Planning Board — 2021-03-22
Minutes
MELROSE PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES Design Review Subcommittee Monday, March 22, 2021 7:00 PM Remote Meeting PRESENT: Carla Morelli, Jack Welch, & Robert Mercado ABSENT: John Sadowski STAFF PRESENT: Denise Gaffey, Director, Emma Battaglia, Senior Planner & Lori Massa, Planning Coordinator The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM by Ms. Morelli. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting was conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Meeting access and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting was found on the City of Melrose’s website, at www.cityofmelrose.org/remote-meetings. No in-person attendance of members of the public was permitted, but every effort was made to ensure that the public could adequately access the proceedings in real time. An audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings was posted on the mmtv3.org website as soon as possible after the meeting. A link was also available on www.cityofmelrose.org. Case 17-002, 419-429 Main Street The DRSC has had several meetings to discuss changes to the site and building at 419-429 Main Street that differ from the approved plans. Trash, landscaping and open space are the remaining issues. The Applicants came back with revisions to the open space plan but did not come back with a change to the trash location, which is currently in the alley. They declined to move it to the rear of the building. The Subcommittee discussed the revised landscape plan. The strip along the right side of the property will be pea gravel instead of a planted bed. There will be a small square planting bed at the corner of the building and an L-shaped bed instead. The edge of the planting bed will be over the culvert and the Applicants have proposed that it sit on top of the asphalt. The bed will screen the ramp. They will reconfigure the rear stair as shown on the plan. They are proposing two wing walls to screen the trash totes in the alley on two sides. The height of the walls is not on the plan. The Health Director was satisfied with the trash in this location. The Subcommittee had questions about how often the trash will need to be picked up and if there is a different tenant in the building in the future if the trash totes would be sufficient. There is no trash management plan to ensure that a trash truck will not stop on Main Street while the totes Planning Board Design Review Subcommittee Meeting Minutes March 22, 2021 Page 2 of 2 are wheeled out and this was a concern. Another concern was that the totes will not be returned to this area. All of the trash storage for the Main Street properties are behind the buildings and pickup happens in the rear, away from Main Street. A member asked how cardboard will be stored. The owner represented that he is on-site to management this type of material. The Subcommittee concluded that the Applicants should submit a memo describing the details of the trash storage, operations and maintenance around how pickup will work. They need to provide a plan now for full occupancy and report back at certain times to see how it is going. They should come back to the Planning Board in 6 months and also when the tenancy changes to understand how trash storage is working and so that the Board can be part of the solution if it changes. The Subcommittee was willing to compromise but do not want to see trash on the ground in the alley. The alleys downtown function as pedestrian walkways, not alleys for trash storage. The DRSC was accepting of the other changes in the plans. These include: Remove ornamental grasses along Eastern Bank side of the building. Leave as pea gravel (This area is to be renovated by Eastern Bank soon apparently) Labeling of 3 spaces in basement as “Future commercial space as allowed by Zoning and building code” Eliminate small planter in rear adjacent to Remax. Revised stair from Physical Therapy commercial side to be reconfigured and former stair location to become planting area (as shown on attached) Large planter bed along handicap walkway to be enlarged to accommodate true layered plantings throughout the season. Planter bed framework to be something other than railroad ties. We are now proposing a durable and aesthetically more pleasing option using retaining wall stone. Rear awnings to be added to match awnings along Main Street Commercial tenants (REMAX & ATI Physical Therapy) are to revise signage to meet City ordinances and shall work together to have a cohesive signage and lighting package Documents: As-built plans dated 7/14/2020 The meeting ended at 7:30pm.