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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014-09-25 HPC Minutes Village of Plainfield Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission Record of Minutes Date: September 25, 2014 Location: Village Hall CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, PLEDGE Chairman Bortel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken; Commissioners Schmidt, Kachel, Olsen, Derrick, Hendricksen, Barvian, Rapp, and Chairman Bortel were present. Commissioner Hagen was absent. Also in attendance: Michael Garrigan, Village Planner and Merrilee Trotz, Recording Secretary. Chairman Bortel led the pledge to the flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Derrick made a motion approving the agenda. Commissioner Hendricksen seconded the motion. Voice vote. All in favor. 0 opposed. Motion carried APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Hendricksen made a motion to approve the minutes from August 14, 2014 with the recommendation that the summaries will be provided by the Commission. Commissioner Derrick seconded the motion. Voice vote. All in favor. 0 opposed. Motion carried CHAIR’S COMMENTS: Chairman Bortel stated there is a new owner of the Trolley Barn; Staff has indicated the new owner has applied for an interior demolition; stated the owner plans to retain the east addition for offices after restoration and will demolish the west addition. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: Commissioner Hendricksen thanked Staff for the excellent job on the Demolition Ordinance. Chairman Bortel asked how the construction was proceeding on 24010 W Commercial Street. Commissioner Olsen stated it is proceeding steadily; currently they are waiting for the historic windows which are being restored. Chairman Bortel welcomed the newly appointed Commissioner, Kenneth Barvian. Mr. Barvian stated he has been a resident of Plainfield since 1994; and has been co-chair of the Village Preservation Association for the last couple of years. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Items not on the Agenda) No one approached the microphone. STAFF REPORT: Mr. Garrigan indicated there are no new landmark or district applications and no new demolition requests other than the interior demolition of the Trolley Barn; the preservation watch list remains the same; stated 15106 S Fox River Street is being marketed for commercial property. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 25, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Mr. Garrigan stated the demolition ordinance will proceed with a formal text amendment; the current ordinance will be repealed and the new demolition ordinance will be adopted. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Case No. 1662-082614.HPC 24050 W Lockport Street (Landmark) Commissioner Derrick made a motion to open the public hearing. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Kachel, yes; Schmidt, yes; Rapp, yes, Barvian, Yes; Hendricksen, Olsen, yes; Derrick, yes; Bortel, yes. Motion carried 8-0. Mr. Garrigan stated this is a public hearing being heard pursuant to public notice being served and published in accordance with state statute and all public requirements. The applicant is requesting landmark designation for the property at 24050 W Lockport Street, commonly known as the Masonic Lodge, which is currently in the Downtown Historic District and is zoned B-5, (Traditional Business District.) The property was constructed in 1892 in the Arnold Subdivision; the property was owned by Levi Arnold, a significant individual in the early history of Plainfield; subsequently sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841 and then sold to the Plainfield Masonic Lodge. The Masonic Lodge selected John Edward Minnot, a well-known architect, to design the new lodge after the 1891 fire which destroyed the area north of Lockport Street. Mr. Garrigan reviewed the period of significance from 1892 through 1922 which reflects the period from the point of structure to the time that the Masons purchased the building from the Masonic Block Company. The current survey identifies the property as an individual landmark and local landmark status within a district. Mr. Garrigan reviewed the findings of fact for the statement of significance as noted in the staff report. Levi Arnold platted the area north of Lockport Street, was one of the founders of the Village of Plainfield; sold the parcel to the Methodist Episcopal Church who sold the property to the Masonic Block Company. The structure was designed by John Edward Minnot; the proposed landmark incorporates a number of significant and original architectural elements of a Queen Anne era. The turret and onion dome have been restored by the Masons. Mr. Garrigan reviewed additional features which provide the unique architectural details of the building. The building has been beautifully restored. Staff believes the property qualifies for designation and suggests recommendation of approval for landmark designation. Chairman Bortel swore in Michael Scott Rife, representative for the Masons. Commissioner Hendricksen stated the Masons have done an outstanding job in this restoration. Mr. Rife said the members came together as a group; Doc Pennington has been a member of the lodge for 60 years and it is people like him that keep the Masons going. Commissioner Kachel mentioned the Masons have taken this one step at a time to bring it to where it is today. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 25, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner Schmidt asked if there were additional plans for any other renovations. Mr. Rife indicated they plan to fix some of the doors of the tenants; they do not plan to change anything – it is just mechanical repairs to get the doors to lock properly. Chairman Bortel mentioned the artwork advertising that was shown in pictures on the west wall. Commissioner Rapp asked if Mr. Rife had any questions of the commission. Mr. Rife asked when this would approved and when would the plaque be presented. Chairman Bortel stated it would probably go to the Village Board at their first meeting in October; once the Village Board approved the landmark we will work with Mr. Rife regarding the language for the plaque and the plaque might be ready as early as November. Mr. Rife asked if there would be more QR codes. Chairman Bortel stated there is a QR code label on one of the doors on the storefront now and more could be added if desired. Commissioner Hendricksen made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Rapp seconded the motion. Voice vote. All in favor. 0 opposed. Motion carried. Commissioner Derrick suggested this building is one of two really important icons for Plainfield and should be landmarked; suggested rearranging some of the information in the nomination; asked about the association of Levi Arnold as his association with this land ends in 1844, then there are one or two other owners between the Masons; felt this is really about the Masons development of this building. Chairman Bortel asked what if it was identified with the Masons. Commissioner Derrick suggested having the statement of significance under (c) is Minnot and the Masons. Morgan Hudson indicated the Masonic Block Association was created by the Plainfield Lodge. Chairman Bortel said the Masonic Block Association put up the articles of incorporation and the money to create the building; then in 1922 the Lodge bought the building from that group and dissolved the other group. Chairman Bortel stated the Masons have owned the building from 1892 to the present. Commissioner Derrick asked about the numbering of Lodge 536. There are approximately 500 lodges currently in Illinois. The lodges are numbered with the establishment of the charter; some lodges have gone under or quit; Lockport Lodge is number 538 and they continue to operate. Commissioner Derrick stated she is trying to determine where the Plainfield Lodge falls into the history. The Elwood Lodge was formed in 1912. The numbers of the lodges are assigned as they are established, the numbers are not reused if a lodge dissolves; belief is that the number is now up to 1088. Commissioner Hendricksen stated once the landmark is in place, it serves as a document in the future as what was present now; later if another owner wants to change it we have this record with the old photos and work that was done to ensure so an interested party can keep this building as it is now. Commissioner Derrick felt the group history could be made stronger; felt the group would be under (c) as the important persons history. Commissioner Schmidt felt this was a great document. Commissioner Olsen indicated the pictures were great also. Chairman Bortel stated connection to the sewer was in 1911. Commissioner Schmidt asked when the fire escape was added. Commissioner Hendricksen guessed it was mid late 1930’s when code enforcement started to be an issue. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 25, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Commissioner Derrick made a motion to recommend approval of 24050 W. Lockport Street as a historic landmark based on the criteria outlined in the staff report with the minor modification of Arnold and the addition of the Plainfield Masons under criteria (c). Commissioner Rapp seconded the motion. Vote by roll call: Schmidt, yes; Kachel, yes; Olsen, yes; Hendricksen, yes; Barvian, yes; Rapp, yes; Derrick, yes; Bortel, yes. Motion carried 8-0. DISCUSSION None ADJOURN: Commissioner Hendricksen made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Olsen seconded the motion. Voice vote. All in favor; 0 opposed. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p. m. __________________________ Respectfully submitted, Merrilee Trotz - Recording Secretary