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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-05-09 HPC Minutes Village of Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission Record of Minutes Date: May 9 , 2013 Location: Village Hall CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL , PLEDGE Chairman Bortel called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Roll call was taken; Commissioners Schmidt, Kachel, Hendricksen, Buchanan , Hagen and Chairman Bortel were present. Commissioners Olsen , Rapp and Derrick were absent. Michael Garrigan –Village Planner ; Merrilee Trotz, Recording Secretary w ere present. Chairman Bortel led the pledge to the flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Schmidt moved to approve the Agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Kachel Voice vote: All in favor. Opposed - none . M otion carried 6 -0 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Hendricksen made moti on to approve the min utes from April 11 , 2013 as presented . Commissioner Schmidt seconded the motion. Voice vote: All in favor. Opposed - none . Motion carried 6 -0. CHAIR’S COMM ENTS: Chairman Bortel and Commissioner Hendricksen presented preservation awards to Coldwel l Banker for the architectural details done to Jones Hardware building; to the Masonic Block for the rehabilitation of their building; and to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Habiger for restoration of the Opera House. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: Commissioner Kachel thanked the recipients for setting the example of improvements to the downtown. Commissioner Hendricksen also congratulated the owners for their dedication and effort for the restoration of the downtown buildings. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Items not on the Agenda) No one approached the microphone. STAFF REPORT Mr. Garrigan s tated there have been no new demolition applications; there were two information applications, the Oswego Park District is asking permission to proceed with the demolition of the Stewart Farm Ba rn and this was approved administratively; Oswego park District has the obligation to maintain the Stewart Farm house; and the Plainfield Fire District has requested permission to proceed with the burning of the Sabadosh farmstead , this will be reviewed in the next couple of weeks . Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 9 , 2013 Page 2 of 4 Chairman Bortel suggested meeting with the Oswego Park District to see if they might be interested in landmarking the well house located on the Stewart Farm. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 1617 -032913.HPC 24025 W Ottawa Street Commiss ioner Schmidt made a motion to open the public hearing. Commissioner Hendricksen seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Schmidt, yes; Kachel, yes; Hendricksen, yes; Buchanan, yes; Hagen, yes; Bortel, yes. Motion carried. Mr. Garrigan indicated this i s a public hearing being heard pursuant to applicable state statute and in accordance with all village ordinances. This is a request for demolition of the property at 24025 W Ottawa Street located just south of Lockport Street and near the Village Green n eighborhood. The applicant is seeking permission to demolish this property in order to proceed with the construction of a new home. They are working with an architect on elevations for the new home and have indicated that they intend on following the Vi llage’s infill design guidelines if there is support of the demolition. Mr. Garrigan indicated the circa date of construction is 1830; further describ ing the house as a “hall & parlor” typology and indicated it is an early settlement house that once hou sed the Village’s cabinet maker’s shop. The urban survey identifies this property as a contributing structure and is identified for landmark de signation. The windows, siding, and porch have been modified over time. There are two actions the HPC can appr ove; the first is to request a community impact study be done; the second is to recommend approval of the demolition. With regard to the request of a community impact study Mr. Garrigan reviewed the findings of fact. Staff believes many of the early pion eer homes in the Village are under threat of demolition; and believes due to the age of the house that there is sufficient basis for community impact study Chairman Bortel swore in Terrence Melbourn, 15929 Hometown Drive. Mr. Melbourn stated he and his w ife are 16 year residents of Plainfield and want to move closer to the downtown; their bid on this home was accepted and their proposal is to demolish the existing house and rebuild a home using the guidelines. Commissioner Hendricksen asked what the date of demolition would be if this application were approved. Mr. Melbourn indicated if this demolition was approved, they would proceed to sell their current home; when they receive a contract on their current home, they would proceed with the demolition, m ove into a rental during construction of the new home . Chairman Bortel swore in Michael Lambert , 14805 S Eastern Ave . Mr. Lambert stated he did not think the house dates to 1830 ; felt the earliest date wa s 1835 or more likely 1840’s; feels the Village d oes not have a clear plan for saving the pioneer houses; did not feel there was much architect ural integrity left in this house; felt this property only met criteria f. Mr. Lambert felt only 2 or 3 of the Secretary of Interiors standards could be met with regard to this house; stated the applicant has reviewed all prior concept plans for this property; explored new concepts for the preservation adaptive use of this property; they have made contact with the IHPA to investigate the potential financial incent ives and decided the incentive does not warrant the preservation expense and the end result does not meet their life style goals. The applicant has developed a concept of continued residential use of the property once the existing structure is raised. Mr . Lambert stated the Melbourns have undertaken every aspect of what would be required of what would be required by the Community Impact Study; felt the Community Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 9 , 2013 Page 3 of 4 Impact Study was unreasonable; stated the Melbourns are requesting a vote be taken tonight eit her approving or denying the request for demolition of 24025 W Ottawa Street. Commissioner Kachel asked if any of the interior was original ; asked if this was a walnut framed house . Mr. Lambert stated he believed there was nothing original remaining in t he interior; the original siding may still remain but the siding has not been exposed; the light gauge 2 X 4 construction remains and the wide sheathing on the floors and a stone foundation remain . Mr. Lambert indicated the applicant has a report fro m a h ouse inspect o r which basically deems every aspect of the house as unsafe or beyond structural repair. Mr. Lambert did not do a sampling of the wood but thought it would be some kind of hardwood. Commissioner Schmidt asked if they planned to reuse any of the materials, some of the wood in the new design. Mr. Lambert stated it will come down to cost and how easily it will be to take the wood out of the building. Discussion was held regarding the cost of a Community Impact Study. Mr. Garrigan stated for c larification he did not believe Staff supported demolition of any of the previous demolition applications. Discussion was held regarding the date of construction of 24025 W Ottawa Street. Chairman Bortel asked for any public comments. There was no respo nse. Commissioner Kachel made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Hagen seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Schmidt, yes; Hendricksen, yes; Buchanan, yes; Hagen, yes; Kachel, yes Bortel, yes. Motion carried. Commissioner Kachel ask ed if there was a possibility of moving the house. Commissioner Schmidt asked what a Community Impact Study entails. Mr. Garrigan stated a Community Impact Study is a study by a professional planner or architect or someone who has extensive experience in restoring historical structures, who does not have a conflict of interest or represent the owner of the property, to go through the structure to see if there is any type of potential reuse . Commissioner Hendricksen stated this was the first demolition re quest that was completely filled out and properly handled; indicated he was inclined to allow demolition. Commissioner Kachel made a motion to recommend denial of the impact study and say the study was not necessary for the property at 24025 W Ottawa Stre et. Commissioner Hagen seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Hendricksen, yes ; Buchanan , no; Hagen, yes; Schmidt, yes; Kachel, yes; Bortel, no. Motion carried 4 -2. Commissioner Hendricksen made a motion to recommend demolition of 24025 W Ottawa Stre et case no. 1617 -032913.HPC. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 9 , 2013 Page 4 of 4 Commissioner Hagen seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Kachel, yes; Schmidt, yes; Buchanan, no; Hagen, yes ; Hendricksen , yes; Bortel, no Motion carried 4 -2. OLD BUSINESS: Chairman Bortel stated the National Register Ap plication was submitted to IHPA and should be presented to the Preservation Conference held in Evanston June 28 th and 29 th and the results should be available in early September. Chairman Bortel asked Staff to look up the major renovations in the downto wn in the past five (5) years as the se renovations could be eligible for tax credits if the national register nomination is granted. COMMITTEE REPORTS : DISCUSSION: Chairman Bortel reminded the Commissioner to RSVP regarding the Stra te gic Planning Meeting scheduled for June 12, 2013 at Plainfield North High School from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm . Chairman Bortel stated the coding is completed for the online brochures ; the buildings in the National Register will be showcased on the Village’s website sometime in late June or early July with images of the current building and maybe some historic images along with a short description of each building and the QR code label. Commissioner Buchanan and Chairman Bortel thanked Staff for their assistance. ADJOURN: Comm issioner Schmidt made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Kachel seconded the motion. Voice vote: All in favor. Opposed – none . Motion carried 6 -0 Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p. m. __________________________ Respectfully submitted, Merrilee Trotz - Recording Secretary