Office of Outdoor Advertising
Public Meeting
October 8, 2015
11:00 AM
Ten Park Plaza
Conference Rm 5 & 6
Boston, MA 02116
Present:
John Romano, Executive Director
Eileen Fenton, Esq., Counsel
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Office of Outdoor Advertising October 8, 2015
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P R O C E E D I N G S
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JOHN ROMANO:
Good morning everyone.
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My name is John Romano; I am the head of the Office of
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Outdoor Advertising for MassDOT.
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for our October 8, Public Hearing, our monthly
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hearing.
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We are here today
A couple of housekeeping items at the
beginning here.
This meeting is accessible to people
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with disabilities and individuals with limited English
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proficiency.
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assistant technology, sign language, alternate format,
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documents, an interpreter, translated documents, or
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other such services to be available here today, please
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see Lydia.
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ahead of time, is that correct, Lydia?
If you filed a request with us for
I don’t think we received any requests
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LYDIA QUIRK:
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JOHN ROMANO:
No.
If you haven’t -- excuse
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me.
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need it.
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that is requested ahead of time.
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other similar assistance to participate today, please
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let Lydia know and we will do our best to help.
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We also have amplification devices should you
You can also see Lydia.
Again, we ask that
If you need any
A couple of reminders.
The 2016
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renewals, calendar year will be mailed out in the next
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few days.
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should be back to us paid by the end of November.
So you should start seeing those and those
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Also, any permits that are approved in
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the last quarter, the last three months starting today
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we will make those be good through the end of next
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year.
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it is kind of like joining a gym.
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December you don’t have to join again in January.
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thought that has been a past practice and that is
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something that I thought was logical and we will
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continue that.
So it will be 13, 14, 15 months depending -- so
If you join in
We
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The other thing that I want to remind
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future applicants for permits that new sites need to
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be staked out following your submission of your
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application to us.
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more and more detailed information about how those
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stake out depending on the location.
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are getting harder and harder to exactly determine not
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just where the monopole is but where the signs
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overhang and stuff like that.
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We will probably be asking for
Some of these
So we may ask you for a little more but
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please be sure that they are staked out.
If my
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inspector goes out there and there is nothing marked
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at all then he has no way to know where it is supposed
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to be that may delay you getting on a hearing if that
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is not done on a timely fashion.
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as we move forward.
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So keep that in mind
So first item up on the agenda, most of
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you know we have a sign in sheet over on the table on
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the left.
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before you leave so that you will be on record as
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being at the hearing.
If you haven’t signed in, please do so
I do see some new faces, so for
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those who are new, Tammy is our stenographer, and our
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meeting is being recorded, for the record.
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Next up is the meeting minutes from
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last month’s hearing September 10.
It is our regular
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session minutes.
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table along with today’s agenda.
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comments, questions, or concerns about last month’s
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meeting minutes?
Copies of those are also on the
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
Does anyone have any
Seeing none, we will mark
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those as approved.
The first item up on our agenda
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today is application number 2015D026.
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structure facing south in Salisbury, 75 Main Street.
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Northvision.
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were notified on September 8th, by my office of this
It is a new
The Salisbury Town Manager and the Clerk
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hearing.
Is the applicant present?
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
Yes, Peter McClary.
How you doing, Pete?
Good.
Is there anybody here
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representing the municipality where the sign is being
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proposed?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
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Seeing none.
Are there
any abutters present here today?
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PETER FLYNN:
Yes, David Pritchard the
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landlord and I also represent Clear Channel, Peter
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Flynn.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Okay.
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opportunity at the end for comments.
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present from the District Office?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
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You will have some
Is anybody
Anybody here from Traffic
Operations?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
We did receive a memo
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from our Traffic Engineer’s Office, Wu Tran.
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tell me he wasn’t able to make it here today but they
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did review the site, the application and they told me
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He did
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that based on their observation it is their judgement
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that a detailed traffic study at this location will
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not be required.
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So we have that for the record.
Mr. McClary, was notice to property
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owners sent out by you guys at least 30 days prior to
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your submission?
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
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Yes.
And we do have a copy of
the letter in our package.
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
And all the receipts.
And all of the receipts.
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Thank you very much.
Have you received any comments
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in support or opposition to your application?
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
None.
Just so you know MassDOT
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did receive notification from Mr. Flynn that he will
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speak in opposition of it today.
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PETER MCCLARY:
I did know that.
will retract that.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Okay, that is fine.
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Thank you.
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special permit by the Town of Salisbury, is that
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correct?
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So I
According to our records you were given a
PETER MCCLARY:
That is correct.
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JOHN ROMANO:
And we do have a copy of
that.
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
Yes.
My inspector for this
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site proposed location is Jason Bean.
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go through your report, please.
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JASON BEAN:
Jason, can you
Sure thing, John.
As
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stated before this is 75 Main Street in Salisbury.
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is intended to face Interstate 95.
It
This was actually
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a site that was awarded a permit a few months ago.
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This is the south facing sign.
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is about 87-feet proposed to be built.
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It is a digital.
It
The only thing that stuck out at this
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site is we did have some ramps but they are well
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beyond the allotted distance.
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appears to be no issues going forward.
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there on the 16, the sign wasn’t built for the other
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permit yet.
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pass and put them both up at the same time.
At this point, there
When we were
So I assume they will do that all in one
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PETER MCCLARY:
That is correct.
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JASON BEAN:
We are good on our end.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you very much,
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Jason.
Mr. McClary, this is a digital sign so you are
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aware of all of the requirements for electronic signs
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with further CMR with brightness and the ten second
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static display, and that there is a requirement of
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fifteen hours of public service for each side.
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PETER MCCLARY:
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JOHN ROMANO:
Yes, I am aware.
Okay.
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there any other public comments?
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you asked to speak, now is -­
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PETER FLYNN:
At this time, are
I know, Mr. Flynn,
Thank you, Mr. Romano.
As I indicated a few minutes ago, Mr. Romano, I was
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here at the previous hearing when I was opposing the
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single sided digital that they had applied to OOA
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which they originally got a double sided with the town
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but only applied for a single side digital here.
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they are reappearing.
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Now
So I am renewing and I am not going to
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do the same twenty-minute opposition that I did the
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last time that you very graciously allowed me to do.
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There are a couple of things but rather than repeating
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that, I don’t have to because it is part of the
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record.
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I would like to point out just a couple of quick
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things.
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I will just reaffirm those same objections.
We still respectfully request that this
Board, OOA table this permit.
You don’t have to deny
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it but you should table it.
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reasons.
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hearing was postponed by the judge.
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until 10/29.
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challenge to the local permit is alive and well in the
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Superior Court.
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going to be heard until 10/29.
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going to be heard prior to this hearing, I’m told but
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that got postponed.
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I have three primary
First of all, Northvisions summary judgement
That is not on
The very bona fide, very substantial
That summary judgement motion is not
So it was previously
So that is still very much up in
the air.
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That challenge at the local level is
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very much an issue.
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Board, if in the summary judgement motion my clients
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win that motion and it is denied, if that occurs then
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what will happen is the judge will automatically say,
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I am denying your motion we are going to have a trial.
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He is going to suggest very strongly that OOA be
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brought in as a defendant.
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and that is what I have tried to avoid throughout this
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process hoping you would table this permit being
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authorized.
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the Office of the Attorney General and we are off to
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the races.
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I’m just going to say this to the
Which will automatically,
If OOA is named as a defendant in comes
That is not the most important reason
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you should table it.
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they are given their permit now and after the summary
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judgment and I assume they are not going to do
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anything with that sign and building up in Salisbury
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until that summary judgment motion is heard, because
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that is what they represented at the last hearing.
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see council is not here, so I hope that would be still
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in play.
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You should table it because if
I
We will be notified if they start to
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build there but what happens here, we have no remedy.
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We can’t appeal what you are doing.
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we can’t.
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here is if they go and build the sign, you give them
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the permit, and we ultimately win the litigation that
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sign is up on Route 95, you will then have to litigate
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its removal and you know what that is.
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been through this.
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that we now discovered did not have valid local
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approvals there is a sign litigation and we are off to
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the races again.
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They can appeal
Our only remedy is in court.
The problem
Your Board has
If you have to litigate, the sign
You can solve that by tabling it and
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let this very substantial litigation run its course.
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Thank you.
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JOHN ROMANO:
You’re welcome.
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Thank
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Office of Outdoor Advertising October 8, 2015
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you, Mr. Flynn.
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item?
Any other public comment on this
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
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Seeing none.
Mr.
McClary, any closing?
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PETER MCCLARY:
Yes, I would just like
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to reiterate the sentiments from last time.
This is
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not a court of law.
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we meet the requirements that which we have with the
This is a regulatory agency and
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town, the towns attorney.
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litigate itself out and if we lose local approval
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which we do not expect to lose, then obviously there
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are remedies within your own CMR that we do not have a
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valid sign any longer.
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just won’t have a permit.
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the case at all.
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The matter itself will
So it won’t be litigation we
I don’t suspect that to be
Once again, this is not a court of
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law.
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about this but who knows how long it will take.
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could take a very, very long time.
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have our permits and we have our approvals.
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the full support of the town.
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EILEEN FENTON:
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There is a court of law that can do something
It
Until such time we
We have
Mr. McClary, when do
you plan on starting the construction of the sign
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assuming it is permitted?
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permitted -­
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4
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judgement.
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hearing?
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So after summary
PETER MCCLARY:
We will have to make
EILEEN FENTON:
Okay, I didn’t know if
you had a strategy already in mind.
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EILEEN FENTON:
that decision.
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After summary
After summary judgment decision or the
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PETER MCCLARY:
judgement.
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I mean one side is already
PETER MCCLARY:
I will have to discuss
EILEEN FENTON:
Was there an injunction
with counsel.
requested for -- I am familiar with -- I mean -­
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PETER MCCLARY:
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PETER FLYNN:
Yes, it was denied.
Yes, it was denied
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because the judge indicated that we had not exhausted
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our administrative appeals.
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important to come in here and to avoid all of the
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confusion and projecting this into forever.
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build that sign and the case is still going on they
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have indicated that they right now don’t know if they
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are going to start building that sign.
That is why it was
If they
Is it going to
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be wait until Judge Cornetta hears it or wait until
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the decision.
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So if they build it at their peril you
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haven’t tabled this permit then they may have a sign
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up there and you will automatically be named as a
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defendant if we prevail and tearing those signs down
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could take years.
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It is a costly process.
PETER MCCLARY:
The law provides that
you can build at your own peril, if you have the
proper permits.
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EILEEN FENTON:
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JOHN ROMANO:
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
Any other comments?
Seeing none, thank you.
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We will take this all under advisement.
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your time.
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We appreciate
Okay, next up on the agenda is an
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application by Outfront Media in the City of Boston at
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39 Old Colony Avenue.
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and 381.
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Notice was provided to the Mayor of Boston and the
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City Clerk on 9/8 of this hearing by my office.
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the applicant dpresent?
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It’s application number 2015380
It is a two sided static billboard request.
DON WIEST:
Is
Yes, Don Wiest with Boston
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Law Firm Dain Torpy and with me John Mahoney with
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Outfront Media.
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stand when we speak?
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pleasure.
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Mr. Romano, would you prefer that we
We can stand or sit at your
JOHN ROMANO:
Stand will be good when
you talk so that everyone can hear you.
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DON WIEST:
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JOHN ROMANO:
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Okay.
Thank you.
anyone here from the City of Boston?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
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Is there
I want to acknowledge
Councilor Baker from the City of Boston.
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FRANK BAKER:
It is actually not my
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district, so the District Councilor’s Office is here,
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the Mayor’s Office is here.
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didn’t want to -­
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I am here to oppose but I
JOHN ROMANO:
No, that is okay.
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wanted to acknowledge you.
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staff members from several offices but from the
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Mayor’s Office.
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I just
I know there are several
JOHN ALLISON:
I am John Allison from
Mayor Walsh’s Office.
JOHN ROMANO:
Great, thank you.
You
seen from the other one we will go through our steps
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and then we will have ample time to for all of you.
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know you are all here to provide some kind of
3
comments. Thank you all for your patience and being
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here.
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Are there any abutters present here
today?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
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I
Okay.
Is there anybody
here form the District Office?
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(No response)
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JOHN ROMANO:
I don’t see anybody.
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Traffic Operations is not involved because this is not
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a digital sign it is a static sign.
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these questions are for you guys.
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sent out to property owners at least 30 days prior to
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submitting your application to our office?
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DON WIEST:
So Don, John,
Was certified mail
Yes it was.
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be copies attached to our application.
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originals here if you need them.
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JOHN ROMANO:
There should
We have the
I do have them and I have
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a copy of the letter as well.
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received any written comments in support or opposition
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to this?
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DON WIEST:
Has the applicant
We have not directly.
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understand that your office did.
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of all of those.
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JOHN ROMANO:
We don’t have copies
We have received seven
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letters of opposition.
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minutes and read each one of them into the record.
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Then I will also provide a hard copy to the
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stenographer.
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like.
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order.
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I am going to take a few
So you can sit down during that if you
These are in not necessarily any particular
This one is to Director Romano; this is
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from State Representative Nick Collins.
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Romano, I am writing to you regarding the permit
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application to build two new outdoor billboard
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structures at 39 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston.
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As you may know, this parcel is located on a main
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street within residential South Boston.
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spoken with community members from the impacted area
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which includes the City Side Neighborhood Association,
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the Andrew Square Neighborhood Association and the
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West Broadway Neighborhood Association.
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serious concerns about the location, content, size,
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and visibility of the proposal and the residents have
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voted to oppose this proposal.
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Dear Director
My Office has
There are
In addition, I am also concerned about
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the timing of this proposal.
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within the City of Boston’s South Boston Growth
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Corridor, a city led initiative to change local zoning
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from industrial to residential in order to bring
5
moderately priced housing to that part of Old Colony
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Avenue and the rest of South Boston.
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it is prudent to grant approval for a billboard at
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this location until this re-zoning initiative is
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complete.
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The parcel is located
I do not believe
As a result of the foregoing, I would
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like to go on record in opposition to this proposal
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for the new billboards at 39 Old Colony Avenue.
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you for your consideration of this matter.
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have any further questions, please do not hesitate to
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contact me.
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by the Representative.
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Thank
If you
It is dated October 7, and it is signed
Next, I have a letter from City Council
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President Bill Linehan.
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you to express my opposition to the request of
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Outfront Media’s application number 2015380 and number
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2015381 to erect two billboards that will be located
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at 39 Old Colony Ave.
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Dear Mr. Romano, I am writing
The area between Old Colony and
Dorchester Ave already has numerous existing
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billboards, the City of Boston have designated that
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corridor of Old Colony and Dorchester Ave as the
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growth zone for redevelopment and this proposal does
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not fit into the vision of the future planning of that
5
area.
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I respectfully ask you and the Board to
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deny Outfront Media’s request for permits for this
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location.
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10
Sincerely, signed by the councilor.
Next, is a letter from Boston City
Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty.
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Dear Mr. Romano, I am writing to
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express my opposition to Outfront Media’s applications
13
number 2015380 and number 2015381, requesting to erect
14
two billboards at 39 Old Colony Avenue in South
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Boston.
16
This area already has numerous existing
17
billboards, and the community would not benefit from
18
additional outdoor advertisements.
19
Dorchester Avenue corridor, which connects to Old
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Colony Ave at this site, is currently undergoing an
21
extensive planning process to update zoning and
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improve the overall conditions of the high-traffic
23
area.
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have a place in the community’s vision for this
Furthermore, the
I firmly believe that more billboards would not
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location.
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In light of these concerns, I
3
respectfully request that the Board deny Outfront
4
Media’s proposal for two new billboards.
5
for your consideration.
6
Flaherty.
7
Thank you
It is signed by Councilor
Next is from Representative Daniel
8
Hunt.
Dear Director Romano, I hope this finds you
9
well.
I am writing you today in opposition of the two
10
new billboard licenses proposed for 39 Old Colony
11
Avenue, in South Boston, applications 2015380 and
12
2015381.
13
For the last 15 years or so, there has
14
been a moratorium on billboards across Boston.
15
last year, there has been a significant proliferation
16
of new paper and digital boards throughout our
17
neighborhoods.
18
In the
As you may know, this parcel is located
19
in South Boston’s Growth Corridor, a city led
20
initiative to change local zoning from industrial to
21
residential in order to bring moderately priced
22
housing to that area.
23
that I stand with the community and other elected
24
officials in opposition to any new boards in this
I would like to go on record
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area.
2
Thank you for your time and
3
consideration on this matter.
4
representative.
5
It is signed by the
Lydia, in your package, I don’t have
6
the Senator’s letter here for whatever reason.
7
you get a chance.
8
9
When
The next letter is from the Boston
Redevelopment Authority Director Brian Golden.
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Dear Executive Director Romano, On
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behalf of Mayor Martin J. Walsh, I am writing to
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respectfully request that Massachusetts Department of
13
Transportation’s Office of Outdoor Advertising reject
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the application for a two-sided billboard at 39 Old
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Colony Avenue in South Boston.
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Zoning Board of Appeals denied a billboard application
17
at this site in 2012.
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is not allowed under Article 11 Section 6 of the
19
Boston Zoning Code.
20
The City of Boston’s
Furthermore, this application
The proposed billboard, located at 39
21
Old Colony Avenue, sits squarely in the middle of the
22
City’s Dorchester Avenue South Boston planning
23
initiative.
24
take a comprehensive and strategic assessment of the
The initiative creates an opportunity to
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types of uses and the scale of development best suited
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for the area.
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will improve access to a mix of neighborhood uses
4
including retail and affordable, middle-income, and
5
family-sized housing to meet local needs.
6
it would be imprudent for OOA to approve an edifice at
7
39 Old Colony Ave prior to the completion of the
8
City’s planning study which will conclude in the
9
Spring of 2016.
The proactive planning and rezoning
Therefore,
This area is already experiencing
10
development pressure that includes the mix of uses
11
listed above.
12
In closing, thank you for your
13
consideration of the City of Boston’s request.
14
signed by the Director.
15
16
It is
Lydia, do you have the Senator’s
letter?
17
LYDIA QUIRK:
Yes.
18
JOHN ROMANO:
The next is from Senator
19
20
Linda Dorcena Forry.
Dear Mr. Romano, I am writing to
21
express my opposition to the billboard permit
22
applications at 39 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston
23
as proposed by Outfront Media LLC.
24
This proposal has received broad
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opposition from all three surrounding neighborhood
2
associations, as a billboard will have a negative
3
impact on the quality of life of their residents.
4
Furthermore, the proposed placement of this billboard
5
would be directly within the South Boston Growth
6
Corridor.
7
of Boston for rezoning and rapid redevelopment from a
8
formerly industrial zone to a residential area.
9
billboard, if approved, will stand contrary to these
This is a location identified by the City
This
10
efforts to revitalize this part of South Boston.
11
hope you will bear the future of Old Colony Avenue in
12
mind by denying the application.
13
Senator.
14
I
It is signed by the
The last letter that I have is from
15
three neighborhood associations Andrew Square
16
Neighborhood Association, City Side Neighborhood
17
Association, and the West Broadway Neighborhood
18
Association.
19
of Boston.
It is addressed to MassDOT and the City
20
Please be advised that the Andrew
21
Square Civic Association, City Side Neighborhood
22
Association, and West Broadway Neighborhood
23
Association have just been made aware that Outfront
24
Media has a hearing scheduled this Thursday, October
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8, 2015 to erect a billboard at 39 Old Colony Ave, in
2
South Boston.
3
This location was cited for a billboard
4
a few years ago, and all of the above neighborhood
5
associations who abut the property, strongly opposed
6
it.
7
and thankfully the application was denied.
It was heard by the City of Boston’s Zoning Board
8
9
We go on record AGAIN as being opposed
to this billboard for many of the same reasons as
10
before.
11
advertisement, often it is alcohol related, etc.
12
even more importantly, the City of Boston is in the
13
process of planning the Dorchester Avenue/Old Colony
14
Avenue corridor in South Boston.
15
investment in the neighborhood by Mayor Walsh and a
16
billboard would directly contradict these initiatives.
17
Safety, blight, visibility, content of the
But,
This is a huge
On behalf of our members, we ask that
18
you review this proposal and consider the negative
19
impact it will have on our community.
20
request that you deny the above application.
21
signed by Linda Zablocki, Presidnet of Andrew Square
22
Civic Association, Noreen Rosher, President of City
23
Side Neighborhood Association, and Bill Gleason,
24
President of West Broadway Neighborhood Association.
We respectfully
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Councilor Linehan, Flaherty, Mayor’s Office of
2
Neighborhood Services, Representative Collins, and
3
Senator Forry were all copied on this letter.
4
For those of you in attendance we will
5
get to your verbal comments in a few minutes, please
6
bear with us we have a few more steps to take before
7
we get there.
8
9
Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Wiest, as part of the
application we received from you kind of in lieu of
10
the special permits they were signed off by the City
11
of Boston with a note that due to a court order that
12
you are -- that as of right you did not need to get a
13
special permit or a variance.
14
that.
15
to add in regards to that?
I do have copies of
Do you have anything else that you would like
16
DON WIEST:
Yes, Mr. Romano, we would
17
like to add that the application was the subject of
18
the litigation.
19
language, the court said it is completely clear.
20
permit application complies with zoning.
21
industrial zoned area.
22
industrial.
23
in Boston.
24
The court order issued very strong
The
This is an
In fact, it is quite strongly
Not a lot of industrial quarters are left
There are important businesses and
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whether or not it gets rezoned is a subject for
2
outside of this room.
3
at that district will fight to stay there and continue
4
operating.
5
storage businesses and distribution businesses.
6
application is consistent with zoning and it also
7
meets the state regulatory standards.
8
basis for our application.
No doubt, industrial occupants
It is a warehouse district.
9
JOHN ROMANO:
There are
The
That is the
Okay, thank you.
So my
10
inspector that did the inspection on this is Chris
11
Chaves.
12
observations and report?
Chris, will you take us through your
13
CHRIS CHAVES:
Yes sir.
As you
14
mentioned this is a proposed static monopole two-sided
15
facing north and south on the property of Castle Self
16
Storage.
17
fit the criteria.
18
cemeteries, etcetera to take into account here.
There are two businesses within 500-feet to
19
Also, there are no parks, schools,
There is a current Clear Channel permit
20
16267 and 16268 just north of this site.
The
21
measurement that was taken was 509-feet from one site
22
to the other.
23
There is some type of observation well located very
24
close to the proposed location of the monopole which
There are a couple of things to note.
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was viewed upon inspection.
2
Also, upon further review of the
3
information that was provided it is recommended that
4
an additional spacing measurement site review be
5
conducted before rendering a decision.
6
7
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you very much,
Chris, I appreciate that.
8
CHRIS CHAVES:
9
DON WIEST:
Thank you.
Mr. Romano, if I could just
10
add that if there is a ground water monitoring well in
11
the area, we would be happy to relocate that.
12
JOHN ROMANO:
Okay, we would like some
13
additional information about that.
If it’s -- I don’t
14
know if it’s part of the ground water trust or
15
whatever it is.
16
provide it’s great that you would be happy to move it
17
but I would have to see some documentation that says
18
that it’s okay to move it.
19
field but I need to have something from somebody that
20
is.
So whatever documents that you can
21
DON WIEST:
22
JOHN ROMANO:
I am not an expert in that
23
be removed.
24
for you if you would.
Sure.
That says that that can
The other thing -- a few other questions
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DON WIEST:
2
JOHN ROMANO:
Sure.
Obviously, as you can see
3
there is a lot of opposition to this.
4
measurement is extremely close between an existing one
5
which would -- if it was under 500-feet would make it
6
not permittable.
7
with the 509-feet we’ve continued to look at this very
8
closely and we are going to take some additional
9
review out there.
10
This sign
So while an initial review came up
Looking at the drawings that were
11
provided there are two different drawings and it shows
12
two different locations for the poles.
13
change the measurement.
14
Obviously, if the well couldn’t be moved it would
15
change the location.
16
of being permittable.
17
concerns that we will continue to review after this
18
hearing and we will certainly follow up with you and
19
keep you in the loop.
20
It could
It could change the location.
It would probably knock it out
We still have a bunch of open
Shouldn’t take that 509-feet as what
21
the actual measurement may end up being.
That was our
22
initial look.
23
drawings that were provided probably raised more
24
questions than we have solved at this point.
As I said, continuing to look at the
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will stay in contact with you and let you know where
2
we are with that.
3
information that you can provide to us, especially on
4
the well, etcetera, we would be happy to review.
5
Certainly, any additional
DON WIEST:
We certainly understand
6
that you will need to look carefully into this.
7
makes complete sense.
8
that.
9
additional information we can to be helpful.
10
It
It is your obligation to do
We understand that if we have to supply any
Thank
you.
11
JOHN ROMANO:
12
Anything else you want to add at this time?
13
DON WIEST:
14
JOHN ROMANO:
Great, thank you.
Not at this time.
Okay, great.
I know
15
there is a handful of people who want to speak out but
16
if everybody is okay, I am going to give some
17
deference to Jake from Senator Forry’s Office.
18
are in formal session right now.
19
opportunity to go first so he can get back to the
20
State House.
21
JAKE:
They
Give him the
From our offices perspective
22
regardless of the proponents legal arguments we feel
23
that it would be premature to allow this permit at
24
this time.
The South Boston Growth Corridor
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Initiative it has been years in the planning and the
2
implementation.
3
and state officials, civic associations and scores of
4
neighborhood residence.
5
revitalized and we just think it would be a little
6
early to allow this billboard to be put up at this
7
time.
It has taken broad coalition of city
This area is going to be
8
Also, regardless of what the business
9
interest may be in the area this billboard does have
10
an effect on the quality of life of the residence and
11
it stands in conflict with their wishes.
12
reiterate that.
13
JOHN ROMANO:
Great, thank you very
14
much.
15
maybe we will just go around from there.
16
We wish to
So, I will go with the Councilor next and then
FRANK BAKER:
Again, outside of my
17
District but abutting my District.
18
runs right through my District.
19
reasons that my seven colleagues are on record on
20
paper for opposing this application here, same for
21
myself, same for my office.
22
The Dorchester Ave
For all the same
We work diligently trying to remove
23
billboards in the city.
24
quality of life.
We find them to be a blight
Some of the messaging on the
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billboards, I don’t think add to the quality of
2
anybody’s life.
3
opposition of this billboard.
4
I would just like to be on record in
JOHN:
Thank you.
My name is John I work in
5
Councilor Bill Linehan’s Office, City Councilor
6
President.
7
just like to echo the statements of opposition.
8
are opposed to this for all the reasons mentioned.
I don’t want to be repetitive, I would
9
JOHN ROMANO:
10
DAVID BIELE:
We
Thank you, anybody else?
Good morning Director.
11
David Biele with State Representative Nick Collins
12
Office.
13
is premised on industrial zoning and that will be
14
changed.
15
Boston Division and interagency to revitalize this
16
neighborhood.
We also stand in opposition.
This proposal
That will be turning residential in the City
So we are in opposition.
17
JOHN ROMANO:
18
JOHN ALLISON:
Thank you.
John Allison from Mayor
19
Walsh’s Office I would like to echo some of the
20
statements already made about changing the area.
21
also urge you to not only look at the billboard at
22
509-feet from this location but the plethora of
23
billboards in the area.
24
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
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ERIN WALSH:
Erin Walsh from
2
Representative Hunts Office.
3
reiterate the sentiments of everybody else’s
4
opposition.
5
6
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
Anybody else
from the public that would like to make a comment?
7
(NO response)
8
JOHN ROMANO:
9
I would like to strongly
Seeing none.
Any final
words from the proponent before we close out.
10
JOHN MAHONEY:
Just a few comments.
11
The proliferation of billboards on your website shows
12
that in the last seven years that the number of
13
billboards is down to 3,476.
14
down out of the permits over the last seven years that
15
show on the website 620 billboards have been removed
16
and 247 have been issued.
17
point out that it was mentioned several times, I think
18
Representative Hunt’s Office mentioned about
19
proliferation that hasn’t been so.
20
21
So I would just like to
JOHN ROMANO:
That number is state
wide, correct, not just for the City of Boston?
22
JOHN MAHONEY:
23
JOHN ROMANO:
24
That is like ten percent
clarification.
Yes.
Just for point of
Don, any close of words?
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DON WIEST:
Yes, thank you.
Just a
2
close.
3
this was an industrial zoned area.
4
characterized by industrial uses.
5
feel that there are proliferation for billboards but
6
this area fit the appropriate category both in terms
7
of the character of the area and also for representing
8
the area for what it was.
9
At the time when we applied for the billboard
It is strongly
Clearly, people
The permit has been granted.
It is
10
industrial zoned.
As we speak, it may well stay
11
industrial zoned.
There are obviously changes in the
12
neighborhood but having been involved with a lot of
13
rezoning processes myself, I can tell you that there
14
is a constituency for these small family owned
15
business in the city that don’t have any place to go
16
today.
17
around them but this area will still stay industrial.
18
It is possible that there will be change
We would just say that today, we do
19
have a billboard permit issued by the city under the
20
industrial zone.
21
As far as we know, it will stay.
That is the current legal status.
22
JOHN ROMANO:
23
EILEEN FENTON:
24
couple of questions.
Thank you, Don.
If I could just ask a
Obviously, there is a lot of
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opposition to this whether you knew about it coming in
2
here or not.
3
either way but is there any -- this is a 75-foot
4
billboard over a one story building.
5
know there is one up the street that is really big.
6
Will you or do you have any thoughts around
7
considering either making it less or a little more
8
appealing to the neighbors.
This is -- I don’t have an opinion
9
Pretty big and I
Obviously, in light of all the
10
opposition is there any opportunity to take it down,
11
make it a rooftop?
12
business decision on your part but obviously, there is
13
a lot of opposition here.
14
you or your client to consider anything like that?
15
I mean, that is obviously a
DON WIEST:
Is there any appetite from
There is more opposition
16
than expected.
17
popular.
18
sometimes.
19
these comments came late in the game.
20
fingers at anyone we just want to -- there wasn’t a
21
lot previously.
It is just a reality of this and we see that
22
23
24
Billboards are not always that
We would have to think about that.
Again,
Not to point
I think we need to think about that.
You mentioned you had a couple of
questions.
EILEEN FENTON:
I guess my other
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question is are these parking designated parking spots
2
for the business?
3
but I couldn’t really tell.
4
parking for the area?
5
right next to it.
6
I mean, I know the area very well
Are these lined for
I know there are dumpsters
DON WIEST:
There is some parking for
7
this retail.
8
There is a self-storage business further back and
9
there is some parking in the lot.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
It is a storefront there that connects.
EILEEN FENTON:
JOHN MAHONEY:
I actually believe that
is where the dumpster was before.
EILEEN FENTON:
The dumpster is
actually a little bit closer to me.
JOHN MAHONEY:
I know where the
dumpster is located now.
EILEEN FENTON:
19
DON WIEST:
20
JOHN MAHONEY:
22
So you will be taking
away parking spots for the billboard?
18
21
That is correct.
Okay.
It was relocated.
They moved it because we
are building a billboard there.
EILEEN FENTON:
Right.
I guess my
23
question is more when -- this could have been as of
24
right project at the time this -- in the initial
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filing to permit this business here did you commit to
2
X number of parking spots that are no longer going to
3
be -­
4
JOHN MAHONEY:
5
EILEEN FENTON:
6
there.
7
question was.
8
business.
On the storage facility?
Whatever businesses are
So you have -- that is what my initial
9
Your parking spaces designated for the
JOHN MAHONEY:
So you are asking how
10
much spaces does it take up is what is sounds like.
11
It takes up -- the pole actually takes up about four
12
feet and there are parking spaces.
13
extend the parking spaces out, I guess, if that is
14
your concern.
15
DON WIEST:
You can easily
We know the city looked at
16
the zoning requirements pretty carefully and that was
17
not -- there was no issue with parking.
18
EILEEN FENTON:
19
JOHN ROMANO:
20
All right, last call.
Anything on this?
21
(No response)
22
JOHN ROMANO:
23
24
That is all I have.
you.
Great, gentleman thank
We will stay in touch with you.
DON WIEST:
Thank you.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Back to -- obviously,
2
this will be taken under advisement.
3
items for the record, does anybody have any questions,
4
comments, or concerns for the couple items for the
5
record part of the agenda.
6
(No response)
7
JOHN ROMANO:
Last couple of
Okay, seeing none we will
8
conclude the hearing and we will see you all next
9
month if not before.
Thank you all very much.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Whereupon, the proceedings were concluded on
October 8, 2015 at 11:46 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 Hillery
_________________________________________
Tammy A. Hillery
**All names not provided were spelled phonetically to
the best of my ability.
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