City of Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Committee of the Whole Board met Sept. 27.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. DECLARATION OF QUORUM
PRESENT: Quinn Adamowski, Paul Burden, Bill Habiger, Candace Johnson, Sharon Merwin, Sara Stovall, Bret Mitchell, Christine Policandriotes.
ABSENT: Gerri Eck, Michael Grady, Kevin Heinemann, Greg Peerbolte.
3. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
a. August 23, 2017 COW Workshop Minutes
JHPC COW August Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes from the August 23, 2017 meeting was made by Paul Burden.
Motion seconded by Bill Habiger.
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Quinn Adamowski, Paul Burden, Bill Habiger, Candace Johnson, Sharon Merwin, Sara Stovall.
NAYS: None.
5. STAFF REPORTS
Ms. Armington introduced two new commissioners to the Commission—Mr. Bret Mitchell and Ms. Policandriotes—who have joined the Commission as non-voting members.
Ms. Armington updated the Committee about a few things. She attended the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Annual Conference and learned more about specific financial incentives and grant opportunities for historic properties. She will be attending a conference in November and will miss the regular meetings that month but Mr. Schwarz will be there to run the meetings in her absence.
She updated and provided clarity to the database of existing and designated historic properties. The Commission will be reviewing this list tonight. She also confirmed with the Building Department that the properties are in the City’s permit system, meaning that the permitting counter gets notified when someone attempts to pull a permit for a designated property. Ms. Armington stated that she would work with her assistant to check all designated properties.
Ms. Armington reached out to the City of Aurora’s Historic Preservation Planner to discuss their use of Urban Conservation Districts. The City of Aurora and the City of Joliet have the same Historic Preservation Ordinance. The City of Aurora reported that the City has never used nor attempted using this designation and doesn’t plan on using it in the future. The City of Aurora understands Urban Conservation Districts to be more about preserving the massing and scale of buildings to prevent incompatible infill or additions rather than preserving architectural features.
Ms. Armington would like to work with the Commission to explore other preservation approaches for preserving the character of Joliet’s neighborhoods. She stated that she and Commissioner Merwin plan to work on Ms. Merwin’s presentation that will be targeted toward neighborhood groups.
Ms. Armington continues to update and refine the City’s historic preservation files and procedures. For example, she submitted a staff report on the landmark proposal that will be considered at the Regular Meeting.
6. PUBLIC AWARENESS COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
None.
7. NOMINATION COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
None.
8. DISTRICT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
None.
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review of landmarks, local historic districts and National Register Historic Districts, and properties on the National Register of Historic Places
List of Historic Properties
Maps
The Commission reviewed and discussed the updated list of designated properties in the City, which Ms. Armington provided to the Commission in map and list form. Ms. Armington noted that there are over 2,000 homes or structures built before 1900 and 11,000 built before 1950 in the City of Joliet. A small subset of these homes or structures have special recognition as “historic properties,” meaning they have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places; designated as local historic landmarks; are located within a local historic district; and/or are located within a National Register Historic District.
Ms. Armington explained the difference between properties on the National Register of Historic Places, properties in a National Register Historic District such as the Upper Bluff National Register Historic District and East Side National Register Historic District, properties in local historic districts and properties that have been designated as local historic landmarks. Properties that have been designated as local historic landmarks or properties in local historic districts have to apply for a certificate of appropriateness for exterior building work while properties in a National Register Historic District or properties individually listed on the National Register do not.
Ms. Johnson noted that there were fewer regulated properties than she thought.
Ms. Armington noted several paths that the Commission could take to preserve the historic character of neighborhoods or certain homes. The Commission could continue to seek properties to individually landmark and/or add properties to existing thematic districts such as the Bungalow, Colonial Revival, Catalog Home, and Vernacular. The Commission could reinitiate the limestone structure survey that was attempted earlier this decade. There may be interest in mid-century modern homes. The Commission could focus efforts on one or more neighborhoods such as St. Johns. The Commission discussed that the purpose of the nomination and district committees were to work on exploring these things. Ms. Merwin suggested sending a letter out city-wide that would explain the benefits of landmarking homes.
Commissioner Burden requested that the City purchase the book A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester. Ms. Armington stated she would look into this.
Ms. Armington stated that she is working with a colleague to update the City’s maps of these designated properties.
Ms. Armington stated that she would like to go neighborhood by neighborhood with the Commission, starting in the Spring of next year, and review preservation issues, opportunities and challenges.
11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Paul Burden.
Motion seconded by Sharon Merwin.
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Quinn Adamowski, Paul Burden, Bill Habiger, Candace Johnson, Sharon Merwin, Sara Stovall, Bret Mitchell, Christine Policandriotes.
NAYS: None.
https://joliet.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=joliet_69d7bed5-3fd2-4c15-8659-3bc17358f55b.pdf&view=1
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