TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 29, 2021, Meeting
Kilburn Meeting Room
Committee Attendees: John Watanabe, Ramsay Gourd. Absent: Joelle Greenland.
Staff Attendees: Janet Hurley (Planning & Zoning Director).
Public Attendees: John Olson III (via Zoom), Eugene Healy (via Zoom), Tom Wheeler (via Zoom), Phyllis Liu, Linda Joy Sullivan, Jake Davis, Ramiro Garay, Serena Jenkins, Jeremy Elliot, Kevin Mullaney, Kirk Moore, Mark Lenza, Greg Harrington (via Zoom), Steve Wilson (via Zoom), Michael & Carolina Ellenbogen (via Zoom).
Hurley began recording. Gourd called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
1. Minutes of the August 25, 2021, Meeting. Watanabe motioned to approve the minutes as drafted. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
2. Jolley/Valero, 4803 Main Street, Replacement signage, Application 2021-07-067, Tax Map ID 31-50-16.00.
Hurley displayed the plans for wooden carved replacement signage. Olson indicated that the sign lighting will be inverted to be downcasting. He does not know what the color temperature of the new LED light is for this fixture. Gourd indicated it should be 2700K. Hurley reported that she tried to determine what the color temperature of the canopy lighting is by calling the company and looking at the LED lights to no avail. The color temperature would have been programmed when the order was shipped, so an invoice/packing slip or model number from the fixture would need to be located to determine the color temperature. Olson will try to locate an invoice.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval of the freestanding and wall mounted signs as discussed provided the fleet sign is removed and the top mounted lighting fixture is fitted with an LED light of no more than 2700K color temperature. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
3. Southern Vermont Ballet, 74 Depot Street, Signage for Ballet Studio, Application 2021-08-084, Tax Map ID 32-52-49.00.
Hurley displayed the proposed signage on screen. She indicated the applicant was teaching a class and could not attend.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval of the signage as presented. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
4. Liu, 5200 Main Street, Roof over exterior staircase, Application 2021-09-090, Tax Map ID 32-51-11.00.
Hurley displayed elevation drawings of the proposed roof and existing staircase. Davis answered questions about the specifications of the roof. It will be a gable roof with a 3 pitch and corrugated metal. Gourd suggested the darker Ivy Green color be chosen because metal roof appear brighter than on the spec sheet.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval of the roof as presented provided the Ivy Green color is used and the front yard plantings are maintained. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
5. Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, 18 Depot Street, Signage, Application 2020-02-008.1, Tax Map ID 32-52-51.00.
Hurley displayed the proposed signage on screen. Elliot described the proposed signage. He noted the existing goosenecks above the main wall mounted sign will need to be replaced with like fixtures. Gourd indicated that LED lights should not exceed 2700K color temperature. Elliot explained that the vinyl window signage is more legible when applied to the outside of the windows. Gourd asked whether the green was darker than that shown on the mock ups. Elliot showed an already fabricated sign.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval as fabricated. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
6. Sabi Mercantile, 483 Depot Street, Sign for new shop, Application 2021-09-093, Tax Map ID 37-50-22.
Hurley displayed the proposed sign specifications. Garay indicated that the existing uplighting will be removed and no lighting is currently proposed. He explained that he will be selling housewares and skincare products.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval as presented. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
7. Manchester Elementary & Middle School, 80 Memorial Avenue, Replacement lights for parking lot, Application 2021-09-091, Tax Map ID 32-50-32.00.
Hurley displayed the lighting specifications on screen. Harrington indicated that 7 lights at 22’ height are proposed, 20’ poles mounted on concrete base with 24” exposure. Gourd indicated that the LED lights should not exceed 3000K color temperature. Harrington said black posts and fixtures are preferred over the bronze indicated on the specifications.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval as proposed with 2700K color temperature preferred. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried, 3-0-0.
8. Manchester Hotel Associates II, LLC, 4595 Main Street, Design and site plan review for microbrewery/restaurant, Application 2021-09-091, Tax Map ID 36-50-17.00.
Hurley asked if any Zoom participants were present for the microbrewery application. Hearing none, she did not share design sheets on screen. Moore showed the site plan and design elevations and perspectives to the committee. Gourd said he thinks it is a cool building but he is not sure that a barn should be at the front of a Main Street lot. Mullaney explained that he wanted there to be a nod to the marble mill industry. Moore said he understands the desire for context and described the design as a modern barn interpretation.
Gourd indicated that he likes the site plan and mass of the building, but wondered whether a mill building interpretation would be more appropriate. Gourd wondered if the butterfly dormer would present a problem for snow and ice. Watanabe conjectured with the standing seam proposed for that portion of the roof, snow and ice would not likely be a problem. There was a discussion about the back of the house and the need to present a pleasing face to the hotel. Hurley suggested trying to make the building more like a mill and less like a barn. Moore pointed out the exposed marble foundation. Gourd suggested more steel, like the Manchester Community Library.
Gourd recommended approval of the site plan, building bulk, and back of house and urged the applicant to consider revisions that would reflect a building articulated more as a mill and less as a barn. Watanabe agreed.
9. Other Business
McDonalds, 188 Depot Street, Preliminary discussion of proposed changes to the building. Tax Map ID 32-52-44.22.
No application has been made yet. Wilson said McDonald’s would like to explore painting the building in an earth tone or gray, and replacing the cedar shingles with architectural asphalt. Gourd explained that the steep mansard with shingles presented as wall more than roof, and that asphalt roofing shingles would not be acceptable. Wilson asked if Manchester had a history of use of cedar shakes. Gourd indicated that many of the slate rooves were installed over the top of cedar. Gourd also indicated that a lime wash rather than paint would be preferable on the brick. He said visuals of what is proposed should be provided.
Ellenbogen Gallery, 4620 Main Street, Marble landscape features. Tax Map ID 31-50-26.00.
Hurley displayed on screen the proposed plan for marble boulders on the site. M. Ellenbogen presented the plan. Gourd asked if the marble would be rectangular. M. Ellenbogen explained that they are being excavated from a site above the Dorset quarry, but would not be rectangular. He said they would be annually power washed to keep them white. The Ellenbogens said they would be happy to participate in a “dialog” with what Mullaney is proposing at the brewery across the street. Gourd and Watanabe recommended approval of the plan.
Mark Lenza, 4724 Main Street. Porch extensions. Tax Map ID 31-50-21.00.
Hurley displayed Lenza’s plan to extend the side porch around the front entrance. A second porch is proposed above a concrete pad at the rear of the building. Hurley said she was not aware that this proposal included a sign and lighting. She asked for a separate application for that. Watanabe and Gourd recommended approval of the porch plans.
Starbuck’s, 365 Depot Street, Installation of a freestanding directional sign. Application 2020-09-074.1.
Hurley displayed the proposed sign. Wheeler was present to answer any questions.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval as presented. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
Gourd urged Hurley to ask the Town Manager to get the fence around the Food Cupboard courtyard installed before winter.
Gourd motioned to adjourn. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
___________________________________________ _____________________________
For the Design Advisory Committee Date