===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET Draft Meeting Minutes HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION August 26, 2025 – 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum The meeting was called to order by Chairman Letsche at 6:00p.m. Roll call found Chairman Letsche, and Commissioners Edwards, Pletcher, Vigsnes, Christman, Andrews, and Cherrington present. With seven members present, a quorum was established. Staff in attendance included City Planner John Sterrett and Chief Building Official Stuart Caravello. 2. Public Comment - None 3. Approval of the draft July 22, 2025 Meeting Minutes Commissioner Pletcher made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Edwards, to approve the July 22, 2025 meeting minutes. With a voice vote of all ayes the motion carried. 5. Certificate of Appropriateness Review A. COA 25-17 – 116 Main Street – Oscar Munoz – Proposal to perform façade renovations including masonry work, window and door replacement, and rear limestone repair Mr. Sterrett stated that Oscar Munoz, owner of 116 Main Street in the Turner Junction Historic District, is requesting approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness to renovate the façade on the first floor of the two-story building. This includes removing the existing damaged stone veneer on the first floor, removing the existing damaged brick under the stone veneer, and installing new brick that will substantially match the existing brick. The existing wood material on the front of the building will also be removed and new brick will be installed in its place. The existing windowfront will be removed and replaced with aluminum storefront windows with glazing. A 4- inch limestone windowsill will be installed under the windows. The two existing doors on the front of the building will be removed and replaced with bronze anodized aluminum narrow-style doors. The existing transom above each door will remain and will consist of new glass. Please see attached elevations. The existing stairs on the side of the building are in poor condition and are proposed to be replaced with new wood stairs. These stairs are a requirement for emergency egress. Please see attached plans for the stairs. The property owner is also proposing to replace the existing double-door on the rear of the building with a dark bronze anodized aluminum commercial door with glass. The property owner had indicated a desire to use a skim-coat of plaster to repair certain areas on the existing limestone on the rear of the building that have deteriorated. Staff, however, has recommended that instead the limestone be tuckpointed for preservation and in keeping with the other limestone facades on Turner Court. The building is a 1900 Late Victorian. According to the Turner-Junction Historic District survey 475 Main Street T 630.293.2200 Daniel Bovey MAYOR West Chicago, Illinois F 630.293.3028 60185 westchicago.org ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] the building is non-contributing to the District and is not a candidate for local landmark status. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Cherrington made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Christman, to approve the COA application with the condition that the exterior light fixtures on the rear of the building be of historic nature from the time period of the building. With a voice vote of all ayes, the motion carried. 6. Preliminary Review Mr. Sterrett stated that the West Chicago Public Library District, located at 118 West Washington Street in the Turner Junction Historic District, is requesting approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a freestanding, sign with an electronic changeable copy component in front of the Library building along Washington Street. Section 12.9-3 of the Zoning Code permits freestanding signs in the Historic District, as well as changeable copy signs, including electronic ones, that are ancillary to an institutional sign, such as a sign for the Library. There are currently no electronic changeable copy signs in the Historic District. The only freestanding in the Historic District is on the north side of Washington Street for the Wiant House, which received COA approval in November of 2023. Section 12.7-1(B)(2) of the Zoning Code limits the size of the changeable copy portion of the sign to no more than 30% of the area of the entire freestanding sign. The proposed sign has a changeable copy portion that is 50% and will need to be reduced by 7.5 square feet for compliance. The surface area of the overall sign and the overall height of the sign comply with the Zoning Code. The base of the sign will be cladded with thin brick. Per Section 12.7-3 of the Zoning Code, the material of the base must substantially match the material of the building, which is brick. The sign must also be placed outside of the 25-foot visibility triangle located at the intersection of Washington Street and the entrance drive to the Library. If approved, landscaping will need to be installed around the base of the sign with a size equal to 1.5 times the surface area of the sign. Finally, the address of the property must be displayed on the base of the sign. The concept of a freestanding sign with an electronic changeable copy component for the Library was briefly discussed at the previous Historical Preservation Commission meeting, at which time the members of the Commission directed staff to instruct the Library District to submit plans for further discussion. The Library building was constructed in 1993 and is non-contributing to the Historic District and is not a candidate for local landmark status. The Commission discussed the concept and was generally comfortable with the request provided, however, that the design of the proposed sign is modified to reflect a more historic look. Commissioner Pletcher provided a sketch of some alternatives that demonstrate this. Commissioner Christman also provided examples from other communities. Representatives from the Library District would take these suggestions into account during final sign design and present back to the Commission. 7. Historic District/Landmark Updates A. 2025-2026 Architectural and Historical Survey Update Mr. Sterrett stated that the surveying of neighborhoods will begin later in the fall while MKSK does initial background research. 8. Other Business a. Historical Preservation Webpage – Mr. Sterrett stated this is ongoing. 475 Main Street T 630.293.2200 Daniel Bovey MAYOR West Chicago, Illinois F 630.293.3028 60185 westchicago.org ===== PDF PAGE 4 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] b. Commercial Storefront Design Guidelines – Mr. Sterrett stated the proposal to update the Commercial Storefront Design Guidelines has been included in the Community Development Department’s 2026 budget request. 9. Adjournment With no further business to discuss, Commissioner Pletcher made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Cherrington, to adjourn the meeting. With a voice vote of all ayes the motion carried and the Historical Preservation Commission, at 7:05 p.m., adjourned. Respectfully submitted by John H. Sterrett, Interim Director of Community Development 475 Main Street T 630.293.2200 Daniel Bovey MAYOR West Chicago, Illinois F 630.293.3028 60185 westchicago.org