TOWN OF NORMAL DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW
COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006, 4:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING, CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM C
100 E. PHOENIX AVE., NORMAL, IL
Members Present:
Ms. Landau, Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, and Ms. Wilcox
Members Absent:
Mr. French
Others Present:
Mr. Troemel, Director of Inspections, Mr. Aldrich, Downtown Development Director and Ms. McHenry, Office Associate. Also present were Mr. Barnaby Wauters, Mr. Bob Steinman regarding Medici’s restaurant and Mrs. Sherrillyn Taylor regarding 117-119 E. Beaufort St.
Call to Order:
Chairperson Landau called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and noted a quorum was present.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of the April 10, 2006, meeting were approved with the
following corrections:
Ms. Locsin said that she did not hear Mr. Schaab say and that the
Garlic Press did not have any agreement to pay for a portion of
the project as stated on page 5, paragraph 6. Chairperson Landau
said that in the fourth paragraph, page 2, it should read “centralized
on the old north-south railroad alignment”.
- CC-06-01-01, 118-122 W. North Street, Site Plan and Elevations
for Medici’s restaurant and bakery.
Mr. Barnaby Wauters, Behr Design Studios, Architect for Medici’s restaurant, said that they had planned to replicate the previous buildings, but the first floor cannot be replicated because it is a restaurant. They are requesting a waiver for the windows on the second floor. There are no windows on the second floor and there will be an open patio for dining. They are planning to raise the facade to higher than the adjacent building.
Mr. Wauters said that the second waiver is regarding the store front windows. This will not work because of the seating arrangement. They could add divisions, but they are trying not to so as to not obstruct the view while dining. He said that older buildings had large windows. The second story will have the same shape openings.
Mr. Kentzler asked about the restaurant seating and said that he did not see a floor plan. Mr. Wauters said that there would be booths at the windows. Mr. Kentzler suggested adding mullions to the windows. Mr. Wauters said that they had been working with placement of the columns and mullions and they did not want to break up the view from the booths. He said that the glazed area where the booths are is set in about two feet. He said that they wanted to create symmetry.
Mr. Comerford asked if it were possible to add a column so that there is a column for every two booths. Mr. Wauters said that there was proportion spacing of columns to spans. Mr. Comerford suggested having a column for every two panes of glass. Mr. Wauters said that this would take up more space. Mr. Steinman said that there would be plantings and other items in the area for aesthetics.
Mr. Wauters said that they were addressing items from the response letter from the previous meeting. He said that there could be a structural issue with the columns because they will be supporting a lot of masonry. They may not be able to reduce the size. If they can reduce the size, it will work. Mr. Comerford said that he did not have a problem with the same size columns. Mr. Steinman thought it might look too broken up. Mr. Comerford said that the columns would align with the window mullions. Mr. Wauters said that he thought this would work.
Mr. Wauters said that in regard to the waiver for prohibited materials, they will only be used on the rear of the building. They will use the same brick on the back as used on the front. There is an open portico. They will use masonry and break it up with horizontal banding. Detailing has been added. There will be an entrance in the rear of the building.
Mr. Steinman said that there would be more put into the rear facade if they knew what Fairmont was doing and what was happening with the Masonic building. There will be parking in the rear. The rear entrance will be visual from College Ave.; therefore, the rear entrance is very important. Chairperson Landau noted that this would be a mix of brick with concrete block. Mr. Comerford asked if the concrete would be sealed. Mr. Wauters said that there could be a problem with sealing and they may treat it as a cavity wall and not seal it.
Mr. Comerford moved, seconded by Mr. DeWerff, to approve the Certificate of Compliance with the requested waivers with the exception of adding another column to make the columns spaced with every two panes of glass.
Ayes: Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, Ms. Wilcox and Ms. Landau
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Mr. Wauters noted that the signage and lighting would be presented at a later date. They would like to keep the signage modest. Mr. Steinman said that signage was contingent on the view from College Ave.
- MFIG-06-05-02, 117-119 E. Beaufort, Taylor Building,
rear porch and stair
Mrs. Taylor said that they were going to rebuild the rear porch and stairs. They had a wall built before tearing the garage down. Ken Perry is to tear down the garage. The electrical service will be changed to underground service. They plan to paint the back wall of the building and replace the windows on the rear of the building after the deck is up. They have approval to use composite materials for the deck. The deck width will be reduced and the stairs will be on the east side instead of the west side. Menold Restoration will be constructing the deck. Bellis and Bolek Painting will be doing the painting and Mohr Window & Door, Inc. will replace the windows.
Chairperson Landau asked if they had just decided to paint the brick. Mrs. Taylor said that they thought that it was the best way to bring it all together.
Mrs. Taylor said that the cable service had been moved. Popejoy is to move the electric and the phone lines are in the process. Ken Perry is to get the EPA permit for tearing down the garage. The paint color for the brick will be a subdued color, not white.
Mr. DeWerff moved, seconded by Mr. Kentzler, to approved grant funds of $22,233.29.
Ayes: Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, Ms. Wilcox and Ms. Landau
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
- CC-06-05-08E, 117-119 E. Beaufort, Clean and paint lower
half of west facade to match upper half
Chairperson Landau noted that this request was through the expedited process, but since they had to come to the Commission for the previous item, the Commission would review this item also.
Chairperson Landau asked Mrs. Taylor if they wanted to paint the brick the same color. Mrs. Taylor said that they were not aware that the back brick was a light brick and they could not clean the “tar” off of it. Mr. Kentzler said that the picture showed that there was a lot of grout missing. Mrs. Taylor said that it had been re-grouted since the picture was taken. Mr. Kentzler asked if any thought had been given to applying the paring material already on the upper half to the lower half west side. Mrs. Taylor said no. Mr. Kentzler said that the parging was more susceptible to damage.
Mr. Comerford asked if they were only going to paint the bottom half. Mrs. Taylor said yes.
Mr. Aldrich said that the area now has a sidewalk about four to five feet wide. They anticipate it being used for a cafe area with lighting. There will probably be furniture on the Fuller side.
Mr. Comerford said that he liked the look of the brick on the left and suggested adding a division between the two. Ms. Wilcox asked what color the brick on the top half was. Mrs. Taylor said that it was the same as the darker lower half. It was parged because they didn’t want to tuck point it. Ms. Wilcox asked if they could only parge the light brick. Mr. Kentzler said that this would create another joint. Mr. DeWerff said that he was uncomfortable with the parging on the lower half because of possible damage to the lower half. Mr. Comerford suggested that it could be painted with four or five courses of brick exposed.
Mr. Kentzler said that he would like to see a mural. Mrs. Taylor said that it would be expensive. Chairperson Landau said that she knew someone who would do murals for free and he had done several. Mr. DeWerff asked if Mrs. Taylor would be willing to paint the wall now and look into a mural later. Mrs. Taylor said that she was not opposed to that. Chairperson Landau said that the mural would qualify for grant money.
Mr. DeWerff moved, seconded by Mr. Kentzler, to approve the Certificate of Compliance.
Ayes: Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, Ms. Wilcox and Ms. Landau
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
- MFIG-06-05-03, 117-119 E. Beaufort, clean and paint lower
half of west facade to match upper half
Mr. Kentzler noted that one bid was a lot lower than the other. Chairperson Landau asked about prevailing wages. Mrs. Taylor said that the bid for Bellis and Bolek stated that prevailing wages will be paid.
Mr Kentzler moved, seconded by Mr. DeWerff, to approved grant funds of $1,232.50 for painting.
Ayes: Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, Ms. Wilcox and Ms. Landau
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Mr. Aldrich said that he believed that Emack & Bolio’s were planning to do a mural.
Other Business:
Mr. Kentzler noted that it was time to elect a chairperson and
vice chairperson. Chairperson Landau said that she was willing to
continue as chair.
Mr. Kentzler moved, seconded by Mr. DeWerff, to re-elect Ms. Landau
as Chairperson and Mr. French as Vice-Chairperson.
Ayes: Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Locsin, Mr. Comerford, Mr. DeWerff, Ms.
Wilcox and Ms. Landau
Nays: None
Motion declared carried.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, Mr. Kentzler moved, seconded
by Ms. Locsin, to adjourn the meeting at 5:15 p.m. Motion carried
6-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila McHenry
Office Associate