MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
CONFERENCE ROOM C CITY HALL
100 E. PHOENIX AVE.
NORMAL, IL
REGULAR MEETING
April 11, 2005@ 4:00 p.m.
Members Present:
Rick Kentzler, Dennis French, Dirk DeWerff, Rebecca Landau, Kathy Wilcox
Members Absent:
Mark Comerford, Pam Locsin
Others Present:
Lauren Kerestes, Associate Planner; Wayne Aldrich, Downtown Re-Development Director; Debbi Whitehouse, Office Associate; Scot Williams, Asst. Director of Inspections; Mr. & Mrs. Roger Taylor, residents; Mike Sparks, Farnsworth Group, Inc.; Larry Maschhoff, Bank of Illinois; Brian Davies, Farnsworth Group, Inc.; Gene Irving, resident
Call to Order:
Mr. Kentzler called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Minutes:
The commission approved the minutes of the regular meeting on March 14, 2005. Ms. Landau moved, Mr. French seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
CC-05-03-08, 117-119 E. Beaufort, Roger Taylor –restoration of Beaufort elevation/storefront
The restoration would include removing all board and siding that currently covers the north façade. Once removed, the contractor would begin work to restore the storefront to its original appearance, revealing decorative columns and transom windows shown in a 1920s picture the Taylors shared with the commission. Tuckpointing and maintenance will be applied as needed. New windows and new signage are proposed for The Clothesline and Tarrific Nails, both first floor businesses.
MFIG-05-03-01, 117-119 E. Beaufort-Roger Taylor-restoration of
Beaufort
elevation/storefront
Mr. Taylor spoke about the two estimates they had received from D & D, and Kennedy Siding. The quote from D& D was for 13,787.00, half of which would be eligible for reimbursement if the grant were approved.
Ms. Kerestes distributed estimates for projecting signs for the Clothesline and Tariffic Nails shops. Mrs. Taylor commented that Tariffic Nails would like to be changed to Teriffic Nails. The three estimates were from Prairie Signs, Super Signs and Fogler signs. The two proposed signs would be $1200.00 ($600.00 each) based on the Fogler Sign estimate.
Ms. Kerestes said the signs would be pressed board with a weather resistant coating, anchored by a standard black metal bracket. Mr. French commented that the signs would look nice.
Mr. DeWerff moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance and the Moratz Façade Improvement Grant for a total not to exceed $7493.50 ($6893.50+$600). Mr. French seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Mr. Kentzler asked that the commission see the signage proposed for Tarrific Nails, once the business owner makes the logo and color selections. He also reminded the Taylors that if and when they select lighting for the storefront and/or signs, it would require approval of a Certificate of Compliance from the Commission.
Mr. Taylor discussed that in the future he would like to do something to the back of the building. He would like to put on a new PVC deck and railing. He was wondering if this material would be approved. Mrs. Taylor said it would be 2006 before they could do the work. Also Mrs. Taylor wanted the commission to know that they have been trying to improve the façade of the Normal State Bank building on North Street, but have not had any cooperation from the other partial building owner, Mr. Tcheng.
CC-05-03-07, New Bank of Illinois building design review lighting and signage plans.
Window Coverage
Mr. Sparks mentioned the changes Farnsworth Group, Inc. had made to the north elevation (Mulberry Street side) of the Bank of Illinois building based on suggestions made by the commission at the February 14, 2005 meeting. These changes included the removal of the stairwell at the northeast corner of the building and the addition of windows to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. Mr. Kentzler said he liked the new spacing of the windows. Mr. Maschhoff said that they considered the cost of having operating windows, but in order to have a more efficient HVAC operating system and meet LEED standards, they have decided to maintain non-operating windows.
Mr. Kentzler spoke about the Mulberry side of the building. Ms. Kerestes said that even with the changes that Farnsworth Group, Inc. had made to the north elevation, the window coverage would still be below code requirements, but that the Commission was recommending that council approve all waivers requested by the applicant.
Mr. DeWerff had questions about the louvered window shades. He had concerns that snow might built up on them and fall on people below. Mr. Davies spoke saying that there would not be enough room on the louvers for snow or ice to build up. Mr. French commented that a lot of new buildings in Europe have louvered windows. Mr. Kentzler mentioned that Illinois State University had not encountered any problems with snow or ice build up on the window shades of new buildings on campus.
Mr. Kentzler said he has no objections to the waivers requested.
Lighting
Mr. Sparks discussed the new lighting plan. Mr. Sparks said that the intent of the plan was to keep the building and surrounding area well lit. Mr. Davies said the adjoining parking garage would also be well lit. Mr. Sparks talked about the bell shaped fixtures and what they would use in the drive-thru.
Ms. Kerestes said they would not be using the High-pressure sodium type lighting. Ms. Kerestes said they are using the Metal halide type. No waivers were required for the lighting plan.
Signage
Mr. Sparks said that they were proposing two monument signs and one wall sign within their signage plan, each containing the words “Bank of Illinois” with the Bank’s logo. The monument signs would be located, one at the College Avenue entrance and the other at the Mulberry entrance to the Bank. Each sign will be placed in such a way as to be seen by oncoming traffic (the sign front facing west on College and east on Mulberry). Mr. Maschhoff indicated that because of the location of building and topography of the site, one would not be able to see both signs at the same time. The wall sign will be at the first floor cornice level of the rounded portion of the College Avenue façade.
Mr. Sparks discussed the lighting for the sign lettering. Each letter is stainless steel and has a light behind it to make it appear as a silhouette at night. The Commission indicated that they did not consider this type of lighting as “internal” (as prohibited by the downtown design code) and felt that the proposed lighting around the sign lettering would not require a waiver from the code, as requested by the applicant. No other lighting was proposed for the monument signs in addition to the light behind the lettering and logo.
The proposed wall sign will either be lit from behind, as the monument signs, or by lights from the ground shining upward. The Bank is unsure which option they will chose, largely the result of maintenance concerns. The Commission indicated that they would be fine with either choice of lighting for the wall sign.
Ms. Kerestes asked if the Bank was going to have the time and temperature on the monument signs. Mr. Maschhoff said they would not at this time, due to the expense. Ms. Kerestes said that if they decided at a later date to add time and temperature to the monument signs, they would have to come back to the DDRC to request changes.
Mr. Kentzler said the Commission would consider the waiver for the second monument sign, because of the two storefronts provided by the Bank building.
Mr. French moved for approval of the overall signage plan and recommended approval of waiver for the Bank’s second monument sign. Mr. DeWerff seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Mr. French moved to approve the overall lighting plan as submitted. Mr. DeWerff seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Other Business:
Ms. Kerestes updated the Commission on Harry Fuller’s Shanigan’s building. Due to structural issues, part of the north façade collapsed on April 2, 2005. She showed the commission the reconstruction plans that Mr. Fuller submitted indicating that the storefront would be rebuilt to look the same.
Ms. Kerestes said that staff was proposing the elimination of the $50.00 filing fee for the Moratz Façade Improvement Grant and Downtown Business Loan programs, as well as the filing fee for appealing the downtown design standards in an effort to provide consistency with other Town programs and policies. Ms. Landau asked what Bloomington charged for their programs. Mr. Kentzler asked why there has been a charge in the past and if it was possible to give a refund to the grant, loan, and appeals process applicants who had paid fees in the last three years. Ms. Kerestes said she would check into it.
Chair & Vice-chair elections
Mr. French nominated Ms. Landau to be chairperson. Motion carried 5-0. Ms. Landau moved to nominate Mr. French for Vice-Chair. Motion carried 5-0.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbi S. Whitehouse
Office Associate
Lauren Kerestes
Associate Planner