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Village of La Grange Design Review Commission met Jan. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:

A meeting of the Design Review Commission was held in the Lower Level Conference Room of Village Hall, 53 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL and was convened at 7:30 p.m.

Present (and constituting a quorum): Commissioners Baker, Banks, Cahill, and Chairman Reardon.

Absent: Commissioner Wisthuff.

Also Present: Randy King of Architects by Design, the architect for the project, Brad Burjan of Burcour Properties, and Village Planner Heather Valone

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A motion was made by Commissioner Banks seconded by Commissioner Baker the minutes of the November 1, 2021, Design Review Commission meeting were approved as presented at the meeting.

III. BUSINESS AT HAND:

DRC #114 DESIGN REVIEW PERMIT AND COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN #5 AMENDMENT, BURCOR PROPERTIES, 26 S. LA GRANGE RD. AND 10 W. CALENDAR AVE.

Chairman Reardon introduced the application and discussed that the two requests would necessitate two motions. He then asked Ms. Valone to provide a summary of the design review permit request.

Ms. Valone first mentioned that the architect had updated the drawing that was submitted in the agenda packet and it was provided on the table for the Commissioners’ use. She then summarized the application for the design review permit for the new door on the north elevation and the addition of gooseneck lighting for future tenant signs.

Mr. King stated that the proposed door location was previously a door prior to the Anderson’s Books occupying the space. Anderson’s had requested the removal of the door and installation of the window for their use needs. Mr. King then discussed the physical constraints of the access. The former Anderson’s space is proposed to be divided into three units. An interior unit, formerly the Dinner Club, is under construction for Plymouth Place’s East Campus showroom. The second unit is the corner of the building and the third is located on Calendar Ave. The proposed door would facilitate a vestibule to provide access to both the corner unit and the Calendar Ave. unit. The property owner is in negations with a deli for the Calendar Ave. unit. The property owner has also had discussions with a national tenant for the corner unit. Neither lease has been signed as of yet.

Chairman Reardon asked Mr. King to discuss the lighting.

Mr. King stated that the proposed gooseneck lighting is to facilitate new wall signage for the new tenant spaces. The proposed fixtures are the same that were on the building illuminating the former Anderson’s sign and that still exist over Marco’s entrance on the east elevation of the building. These fixtures would match the existing gooseneck lighting.

Chairman Reardon asked if the Commissioners had any other questions about the door or lighting.

Commissioner Banks indicated that she was in favor of the door to provide access on Calendar Ave. not just on S. La Grange Rd.

Commissioner Baker asked the applicant to confirm that the proposed doors would match the existing doors on La Grange Rd.

Mr. King indicated yes they will match the storefront doors on La Grange Rd.

Chairman Reardon asked for a motion for the design review permit for the doors and lighting.

Design Review Commission Recommendation

A motion was made by Cahill, seconded by Banks to recommend the proposed change to door on Calendar Ave. and gooseneck lighting

A roll call vote was taken

Ayes: Baker, Banks, Cahill, Reardon

Nays:

Motion passed

Ms. Valone then discussed the next step for the application to be considered by the Village Board. The Comprehensive Sign Plan only requires approval from the Village Manager, which is why the Commission is making two separate motions.

Ms. Valone then provided a summary of the proposed changes to the comprehensive sign plan.

Mr. King stated that the proposed wall signs would be very similar to the former Anderson’s sign. The wall signs would be comprised of metal block lettering and lit by the gooseneck lighting. No internal illumination or back lighting is proposed. No backing for the lettering is proposed.

Chairman Reardon asked the Commissioners their thoughts on leaving the potential for a vertical sign for the corner unit at the intersection of La Grange Rd. and Calendar Ave.

Ms. Valone showed on the overhead the area Chairman Reardon was referencing. She indicated that under the proposal, the corner unit could have three signs, one on La Grange Rd., one on Calendar Ave., and the vertical sign at the corner.

Mr. King indicated that the vertical sign was important to communicating the south bound La Grange Rd. traffic. Calendar Ave. being a one-way this sign was critical to the corner tenant. He stated that if a national tenant was to lease the space they were going to want all three signs.

Commissioner Baker clarified that the corner unit would have still have the opportunity to place a sign on the La Grange Rd. elevation.

Mr. King confirmed that yes a sign could be on La Grange Rd. and the vertical sign at the intersection under the current proposal.

Chairman Reardon stated that he did not want to see the building covered in signs, however, to Mr. King’s point if a national tenant was to occupy the corner unit they would want all three signs. He indicated that he was in support of allowing three potential signs for the corner unit.

Commissioner Cahill said that he does not remember every seeing the vertical sign for Anderson’s so the sign did not bother him. He was in favor of allowing all three signs for the corner unit.

Commissioner Banks indicated that she was in agreement with the other Commissioners.

Ms. Valone asked the commissioners if they would like to go through the potential conditions listed in the staff report. She then read through the nine conditions. She then asked if based on the discussion tonight, the commissioners wanted to remove conditions two and five, and to modify condition three.

The Commissioners they were in agreement with the modified conditions.

Chairman Reardon then asked for a motion from the Commissioners for the proposed sign plan changes.

Design Review Commission Recommendation

A motion was made by Baker, seconded by Banks to recommend the proposed changes to the sign plan with the following conditions:

1. Modify the proposed awning signage to comply with Zoning Code requirements: not to exceed six inch in height; not to exceed an aggregate length of 60% of the length of the awning; no message other than the name of the business, address number, and a logo.

2. Add a note to the plan that all first floor users are limited to a maximum of one wall sign, with the exception of the user in the northeastern unit. The user in the northeastern unit may have three wall signs.

3. Add notes to the plan that window signs are limited to one sign per lit of glass, with the exception of the windows near the central entrance on the east elevation. On those windows, permit one sign per user.

4. Add a note to the plan that all wall signs be centered between the vertical bandings of the building. All signage must not cover any of the decorative elements of the design of the building (i.e. soldier course brick, vertical and horizontal banding, and etc.)

5. Add a note to the plan that all signs shall be centered and proportional to the available area.

6. Add a note to the plan that that all sign colors will be complementary to one another and will not include any fluorescent or otherwise garish colors.

7. Add a note to the plan that unless otherwise specified in the CB Sign Plan, all requirements of the La Grange Zoning Code shall apply.

A roll call vote was taken

Ayes: Baker, Banks, Cahill, Reardon

Nays:

Motion passed

IV. OLD BUSINESS

None.

V. NEW BUSINESS

None.

VI. ADJOURNMENT:

There being nothing further to consider, on motion by Commissioner Banks and seconded by Commissioner Baker, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

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