HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-14-DAC-min.pdf DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 14, 1995
Present: DAC members: Karen Bechtel,Tom Coffman,John Frey Steve Hurley Barbara
Hulsizer,Carl Oldenburg,Betsy Whitman.Maureen Bovet,LF&GC,Vivian Berman,Lex.
Arts Council.
Meeting called to order at 8:05. Minutes of the October 10, 1995 meeting approved
with the following minor corrections: 2. "f" in Bedford in last paragraph;3. will take care
of the barrels "in the winter"• 6. .from both sides "and will be perpendicular to" the bike
path; 10. .David Andersen, "of Mass. Highway Dept." Members were enthusiastic at
receiving the minutes from Barbara a week before the meeting.
McGraw-Hill representative,Bob Sheldon, brought in a sign to go to the Board of
Appeals.They have a new corporate image which is to be communicated by this sign.It
will be 8'long by 4'high,to replace the present slightly larger sign. It will be in the same
location but turned 90 degrees.There will be a light,with a 150 watt bulb,on each side.
There exist 2 small signs indicating the street number The DAC gave unanimous approval.
Town Report committee photographer,Ray Barnes,took the DAC photo.
Marriott Assisted-Living Facility proponents Leo Bernardo,assisted care manager;
Chuck Griffin,architect;Bob Dolan,real estate;Gary Larson,landscape architect;Steve
Politi and Tom Fenn,counselors;made their presentation.
The location is 3.5 acres on Lowell Street,where "Plant Action" has been.This is an RO
zone(residential ),30,000 square feet minimum.The "Plant Action" site plan was shown.
The greenhouses were roughly 10' to 12' high, with another higher building and a smoke
stack.They showed neighboring properties and buffer landscaping.
The proposed 26,000 square foot building has 61 required parking spaces.They would be
willing to leave in grass those spaces that they now feel are unnecessary They plan a wood
sign with carved letters.There are 115 units in a three-story 35'high structure.
The DAC was shown renderings from several views. Some comments and questions from
members included: could building be moved a little further from the East Street side?(Yes)
The one story section looked industrial.They would work on that issue.The third floor
roof line has a very long shed dormer. If this is not allowed in a residential home, should it
not be rethought here?
Although it was not in the DAC's purview,all were interested in seeing the interior plans
and learning more about what the facility offered.The Marriott group asked if they might
return to the DAC and were told they could.
Meter markers proponent,Bigelow Moore,described his idea for identifying the
locations of 2-hour and 4 hour meters. He proposes that each meter pole would have,just
below the head,a 2 1/2" strip of colored bands. On each would be the number(2 hr max)
three times and the words then move.
There was lengthy discussion as to how 350 of these might look. Could the color be softer,
( could there be fewer graphics,or none?Would it not be just as effective to have color on
the 4 hour poles only?Bigelow seemed to want it as an educational thrust.The committee
voted 3 in favor of color and a single number,4 in favor of leaving them as they are.
When Bigelow asked if we were aware of the signs at both ends of the lot saying 2"2 hour
limit",only one in the room had seen them.We concluded that people don't read when
parking.
The DAC urged strongly that Big do an"Op Ed" spot in the Minute-Man pointing out where
the 4-hour meters are.He says that people are not aware that it is illegal to come back and
feed a meter.This could be covered in the article.
HDC and Sign Guide:It was proposed that Clark Griffiths and Walter Pierce from the
HDC,John Frey and Tom Coffman from the DAC,and Steve Hurley from the Chamber
should get together.They will make sure that the needs of all are covered in the Sign Guide.
Route 2 A.John showed the DAC the Marrett Road Dispute Resolution Plan drawn by
the BSC Group. It was obvious that John, Hubert Murray,Betty Eddison, and Nancy
Nelson, and others had worked extremely hard to make the original plan"less worse"
Adjournment was at 10:45 p.m.
Scribe: Betsy Whitman
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Next DAC MEETING on December 12, 1995 in Room 111 at 8:00 p.m.
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