Historic Preservation Commission

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 23, 2023 City Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL The Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Woodstock was called to order by Chairman Donovan Day at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2023 in Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Ellinghausen, Jose Rey, Erica Wilson and Chairman Donovan Day. COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Marti Dejon. STAFF PRESENT: City Planner Darrell Moore, Commission Clerk Melissa McCain. OTHERS PRESENT: Whitney Behm, City Square Dental, 101 N. Throop St. Woodstock, IL. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: a. June 13, 2023 (Special Meeting) b. September 25, 2023 Planner Moore advised that he had not had an opportunity to send the minutes to the Commission prior to the meeting and suggested that this item be moved to the end of the agenda and considered at that time. There was a consensus to move the consideration of the minutes to the end of the agenda. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT: There were no public comments. 4. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business. 5. NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business. 6. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION a. 101 N. Throop Street – Review of outstanding improvement items Planner Moore advised that he had followed up on the request to check on the status of the improvements for the Certificate of Appropriateness at 101 N. Throop Street including the staining of the brick for consistency of the building façade and the landscaping. Planner Moore advised that there was a $3,400 Surety Bond in place and that the owner was present to request an extension.  Historic Preservation Commission 10/23/2023 Page 2 of 4 Whitney Behm, City Square Dental, 101 N. Throop St. Woodstock, IL Doctor Behm advised that she was requesting an extension in order to comply with the Certificate of Appropriateness due to rising costs of materials, additional issues that have arisen during the project as well as issues with contractors falling through. Chairman Day inquired on how much more time was needed to complete the outstanding requirements. Doctor Behm asked for an extension to July 31, 2023. Planner Moore stated that the building meets all other building codes and that this is just a condition of the Certificate of Appropriateness in question. Planner Moore noted that Director Joe Napolitano felt that June 1st would be a significant time frame to get the outstanding items completed. Commissioner E. Wilson inquired if Doctor Behm currently had a contractor set for the required improvements. Doctor Behm advised that she did not and that she may end up completing the improvements on her own. Commissioner J. Rey inquired on the status of the landscaping. Doctor Behm advised that currently it is gravel, but that is because there was a water main break that had to be repaired. The gravel is proposed to be replaced with brick pavers. Commissioner E. Wilson inquired if the bond for this property would remain with the City. Planner Moore advised that the bond would be maintained with the City. Planner Moore advised that this was not an action item and that just a consensus on the extension of time was needed. There was a consensus to extend the Certificate of Appropriateness requirements to July 31, 2024. b. Union Place (Former Die Cast site) – Discussion of Building Materials Planner Moore advised that this was a discussion item only concerning the affordable senior housing phase of the project and that it would be coming before the Commission in November for further consideration. Planner Moore advised that the petitioner has requested the ability to use brick veneer as opposed to full-sized bricks in order to keep the costs down. It was noted that the brick veneer is real brick, but that it was approximately half the thickness of a full-sized brick.  Historic Preservation Commission 10/23/2023 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner E. Wilson advised that she wanted further information on the manufacture, application style and inquired if mortar would be used to keep the authentic look of standard brick. Commissioner T. Ellinghausen agreed with wanting to use real brick and mortar for an authentic look. Chairman Day inquired if the petitioner was asking for veneer just on the affordable senior care living facility or if this would be a request throughout the entire project. Planner Moore advised that it is being requested just for the affordable senior care facility. Commissioner T. Ellinghausen inquired if this development was feeling the downturn in the elder care industry as was happening with other elder care facilities in the area. Planner Moore advised that there has been no indication of issues with this project and that the financing is in place with additional grants to back the project. There was a consensus to direct Planner Moore to advise the applicant that the Commission was not against veneer, but that they needed more information prior to authorizing its use such as the manufacture, brick size, and application style. It was noted that the Commission preferred a brick- by-brick installation with the use of real mortar. MINUTES: The Commission reviewed the minutes presented. A motion was made by T. Ellinghausen to approve the June 13, 2023 meeting minutes as presented, seconded by E. Wilson. Ayes: T. Ellinghausen, J. Rey, E. Wilson, and Chairman Day. Nays: None. Absentee: M. Dejon. Motion carried. Commissioner T. Ellinghausen inquired about the equipment stored on the vacant lot located on North Jefferson St. Planner Moore advised that the property owner has been given a deadline and it should be cleaned up any day. Planner Moore further advised that the former lumber yard owners will be cleaning up that property and seeding it also. Chairman Day advised that on page three of the September 25, 2023, meeting minutes paragraph six and eleven should have been comments by T. Ellinghausen and not Chairman Day. A motion was made by J. Rey to approve the September 25, 2023 meeting minutes with the above corrections, seconded by E. Wilson. Ayes: T. Ellinghausen, J. Rey, E. Wilson, and Chairman Day. Nays: None. Absentee: M. Dejon. Motion carried.  Historic Preservation Commission 10/23/2023 Page 4 of 4 T. Ellinghausen inquired about the size of the siding installed on the house at 202 W. South Street as it is not consistent with the narrow siding of other homes in the area. Planner Moore advised that the owner did approach the Commission in June asking for permission to use a wider (5”) siding because they were unable to get the style or color they wanted in the narrow siding. E. Wilson advised that the applicant wanted a custom color and should have been able to get the siding in the narrow style since it was a custom order. E. Wilson also inquired if the owner was supposed to come before the Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the new siding. Planner Moore advised that it did not require a Category II Certificate of Appropriateness and it was understood at the meeting in June that she would be able to do the wider-style siding if she was unable to get the narrow siding in the color/style she wanted. At the request of the Commission, Planner Moore reviewed the minutes from the meeting where the siding was discussed and there was no further information or clarification on the size of the siding, but he felt he had the direction from the Commission to move forward with the owners alternative siding if the correct siding was not available. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Lincoln Road Damaged Homes. Planner Moore advised that a majority of the buildings damaged were outside of the Historic District. St. Mary’s is still working out options for window replacements. Planner Moore further advised that he will be visiting the sites to review the damage and options for rebuilding. WellQuest Senior Housing Planner Moore advised that the WellQuest petition for the affordable senior care living will be on the next agenda for consideration. 8. ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by E. Wilson, second by T. Ellinghausen to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. Ayes: T. Ellinghausen, J. Rey, E. Wilson and Chairman Day. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentee: M. Dejon. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM. Respectfully submitted, Melissa McCain Commission Clerk