MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL
100 EAST PHOENIX AVENUE
NORMAL, ILLINOIS
REGULAR MEETING
May 11, 2004
7 p.m.
Members Present
Bruce Warloe, Nancy Armstrong, Bob Ward, Anne Matter
Members Absent
Kathy Smith Whitman, Kathy Burgess
Others Present
Mercy Davison, Town Planner; Debbi Whitehouse, Office Associate
Call to Order
Ms. Matter called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes
Ms. Armstrong moved to approve the minutes of the special meeting of April 7th, 2004, and the regular meeting of April 13, 2004. Mr. Warloe seconded. Motion carried 4-0.
Certificate of Appropriateness, CA-04-03-02, 606 Normal Avenue
Mr. Jack Chizmar would like to put new porch columns on his home at 606
Normal Avenue.
Mr. Chizmar’s previous request to use a modern product called “Fiberail” had
been denied due to the appearance of the material and the fact that it can’t
be painted. His current request is to use a modern material called
“fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP),” which can be painted. The replacement
columns will be tapered at the top. Note also that the columns to be
replaced are wrought iron and are not original to the house. The
commissioners discussed the FRP columns and thought they would look
appropriate.
Mr. Warloe moved to approve, seconded by Ms. Armstrong. Motion carried 4-0.
Certificate of Appropriateness, CA-04-05-09, 600 N. School
Ms. Connie Branson, the owner of 600 N. School Street, was present and
asked the commission to
consider this certificate for porch repair. Ms. Branson displayed photos of
the porch, which show that the porch is significantly sagging on the south
side. (The porch wraps around the front and side of the home.) Currently,
there are spacers that have been inserted between the sagging columns and
the roof. As a result, the porch roof is straight. Ms. Branson proposes to
have new footings installed below the columns, which will straighten the
porch floor. All original materials will be preserved to the extent
possible, and any new column blocks would match the existing blocks. Ms.
Branson also plans to remove the obsolete metal antenna currently located
adjacent to the porch. This project will not affect the side of the porch
facing the street.
Ms. Armstrong moved to approve, Mr. Warloe seconded. Motion carried 4-0.
Bone Grant Application BG-04-05-02, 600 N. School
Mr. Ward discussed whether or not this could be considered restoration. Ms. Branson confirmed that the porch was in this condition when she and her husband bought the property approximately 7 years ago. Ms. Davison stated that Ed Jelks, a neighbor, had called her to confirm that the porch has been in this condition for the 25 years that he has lived on that block.
Mr. Warloe had a concern about the roof and also the footing for the porch. He suggested that the homeowner consider enlarging the footing for the porch columns. His concerns about the roof were allayed when the applicant explained the presence of spacers between the columns and the roof, which would be removed during the project.
Mr. Warloe moved to approve the grant in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 with the condition that the footings be enlarged, and Mr. Ward seconded. Motion carried 4-0.
Certificate of Appropriateness, CA 04-05-10, 600 N. School
Ms. Branson proposed changing the existing first floor window facing the street to a new window. The existing window is original but is covered by a modern storm window. The existing windows are extremely inefficient from an energy perspective and do not open or shut. As a result, the owners get very little air circulation in the front room. The Bransons purchased a replacement window prior to the neighborhood being designated as historic. The new replacement window is significantly wider than the original. (It has a central pane of approximately the same size with two side panes attached. The original window also has stained glass at the top, which the Bransons plan to maintain.
The commissioners agreed that it is important to maintain the original size of the window and suggested a double-hung, wood-frame replacement window built to the existing window opening. A custom-built window could accommodate the existing stained glass in a more appropriate manner as well.
Ms. Branson was agreeable to the commissioners’ suggestion, stating that her husband can use the already-purchased replacement window elsewhere, and she agreed to bring in an alternate window design to a future meeting.
Mr. Warloe moved to approve the application as proposed, and Ms. Matter seconded. Motion denied 4-0.
Other Business
None
Adjournment
There being no further business, Ms Matter moved that the meeting be adjourned at approximately 7:45 p.m. Ms. Armstrong seconded. The motion carried 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbi Whitehouse