Planning Board

City of Salem Planning Board Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 1 of 5 CITY OF SALEM A public hearing of the Salem Planning Board was held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. via remote access. Public participation was possible via Zoom video and conference call. Chair Kirt Rieder calls the meeting to order at 6:31 pm. I. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Kirt Rieder, Vice Chair Sarah Tarbet, Jonathan Berk, Tom Furey, Carole Hamilton, Helen Sides, Zach Caunter, and Graham Hines (8) Absent: Josh Turiel (1) Also in attendance: Robin Lee, staff planner II. REGULAR AGENDA A. 17 Canal Street, Salem, MA (Map 34, Lot 301) Applicant: Scott Grover Description: A continuance of a public hearing for all persons interested in the application of Scott Grover for the property located at 17 Canal Street (Map 34, Lot 301) in the B5 (Central Development) and ECOD (Entrance Corridor Overlay District) Zoning Districts for Site Plan Review and a Special Permit in accordance with the following sections of the Salem Zoning Ordinance: Section 9.5 Site Plan Review and Section 7.3 Planned Unit Development Special Permit. Specifically, the applicant proposes to construct a new six-story building that will include a 132-room AC Hotel by Marriott, a restaurant and lounge, and parking garage with 60 spaces. Parking is proposed on the first two floors. A lobby is proposed on the ground floor, the restaurant and lounge on the second floor, and hotel guest rooms on the upper four floors. Other site improvements include landscaping, streetscape improvements, and a loading area at the main entrance. Scott Grover is here for the applicant. David Sherborne of Opechee Construction is also in attendance. Mr. Sherborne shares his screen. The building will be darker brick and less beige in the precast color. There will also be further brick detailing. The Pedestrian circulation will be improved on Pond Street with the addition of a crosswalk. Additionally, the landscaping will be adjusted at the entrance and Pond Street. And Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033. City of Salem Planning Board Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 2 of 5 the addition of a Bowhall maple on Pond Street along with a matched pair of trees on Canal Street complete the changes. Crosswalk connectivity from the west side of Pond to the eastern side. Could not add to the north side of Kenny Court, a bulbous sidewalk will allow better visibility though. Landscape plan adjustments have been made as well. There is now an opportunity for public art with the façade adjustments. Presented three options to the DRB for the façade. Option A was the preferred option to work with. The roof edge detailing has been enhanced. Light masonry banding has been largely removed. The elements of the upper portions will wrap all the way around. Propose to use lighting control to alleviate lighting problems at night as well as interior window treatment sot mitigate light spillage. Further changes include masonry application to give it a little bit more texture and contrast, not just in color, but to the to the red brick where we would express the band right below the windowsill. Public Comment There was no public comment. Planning Board Comments Ms. Sides really sees the improvement, particularly the view from downtown where the gray material is taller. Would like this to be carried around the rest of the building. Mr. Sherborne says there is an opportunity for this to carry around. Mr. Furey agrees with Ms. Sides. Wonders if they would take Ken’s Thrift Shop to expand? Mr. Grover says that the owner has no intention of selling. Mr. Caunter also finds this to be an improvement. Agrees with Ms. Sides on the gray detailing. Ms. Tarbet agrees with the above comments. Agrees that the view from downtown is beautiful. Likes the Pond Street proportions. Mr. Rieder echoes, the view is good but likes the asymmetrical styling of the different heights of the gray. Mr. Berk asks about the first two floors as parking. What is the window treatment planned? Mr. Sherborne says that it will be the same glazing as windows above but perhaps with roller shades. Mr. Rieder says that seems like something that can be damaged. Why not a glass treatment? Mr. Sherborne says that spandrel glass always Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033. City of Salem Planning Board Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 3 of 5 reads different. Regarding dirtiness, the only people in the space will be the valet staff. Ms. Sides thinks that something on the second level of parking, to “pull it up a little.” Even the cables that are holding up the awning would be working. A connection between the first and second floors. Mr. Hines asks if the intention is to match the paneling on the second floor similar to the third floor. Mr. Sherborne says that they are the louvers of the mechanical system. Ms. Tarbet acknowledges the crosswalk at Pond Street as a good solution. Mr. Rieder says that it will be helpful. Motion to continue to June 26, 2025 is made by Carole Hamilton, seconded by Tom Furey, and passes 8-0 in a roll call vote. Kirt Rieder Y Tom Furey Y Carole Hamilton Y Sarah Tarbet Y Jonathan Berk Y Helen Sides Y Zach Caunter Y Graham Hines Y III. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS A. Discuss and vote on designation of a Planning Board member for the Tree Commission. Mr. Rieder is looking for a replacement for Mr. Rieder’s position on the committee. Role is primarily to assist the Tree Warden. The new Tree Warden has just started, and the board is to work holistically and with emphasis on large shade trees in the downtown. This is focused on public right-of-way, not parks. Motion to nominate Mr. Rieder to the Tree Commission is made by Helen Sides, seconded by Tom Furey, and passes 7-0 in a roll call vote with one abstention. Kirt Rieder A Tom Furey Y Carole Hamilton Y Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033. City of Salem Planning Board Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Sarah Tarbet Y Jonathan Berk Y Helen Sides Y Zach Caunter Y Graham Hines Y B. Staff update on previously approved projects. Ms. Lee shares that the project tracker is updated through April in SharePoint. Regarding 401 Bridge, it is the same owner, and work is going through the Engineering Department on the site. Mr. Furey asks about what is being built; Mr. Rieder stresses that they must adhere to the plan that was approved. Ms. Hamilton says that the time limit was adopted well after this project was approved and therefore, he has unlimited time. Ms. Sides finds it inevitable that this project will be coming back for material changes at least. They should present the former plans so the board can see what they are proposing. They cannot keep avoiding us. She encourages Tom Daniel, the city’s Planning Director, to take this on so this project stops inching along. Mr. Rieder observed the Franklin Street building looks close to occupancy but no work to connecting it to 2 Franklin Street. The city has been noticed, and they should not receive a certificate of occupancy without this connection. Ms. Sides was pleased with the work on the project on Harmony Grove. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 16, 2025, Joint Public Hearing draft minutes Motion to approve the April 16, 2025, Joint Public Hearing draft minutes is made by Helen Sides, seconded by Sarah Tarbet, and passes 8-0 in a roll call vote. Kirt Rieder Y Tom Furey Y Carole Hamilton Y Sarah Tarbet Y Jonathan Berk Y Helen Sides Y Zach Caunter Y Graham Hines Y Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033. City of Salem Planning Board Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 5 of 5 V. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn is made by Helen Sides, seconded by Sarah Tarbet, and passes 8-0 in a roll call vote. Kirt Rieder Y Tom Furey Y Carole Hamilton Y Sarah Tarbet Y Jonathan Berk Y Helen Sides Y Zach Caunter Y Graham Hines Y Adjourned at 7:26 pm Minutes Approved on: June 5, 2025 Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033.