TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC) MINUTES
Committee Attendees: Ramsay Gourd, Joelle Greenland. Absent: John Watanabe.
Staff Attendees: Janet Hurley (Planning & Zoning Director), John O’Keefe (Town Manager).
Public Attendees: Anya Lincks, Bill Badger, Dave Fielding, Fiona Morton, Suzanne Fontaine, John Mallard, Tim Counts, Bill Drunsic.
Greenland called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. with committee members Greenland and Gourd present via Zoom. Each additional Zoom participant introduced themselves as indicated above. Hurley explained that the meeting was being recorded and that the committee was authorized to meet electronically by the governor’s order and Act 92 in response to the COVID-19 threat. Hurley also reported that the selectboard voted to allow up to 50% of parking lots to be used for outdoor services and for conversion of indoor to outdoor restaurant seating without permit fees through the end of the year.
1. Bonnet & Main Café, 15 Bonnet Street & 4869 Main Street, Outdoor services.
Morton and Fontaine described the proposed outdoor seating and service arrangements, while Hurley displayed the visual mock-ups on screen. There will be two forward tables and three behind the outdoor kitchen. The furniture, bar partition, and tents will all be black. Seating will be on the paved surface, with no seating in the adjacent grass area. The bar partition will be solid rather than alternating open as shown. This is a temporary arrangement and the permit fee was waived. Gelato sales will occur on the other side of the building in the Jefferson patio. Gourd motioned to recommend approval as presented. Green land seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
2. The Little Rooster, 4764 Main Street, Signage and outdoor services at new location.
Lincks described her plans while Hurley display the visuals on screen. Greenland and Gourd were approving of the plan but suggested trash receptacles. Lincks agreed that would be a good idea for the grass strip in front of the building, something nice, sturdy, maybe with a wooden base. Gourd motioned to recommend approval as presented. Greenland seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
3. Northshire Baptist Church, 5769 & 5571 Main Street. Paving and outdoor lighting plan.
Counts described the planned improvements while Hurley displayed the site plan and lighting specifications on screen. There was discussion about the proposed light fixtures. A twelve foot height was suggested and less than or equal to 3000K for color temperature. Counts indicated that he plans on using the SH1 lamp style. Hurley suggested Type 4 optic distribution. Counts is awaiting the final lighting plan. Gourd asked what the hours of use would be for the lighting. Counts proposed that they be on until 10 or 11:00 at night, or when nighttime functions were occurring on the site. This would likely be programmable from a smartphone or other device. Counts does not know which wattage specification was suggested by the lighting contractor. Committee members conjectured that 150 W may be too high and would cost more to operate. Posts would be the same black metal as the fixture, round, and probably affixed to a concrete base.
Greenland asked about the planned fence replacement. She noted that the existing split rail fence has chicken wire over parts of it. The DAC suggested replacement with just split rail, no chicken wire. If the playground needs fencing, Counts was asked to come back with a separate fencing proposal for that. Hurley indicated that she spoke with the applicant’s engineer Frank Parent about sheet flow from the newly paved parking lot. The plan shows sheet flow westerly toward the rear property line, but there is no room there to infiltrate. In order to keep stormwater on the subject property, Parent suggested a low point in the middle of the rear parking area that would drain southeasterly to another drywell. Counts pointed out the proposed relocation of the freestanding sign northerly closer to the driveway. Greenland motioned to recommend approval as presented and discussed. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
4. Spiral Scoops and Charlies Coffee House, 39 Bonnet Street, Outdoor service plan.
Drunsic described the plan while Hurley displayed visuals on screen. Drunsic confirmed that the furniture is the same style as that approved last year for the outdoor patio at Charlie’s Coffee House. If more seating is needed, Drunsic said he would expand the flagstone patio toward Bonnet Street. Drunsic would like to use the old Spiral Scoops picket fence to separate the seating area from the parking lot. Color was discussed. It was decided that white pickets would be preferred. Drunsic suggested red posts to tie in with the Spiral Scoops awning. Greenland motioned to recommend approval as presented and discussed. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
5. Manchester Medical Center, 34 Bonnet Street, Amendments to phase 2 renovation plans.
Mallard described revised plans for the rear portion of the clinic while Hurley displayed visuals on screen. Mallard explained that the existing rear structure on slab is in bad shape and the configuration was less than ideal. The proposed footprint is slightly smaller and there would be no second story. The ambulance access is also slightly modified to correctly accommodate emergency vehicles. Hurley explained that the structure was not included in either adjoining historic district and is therefore not a contributing historic structure. The rear portion of the building is an addition with no known historic significance and the front portion of the building was nicely restored during phase 1 of the project. Gourd and Greenland expressed approval of the plan for new construction. Hurley asked for clarification on which roofing type was proposed, architectural asphalt or standing seam metal. Mallard indicated a preference for the metal. Gourd suggested that snow guards would be needed. Mallard agreed. Gourd expressed preference for the metal as more appropriate with the slate on the historic front part of the structure, rather than a mix of three different roofing materials.
Hurley displayed the temporary trailer location at the rear of the building and specifications for the trailer. This would be used for potential COVID-19 patients. Greenland motioned to recommend approval as presented provided appropriate snow guards are included on the metal roof. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
6. REE&C Capital Management Services, 5575 & 5615 Main Street, 20-unit Planned Residential Development.
Hurley shared the community building elevations and there was discussion about where the silo would be. The silo is shown on the site plan, although not shown on the elevation drawings. Greenland expressed skepticism over the advisability of a large metal silo. Gourd said that he felt it was appropriate adjacent to this building of an agricultural style. Hurley agreed. Drunsic indicated that he considered reusing the porch posts on the west elevation of the community building. Gourd expressed disapproval of that idea, as the posts would not be in keeping with the agricultural building.
Greenland appreciated that Drunsic was considering reuse of the posts. Hurley suggested using them on the residential structures and displayed the various residential elevations on screen. The single family unit on the Main Street frontage was considered for porch post reuse. It was noted that some of the elevations were mislabeled as east elevations, rather than correctly as west elevations. Gourd remarked that the revised single family unit design was looking more appropriate to Manchester’s architectural styles, less ranch-like. Gourd also suggested not using the combination of shingles and clapboard siding, but rather just using clapboard because this was more reflective of the 19th Century style that existed here. Drunsic noted that he had done this on the 39 Bonnet Street redevelopment at request. Hurley suggested that all clapboard was more in keeping the buildings that exist and existed on this site.
Fielding argued that the site is an important gateway site as one enters Manchester from the north. As such the structures along the Main Street frontage should face out. Drunsic agreed and noted that these structures are being redesigned accordingly to offer porches on the Main Street side. Greenland added that is why the committee requested a streetscape rendering. Drunsic added that he is also working on screening options along the Fielding property line. Greenland said she would defer a recommendation until landscape plans, the streetscape elevation, and all contemplated options are shown on submitted plans. Gourd agreed that a recommendation should be deferred. Greenland thanked Fielding for his input.
7. Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Rec Park Road, Shed for track equipment.
O’Keefe explained plans thus far and shared a site plan with proposed shed location on screen. O’Keefe said he was looking for some guidance from the DAC even though the site in not in a design review district. The shed will need large south facing overhead doors to fit pole vault equipment. O’Keefe suggested barn board siding painted paprika to match other structures at the park. He also contemplates a standing seam roof or architectural asphalt shingles. The roof peak would run east to west. Gourd noted that the site is about 14 feet lower that the road, so the roof will be the most important component. He suggested a dark metal roof and explained that darker is better for metal roofs because sky reflection makes them appear lighter. O’Keefe asked about windows. Gourd suggested small awning windows perhaps high on the gable ends. Greenland noted that track and field equipment sheds may function as shelter during storm events and suggested allowing for some cross ventilation. O’Keefe thanked the committee for the feedback.
8. Ye Olde Tavern, 5183 Main Street, Outdoor seating plan.
Hurley asked committee members if they were good with the proposed plan for outdoor seating at Ye Olde Tavern, iron tables and chairs, two tables on the marble porch others to be placed adjacent on pea stone rather than concrete pavers previously proposed. Greenland motioned to recommend approval. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion passed 2-0-0. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
Minutes of the April 29, 2020, meeting. Gourd motioned to approve the minutes of April 29, 2020. Greenland seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0. Hurley will endorse the minutes on behalf of the committee.
Gourd motioned to adjourn the meeting. Greenland seconded the motion. The motion carried at 2-0-0 at 6:39 p.m. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for June 24, 2020.
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For the Design Advisory Committee Date