifications, and the plaza is the final piece of the project to be revised. She shows the original plaza design and states that it was too expensive. She then shows the new design.
Dave O’Connor from the Cecil Group explains that two factors were considered during this redesign: (1) the cost, and (2) at some point in the future the electric company may need to come back to work on an underground conduit, so this design must be panelized so that it can be lifted out and then put back into place. He describes the plaza as having the sense of a wooden plank deck approaching the water, formed of stamped concrete, a simple treatment stained a tan color, with joints in it. He adds that it will be acid stained to a light brown, because he is trying to avoid the idea of it being too bright so it will be a gray-brown-tan. He states that the concrete will be placed down and a release agent will be sprayed over it so the stamp can be placed on it and then lifted off of it. He says
that the reinforcement will be separated into 6x6 saw-cut panels that can be lifted. In the event that this must be lifted, O’Connor says that he wouldn’t want the utility contractor to be doing the sawing because they don’t know where the rebar is. He describes a feature as a fairly simple stamped compass rose, stained a patina copper grey-green color.
Sides asks if the cut lines will correspond to the planking.
O’Connor states that they will integrate on only one panel but it would be difficult to do that on all of the panels and he doesn’t think that it will be too noticeable because the saw blade is only 1/8 inch thick and dust and sand will settle in to the cracks fairly quickly. He adds that the flag pole will remain there, and they will keep the granite bench overlooking the water and the plantings will be largely the same.
DeMaio asks if the Derby Street tree already exists, and O’Connor says yes.
Jaquith enters.
Daniel provides a review of the processes stating that this will go to the SRA next week with the DRB’s recommendation, and this is the final piece of the plan to be revised, so once approved, it will go to bid.
DeMaio states that the compass rose appears to encroach on the tree pit, and asks if it could it be lifted out.
O’Connor states that it will be able to be lifted out.
DeMaio questions the location of the compass rose, stating that it is not in a comfortable place for the way that people will arrive and move around the entry to the Harborwalk. He asks if it might be an obstacle or nuisance, being near the tree pit. He states that it might not be the ideal place for this feature.
O’Connor states that they could move it into the plaza.
DeMaio says that it should speak to an arrival or have some visual significance to where it is placed.
Durand states that it needs to be pulled in somewhere.
Sides states that she likes that it comes out because it might bring your eye in and it might clue you to turn to see it, but it does need a little bit of space.
DeMaio asks how they intend to light the flagpole.
O’Connor points out the flagpole lighting.
DeMaio asks if there are any trash receptacles, and O’Connor says no.
DeMaio says if there were to be trash receptacles it would be helpful to think about where they might be located, so they won’t be placed front and center. He stresses the importance of having trash receptacles in the plaza. He asks if there will be bike racks.
O’Connor states that an occupied bike rack has a big footprint.
Duncan suggests placing bike racks on Derby Street.
DeMaio states that without a bike rack someone might try to chain a bike to the flagpole.
Harbor Master Frank Taormina states that there is a bike rack on Derby Street in front of the teashop, New Civilitea.
Kennedy states that he is trying to envision this entryway with what is going on in the Peabody Street Park.
O’Connor states that they are two separate experiences.
St. Pierre state that the stamped wood planking would connect with the timber walkway at the park.
DeMaio asks about signage.
St. Pierre says that the City has a Harborwalk signage program and there are now three interpretive signs and an entrance sign.
DeMaio says the signs should make some sense and coordinate with the design.
Kennedy says that a natural place for the compass rose would be in line with the bench, straight up from where they now have it.
Durand suggests enlarging it.
O’Connor states that it is a one-piece module.
Kennedy states that it feels like a stopping point and that is not where you want someone to stop, so it should be moved in line with the bench.
O’Conner says they can revisit the location of the bench.
Durand states that the bench could come close to the curve and the members agree.
Duncan states that the Harborwalk sign should be part of the budget and the design.
Taormina states that there is an example of the type of sign to be used for the Harborwalk at the Congress Street Bridge.
St. Pierre states that the signs are large.
The members agree that the sign should not be intrusive to the space, but should be part of the landscape.
St. Pierre suggests putting the logo of the Harborwalk on the interpretive signs and the members agree.
Daniel reviews the conditions for the approval, which are:
- The compass rose will move toward the bench.
- The bench will move toward the curb.
- There will be no additional signage.
Kenndey: Motion to approve the design with the above recommendations, seconded by Jaquith. Passes 5-0.
2. Approval of Minutes – November 12, 2008 Special Meeting and November 19, 2008 Regular Meeting
Sides: Motion to approve the minutes for the November 12, 2008 meeting, seconded by DeMaio. Passes 5-0.
Durand suggests an amendment to the minutes for the November 19, 2008 meeting.
Sides: Motion to approve the minutes for the November 19, 2008 meeting as amended, seconded by Jaquith. Passes 5-0.
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