Arlington Redevelopment Board - Apr 14th, 2025

Meeting held at 27 Maple Street. Materials were available from https://arlington.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=2255&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda.

Docket 3842 - 307 Broadway

This is a sign permit for a business called Rush Bowls.

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says this is a sign permit application for a store that used to be called Charlie's Barkery. The applicants are seeking relief from the requirements that sign width be limited to 60% of the architectural element where the sign is mounted. They'd also like to mount the sign within 12" of the top of the sign band. The applicant proposes to illuminate the sign graphic, next to the letters.

(Mehmet Sahin, Falcon Graphics) Mr. Sahin says he's making a panel sign with channel letters. The letters will be white, and the logo will be on a black background.

(Steve Revilak, ARB) Mr. Revilak says that part of the application listed the sign as 36" high and another part said 30". Mr. Revilak asks what the actual height is.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin says the sign will be 30" high.

(Steve Revilak, ARB) Mr. Revilak asks if the width of the leased area is 128".

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin answers in the affirmative.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak asks how high the sign band is.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin says it's five feet high.

(Eugene Benson, ARB) Mr. Benson says the proposed sign is wider than would normally be allowed. He asks if that's necessary to allow the sign to be seen from Broadway Plaza.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin says the adjacent business has a larger sign.

(Rachel Zsembery, ARB Chair) Ms. Zsembery asks if the wall sign is the only sign being proposed.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin answers in the affirmative.

(Kin Lau, ARB) Mr. Lau is okay with having the sign be a little larger. He thinks it's in scale with existing signs on the building. He says is a tiny storefront and there's a large tree in front of it. Mr. Lau asks if the sign will be internally lit.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin answers in the affirmative.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery asks if the logo will be illuminated too.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin answers in the affirmative.

The chair opens the hearing to public comment. There is none.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery says the maximum width allowed by the zoning bylaw would be 76", which is 60% of the storefront width. She thinks it's okay to respect the lease lines. She suggests leaving 12" on either side, which would make the width 104".

(Shaina Korman-Houston, ARB) Ms. Korman-Houston is okay with the width.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson doesn't think the applicants meet the zoning bylaw standard for allowing a larger sign. He thinks the board should change the bylaw if they'd like to permit larger signs.

(Steve Revilak) With a 30" high sign on a 5' sign band, Mr. Revilak thinks the applicant meets the vertical requirements. He's okay with leaving 12" on either side, because the storefront is so narrow.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery thinks the narrowness of the space is an architectural consideration that would justify allowing a larger sign. She thinks that a 76" width would be too small.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau agrees that the size of the storefront warrants an exception. He says it's the smallest place in the plaza. He's okay with reducing the width to 104", along with the illumination.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery asks how the sign will be lit.

(Mehmet Sahin) Mr. Sahin says it will be halo lighting.

There's a motion to grant relief from the 60% width requirement, and to approve a sign that's 104" wide and mounted 12" from the lease lines. Revisions to the design will be subject to administrative approval by the Department of Planning and Community Development.

Motion passes, 5--0.

Docket 3789 - 821 Mass Ave

This special permit involves the construction of a new mixed-use building.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says the applicant has provided updated drawings and materials, as requested at the last hearing.

(Andres Rojas, Architect) Mr. Rojas summarizes changes made since the last hearing. The cornice above the first floor now runs continuously across the building. The lintels and sills have been changed out to a pre-cast material, and there's edging around the window trim. The brick panels will extend out from the cement panels by three inches. Mr. Rojas has reduced the height of the rooftop elements, including the trellis, and reduced the size of the front and side stair components. The number of solar panels is unchanged.

Spacing of the windows has been adjusted, so that none are closer than 12" to a facade transition. The residential unit windows will be double hung. The sign band extends further, to give the commercial spaces more presence. Adjustments to the rear required the sidewalk to be extended by five feet, and the parking area shifted. There's no change to the number of parking spaces. The project will use pervious pavers.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak appreciates the refinements, particularly lowering the brick element in the middle of the facade. He thinks it looks less imposing now.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson has no questions for the applicant.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston asks if there are changes to the rear setback.

(Andres Rojas) Mr. Rojas answers in the negative.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau still has a few concerns. He thinks the massing at the top of the parapets needs to turn back more. He'd like to see renderings that emphasize the view from the sidewalk or across the street; the renderings provided have a perspective of someone three stories up, and no one will see the building that way. He suggests getting rid of the canopies above the residential side entrance, and doing something with the rear window that's positioned right in the middle of a cornice line.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery thinks that a 3" articulation between the brick and cement board is too little. She suggests having the brick protrude more. She thinks that more mass will help with turning the parapet above.

There's discussion about fasteners for the exterior panels, and the amount of spacing between them. Mr. Rojas says the panels will be butted up against each other, and the joints will be color matched.

The chair opens the hearing to public comment. There is none.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau would like to have the applicants make the changes the board has suggested, and come back.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston thinks the proposal is getting close.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery would also like the applicants to come back with modifications.

The board will continue the hearing to May 19, starting at 7:00 pm. 5--0.

Docket 3348 - 821--837 Mass Ave

(Mary Winstanley O'Connor) Ms. Winstanley O'Connor says the old building has been demolished, and the site has been rough-graded. They plan to seed the site once the weather warms up.

Hearing continued to May 19th.

Open Forum

There are no speakers for tonight's open forum.

New Business

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery thanks planning staff for working through the ARB's report, and getting it turned around so quickly.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30.