Historic Preservation Commission

City of Batavia Historic Preservation Commission Monday, January 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM 100 N. Island Ave, Batavia, IL 60510 in the City Council Chambers Questions and comments regarding agenda items can be submitted prior to 4 PM the day of the meeting by emailing Zach Ewoldt, Planner at zewoldt@bataviail.gov Page 1. Meeting Call to Order 2. Roll Call Jamie Saam, Chair Tom Connelly, Vice Chair Phil Bus William Mahler Mark Allen Jamie Koc 3. Items Removed, Added or Changed 4. Matters from the Public: (For Items NOT on the Agenda) 5. Regular Agenda 5.1 Certificate of Appropriateness forthe installation of a wall sign 3-6 and the replacement of sign panels for the existing freestanding sign at 336 East Wilson Street Batavia Patels 2 LLC, Applicant Staff Memo 5.2 Certificate of Appropriateness fora new wall sign at 160 First 7-9 Street on North Building Elevation Aubrey Sign Company, Applicant Staff Memo 5.3 Certificate of Appropriateness forthe installation of a wall sign 10 - 12 at 40 North Island Avenue Aubrey Sign Company, Applicant Staff Memo 6. Updates Page 1 of 12 7. Other Business 8. Adjournment Individuals with disabilities should notify the City Administrator’s office at 630-454-2053 if they have a disability which will require special assistance or services and, if so, what services are required. This notification should occur as far as possible before the City-sponsored function, program, or meeting. Page 2 of 12  MEMO To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Zach Ewoldt AICP, Planner Date: January 23, 2026 Re: Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a wall sign and the replacement of sign panels for the existing freestanding sign at 336 East Wilson Street Batavia Patels 2 LLC, Applicant Summary: Batavia Patels 2 LLC has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the installation of wall signage and replacement sign panels for the existing freestanding sign at 336 East Wilson Street. Historic District Designation: Non-Contributing Structure Background: The applicant is in the process of opening a convenience store, Windmill Market & Spirits, in Batavia. The business is proposed to occupy the former 7-Eleven tenant space, which vacated the property in 2024 as part of a corporate reduction of non-gas-station locations. The applicant is nearing completion of interior renovations and is now seeking approval of the proposed exterior signage. The applicant proposes a custom-shaped cabinet sign and individual channel letters for the wall signage. The proposed signage will be internally illuminated and, collectively, is approximately 60 square feet in size (59.5 inches by 85 inches and 18 inches by 207 inches). The applicant also proposes replacing two (2) sign panels on the existing freestanding sign on the property. The replacement panels will be opaque, with only the lettering illuminated at night. Historic Preservation Commission Design Guidelines Conformance: Staff reviewed the Commission’s adopted design guidelines and has determined that the proposed signage generally complies with the applicable standards. The signage is appropriately scaled for the structure and is complementary in design and color to the existing signage on the building (Rosati’s). Staff also finds that the materials and illumination style are consistent with signage that have been previously approved in Batavia. Downtown Plan Conformance: Staff reviewed the Downtown Plan and has determined that the proposed signage generally complies with the applicable standards. While the Plan typically discourages internally illuminated box signs, the proposed cabinet sign is of a custom shape and complements the business’s branding, which is consistent with how cabinet signage has been approved within the Downtown and City as a whole in recent years. Zoning Code Conformance: Staff reviewed Chapter 4.4 of the Zoning Code and found that the proposed signage complies with all applicable regulations for a property located in the DMU, Downtown Mixed- Use Zoning District. Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 3 of 12 Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission review the submitted Certificate of Appropriateness as presented for the proposed wall signage and replacement sign panels for the freestanding sign at 336 East Wilson Street. Attachments: Plans C: Mayor and City Council Department Heads Batavia Patels 2 LLC, Business and Applicant Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 4 of 12 Page 5 of 12 Page 6 of 12  MEMO To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Zach Ewoldt AICP, Planner Date: January 23, 2026 Re: Certificate of Appropriateness for a new wall sign at 160 First Street on North Building Elevation Aubrey Sign Company, Applicant Summary: Aubrey Sign Company, on behalf of the business Warehouse 55, has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the installation of a non-illuminated wall sign on the northern building elevation at 160 First Street. Historic District Designation: Significant Structure Background: Warehouse 55 recently relocated its Aurora business location to 160 First Street in Batavia in the fall of 2025. The applicant and their sign company have been working over the past several months on a sign design for the northern building elevation facing First Street. The proposed wall sign is a non-illuminated flat panel sign with ½-inch flat cut-out (FCO) acrylic letters and is approximately 20 square feet in size (24 inches by 120 inches). Aubrey Sign Company notes in its application that the sign will be installed into the mortar joints and not the face of the limestone. The Commission previously reviewed and approved four (4) gooseneck light fixtures associated with the previous tenant, Hearth and Hammer, as well as the prior wall sign. The previous wall sign was approximately 85 square feet in size (36 inches by 342 inches). The Commission should review and discuss the proposed sign to determine whether its placement and proportionality in relation to the exterior lighting are appropriate. Historic Preservation Commission Design Guidelines Conformance: Staff reviewed the Commission’s adopted design guidelines and has determined that the proposed sign complies with the applicable standards, particularly with respect to the materials used, the non-internal illumination of the sign, and the continued use of gooseneck light fixtures for sign lighting. Downtown Plan Conformance: Staff reviewed the Downtown Plan and has determined that the proposed sign generally complies with the applicable standards, specifically that the signage complements the architectural style of the building. Zoning Code Conformance: Staff reviewed Chapter 4.4 of the Zoning Code and found that the proposed signage complies with all applicable regulations for a property located in the DMU, Downtown Mixed- Use Zoning District. Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 7 of 12 Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission review the submitted Certificate of Appropriateness for a wall sign at 160 First Street on the northern building elevation. Following deliberation, the Commission may approve the sign as proposed or provide directions to the applicant for revisions for consideration at a future meeting. Attachments: Plans C: Mayor and City Council Department Heads Warehouse 55, Business Aubrey Sign, Applicant Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 8 of 12 Page 9 of 12  MEMO To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Zach Ewoldt AICP, Planner Date: January 23, 2026 Re: Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a wall sign at 40 North Island Avenue Aubrey Sign Company, Applicant Summary: Aubrey Sign Company, on behalf of the business owner of KZ Nails, has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the installation of wall signage at 40 North Island Avenue. Historic District Designation: Non-Contributing Structure Background: The applicant is in the process of opening a nail salon at the subject property following the closure of Ziggy’s Nail Salon in 2025. The business is nearing completion of interior renovations and is now seeking approval of the proposed exterior signage. The applicant proposes white individual channel letters for wall signage. The proposed signage will be non-illuminated and is approximately 16 square feet in size (14.28 inches by 86.7 inches). Historic Preservation Commission Design Guidelines Conformance: Staff reviewed the Commission’s adopted design guidelines and has determined that the proposed signage generally complies with the applicable standards. The signage is appropriately scaled for the tenant space. The Commission should review and discuss the proposed signage to determine whether the color and font are appropriate in relation to the overall shopping center. The design guidelines recommend that, where a building houses multiple commercial tenants, signage be consistent in design, dimensions, and materials. Downtown Plan Conformance: Staff reviewed the Downtown Plan and has determined that the proposed signage generally complies with the applicable standards, specifically that the proposed sign consists of raised individual channel letters mounted directly to the face of the building. The Downtown Plan also recommends that, where a building houses multiple commercial tenants, signage be consistent in design, dimensions, and materials. Zoning Code Conformance: Staff reviewed Chapter 4.4 of the Zoning Code and found that the proposed signage complies with all applicable regulations for a property located in the DMU, Downtown Mixed- Use Zoning District. Staff Recommendation: review the submitted Certificate of Appropriateness for a wall sign at 40 North Island Avenue. Following deliberation, the Commission may approve the sign as proposed or provide directions to the applicant for revisions for consideration at a future meeting. Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 10 of 12 Attachments: Plans C: Mayor and City Council Department Heads Aubrey Sign Company, Applicant Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center ● 100 N. Island Ave ● Batavia, IL 60510 ● 630-454-2000 ● www.BataviaIL.gov Page 11 of 12 Page 12 of 12