Design Review Board

DRB January 22, 2025 Page 1 of 3 City of Salem Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board or Committee: Design Review Board, Regular Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting DRB Members Present: Chair Paul Durand, Marc Perras, Catherine Miller, Sarah Tarbet, Elizabeth Murray, Leeann Leftwich, Kate Martin Others Present: Stephanie Owens, Senior Planner Recorder: Christine Petryszyn The meeting was called to order at 6:04PM. Roll call was taken. Projects in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 32 Derby Square: Small Project Review – Review of updated handrail options. Don Mills was present to discuss the project, which includes the following: • A follow-up on the old Town Hall preservation project which includes a change to the north entry that was discovered when completing the construction documents. • Survey plans were shared. • The civil engineer noted that a curb cut was needed, but there wasn’t enough distance to have a level landing. • An application was made to the Architectural Access Board for a variance so that a ramp could be avoided. The goal was for each walkway to the building be similar. • The Architectural Access Board approved the grade change going from a curb cut directly to the walkway, but requested a handrail on the building side, which would not be subject to damage and would give people something to hold on to. • Mr. Mills proposed an option to have a handrail on both entrances for symmetry. • Plans illustrating both design options were shared. • Pricing is not known yet. • Ms. Miller and Mr. Durand both expressed support for the single handrail as it denotes which entrance is the accessible entrance. • Ms. Tarbet and Ms. Martin liked the symmetry of both sides, but understood the rationale of having one. Ms. Tarbet expressed concern about brick being accessible. Mr. Mills said the underlay will be concrete and won’t move around. Other walkways will be on compressed stone dust. There were no comments from the public. VOTE: Ms. Miller made a motion to approve one railing for the project as proposed. Seconded by: Perras. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 7-0 in favor.  DRB January 22, 2025 Page 2 of 3 Ms. Owens noted that the SRA will need to review the DRB’s recommendations and that they next meet the second week of February. Signs in the Urban Renewal Area 1. 253 Essex Street: Blackcraft A-Frame, continued to January 22, 2025 VOTE: Ms. Martin made a motion to continue the project to the next meeting. Ken McTague was present and offered to act as his client’s liaison for the proposal. Ms. Martin withdrew her motion. • Ms. Owens noted that this proposal is a follow-up on the A-frames and window signage that the Board had requested. She added that there is no new material to review and she has not heard from the applicant. VOTE: Ms. Martin made a motion to withdraw the application without prejudice. Seconded by: Tarbet. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 7-0 in favor. 2. 192 Essex Street: Hex Old World Witchery Ken McTague was present to discuss the proposal: • The client owns two stores, Omen and Hex on Essex Street. They are closing Hex and rebranding Omen. • Images and photos were shared. • Text along the awning will also be updated. • Sign will be carved; white parts will be carved and the red letters will be raised. The sign will be in the same location. It is 27.43’ by 40’. • Ms. Leftwich noted that it will probably pop out more than what is shown in the rendering. • The bump out on the top is just 2-3 inches taller than the existing sign. • Ms. Owens confirmed that the sign meets the requirements compared to building frontage. • In responding to Ms. Leftwich’s question, Mr. McTague noted that the existing Omen sign has an arched top as well. • Ms. Tarbet noted that she likes the way the Omen sign tucks into the top corner of the text, and line up with the awning. She inquired whether that could be done for the Hex sign. Mr. McTague thought bringing it down may be challenging. There were no comments from the public. • Mr. McTague reported that he is going to look to see If the vinyl needs to be replaced. VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to approve the project as presented. Seconded by: Leftwich. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 7-0 in favor.  DRB January 22, 2025 Page 3 of 3 Projects Outside of the Urban Renewal Area There are no projects to review. New / Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes: a. December 11, 2024 VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to approve the December 11, 2024 minutes. Seconded by: Murray. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 7-0 in favor. b. December 18, 2024 VOTE: Mr. Perras made a motion to approve the December 18, 2024 minutes. Seconded by: Leftwich. Roll Call: Leftwich, Martin, Miller, Murray, Perras, Tarbet, and Durand. 7-0 in favor. 2. Staff updates, if any Ms. Owens reminded the Board that the April DRB meeting will be in person. She also reminded the Board they will be scheduling an informal walk around in late February – March to look at current sign conditions in the pedestrian mall Upcoming Meetings 1. SRA: February 12th 2. DRB: February 26th Adjournment VOTE: Perras: Motion to adjourn. Seconded by: Tarbet. The meeting is adjourned at 6:45PM. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 39 §23B and City Ordinance Sections 2-028 through 2-2033