TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
October 20, 2021, Meeting
Kilburn Meeting Room
Committee Attendees: John Watanabe, Ramsay Gourd, Joelle Greenland.
Staff Attendees: Janet Hurley (Planning & Zoning Director).
Public Attendees: Vedanta Dumas-Griffith, Robert Griffith, Ron Rodriguez, Jeanne Cole, Karen Geriak, Will Davis, Lauren Engel, Abby Skidmore, Larry Dalziel, Rolf Biggers, Eugene Healy, Kevin Mullaney, Colleen Mullaney, Kirk Moore (via Zoom) Gina Anzivino, Deb Mithoefer, Courtney Weir, Matt Wamsganz (via Zoom).
Hurley began recording. Greenland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes of the September 29, 2021, Meeting.
Gourd motioned to approve the minutes as drafted. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0, with Greenland abstaining as she was not present for the meeting.
Marketplace on Main Street, 4919 Main Street, Additional signage with lighting. Application 2021-04-033.2, Tax Map ID 32-50-61.00.
Dumas-Griffith described the proposed additional signage and lighting. Hurley displayed the signage and lighting on screen. Both open signs will have the black background (the red option shown on the application submittal was not chosen). Dumas-Griffith proposed leaving the open signs up even while closed. Committee members felt that was confusing even if the sign lighting was turned off. Dumas-Griffith wanted proposed new lighting is to be as inconspicuous as possible. TPW provided specifications. Dumas-Griffith indicated they would be white to match the building, downcasting, and extinguished at 8:00 p.m. closing.
Gourd motioned to recommend approval as proposed provided the open signs are taken in at closing and LED lighting does not exceed 3000K color temperature, with 2700K preferred. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0-0.
Ron Rodriguez, 4659 Main Street, Placement of shed. Application 2021-09-100, Tax Map ID 31-50-35.01.
Hurley displayed photos of the installed shed. Rodriguez summarized recent exterior design improvements to the building. He said he will use the 10’ x 12’ shed to store his motorcycle, lawn mower and other tools, indicating it is difficult to access the basement for these uses. He said he would paint the shed to match the primary building and repair the adjacent fence. He confirmed it would not have lighting or electricity.
Geriak indicated that she is fine with the design, but concerned about it taking up a shared parking space. Hurley showed the site plan on screen. There was discussion by Rodriguez and Geriak about the shared parking. Hurley asked that the parking discussion be set aside until the DRB hearing on November 6, 2021.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval of the of the shed provided it is painted to match the primary building. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0-0.
Abby Skidmore, 5669 Main Street, Sign for spa. Application 2021-09-101, Tax Map ID 15-20-25.00.
Hurley displayed the proposed signage on screen. Skidmore explained that it is a painted wood sign and no new lighting is proposed.
Gourd motioned to recommend approval as presented. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0-0.
Jiffy Mart, 271 Depot Street, Sign. Application 2021-10-102, Tax Map ID 32-52-31.00.
Hurley displayed the signage on screen. Wamsganz explained that his parent company purchased Mac’s convenience stores but was unable to keep the name and had to remove the Mac’s signs within a day. He said the new sign is aluminum with vinyl decal, is the same size as the Mac’s sign it replaced, and the pre-existing gooseneck lights will be retained.
Watanabe motioned to recommend approval as installed. Gourd seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0-0.
Karen Geriak, 4645 Main Street, Site & design plan for restaurant. Application 2021-10-105, Tax Map ID 31-50-35.02.
Hurley displayed the proposed site plan, followed by photos of the various proposed design elements, while Geriak described her plans. Committee members asked what the height of the proposed outdoor freezer would be and whether it would be visible above the fencing. Geriak did not yet have the dimensions of the freezer. There was discussion about proposed parking lot lighting that would extend to the parcel on the other side of the Rodriguez parcel. Geriak proposed split rail fencing at the front of the site to meet state liquor license requirements for outdoor service. Gourd indicated that split rail is more appropriate for a rural setting, and that picket fencing may be more appropriate in this downtown location.
Rodriguez asked where the dumpster would be located. Geriak explained that the dumpster would be removed from the site in the summer months, and placed on the rear patio in the winter when outdoor dining was not occurring. Greenland indicated that the site plan was incomplete and needed to show lighting and other revisions before the committee could make its recommendation. Watanabe added that the height of the freezer should be indicated. Gourd suggested that the fencing be extended to screen the side of the proposed freezer. Geriak floated the idea of a small shrub line instead of fencing around the front yard seating. The committee asked that Geriak come back with a revised site plan for the October 27th meeting.
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.
Biggers described his design intents and inspirations. He welcomed the committee’s initial feedback to make the structure more like a mill building and less like a barn. The result is a less rustic more minimalist design with a traditional anchoring form on the north end and a modern, edgy “addition” housing the brewery on the other end. Timbers were replaced with steel beams, butterfly roof removed. Biggers described the black finishes as working against the white marble in the foundation and elsewhere, and the natural wood of the inside. He presented the result as a simple elegant structure that works in tandem with the hotel. It is evocative of a traditional structure that has evolved over time.
Gourd expressed that bringing marble into the landscape and historic mill buildings translated into the 21st Century does not necessarily translate into brutalist form. Biggers suggested that a brick mill-like building and that the regular small windows of a mill would be too strong a competitor to the hotel. Biggers shared torched wood siding options, proposed asphalt shingles, and standing seam metal roofing.
Hurley asked for a pause to end the DAC Zoom session and begin the DRB Zoom session, as the DRB meeting was to begin at 7:45 and participants may be waiting for the meeting to start.
Biggers said the Alligator torched siding is preferred but there are supply side issues and it may not be available if not ordered soon. He described the overall exterior palette as charcoal and blacks with glass to reveal the wood interior. Gourd noted the glass would also appear black in the daylight. Greenland indicated that so much black does not flow with the visual continuity of the streetscape at this major downtown gateway. Gourd agreed that it was too big and too black, too much of one thing. He suggested the “addition” could be subtler and lighter in color. Biggers suggested that Gourd was not seeing the life of the inside as revealed through the glass.
Moore suggested bringing the storefronts to a different color and lightening the roofing materials. Biggers asked if the committee was okay with the massing of the forms and overall concept. Gourd said he was and cautioned against going too light on the metal roofing because it might look silver. Watanabe said he was good with materials, and it appeared to be just a color issue. Gourd summarized his recommendation for more greys and more articulation, more difference between the two main masses without returning to the rustic motif. Revisions can be review on October 27th.
Other Business. Review of Engle wedding venue lighting plan at DRB request.
Committee members expressed concern that the lighting plan would negatively affect the rural character of the area. They said it should rather be low level and landscape screened. Gourd suggested low footpath lighting rather than pole lights. A revised lighting plan was requested for review at the October 27th meeting.
Gourd motioned to adjourn. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
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For the Design Advisory Committee Date