Architectural Control Commission

APPROVED 1 MINUTES OF A RESCHEDULED 2 MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMISSION 3 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 4 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 5 May 21, 2015 6 7 Commissioners Present (5) 8 Alan Schwall, Chairman 9 David Menn 10 Cliff Town 11 Robert Katz 12 F. Dirk Heidbrink 13 14 Commissioners Absent (2) 15 Lori Jordison 16 Christopher Urbanczyk 17 18 Village Staff Present 19 Tom Poupard, Director, Development and Planning Services, Village of Northbrook 20 Nick Desario, Assistant Director/Building and Development, Village of Northbrook 21 David Schoon, Assistant Director/Development and Planning Services, Village of Northbrook 22 Michaela Kohlstedt, Senior Planner, Village of Northbrook 23 Gale Cerabona, Meeting Minutes Recorder 24 Others Present 25 Paul Vazkin, Paul Vazkin Salon 26 Peter Theodore, Camburas and Theodore 27 Atul Akhand, Captivating Signs 28 29 Call to Order 30 Acting Chair Town called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane, at 31 5:32 p.m. 32 33 Roll Call 34 Roll was established. There was a quorum. 35 36 Review of Minutes 37 Commissioner Menn moved, seconded by Commissioner Heidbrink to approve the April 9, 2015, 38 Architectural Control Commission (ACC) meeting minutes as submitted. On a voice vote, there were all 39 ayes, and the motion was unanimously approved. 40 41 Public Comments Regarding Items Not on the Agenda 42 There were none. 43 44 Village Green Overlay Design Review 45 a. 1330 Shermer Road – Proposed Wall Sign for American Family Insurance 46 1  APPROVED 1 Senior Planner Kohlstedt advised that this tenant is leasing the second floor office space. 2 She reviewed the details of the proposed sign that is to be installed as a wall sign above the 3 front door on Shermer Road. 4 Assistant Director Desario arrived at 5:34 p.m. 5 Motion by Member Menn, seconded by Member Heidbrink, to approve this sign in 6 accordance with the exhibit as submitted. On a voice vote, there were all ayes, and the 7 motion passed. 8 b. 1354 Shermer Road – Proposed Awning for Paul Vazkin Salon 9 Senior Planner Kohlstedt advised that this is the third (and final) tenant space in this building 10 to install an awning along Shermer Road. She then reviewed the details of the sign. She 11 noted that the bottom of the proposed awning is 7 ft. 6 inches from grade, which is different 12 from the existing awnings. There is a preference by Public Works to have this awning the 13 same height (due to snow removal) as the existing awnings 14 The Commission then discussed the proposed awning including the pitch and slop. Senior 15 Planner Kohlstedt advised that a different awning company is involved; pitch and slope are 16 not indicated on the drawing. Discussion took place on the location of the awning. The 17 applicant was asked if this awning could match the other awnings. Petitioner Paul Vazkin 18 advised it could. It was noted the sign is black and white, and the awning will be above the 19 window signs. 20 Some Members stated they would rather have two colors (rather than three). Members are 21 in agreement to allow this awning with the same size, mounting height, and projection as 22 the other awnings on the building. A material sample was shown. 23 Motion by Member Menn, seconded by Member Heidbrink, to approve this sign with the 24 following conditions: 25  The bottom of the awning be 8 ft. 2 inches from grade; 26  The awning shall be the same size, projection, and angle as other awnings on 27 building 28  The awning shall be black with white letters 29 On a voice vote, there were all ayes, and the motion passed. 30 Status Report - Building Permit Extension Request for 1722 Chapel Court 31 Assistant Director Desario advised that the permanent extension was granted. He noted that progress is 32 being made as Petitioner is now installing an underwater storm water detention/drainage system. 33 Assistant Director Desario noted their attorney has revised the language, and the completed agreement 34 and timeline should be available at the next meeting (with completion of project by February, 2016). He 35 advised that the installation appears to be successful, and there will be continuous status updates. 36 Chairman Al Schwall arrived at 5:49 p.m. 2  APPROVED 1 794 Skokie Blvd. (Northshore 770 Development) – Review of Proposed Elevation Changes to Bldg. A 2 Assistant Director Schoon advised that four tenants will be in the space, and to accommodate the fourth 3 the applicant is adding a small storefront with windows and awning on the west elevation 4 Mr. Theodore stated that: 5  One tenant will access from the south side of the building with one entrance 6  Window is an enhancement; glazing will be similar to what’s in front 7  Awning will be a Cocoa Brown, Sunbrella material 8 Some Members voiced that this looks much better; an improvement. Assistant Director Schoon advised 9 that any proposed signage will come before the Commission in the future. 10 Commissioner Katz moved, seconded by Commissioner Town, to approve with the changes to the south 11 and west elevations as proposed. On a voice vote, there were all ayes, and the motion was 12 unanimously approved. 13 14 Appeal of Applicability of IFC 509 and 913.6 – NS 770 Bldgs. A, B, & D – Fire Sprinkler/Owner Rooms 15 Assistant Director Schoon noted that this item had been removed from the agenda. 16 New Single Family Home Elevations: 17 a. 839 Keystone Circle (R-5 District) – Town Studios, Inc., Architect (continued from 4/9/15) 18 b. 1401 Linden Road (R-4 District) -- Town Studios, Inc., Architect 19 c. 1027 Hillside Road (R-4 District) -- Town Studios, Inc., Architect 20 d. 2061 Second Street (R-2 District) – BK Architects 21 e. 2567 Walters (R-4 District) – Orren Pickell Design Group, Inc., Architect 22 The ACC reviewed the information on the new single family home elevations. Members noted they had 23 concerns about the possible colors palette for 2567 Walters Avenue. 24 25 Motion by Commissioner Menn, seconded by Commissioner Katz, to approve these single-family home 26 elevations as presented, but to ask the architect for 2567 Walters to submit the proposed color palette 27 for the ACC review before formally approving that application. On a voice vote, there were all ayes and 28 the motion passed. Member Town abstained. 29 30 New Business 31 There was no New Business 32 33 Old Business 34 Member Katz asked where are things at regarding further discussion of increasing the ACC’s review 35 authority of single family homes beyond just monotony. The Commission discussed that reviewing the 36 design of a home for its compatibility with surrounding homes is as important as ensuring that its design 37 isn’t monotonous. The Commission talked about what other communities do. 38 39 The meeting minute taker, who is also the minute taker for the Highland Park’s Design Review 40 Commission, read the purview of that commission: 41 42 “In accordance with Chapter 176 of the Highland Park City Code, the Design Review Commission 43 reviews the applicant’s petition and presentation regarding exterior design features to 3  APPROVED 1 determine if they are suitable and compatible with the character of neighboring buildings and 2 structures, and with the character of the neighborhood and the zoning district, and will not be 3 detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the City, and whose exterior design 4 features will not cause a substantial depreciation in the property values or taxable values in the 5 neighborhood. This Commission reviews external features only, and its decisions are regarding 6 aesthetic issues only. It is up the petitioner to verify, satisfy, and comply with all municipal 7 building code ordinances.” 8 It was suggested that principals for commercial buildings could be applied to residential structures. 9 Modern vs. traditional styles were discussed. Assistant Director Schoon advised that the issue of 10 expanding the Commission’s authority needs to be discussed with the Village Board. 11 Member Katz stated, if better defined with authority, the ACC would have a more meaningful purpose 12 (regarding residential projects). 13 Director Poupard arrived at 6:35 p.m. 14 It was concluded that the ACC could be more productive if given more information, tools, authority, 15 possible code revisions, etc. There was a general consensus that commercial and residential properties 16 should have similar policies. 17 Assistant Director Desario inquired if feedback has been provided after-the-fact. Various projects were 18 referenced. 19 Member Menn concluded that if something more concrete is presented to the Village Board and 20 authorized for the ACC, the rationale would be to eliminate inferior results on projects. The 21 Commission concluded that it would discuss this issue further at a future meeting. 22 Adjourn 23 There being no further business, Commissioner Menn moved, seconded by Commissioner Katz, to 24 adjourn the meeting. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried and the meeting adjourned at 25 6:51 pm. 26 27 Respectfully submitted, 28 29 30 Gale Cerabona 31 Recorder 4