The River Forest Village Board dedicated two hours Monday night to detailed debate on a long-delayed historic preservation ordinance. The meeting was moderated by Village Housing consultant John Houseal.
When Houseal touched upon the requirements for a seven-member historic preservation commission, Trustee Alfred Swanson took issue, saying he believed the requirements to serve on the commission were worded in too restraining a manner.
“It might be too restrictive on the Village President and board to find people with an interest in this,” Swanson said. Swanson added he agreed with the idea of having diversity in the commission.
Trustee Russell Nummer added that none of the categories specifically asked for “professional” architects or “licensed” landscapers to serve on the commission.
Trustee Michael O’Connell recommended that the wording of “preferred experience” be added into the ordinance, which was accepted by the board.
Houseal pointed out that some form of experience in the commission would “legitimize the integrity of the group going forward to the homeowners of River Forest.”
Houseal listed the duties of the commission as: to evaluate properties, to educate residents about properties with historical significance, to collaborate with different organizations to promote a better understanding of history, and to hear applications for demolition and alteration for properties with landmark status.
Trustees Swanson and Graham agreed that any decision made by the commission would be binding.
An ongoing debate was whether the commission should zero in on individual properties or on entire districts.
Village Attorney Jon Gilbert said the elimination of the village’s 30 year old historical district probably won’t happen.
“I thought the bottom line was to leave current historic districts alone,” he said. “We were already told by the state that we’re way off base on that.”
Trustees Barbara Graham and Nancy Dillon rejected the idea of creating new historic districts, saying they perferred to look at properties on an individual basis.
Graham also asked why discussions kept gravitating back toward income tax breaks that would be based on how much money River Forest citizens put into rehabilitating their homes.
Gilbert counseled that tax breaks were off topic and probably something for a separate meeting.
“If you’re talking about tax relief, you’re talking about a very different animal than what’s in front of you now,” Gilbert said.
O’Connell pointed to the importance that renovations made on older homes keep the architectural and historic integrity intact and that such renovations be allowed in a drafted ordinance.
Houseal said that it was important to find a balance between renovating old homes to make them last longer in, accommodating people who want to renovate so they won’t just tear the home down, and maintaining architectural soundness through the process.
President Frank Paris recommended that the 45-day review period, previously 60, should be reduced even further to 30 days. But Swanson countered that 30 days wasn’t enough time to meet and discuss the issues.
Trustees also requested that the idea of a 5-1 super majority for an appeal of committee findings should be removed from the ordinance, which was agreed upon.
Gilbert will now work to draft new wording for an ordinance for further discussion by the board.