MINUTES
TOWN OF NORMAL UPTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
CONFERENCE ROOM C CITY HALL
100 E. PHOENIX AVE.
NORMAL, IL
REGULAR MEETING
March 12, 2007@ 4:00 p.m.
Members Physically Present:
Rick Kentzler, Dirk deWerff, Rebecca Landau, Kathy Wilcox
Members Physically Absent:
Pam Locsin, Dennis French, Mark Comerford
Others Physically Present:
Lauren Kerestes, Associate Planner; Wayne Aldrich, Uptown Development Director; Ron Crick, Champaign Tent & Awning, Bob Varicella, Herb Reichelt
Call to Order:
Ms. Landau 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 February 12, 2007, 4-0.
CC-07-03-05, 204 E. College, Wall Sign
Ms. Kerestes explained that the proposed wall sign was the same as the one shared with the Commission at the February 12th UDRC meeting, with the exception of one of the photographed football players had been replaced with a tennis player. This 15’x10’ wall sign would be located on the west façade of the Ace Hardware building at 204 E. College and face the Pub II outdoor seating area.
Ms. Kerestes noted that the proposed sign would require a waiver from the design code, because it exceeded the maximum signable area for the 204 E. College property by approximately 108 square feet.
Mr. Kentzler asked if the Ace Hardware owner was aware of the request and how it might impact future signage requests by Ace Hardware. Ms. Kerestes said that although Pub II was the applicant, the owner of the 204 E. College property had signed off on the Certificate of Compliance application.
The Commission expressed positive comments about the sign. The Commission noted that they were in favor of the waiver request in this instance, because of the location of the sign and its lack of visibility from the public right-of-way. Several of the commissioners also noted that they thought the banner would be consistent with the theme of Pub II and be a nice addition to the outdoor seating area.
Mr. deWerff moved to approve the wall sign as submitted, with the condition that if the sign face was changed in the future, it be reviewed through standard B-2 Central Business District procedure (Certificate of Compliance). Mr. Kentzler seconded.
Ayes: Mr. deWerff, Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Landau, Ms. Wilcox
Nays: None
Motion declared carried 4-0.
MFIG-07-01-01, Pub II, 102 N. Linden, Outdoor Seating Area
Ms. Kerestes referred to the grant application and the list of expenses submitted by the applicant for the Pub II’s outdoor seating area. She said that the request was retroactive that the work had been completed in the summer of 2006. She noted that most of the expenses were not related to façade redevelopment and that some of the expenses did not have two comparable bids.
Bob Varicella, the contractor for the project, was present to answer questions. The Commission was concerned that the request was retroactive. Mr. Varicella noted that he could not speak directly for the Pub II owner, but that demolition timing, rising material costs, and estimates gathered on an as-needed basis may have added to project costs and thus, the increasing need for assistance. Ms. Landau read aloud a portion of the Moratz Façade Improvement Grant Program guidelines that discouraged retroactive grants. Ms. Kerestes noted that the Commission had not approved a retroactive grant since the grant’s inception and was concerned about the precedent it may set.
The Commission discussed the item at length and determined that there were two issues on the table.
- Whether the completed work was eligible as façade work under the program guidelines and
- whether a retroactive grant should be approved.
The Commission commended Mr. Varicella for the design and quality of the outdoor seating area, but determined that regardless of whether the request was retroactive the completed work was not eligible for façade grant funding under the façade grant program.
Mr. Kentzler moved to approve the grant request for the Pub II outdoor seating area. Mr. deWerff seconded.
Ayes: None
Nays: Mr. deWerff, Mr. Kentzler, Ms. Landau, Ms. Wilcox
Motion was denied 4-0.
Other Business:
Mr. Aldrich updated the Commission on items that he expected to come before them for review in the next couple months. These items include preliminary plans and architectural elevations for the One Main development in Uptown and also concepts for the Uptown wayfinding/branding system by Cardosi-Kiper.
Adjournment:
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at
4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lauren Kerestes
Associate Planner