Architectural Control Commission

APPROVED 1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING 2 ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMISSION 3 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 4 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 5 March 9, 2017 6 7 Commissioners Present (5) 8 Alan Schwall 9 F. Dirk Heidbrink 10 David Menn 11 Christopher Urbanczyk 12 Robert Katz 13 14 Members Absent (2): 15 Lori Jordison 16 Cliff Town 17 18 Others Present 19 Shana Geffen, Lucky Fish owner 20 Nathan Kipnis, Architect for Lucky Fish 21 22 Village Staff Present 23 Thomas Poupard, Director of Development and Planning Services 24 Jennifer Maisch, Code Enforcement Official 25 Michael Kohlstedt, Senior Planner 26 Colleen Brunner, Recorder 27 28 Call to Order 29 Acting Chairman Schwall called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar 30 Lane at 5:30 p.m. 31 32 Roll Call 33 Roll was called. There was a quorum. 34 35 Review of Minutes 36 A motion was made and seconded to approve the December 8, 2016 minutes as presented. All 37 approved. 38 A motion was made and seconded to approve the February 9, 2017 minutes as presented. All approved. 39 40 Public Comments Regarding Items Not on the Agenda 41 There were none. 42 43 Level III Design Review Permit Request for 1349 Shermer Road- Lucky Fish Exterior Improvements 44 45 Noting that the Applicant for this item was not in attendance yet, the Chairman moved the item to 46 follow the proposed amendments to the Municipal Code discussion. The Commissioners agreed to 47 move the item on the agenda. 1  APPROVED 1 Review of Potential Amendments to the Northbrook Municipal Code and International Property 2 Maintenance Code (IPMC) 3 4 Jennifer Maisch presented a power point presentation of various violations or concerns she encounters 5 in the Village. She is requesting input from the ACC to amend the existing code (2006) and to adopt the 6 2015 version. This would make the existing codes clearer, delete obsolete sections and determine 7 issues of importance. 8 9 1) Board Up Requirements: Currently the code has no time limit on how long a property can be 10 boarded up. Proposing that materials may not remain in place longer than 90 days. ACC felt 11 there should be time limits, 90 days is reasonable, but possible extensions where warranted or 12 showing evidence of progress on repairs. 13 2) Composting: Currently no container is required to hold or contain materials. As a result there 14 are properties that have piles of grass clippings or other materials which do not get maintained 15 and smell, etc. No household food waste can be composted and must be 5 feet away from 16 property line. Staff is proposing a set of performance standards. ACC recommends a contained 17 bin. 18 3) Vacant Properties: Staff is tightening up the definition of a “blighting problem”. Explained to the 19 ACC that there are numerous vacant properties in town. There are vacant structures and 20 abandoned structures. If a structure is unsafe, it would need to be demolished. In extreme 21 cases, the Village has paid for demolition and liened the property. There are existing state 22 statutes concerning vacant structures, but having a local amendment gives us more power with 23 the courts. ACC suggested that in the handout, pg. 3 change term “block face” or another term 24 to make it clearer to general public. 25 4) Pavement Maintenance: Should we require repair only when it is a safety issue or also when it is 26 an aesthetic concern? Propose to insert the definition of “hazardous condition”. Questioned 27 whether persons with private walks/driveways that are in poor condition could be forced to 28 make repairs. ACC thought if it affects your property value it is a concern. A distinction should 29 be made between private and public areas, such as parking lots and publicly traveled walks. 30 5) Dumpsters: Currently there is not a well-defined time limit on how long a dumpster may be at a 31 property for work not requiring a permit, such as roof replacement or cleaning out a house. ACC 32 feels a 2 week time limit is reasonable. Dumpsters may stay on site longer if related to a 33 building permit. 34 6) Fence maintenance: The current code does not address alignment, separation or pickets on 35 fences. Proposing all fences should be kept plumb with no more than a 2” deflection. ACC feels 36 and angle measurement would be more appropriate. 37 7) Garbage: A great deal of staff time is spent on complaints concerning garbage can placement. 38 The current code states cans must be to the rear of the prime structure, put out on collection 39 day and returned to the storage area within 12 hours. ACC feels the cans should not be stored in 40 the front of the property and it is acceptable to bring out the trash the day before collection day 41 and leave it there longer than 12 hours. Often, large articles are left in the Village ROW with no 42 call for a special pick up. ACC feels staff should first warn the resident that it must be removed 43 within 3 days and fined if trash is there longer than one week. They may also be fined if the 44 trash becomes scattered or airborne. 2  APPROVED 1 8) Grass Height: Current code states it’s a violation if the grass height is 10 inches with one week to 2 cut the grass. ACC recommends the height be changed to 8 inches and one week to comply. 3 9) Hoarder Homes; currently we have exterior requirements only. Question is whether we want to 4 pursue code enforcement inside people’s homes. If the problem spills out, there are codes in 5 place. 6 10) Pods: These are new in the last few years and are comparable to sheds. ACC feels they fall into 7 the same category as a dumpster and should have a time limit of 2 weeks. Broaden the 8 terminology from pods to include trash receptacle, container, etc. 9 11) Pools: The proposed language on page 7, #30 is acceptable with one recommendation. Item G- 10 the deck… should be changed to “pool deck”. 11 12) Roofs: Currently the regulations are only applicable to roof conditions where water enters into 12 the interior of a building. ACC recommends adding a time limit on how long a tarp or temporary 13 cover could be left on a property. (Weather permitting). 14 13) Vehicle storage: Current regulations state a vehicle must be licensed and cannot be located on 15 the property to hold garbage, materials, etc. . . . A commercial vehicle may not be parked on 16 the property for longer than 12 hours. Staff is proposing to increase the time to 48 consecutive 17 hours. Question on how to deal with vehicles parked on the grass, under tarps and in disrepair. 18 ACC feels vehicles should be licensed and operable and possibly parked on a hard surface only. 19 There was no recommendation made for vehicles kept under tarp. 20 21 Level III Design Review Permit Request for 1349 Shermer Road- Lucky Fish Exterior Improvements 22 23 The proposal is to modify the front façade, construct a rear outdoor dining area and one new wall sign 24 on the front façade. Applicant proposes to redesign the front façade and paint stripes, stain the grout, 25 install stucco around the main entrance, install goose neck lights, an etched wood sign above the 26 entrance and install a dark grey metal roof above the entrance. The rear façade will have a stucco finish 27 and the addition of Chicago style brick, two new doors, an awning, an outdoor patio and 30 ft. x 8 ft. 28 storage shed which will house the mechanicals and trash. The outdoor dining area will be enclosed by a 29 6 ft. tall fence. 30 31 Questions were asked of the architect. Kipnis stated the rear gate entrance would be used for trash 32 removal and by staff. The fence material is PVC so it will not rot. The grout is glengarry grey and the 33 existing brick is staying as is. 34 35 Member Heidbrink made a motion to approve the application as presented other than the grout and 36 areas of bricks are not to be painted. The motion was seconded and all in favor (4 members present at 37 this time). 38 39 40 New Single Family Home Elevations 41 42 2207 Brentwood and 2036 Farnsworth. A motion was made and seconded to recommend staff review 43 the proposed elevations. All in favor. 44 3  APPROVED 1 2 New Business 3 None 4 5 Old Business 6 None 7 8 Adjourn 9 There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. On a voice 10 vote, the motion unanimously carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. 11 12 Respectfully submitted, 13 14 Colleen Brunner 15 Recording Secretary 4