City of Salem Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 6:00pm
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Paul Durand, Helen Sides, Glenn Kennedy, David Jaquith, J. Michael Sullivan, Christopher Dynia
Members Absent: Ernest DeMaio
Others Present: Andrew Shapiro
Recorder: Jennifer Pennell
Paul Durand calls the meeting to order.
Urban Renewal Area Projects Under Review
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- 288 Derby Street (Bambolina): Discussion of proposed signage and proposed installation of steel chimney and kitchen exhaust hood on roof.
The submission under review includes a letter, drawings, and photos of the proposed steel chimney and signage. Terry Brown from Village Signworks was present on behalf of Bambolina to discuss the proposed signage.
Terry noted that the proposed signage would use the existing lighting fixtures on the right and left sides of the sign and be located above the door.
Kennedy inquired as to why a flat sign was being proposed as opposed to a blade sign. Brown noted that this was the preference of the applicant.
Jaquith questioned whether the spacing between the words “crafted” and “wood” was intentional. Brown responded noting that it was. Jaquith then commented that words should appear separated; this can be achieved by using more space or a dot.
Jaquith: Motion to approve with the comment that additional space should be added between “crafted” and “wood.”
Seconded by: Kennedy, Passes 6-0.
Architect Richard Griffin was present on behalf applicant with respect to the proposed chimney and vent installation.
Griffin noted that a second means of egress to exit out onto Liberty Street is required by building code. The proposal is for a 3-foot exit door with a raised side panel. The existing sill would drop 8” to allow for the proposed door. The door would be stained a similar color brown to an existing door seen across the street.
Additionally, the applicants are calling for the installation of a chimney to vent a new pizza oven. Griffin commented that the chimney would extend 2 feet above the higher roofline. It is proposed to be steel and silver in appearance.
A hood exhaust would also be added but would not be visible from the street as it would be set back 16’. It may be visible from the adjacent cemetery.
Sullivan questioned if the chimney could be moved over in between the two windows. He also commented that he is concerned about the hood being visible from the graveyard.
Griffin explained that the chimney needed to stay in its current position given the location of the pizza oven inside the building. He also noted that nobody occupies the windows where the chimney would be located.
Sides questioned if the chimney could be a matte black finish as opposed to stainless. Stainless would be more apparent from the street. Black would blend better.
Jaquith commented that he agrees that black would be a better color to use and that it would be in keeping with the industrial history of the building. He noted that he has no problem with the hood vent.
Restaurant co-owner Tim Haigh commented that he also felt as though the chimney blends well with the industrial look of the building. He also commented that the City’s fire prevention officer had commented to him that they prefer the straight venting that the chimney, in its currently proposed position, would provide – it provides a better convention current.
Shapiro noted that the Building Department has approved the plans.
Jaquith: Motion to approve as amended with a matte black finish for the chimney. Door approved as submitted.
Seconded by: Kennedy, Passes 6-0.
- 186 Essex Street, Unit #2 (Village Silversmith): Discussion of proposed building sign and A-frame sign.
The submission under review includes a letter, cut sheet, and sample of the proposed signage. Katy Lovasco was present on behalf of Village Silversmith
Lovasco explained that the building sign being proposed is aluminum. They are also proposing a black wood framed chalkboard a-frame sign for placement outside of the business.
Kennedy commented that the blue color selection does not work well with the green awning or surrounding signage. Black with white text would be the best scenario.
Lovasco asked whether the inverse of the colors might be preferable to the Board. Kennedy said that might be better, but black and white would still be best.
Lovasco commented that the colors being proposed are part of the store’s branding. They have several other locations where similar or the same color combinations are used.
Sides commented that a sign with a white background might look too much like a medical office.
Durand commented that he wished the building could have some continuity of signage. He noted that Omen seems to handle the approach to signage best.
Sides commented that the location is a marketplace and there is a variety of signage that cannot be changed.
Dynia commented that the sign seems overscaled.
Kennedy commented that the proposed text should decrease 1” within the sign so that it appears more legible. The logo would reduce ½” as well to create more edge space.
Sides: Motion to approve with review by Glenn Kennedy
Reduced text to 1”
Reduced logo to ½”
Seconded by: Jaquith, Passes 6-0.
- 24 Derby Street/ Artists Row #3 (Lobster Shanty): Continued discussion of proposed installation of air-cooled fan unit.
The submission under review includes a cut sheet and drawings of the proposed fan unit. Lee Wolfe was present on behalf of the Lobster Shanty.
Shapiro explained that the applicant has revised the application from having the fan unit mounted on the side of the building, to having it installed on the roof, with a wood platform that would be painted green to match the roof. It would be amongst other rooftop elements that currently sit atop the roof.
Jaquith commented that this was a far better proposal than what had been previously proposed.
Jaquith: Motion to approve.
Seconded by: Kennedy, Passes 6-0.
Old / New Business
- Derby Square and Essex Street Pedestrian Mall: Discussion of proposed Adirondack chairs and umbrellas.
The submission under review includes photos and cut sheets of the proposed chairs and umbrellas.
Shapiro noted that the proposal is for 6 Adirondack chairs made of pine to be placed behind the newly renovated fountain. They would be all the same size in a variety of colors.
Sides commented that she would prefer the chairs to be all the same color or two different colors. Sides noted that she likes the light green and light blue shades. Blues and red would be nice as well.
Sides: Motion to approve 3 green and 3 blue chairs.
Seconded by: Durand, Passes 6-0.
Shapiro noted that the proposal also calls for 6 umbrellas for the existing tables and chairs in Derby Square.
Durand commented that he likes the buttercup color because it is lively. They should all be the same color.
Jaquith: Motion to approve 6 buttercup color umbrellas.
Seconded by: Sides, Passes 6-0.
Minutes
Approval of the minutes from the March 25, 2015 regular meeting.
Jaquith: Motion to approve.
Seconded by: Sides, Passes 6-0.
Adjournment
Jaquith: Motion to adjourn,
Seconded by Kennedy. Passes 6-0.
Meeting is adjourned at 6:50 pm
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