Design Review Board

Village of Winnetka Design Review Board/Sign Board of Appeals Special Meeting June 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM Winnetka Village Hall Council Chambers 510 Green Bay Road AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments 3. New Applications a. Case No. 26-11-DR: Green Bay Trail Underpass of Oak Street Bridge — Certificate of Appropriateness of Design to allow painted mural on both sides of the underpass walls. 4. Other Business a. June 18, 2026, Regular Meeting Quorum Check 5. Adjournment NOTICE Public comment is permitted on all agenda items at the meeting. If you wish to provide testimony or comments prior to the meeting, you may provide them one of two ways: (1) by sending an email to planning@winnetka.org; or by sending a letter to Community Development, Village of Winnetka, 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093. All agenda materials are available at www.villageofwinnetka.org/agendacenter. The Village of Winnetka, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities, who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities contact the Village ADA Coordinator at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093, (Telephone (847) 716-3543; T.D.D. (847) 501-6041). Page 1 of 16  MEMORANDUM VILLAGE OF WINNETKA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD FROM: DAVORKA KIRINCIC, AICP BUILDING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER DATE: MAY 28, 2026 SUBJECT: GREEN BAY TRAIL UNDERPASS OF OAK STREET BRIDGE – CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS OF DESIGN TO ALLOW PAINTED MURALS (CASE NO. 26-11-DR) INTRODUCTION On June 4, 2026, the Design Review Board (DRB) is scheduled to consider a Certificate of Appropriateness of Design application submitted by the National Charity League Winnetka, the Village of Winnetka, and the Friends of the Green Bay Trail (collectively, the “Applicant”) for the property located at the Green Bay Trail underpass at Oak Street (the “Subject Property”). The application seeks approval to install a painted mural on both sides of the underpass walls. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION The Subject Property/underpass is located under the Oak Street crossing of the railroad tracks along the Green Bay Trail. The murals would be painted at trail level on the support structures for the Oak Street bridge. It is zoned R-5 Single-Family Residential. Figure 1 below identifies the location of the subject underpass. Figures 2 and 3 on the following page identify the proposed mural locations, and Figures 4 and 5 identify the proposed painted murals. Location of the Oak Street underpass of the Green Bay Trail Figure 1 – Subject Property – Location Map Page 1 Page 2 of 16 Figure 2 – Current View/West Side Wall of Trail Figure 3 – Current View/East Side Wall of Trail Page 2 Page 3 of 16 CURRENT REQUEST The Applicant is seeking approval to create a mural celebrating restoration efforts and the native species on the blank wall space at the underpass at Oak Street at the Green Bay Trail. Artist Shayne Taylor, with the input of the Village, NCL Winnetka, and additional members of the community, such as Steve Huels and Maggie Meiners, has designed murals for the east and west sides of the underpass at Oak Street, incorporating native flora and pollinators with a palette closely resembling colors found in nature. Friends of the Green Bay Trail provided a list of native plants that could be featured in the mural. Shayne, with assistance from NCL Winnetka chapter members, will paint the murals in Fall 2026, assuming approvals and fundraising are successful. The preliminary design that is being reviewed by the DRB is being presented at the Village Council’s June 2, 2026, meeting. Pending approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness, the Village Council would consider the final mural design and a letter of support for the NCL application to the Union Pacific Railroad. Mural Materials Primer -PPG SPEEDHIDE Interior/Exterior Masonry Latex Block Filler Paint – Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint (flat) Protection – Mural Guard (satin) Proposed Mural (Layout 1) on the West Side Wall of the Trail Page 3 Page 4 of 16  Proposed Mural (Layout 2) on the East Side Wall of the Trail The Applicant states that this project is more than a beautification project and celebration of conservation, as it serves as an opportunity for leadership growth for several students. The Applicant has provided photographs showing the location and design of the proposed mural on the Green Bay Trail underpass at Oak Street, along with a written explanation, all of which are included in Attachment A. DESIGN GUIDELINES ANALYSIS The Village’s Design Guidelines do not provide guidance on murals. SUMMARY The Applicant requests that the DRB find the proposed murals appropriate and compatible with the Village Code and approve them as proposed. FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATION At the May 21 DRB meeting, the DRB is scheduled to consider the design of the Applicant’s proposed exterior property improvements at Subject Property. After hearing from the Applicant and the public, the DRB will have the following options: 1) Continue the public hearing to a specific date to provide the Applicant and/or staff with additional time to address questions and comments from the DRB; or 2) Consider a motion for approval or denial of the Certificate of Appropriateness Of Design. A DRB member should make a motion for approval or denial based upon the following findings of fact per Village Code Section 15.40.010 F: Page 4 Page 5 of 16  a. The proposed painted murals on underpass walls are consistent [are not consistent] with the following standards used for evaluating a certificate of appropriateness: (1) the proposed external architectural features and site improvements are appropriate to and compatible with the character of the immediate neighborhood; (2) the proposed external architectural features and site improvements are appropriate to and compatible with adopted Village plans for and improvements in the immediate neighborhood, and including both urban design and site arrangement considerations; (3) the proposed external architectural features and site improvements are consistent with applicable Village design guidelines and such standards and criteria as may be adopted by the Board; and (4) the probable effect of the proposed external architectural features on the integrity of the immediate vicinity. b. [If the DRB chooses to place conditions as part of its approval, it will want to include the conditions here.] ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Application Materials Page 5 Page 6 of 16  ATTACHMENT A Village of Winnetka CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION V I L L A G E O F W I N N E T K A, I L L I N O I S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION Underpass at Oak St, Winnekta, IL /Entered in New World under 540 Hibbard Rd. address Project Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ Name of National Charity League Winnetka IL Business(es):__________________________________________________________________________ Application is hereby made for the following work (please check all that apply): ❑ Sign Sign Permit Application attached? ❑ Awning Awning Permit Application attached? ❑ Other (general description) _______________________________________________________________ ✔ Mural painted on the Please provide a detailed description of the proposed work (attach additional information such as material The mural celebrating Winnetka's natural beauty and native landscape tol be specifications, photographs, etc.): ________________________________________________________________ painted on the concrete walls adjacent to the Green Bay Trail at the Oak Street underpass. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ I/We hereby certify that as ______________________________________(Lessee/Owner) of the property located at ___________________________(address), I am/we are authorized to submit plans for alterations of the subject property. I/We agree to perform the subject work in accordance with the conditions of approval by the Winnetka Design Review Board as well as all other applicable codes, rules, and regulations of the Village of Winnetka. FOR LESSEE/OWNER USE ONLY FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SIGNED __________________________ COA applied for (date): __________ PRINTED NAME(S) __________________________ ADDRESS __________________________ COA Case Number: __________ PHONE NO. __________________________ COA Issued (date): __________ EMAIL __________________________ COA Fee ❑ $135 */.A ❑ $575 �ECEIVE� PRIMARY DESIGN FIRM ___________________________ CONTACT NAME ___________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________ MAY 19 2026 ___________________________ PHONE NO. ___________________________ C�G -l,a;;) l EMAIL ___________________________ Page 4 of 4 Page 7 of 16 About the Project National Charity League Winnetka has volunteered for over 500 hours with the Friends of the Green Bay Trail. While volunteering, members saw the blank wall space at the underpasses on the trail as an opportunity to create a mural celebrating the restoration efforts and the native species. Artist Shayne Taylor, with the input of the Village, NCL Winnetka and additional members of the community such as Steve Huels and Maggie Meiners, has designed murals for the east and west side of the underpass at Oak Street incorporating native floral and pollinators with a palette closely resembling colors found in nature. Friends of the Green Bay Trail provided a list of native plants that could be featured in the mural. Shayne, with the assistance of NCL Winnetka chapter members, will paint the murals in Fall 2026 assuming success with approvals and fundraising. This project is more than a beautification project and celebration of conservation as it serves as an opportunity for leadership growth for a number of our student members. The girls have and will continue to present to the Village Council. The girls are leading the fundraising efforts in the community and are connecting to local businesses. Additionally, Shayne will meet with girls from the NCL Winnetka chapter to provide an opportunity to learn about her artistic process as well as provide feedback on an early draft of the mural. Through these efforts the girls are learning about how local governments work, appreciating the artistic process, gaining valuable public speaking opportunities, and growing their confidence and leadership. Page 8 of 16 East side of Trail, approximately 50 ft north of east wall (Layout2) Page 9 of 16 East side of Trail (Layout2) Page 10 of 16 East side of Trail, approximately 50 ft south of east wall (Layout2) Page 11 of 16 West side of Trail, approximately 50 ft north of west wall (Layout) Page 12 of 16 West side of Trail (Layout) Page 13 of 16 West side of Trail, approximately 50 ft south of west wall (Layout) Page 14 of 16 Page 15 of 16 Page 16 of 16