City of Salem Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday March 25, 2015 at 6:00pm
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Paul Durand, David Jaquith, Ernest DeMaio, Helen Sides, Glenn Kennedy, Christopher Dynia and J. Michael Sullivan
Members Absent:
Others Present: Andrew Shapiro
Recorder: Andrew Shapiro
Chairman Paul Durand calls the meeting to order.
Urban Renewal Area Projects Under Review
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- 155 Washington Street (Adriatic Restaurant): Discussion of proposed installation of awning
Documents and Exhibitions:
- Cover letter
- Photos showing awnings superimposed on existing building
Vini Kurti, owner of Adriatic Restaurant, was present. Mr. Kurti noted that he would like to erect awnings above his restaurant windows. He explained that he was told that the bottom of the awnings must be no lower than 10 feet from the sidewalk. His plan was to have a fixed awning, but he has since revised his proposal to be a retractable awning, which when fully extended, its bottom would be about 8 and a half feet from the sidewalk. Turner’s Seafood installed similar style awnings. There would be no logo on the awning, only gold colored vertical stripes as shown in the designs.
Durand asked Kurti if he had thought of an interior solution to the issue of too much sunlight spilling into the restaurant. Kurti explained that the restaurant has shades, but they are ineffective and not able to be used when the windows are opened in the warmer months.
Shapiro confirmed that a fixed awning could be no less than 10 feet from the sidewalk, but that he had yet to confirm with the building department whether the proposed retractable awning would be acceptable.
Durand, Sides, and Kennedy all noted that they felt that the 10 ft. height limit was high. Durand also expressed that he feels that the solution of a retractable awning is fine. Sides also said that she was okay with the retractable awning.
Kennedy said that he would be fine with an awning – fixed or retractable - being at 8 and a half feet from the sidewalk, and that 10 feet seems too restrictive.
Sullivan questioned whether a variance could be sought for a fixed awning at the proposed height. Shapiro noted that he conferred with the Building Department about that possibility, but was told that a variance could not be sought in this case.
DeMaio noted that he suspects that there are several examples around the City of awnings being lower than 10 feet from the sidewalk.
Shapiro acknowledged that this is likely the case, however the code of ordinances clearly states the requirement that signs or awnings over public sidewalks be at least 10 feet from the sidewalk.
DeMaio pointed out that Turner’s Seafood has retractable awnings that are likely less than 10 feet from the ground. Durand then noted that would present a precedent.
Durand suggested that he would motion to recommend approval of the retractable awning, noting to the SRA that the 10 ft. height limit seems too restrictive, and that this would be a good compromise.
DeMaio added that perhaps the Board should consider adding the condition that the awning be no lower than the height of the awnings at Turner’s Seafood.
Durand responded by noting that perhaps the Board should not single out one establishment in terms of precedent for an awning lower than 10 ft., but to call out a dimension that seems acceptable in this case.
Sides and others note that they would be comfortable with 8 feet as the limit.
Durand: Motion to approve conditional upon the bottom of the retractable awning being no lower than eight (8) feet and upon approval from the Building Inspector.
Seconded by: Jaquith, Passes 7-0.
- 24 New Derby Street / Artists’ Row #3 (Lobster Shanty): Discussion of proposed installation of air-cooled fan unit
Documents and Exhibitions:
- Memo to the Board
- Photos showing existing conditions, and with drawings of proposed outline of unit
- Specifications of fan
- Wooden box (brought in physically) that would house the fan
Diane Wolf and Paul (Chef of the restaurant) were present on behalf of the Lobster Shanty. Wolf explained that they planned on installing a fan to cool their refrigeration until, which would be mounted on the side of their building with a wooden box screening it, which would be painted the same color green as the roof.
Paul noted that they propose to mount it 80 inches off the ground with a lock in order to prevent people from tampering with it.
Sides expressed a concern about how far the box and unit would be sticking out from the side of the building.
Durand questioned how the unit and box would be supported. Paul explained that bracing would have to be mounted.
Sides questioned whether a roof unit could be considered as an alternative. Wolf noted that she would not object to mounting the unit on the roof.
Dynia explained that a platform would need to be constructed to support the unit on the roof.
Jaquith inquired about what the unit was for. Wolf explained that it would be used to cool a walk-in refrigeration unit that is currently water cooled. The air-cooled unit would save the restaurant approximately $6,000 per year.
Jaquith questioned whether there was a way to have a unit sit on top of the refrigerator inside the building, and to duct the hot air out. Wolf noted that there is not enough room inside the building to accomplish this.
Sullivan asked if the current mechanical units on the roof can be seen from the RCG parking lot that is adjacent to Artists’ Row. Wolf said that yes, they can be seen.
Sides again emphasized her preference not to see the unit mounted on the side of the building, especially given the amount of support the unit would need in order to be held up.
Kennedy noted that he is less concerned about the visual impact of the proposed unit, as opposed to the issues inherent with supporting it on the side of the building.
Sides: Motion to continue.
Seconded by: Jaquith, Passes 7-0.
Minutes
Approval of the minutes from the December 17, 2014 regular meeting.
Kennedy: Motion to approve, seconded by Sides. Passes 5-0 (Durand and Dynia abstain).
Adjournment
Kennedy: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Sides. Passes 7-0.
Meeting is adjourned at 6:27 pm.
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