HomeMy Public PortalAbout20201117 - Design Review Board - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Minutes
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
7:00 PM
REMOTE MEETING
Members Present: Ria McNamara, Sue-Ellen Stoddard, Amy Ritterbusch, Deb
Fein-Brug, Greg Maze
Members Absent: Jeff Doherty, Jeanette Thomson
Also Present: John Gelcich, Principal Planner; Kathi Sherry, REC Hopkinton, John
Kucich, Bohler Engineering
Ms. Stoddard is serving as the Chair for this meeting.
Ms. Stoddard called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Ms. Fein-Brug read the script for remotely conducted open meetings.
1.0 South Street - Site Plan Application - REC Hopkinton LLC
Mr. Kucich presented the proposed site plan in detail.
Mr. Gelcich reviewed the scope of the DRB review.
Ms. Stoddard asked where the driveway accesses South Street in conjunction
with 23 South Street. Mr. Kucich showed on the plan. The DRB discussed
that the property would be renumbered.
Ms. Stoddard asked if the lighting would shine into the sky. Mr. Kucich said
the lights proposed are dark sky compliant and no lighting will spill over the
property lines.
Ms. McNamara asked if any signage will be planned. Mr. Kucich said when
they have tenants on board they will come back with the proposed signs. Mr.
Kucich said there will be a monument sign located near the entrance.
Ms. Ritterbusch asked if the property will be wooded in the front. Mr. Kucich
said yes, it will be tucked into the back of the site.
Ms. Fein-Brug asked if the building will be screened from I-495. Mr. Kucich
said there will be a buffer between the building and I-495 that will remain.
He said depending on the angle of the cars on the road, there may be a
possibility to see the building from I-495.
Ms. Fein-Brug asked about the topography of the site. Mr. Kucich said the
building is located about 10 feet lower than the driveway. Ms. Fein-Brug said
she is concerned with the screening along the highway. Mr. Kucich said they
could find topography for I-495.
Ms. Ritterbusch asked about the tree waiver for the perimeter of the site.
Mr. Kucich said the existing trees are assumed to serve that same purpose.
Ms. McNamara asked if there are loading docks or loading bays. Mr. Kucich
said there are loading docks.
Ms. Stoddard asked if there are any other details of the building. Ms. Sherry
said they are planning on doing a prefabricated steel building. She said there
may be neutral colors for the roof and side with some canopies when
tenants are signed.
Mr. Maze said he believes the buildings on South Street are more readily
seen during the winter versus during the summer.
Ms. Ritterbusch asked if the roof would be suitable for solar. Mr. Kucich said
he wasn’t sure if the trees would be an issue for that.
Mr. Kucich said they could plant some evergreens along the back side
abutting I-495.
Ms. Stoddard said she is concerned about the loading dock visual. Mr. Kucich
said planting evergreens along the back would essentially take the loading
docks out of the equation.
Mr. Maze asked about the wetland boundary. Mr. Kucich explained the
location of the wetland area.
Ms. Fein-Brug asked if the roof slope will be an issue for the vehicles parked
in the front of the building. She asked how the building will be drained. Mr.
Kucich said the drainage on-site will be directed to the drainage basin on-site.
He said the roof will be hard piped to the infiltration basin.
Ms. Fein-Brug asked if the tenants will be industrial tenants. Mr. Kucich said
the tenants will likely be warehousing tenants with a small office component.
Ms. Sherry said the mix of tenants they have seen is landscaping tenants,
warehouse tenants, etc.
Ms. Stoddard moved that the Design Review Board recommend approval of
the plan as shown with the suggested conditions that signage is to be
reviewed when the tenants have been identified, that there be plantings of
evergreen at the rear of the site between the parking area and I-495, and
that the Board would like to review the building facade once the colors and
other details are known. Ms. McNamara seconded the motion. The Board
voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the motion.
2.Minutes of October 20, 2020
Ms. McNamara moved to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Maze seconded
the motion. The Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the motion.
Ms. Ritterbusch moved to adjourn, Ms. McNamara seconded the motion.
The Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the motion. Meeting
adjourned at 7:41 PM.
Approved:December 15, 2020
Documents:Site Plan Application for 0 South Street
Minutes of October 20, 2020