Design Review Board

DRB December 18, 2024 Page 1 of 4 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, Marc Perras, Catherine Miller, Sarah Tarbet, Elizabeth Murray Members Absent: Leeann Leftwich, Kate Martin Others Present: Stephanie Owens, Senior Planner Recorder: Christine Petryszyn The meeting was called to order at 6:01PM. Roll call was taken. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 27 Charter Street: Small Project Review – Installation of 6 antennas and communications equipment on rooftop penthouse for the City of Salem. Alan Dionne, City of Salem Fire Department, was present to discuss this project, which includes the following: • Replacement of the radio system for the Fire and Police Departments. The equipment being used is at least 30-40 years old and is experiencing significant failure rates. • They are looking to include five locations in the City that will maintain the radio equipment for the region. A hub at the police station will replace the entire system. • There will be three transmission sites in the City, one of which will be at Charter St. which will have four satellite/microwave dishes. The dishes will be aimed at the Fire Department, Police Department, Warning Towers, and Pope St. It will be a redundant system and will cost $4.5M. All the existing rental and lease sites will be removed. • The project is past procurement and now working on install. The designers have worked to fit the equipment to work with the old buildings, but there are space constraints. • The Charter St. location includes the removal of one or two of the existing antennas and replaced with an identical modern mast antenna. Four microwave dishes, 4’ in diameter will be installed, mounted to the elevator penthouse. The equipment can be painted, but not disguised. • The color of the antennas is white-gray. • Mr. Perras believes the antenna pole should remain white-gray. The dishes and mounting hardware/pipes should be painted the red brick color. • Ms. Miller clarified that they should be painted brick color, not painted to look like bricks. There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the project as presented. Seconded by: Perras. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor.  DRB December 18, 2024 Page 2 of 4 2. 252 Bridge Street: Discussion of The Exchange’s curved wall mock-up Chance Brady and Steve Prestejohn were present to discuss this project: • The applicant met with the SRA in November to discuss the project and its constructability. • Points of discussion included panel color tones appeared to have more contrast than intended, the floor lines reveals appeared broader, and the panel joints needed to have a more deliberate composition. • Mr. Prestejohn would like to make changes to the colors to be more in keeping for what they had planned for the building’s execution. • Graphics and plans were shared showing the panel joint patterning alternate. • Board members were supportive of the changes, but suggested changes to the joint reveal color to be a gray or charcoal color. There were no comments from the public. • Ms. Murray inquired whether they could see a mock-up with the changes. Mr. Prestejohn suggested that the panel be sent to the GC so that the new colors could be verified. Mr. Brady said that is something they can facilitate, including the trim color. VOTE: Ms. Tarbet made a motion to approve the project with gray reveal joint on the floors and patterning the joints between the windows and the as shown on page 7 with the caveat of seeing the new colors for the panels and the reveal joint. Seconded by: Perras. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor. 3. 21 Church Street: Small Project Review – Proposed screening for dumpsters in the parking lot. Jim Turner was present to discuss the application: • The dumpster serves his restaurant, Dire Wolf, and the Juicery. David Kucharsky, City of Salem, let Mr. Turner know they wanted to redo the parking lot and hoped to go from one big dumpster to individual dumpsters serving each location, which would be enclosed by a wooden fence. • The applicant believes he is before the board to determine whether the fencing should be painted. • Ms. Tarbet suggested the fence be painted dark brown as opposed to left natural given its location adjacent to the brick and dark storefront to match the coping of the windows. • The fence will last longer if it’s painted. • Ms. Miller suggested staining the fence instead of painting it so that it will last longer. • The Board and applicant agreed. There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Tarbet made a motion to approve the project and painting/staining the fence to match the dark brown metal on the building. Seconded by: Murray. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor.  DRB December 18, 2024 Page 3 of 4 4. 208 Essex Street: Small Project Review – Proposed minor modifications to the existing façade and the addition of a new rooftop HVAC unit. There was a brief discussion on whether there was a conflict. Ms. Tarbet and Mr. Perras disclosed their relationship with Jones Architecture. They are not working on the project, and this is a small project review. Members were comfortable moving forward. • Samuel Clement, Jones Architecture, was present to discuss the project on behalf of Salem Five Bank. • Mr. Clement noted that the project is in regard to the second and third floor of the building, and the replacement of the HVAC system on those floors. • This will include a couple of areas by removing existing systems and adding new HVAC infrastructure. • Floor plans and images were provided, showing existing and future conditions. Demo drawings were also provided. • The sandstone band coursing will be replaced with new pieces. Infill will be brick. Coffered panel will be installed at the bay windows. The applicant reviewed City documents on the historical information of the building. • The idea is that the brick infill will be the same texture and color so that it will essentially disappear. • Ms. Miller inquired about the color of the condenser unit. Mr. Clement said it would be white and would blend in with the addition of the abutting building. It was suggested that a utility box color may be a less strong impact. They are trying to keep it 10 feet away from the edge of the roof. • Mr. Clement said the plan is to only paint the brick they are infilling, and that there is not a plan to repaint everything. The goal is to match the weather finish of the building. • There will be no piping on the exterior. There was no comment from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve the project with the condenser colored in a tone that is compatible with the building and the paint for the air conditioning louvres is done in a way to match both the color and texture of the existing building. Seconded by: Murray. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor. Signs in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 253 Essex Street: Blackcraft A-Frame, continued to January 22, 2025 VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to continue the project to the next meeting. Seconded by: Murray. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor.  DRB December 18, 2024 Page 4 of 4 Projects Outside of the Urban Renewal Area There are no projects to review. New / Old Business 1. Officer Elections – Chair and Vice Chair Ms. Owens reported that Mr. Durand and Mr. Perras wished to stay in their positions. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to for Mr. Durand to continue as Chair, and Mr. Perras to continue as Vice-Chair. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 5-0 in favor. 2. Board Membership Updates Ms. Owens provided a summary of the changes in board membership which included the stepping down of David Ja, and replacement with Kate Martin and addition of Leanne Leftwich as a new member. Ms. Miller was reappointed for a three-year term which will expire on March 1st. 3. Approval of Minutes: a. November 20, 2024 VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to approve the November 20, 2024 minutes. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Miller, Murray (not present for the Nov. 20th mtg.), Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 4-0 in favor. 4. Staff updates, if any Ms. Owens reported that the April DRB meeting will be in person. Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: January 8th 2. DRB: January 22nd Mr. Perras expressed his appreciation to Ms. Owens for facilitating the joint meeting. Adjournment VOTE: Miller: Motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Tarbet. The meeting is adjourned at 7:13PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033