Architectural Control Commission

1 APPROVED 2 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMISSION 3 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 4 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 5 August 8th, 2013 6 7 Commissioners Present (4) 8 Robert Katz 9 Cliff Town 10 Lori Jordison 11 Michael Rubenstein 12 13 Village Staff Present 14 Tom Poupard, Director, Development and Planning Services 15 David Schoon, Assistant Director, Development and Planning Services 16 Michaela Kohlstedt, Senior Planner 17 Lori McLeod, Recorder 18 19 Others Present 20 Chadwick Raymond, Executive Director, Northbrook Public Library 21 Jenni Betancourt Dewberry, Project Manager 22 Anna Amen, Business Manager, Northbrook Public Library 23 Vera Mayer, Board Trustee, Northbrook Public Library 24 Alberto Boldizsar, Architect, Gensler 25 Robert Gamrath, Attorney, Quarles & Brady 26 Glenn Christensen, Manhard Consulting, Landscape Architect 27 Neil Milbert, Northbrook Tower 28 Steven Aisen, Builder, Newgard Custom Homes 29 Zak Klobucar, Project Architect, Gensler 30 31 32 1. Call to Order 33 Cliff Town called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane, at 5:35 p.m. 34 35 2. Roll Call 36 A quorum was present. Members Schwall, Heidbrink and Menn were absent. 37 38 3. Public Comments Not on the Agenda 39 There were no comments from the public. 40 41 4. Review of Minutes 42 Commissioner Menn moved, seconded by Commissioner Katz, to approve the July 11 th, 2013 Architectural 43 Control Commission (ACC) meeting without corrections. On a voice vote, the motion was unanimously carried. 44 45 46 47 48 5. Design Review Permits  Page 2 Minutes of the August 8, 2013 Architectural Control Commission Meeting 1 2 Northbrook Public Library: Revised Building Materials 3 Planner Kohlstedt presented. On October 9, 2012, the Northbrook Library received approval of a small building 4 addition and a new façade for the first floor structure. The Northbrook Library is seeking approval for a material 5 change for the proposed façade improvements as well as a replacement of rooftop mechanical equipment with 6 the installation of new screening. The Northbrook Library is no longer proposing the Trespa panels. They are 7 now proposing to use Centria composite metal panels. 8 9 The color of the panels is very similar to what was previously approved. Metal Composite Material (MCM) is a 10 durable option that will result in a reduced long term maintenance cost. MCM wall panels are manufactured in 11 the United States. 12 13 Robert Katz made a motion to approve the replacement panels originally approved in the Sept. 13, 2012 14 meeting with the materials presented today at the August 8, 2013 meeting and to approve the white cityscape 15 equipment screens or their equivalent color. David Menn seconded the motion and by voice vote, the motion 16 was unanimously carried. 17 18 6. Review Design of Proposed Wal-Mart Building, Signage, and Landscaping (1000 Skokie Blvd.) 19 20 Assistant Director Schoon presented the design features of the proposed building, signage and landscaping for 21 the proposed Wal-Mart supercenter at 1000 Skokie Blvd. He reviewed the Comprehensive Plan’s goals for the 22 Skokie Boulevard that relate to design elements for the corridor. Mr. Schoon then reviewed the proposed 23 building design, signage and landscaping as it relates to the zoning relief being requested of the Village. 24 25 The ACC discussed the design and materials of the proposed building, noting that the building will be 26 constructed of pre-cast concrete and a CMU block with a neutral earth tone and color palette. The ACC 27 questioned if the black awnings may be out of place with the current color palette. 28 29 Alberto Boldizsar, an Architect with Gensler, presented the design of the WalMart. He brought in samples of the 30 colors and building materials for the ACC board to review. The two entries will be highlighted by aluminum and 31 glass materials. 32 33 The ACC discussed the design of the east side of the building along Skokie Boulevard, noting that it was the most 34 visible façade. It was recommended that there be more visual interest given the close proximity to Skokie 35 Boulevard. It was questioned if the WalMart project could reduce the overall footprint. 36 37 The Applicant’s attorney, Robert Gamrath, pointed out that square footage was the one of smallest super 38 centers currently proposed. 39 40 The ACC then discussed the proposed signage. A shared pylon sign which would have 100 square feet of sign 41 area and would be 20 feet tall is proposed for the north driveway. It will have a WalMart panel and a panel for 42 the future tenant on the Retained Parcel. 43 44 A ground sign is proposed that would have 95 square feet of sign area, would be under 8 feet tall, and located 45 near the southern parking lot driveway. Both signs would be illuminated. The ACC discussed if the design and 46 the materials are appropriate for the corridor. It was discussed if a ground sign in all stone/masonry with 47 individual letters be more in keeping with the ground signs recently added across the street.  Page 3 Minutes of the August 8, 2013 Architectural Control Commission Meeting 1 2 Mr. Schoon noted that the proposed WalMart wall signs, each 298 square feet in sign area, would require an 3 amendment to allow wall signs greater than 100 square feet. The same signs will need special permit approval 4 for the height as they are proposed to exceed the maximum height of 20 feet in the C-5 district. 5 6 The Commission discussed if the signs were appropriate to the size of the proposed building, and Commission 7 members indicated that they seem to be appropriate size. A sample of the color for the signage was requested. 8 9 Glenn Christensen, Landscape Architect from Manhard Consulting, presented information regarding the 10 proposed landscaping plan to visually buffer the activity at the proposed supercenter from the residential to the 11 west and the commercial uses along Skokie Boulevard. The ACC discussed what may be more appropriate 12 landscape materials. 13 14 Commission members generally found the building design, signage, and landscaping appropriate; however, they 15 requested that the Applicant consider the following changes and come back to the Commission for further 16 review: 17 18  Create more variation and articulation to the east building façade. 19  Along the west building façade replace the black color of the proposed “canopies” with a color that 20 more blends with the building façade and drop the roof line down a little at the east corner wall to 21 create a little more variation along this wall. 22  Regarding future tenant sign panel on pylon sign, require future Village design review of sign. 23  Submit sample of blue and yellow for the freestanding signs. 24  Replace the Capitata Japanese Yew, Eastern Hemlock, and Eastern White Pine, along the east building 25 façade with some other material. 26 The Applicant indicated it would take the Commission comments into consideration and return to the 27 Commission with revised plans. 28 7. Introduction of Topic – Defining New construction, reconstruction and building additions 29 30 The ACC discussed that new definitions may be necessary for new construction, reconstruction and building 31 additions so that the appropriate codes will apply. An example was given that if a homeowner keeps the garage 32 and a few walls of the home that new codes and new definitions need to be considered. 33 34 8. Continued Discussion – Village/Accredited Testing for Contractors 35 36 Mr. Poupard noted that the Staff is researching the merits of an online certification process by the ICC for 37 contractors that the Village can administer. The ACC had previously indicated that it may be desirable to have 38 competency testing for general contractors. 39 40 9. New Single Family Elevations: 41 42 a. 2309 Ash Lane (R-4 District) – J. R. Byrnes Assoc. architect 43 b. 2520 Oak (R-5 District) -- BSB Design of Illinois, architect 44 c. 3275 Sunset Trail (R-2 District) – SGE Associates, architect  Page 4 Minutes of the August 8, 2013 Architectural Control Commission Meeting 1 2 Commissioner Bob Katz moved, seconded by Rubenstein to approve the elevations. On a voice vote, the motion 3 unanimously carried. 4 5 10. New Business 6 There was not any New Business. 7 8 11. Old Business 9 There was not any Old Business. 10 11 11. Adjournment 12 13 There being no further business, Member Katz moved, seconded by Member Jordison , to adjourn the meeting. 14 On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried, and the meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m. 15 16 Respectfully submitted, 17 18 19 Lori McLeod 20 Recorder