Office of Outdoor Advertising
Public Meeting
February 13, 2014
11:00 AM
Ten Park Plaza
Conference Rm 5 & 6
Boston, MA 02116
Present:
Edward Farley, Executive Director
Chris Quinn, Esq., Counsel
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Office of Outdoor Advertising February 13, 2014
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P R O C E E D I N G S
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EDWARD FARLEY:
Good morning everyone.
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I would like to call this meeting to order.
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February 13, 2014.
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Farley.
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Advertising.
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counsel.
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in at the side of the table.
It is 11:00 AM.
Today is
My name is Edward
I am the Director for the Office of Outdoor
To my left is Chris Quinn, our legal
If you haven’t already done so, please sign
Also there are agendas,
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and abbreviated minutes from the January 9, 2014 OOA
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Meeting.
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With that, we will have a review of the
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minutes from the January 9th meeting.
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comments on the minutes?
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minutes from January 9th are adopted.
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Are there any
Hearing no comment, the
Moving on to first agenda item,
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application for new license from Outdoor Properties,
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32 Wild Grove Lane, Longmeadow, MA.
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this application has been reviewed, is in order, and
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is accompanied with record of fees and paperwork.
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there someone representing Outdoor Properties here
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this morning?
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For the record,
Okay, again, I have reviewed this
Is
application.
Is there any public comment regarding
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this license application?
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we are going to grant license to Outdoor Properties,
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Inc.
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Hearing no public comment
Moving on to the next order of
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business.
We have an application for transfer of
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permits from Agnoli Sign Company to Outdoor
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Properties.
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Again, this application has been reviewed and is in
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order.
There is a total of seven permits.
Is there any public comment regarding the
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transfer from Agnoli Sign Company to Outdoor
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Properties?
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approved.
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Hearing no comment, these transfers are
Our third item is a transfer of permit
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from Clear Channel Outdoor to Logan Communications.
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Again, this application has been reviewed, and is in
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order.
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transfer?
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approved.
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Is there any comment relative to this
Okay, hearing no comment the transfer is
Moving onto our fourth item,
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application for electronic permit from Splash Media.
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This application is 2014D004 and 2014D005.
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convert an existing static board over to an electronic
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one.
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received by the City of Lowell on December 23, 2013.
This is to
For the record, municipal notification was
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Is the applicant present today?
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
Edward O’Sullivan
representing Splash Media.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay, is there anyone here
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representing the municipality?
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can I ask, was certified mail sent to abutters within
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500-feet, at least 30 days prior to submitting this
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application.
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Okay, Mr. O’Sullivan,
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
understanding.
That is my
Yes it was.
ED FARLEY:
And this is the letter I
received yesterday?
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
Yes.
That is a
copy that was sent to you.
ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Are there any
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abutters present this morning?
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you receive any comment either written or otherwise
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from any abutters after the notification was mailed?
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Mr. O’Sullivan, did
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
No, none.
There
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was also a public notice from the Lowell Zoning Board
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of Appeals which nobody attended in opposition.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay, and this permit was
issued via special permit from the City of Lowell?
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
That is correct.
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ED FARLEY:
And that was recently
updated on January 17?
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Yes, it was.
Chris Chaves, will
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you give us a –- Jason Bean did the inspection, but he
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is from Western Mass so he is not here this morning.
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CHRIS CHAVES:
This is a proposed
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digital conversion of current permits 2008074 and
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2008075.
Located at 41 Mile Avenue in Lowell.
The
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two businesses Jason has to fit the requirement are
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Alpine Butcher and Mobile Gas Station.
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sign is within an on-ramp but due to Lowell’s
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population being 105,000 people fits it well beyond
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the 50,000-population requirement.
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there are no other issues or concerns for this site.
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It is compliant with digital.
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ED FARLEY:
This current
Other than that
Are there any comments from
either the District Office or Traffic Operations.
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STEVE TIMMINS:
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ED FARLEY:
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STEVE TIMMINS:
Yes.
Mr. Timmins.
Steve Timmins
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representing Neil Bordeaux, State Traffic Engineer.
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We have looked at the location and determined that a
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formal traffic study will not be required.
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However,
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Office of Outdoor Advertising February 13, 2014
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we would request that once the new displays are in
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place that the District Office monitor traffic
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conditions to determine if there is a distraction to
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Route 3 traffic given the proximity of the entrance
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and exit ramps to the board.
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ED FARLEY:
Timmins.
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Okay, thank you, Mr.
CHRIS QUINN:
So the District will do
the monitoring.
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STEVE TIMMINS:
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CHRIS QUINN:
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ED FARLEY:
Yes.
Okay.
Is there any further public
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comment?
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2014D005 will be taken under advisement.
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clarification we did notice, Mr. O’Sullivan, there is
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a curfew set by the city and it looked like the
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numbers were inversed.
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curious is the curfew 6 AM to 12 PM?
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Okay, hearing none applications 2014D004 and
Just for
We have 6 to 12 and I’m
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
I will have to get
clarification for you and get back to you.
ED FARLEY:
Okay.
The application says
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hours of operation is 12 AM to 6 AM, so I’m thinking
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that is probably --
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
Let me get that
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clarified for you.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Moving on to
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electronic permit application number 2014D006, RSA
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Media, for a proposed conversion and static board to
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electronic in Auburn, MA.
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notification was sent out on December 17, 2013.
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the applicant present this morning?
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For the record, municipal
JAMES LACK:
Yes sir.
Is
James Lack and
Susan Eastman for RSA Media.
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ED FARLEY:
Is there anyone
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representing the Town of Auburn here today?
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Mr. Lack, was certified mail notice to abutters within
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500-feet sent out at least 30 days prior to this
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application being submitted?
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JAMES LACK:
Okay.
That is my understanding.
It was also in the Worcester Telegram for two weeks.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Do you by chance
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have a copy of the letter that was sent for the
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record?
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JAMES LACK:
the abutters.
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ED FARLEY:
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JAMES LACK:
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Yes, I do and a list of
Okay.
Thank you.
It also has the newspaper
notice as well.
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ED FARLEY:
Are there any abutters
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present this morning?
Okay, Mr. Lack, did you receive
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any written notification from abutters regarding this
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application?
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JAMES LACK:
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ED FARLEY:
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JAMES LACK:
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Okay.
And no abutters appeared
at the Zoning Board.
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No sir.
ED FARLEY:
Okay, and who did the
inspection?
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MARC PLANTE:
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ED FARLEY:
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I did.
Okay, Mr. Plante, can you
give us a rundown of the inspection.
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MARC PLANTE:
This is an existing
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monopole, single faced, it is facing Interstate Route
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90 which is the Massachusetts Turnpike.
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digital conversion.
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number 2008027.
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commercial character zone.
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be Casey Storage and (inaudible phrase) Manufacturing.
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There are no issues with spacing for other signs and
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there are no conservation or park issues.
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compliant for this conversion.
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It is for a
It is a static board now, permit
The two businesses are located in a
ED FARLEY:
The two businesses would
Okay.
It is
In essence we are
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just looking to replace the static face with an
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electronic one?
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height or --
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We are not looking to increase the
JAMES LACK:
Yes.
It is exactly the
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same height nothing except change the face from static
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to digital.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Any public comment
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regarding this application this morning?
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hearing none we are going to take application 2014D006
Okay,
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under advisement.
Our next applicant is Cove Outdoor.
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We have an application for a new structure in the City
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of Peabody.
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2014D008.
Applications number 2014D007 and
Is the applicant present this morning?
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
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ED FARLEY:
Yes.
For the record, Mr.
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O’Sullivan is wearing a couple of different hats
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today.
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Yes.
For the record,
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municipal notification was sent out on December 17,
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2013.
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Peabody here this morning?
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Do we have a representative from the City of
My apologies, on the last application,
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but did we have
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any comments from the District Office or Traffic
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Operations?
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STEVE TIMMINS:
Yes.
Boston Traffic
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Engineering has determined that a formal traffic study
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nor monitoring of the district at this location be
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required.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Thank you, Mr.
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Timmins.
All right, Okay, Mr. O’Sullivan, can I ask,
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was certified mail to abutters within 500-feet sent at
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least 30 days prior to the submittal of the
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application?
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Yes it was.
Are there any
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abutters here this morning?
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receive any letters or feedback regarding the new sign
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build?
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Mr. O’Sullivan, did you
EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
No feedback, other
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than public comment by City Council.
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favor.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
They were all in
Was this special
permit or variance?
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
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ED FARLEY:
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EDWARD O’SULLIVAN:
Special permit.
Okay, ten/nothing vote.
Yes sir.
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ED FARLEY:
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inspection?
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of the inspection.
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Okay, who did the
Mr. Chaves, can you give us an overview
CHRIS CHAVES:
Certainly.
This is a
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proposed new build located behind the Extended Stay
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America, 200 Jubilee Drive in Peabody.
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face Route 128 North and South.
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business character.
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requirement are Extended Stay America Hotel and
Proposed to
The area is of
The two business for the
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Analogic (sounds like) Corporation.
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spacing’s between other signs in the area or parks,
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etcetera.
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There are no
This site is in compliance for digital.
ED FARLEY:
Okay.
Mr. Timmins, are
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there any comments from Traffic Operations regarding
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this proposed location?
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STEVE TIMMINS:
Yes.
Regarding the
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Northbound face we are concerned the moderate to high
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potential for distraction given everything that is
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happening in that area.
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dropping a lane but the various on and off-ramps in
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that immediate area.
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recommend a formal traffic study be conducted.
Not only the 128 Main line
So for the northbound face we
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For the southbound face we have no
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issues and don’t see the need for either a formal
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traffic study or monitoring by the District Office.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay, thank you.
Any
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additional public comment this morning?
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O’Sullivan, I can share with you at a later time what
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a formal traffic study would require to move forward
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with the issuance of permit.
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going to say that applications 2014D007 and 2014D008
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are taken under advisement.
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Mr.
For the time being I am
Okay, moving on to our last
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applications Clear Channel 2014D009 and 2014D010.
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Proposed conversion of a static board to electronic in
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the Town of Wakefield.
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notification was received by the Town of Wakefield on
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January 9, 2014.
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morning?
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For the record, municipal
First, is the applicant present this
JOHN PELRINE:
Yes, John Pelrine, Clear
Channel.
ED FARLEY:
Okay, is there anyone
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representing the Town of Wakefield?
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Pelrine, can I ask, was certified mail to abutters
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sent within 500-feet at least 30 days prior to
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submittal of the application.
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JOHN PELRINE:
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ED FARLEY:
Okay, Mr.
Yes, they were.
Okay.
For the record, I do
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have a copy of that letter on file.
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any comment or feedback from that letter?
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JOHN PELRINE:
No comments.
It was a
unanimous vote for a variance.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay, are there any
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abutters present this morning?
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inspection?
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CHRIS CHAVES:
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ED FARLEY:
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Did you receive
Okay, and who did the
I did.
Okay, Mr. Chaves, can you
give us an overview of the inspection?
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CHRIS CHAVES:
Yes sir.
This is a
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proposed digital conversion with two current tri-
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vision boards located facing Interstate 95 North and
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South.
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businesses that fit the criteria are Jordan’s
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Furniture and Fuddruckers.
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80255 and 80256 and again, this meets all the criteria
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and is compliance with digital.
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The area is of commercial use.
ED FARLEY:
Again the two
The existing permits are
Okay, is there any comment
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this morning from Traffic Operations relative to this
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proposed location?
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STEVE TIMMINS:
Yes, regarding the
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northbound face we are concerned that there is a
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moderate potential for distraction from traffic
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merging onto 95 North from North Ave.
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opinion exasperated by the fact that there is an
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existing adjacent electronic display for the IMAX
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Theatre.
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conjunction with the proximity to the entrance ramp.
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Therefore for the northbound face we recommend that a
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formal traffic study be conducted.
So that having the two displays in
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Regarding the southbound face we see
minimal potential for distraction at best.
ED FARLEY:
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CHRIS QUINN:
Thank you.
Is the sign the same
height as the existing display?
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JOHN PELRINE:
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CHRIS QUINN:
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JOHN PELRINE:
Are you asking me?
Yes.
It is an on-premise tri-
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vision for Jordan’s Furniture.
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not a digital sign, it is a tri-vision.
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So no
traffic study or District monitoring will be needed.
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This is in our
CHRIS QUINN:
For the record, it is
Right.
Is the height
going to be the same?
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JOHN PELRINE:
I believe that is
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probably higher than our existing sign because this is
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up on a hill.
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(Inaudible phrases -- too many
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speakers)
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JOHN PELRINE:
Our sign is staying the
same.
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CHRIS QUINN:
The same.
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ED FARLEY:
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JOHN PELRINE:
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STEVEN ROSS:
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ED FARLEY:
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STEVEN ROSS:
Okay.
57-feet.
Yes.
May I make a comment?
Sure.
Steven Ross, Clear
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Channel Outdoor.
I would suggest a traffic survey
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study is not needed because it is already a changeable
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sign which is a tri-vision.
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ED FARLEY:
Okay.
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STEVE TIMMINS:
Our concern is the
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proximity of two similar signs that are changeable
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displays one is a tri-vision, the other is a full
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digital in close proximity and in close proximity to
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the entrance ramp to 95 northbound.
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ED FARLEY:
Is there any further
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comment or discussion on these applications.
Okay,
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application 2014D009 and 2014D010 will be taken under
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advisement.
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comment.
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Okay, hearing no public comment, it is 11:21 and this
Noted for the record items, are there any
Any public comment at all this morning?
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meeting is adjourned.
Thank you.
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(Whereupon, the proceedings were
concluded on February 13, 2012 at 11:21 a.m.)
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C E R T I F I C A T E
I, Tammy A. Hillery, do hereby certify that the
foregoing record is a true and accurate transcription of
the proceedings in the above-captioned matter to the best
of my skill and ability.
_________________________________________
Tammy A. Hillery
**All names not provided were spelled phonetically to
the best of my ability.
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