HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211120 69 Caroline Use Variance Narrative (2) 69 CAROLINE STREET
ZBA USE VARIANCE
SUPPLEMENTAL NARRATIVE—FEBRUARY 4, 2022
The pending application for The Joinery seeks to convert the existing Children's Museum building located
at 69 Caroline Street into an educational and community workshop center. During the meeting of the ZBA
on January 31, 2022, the ZBA sought information pertaining to three topics— retail use, sound and spray
finishing. The narrative will provitle information relating to the Board's inquiries.
Gallery
The Joinery anticipates using the existing Children's Museum lobby for check in/registration for classes as
well as a display area for items to be made in upcoming classes and work done by members. Some of the
items on display will be for sale, similar to the Children's Museum current use, where such items as
crayons, markers and other craft items are on display for sale. Any display and purchase opportunities will
be ancillary to the main focus of the Joinery, which is as an educational and workshop space. The display
will be utilized to highlight the items being made at the Joinery, to help demonstrate the items that could be
made during one of the upcoming classes and showcase the work of some of the craftspeople that are
members. An occasional sale of a person's creation would help support their craft.
Sound
The applicant met with code enforcement officers at the site on February 3, 2022. At that time, three pieces
of equipment(the same Dewalt planer as previously used, together with an air compressor and a 3 HP
router)were engaged while sound measurements were taken at the property lines. The noise ordinance in
the city code has standartls pertaining to sound levels in a residential district and prohibits sound levels of
60 decibels(dBA) and/or an instantaneous sound pressure level of 70 decibels (dBC) at the property line
between the hours of 11 pm and 7am.
As the building currently stands without any sound attenuating work being done, the sound levels were
below the city threshold at the property lines. At the corner of the property closest to Henry Street, the noise
was undetected and the mechanicals on the roof of an adjacent property were the dominant sound source.
At the southeast corner, where one window of the building does not fully close and at the emergency exit
door on the east side, the sound levels were the highest, but still within acceptable ranges. The applicant
plans for sound attenuation measures to be taken in both of these areas to ensure continued compliance
with the sound ordinance.
Spray Finishing
The Joinery is focused on making products with wood, not in the finishing of products with finishes antl
protectants. The Joinery intends to use hand sealing processes with low VOC products antl/or natural oils.
The applicant will not do any spraying of lacquers or using high VOC finishes that require specialized
venting. Should there come a time in the future when this type of finishing is desired, the applicant will work
with the city code enforcement antl building departments in order to comply with all necessary
requirements. The applicant understands that it will be necessary to employ such items as containment and
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purifying measures if it seeks to have a spray booth in the future.At present, there is not sufficient room or
need for this to occur.
The Zoning Board inquired about the Joinery's educational opportunities related to preservation and was
concerned about potential stripping of windows using chemical process. The Joinery's anticipated
preservation efforts woultl be largely focused on the skills to recreate historically accurate moldings, tloors
and windows, not in refinishing existing fixtures.
Proposed Conditions
The applicant offers and consents to the following conditions being added to any positive recommentlation
on the use variance application:
1. Retail sale of items are limited to creations matle by members and may be displayed in the lobby
space at the front entrance to the property.
2. Sound attenuation measures will be taken in advance of commencement of operations at the
Joinery to ensure compliance with the city noise ordinance.
3. No spray finishing will occur on site in the future without the review and approval of the city
building department and code enforcement.
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