DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore Architectural Review Committee met June 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Chairperson Rick Kramer called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. In attendance, were Jeff Keppler and Kelly Tilstra. Jesus Romero and Kevin Mathey were absent. City Manager Brian Gregory and Applicants Don Paulsen, Marilyn Yamber, and Nancy & Randy Edwards were also present.

Approval of the minutes of May 2, 2018

Motion

Kelly Tilstra moved to approve the minutes from the May 2, 2018 meeting and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion. Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0.

Public Comment

Action Items

A. To review a Sign Permit for Performing Arts Academy at 212 West State Street

City Manager Brian Gregory said this is for a recommendation for approval of a sign permit from the Building & Engineering department for Performing Arts Academy. He referenced the pictures in the background for the proposed sign and said the sign meets the sign ordinance.

Jeff Keppler said it is along the same lines with others they have seen for the downtown area with the applied placard outline and says the colors fit their brand and the character of downtown.

Rick Kramer said he did not have an issue with it.

Motion

Kelly Tilstra moved to approve the sign and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0.

B. To review Façade/Downtown Improvement Program 1. Paulsen Appliance 245 West State Street

City Manager Brian Gregory said there were multiple applications received during the propriety application period of May 1 thru May 31st. The hope is to have multiple applications to review, discuss, and provide direction. If the packages are ready to move forward, the committee can make a recommendation or recommendation with conditions to the City Council. He said the first thing is to look at eligibility. These are all, geographically, within the boundaries of the downtown improvement program. The improvements that are eligible include:

• Removal of incompatible façades and appurtenances;

• Restoration of historic façade materials;

• Restoration of a historic building in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for

Rehabilitation;

• Painting;

• Tuckpointing;

• Repair or replacement of exterior windows and doors, including storm doors and windows;

• Repair or replacement of appurtenances such as railings, stairs;

• Installation of handicap accessible entrances;

• Building cleaning using approved preservation-based methods;

• Landscaping (Gateways only).

Items that are not eligible are:

• Signs and Awning coverings;

• Roof sealing;

• Re-glazing;

• Demolition, except for the removal of architecturally incompatible facades or appurtenances;

• Incidental fees including architectural expenses, permit fees, and material testing costs;

• Most weatherization improvements

He said the program also allows for residential properties located in the downtown, which will apply to item #2. He introduced Don Paulsen to present his proposal to the committee.

Don Paulsen said he plans to remove the false mansard roof and remove and replace the awning clear across the storefronts. They will change the main door and the doorway going upstairs. They will paint and clean up to make it look more presentable since they are in the middle of downtown and have three store fronts.

City Manager Brian Gregory said that this is something the City Council, not necessarily this group, has weighed in on, when Hink’s applied for two tax addresses. The Council looked at it more holistically as a façade, so they may look at this as just one grant application.

Don said he thought he had the possibility of applying for two grants.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the wording has changed from the past and read from the application: In the case of one building owner with multiple tenants or storefronts, a determination as to the eligibility of any or all tenancies will be made on the merits of the proposal. He said the interpretation was when the building is one building but with two distinct facades. He said in the past, the rules were that they did allow a grant per address, but it started with the Hink’s project, so that clarification was made.

Rick Kramer asked if the store sign is sticking up above the awning or folding back on the awning and if the red portion of the sign will stand up above the awning.

Don Paulsen said it will be in the center to highlight the main entrance and that some of the white part and all of the red part would stand up and have sides back to the awning. He said the sign will all be canvass.

Jeff Keppler asked if this falls under signage or under improvements, in terms of eligibility.

City Manager Brian Gregory said there are parts that are eligible; the demolition, the paint, the electrical work, the glass work, and the replacement of the door.

Don Paulsen said he will add vertical siding once the false mansard roof is removed and color match to what is above the 245 building. They will add a new entry door with lights on the top and paint it tan across the front to make it look more uniform.

Rick Kramer said he has no issues but said he will have to get a permit for the signs for compliance. He informed him that he will actually need to go to the Building & Engineering Department with measurements for the permit application, especially if building back to the awning, to be sure to meet the building code.

Jeff Keppler said he doesn’t want to discourage anything but, in tearing off the mansard roof, he stated it is one of the most important buildings in the downtown and he wants to make sure it gets done right.

Don Paulsen said exactly and that is why they are putting in the vertical siding to match across the entire store fronts.

City Manager Brian Gregory asked if blue was Paulsen’s color.

Don Paulsen said yes, it has been a main-stay for them and for Brand Source, a branding they started with their buying group. They are creating a national image for the Brand Source logo. It is dual branded with Brand Source and Paulsen’s. He said he also wants to add little signs that say Appliances, Grills, etc., to give more of the old downtown feel. He will also add lights to lighten the sidewalk underneath and would be similar to the lights at the Ellwood Steak & Fish House.

City Manager Brian Gregory said he would get with Building & Engineering to check on the possible interpretation, if it is two different signs, or if the two names might be contrary to our code. He said to let the committee do some review on what improvements are eligibile and asked the committee for a consensus or direction so that we can go through the next steps to get the Building and Engineering Department involved, get final approval, and then bring it back.

Rick Kramer said yes, this is a big project, plus he is looking for three addresses.

City Manager Brian Gregory explained that it would ultimately be the Council’s call. When you pull out some of the improvements that aren’t eligible under the grant program, it may be a small amount in the difference but would need to run those numbers.

Kelly Tilstra asked if there are two signs with two different fonts.

City Manager Brian Gregory said it’s one sign with two names, but the code may see it as two signs. Applicant Nancy Edwards suggested steel gray over the blue color for the awning.

Don Paulsen said that blue has been their calling color.

Jeff Keppler said he is debating about the entire façade being one awning as the apartment door is the center of the building. He asked if it would look better to do one continuous awning across or just one at Paulsen’s and a different one at the 249 building.

Rick Kramer asked if the awning goes all the way across to match up to Lizzy’s Pink Boutique or is it different dimensions.

Don Paulsen said he would check with Fred Johnson, who has all the drawings. He did this design to set them apart from Lizzy’s and Taxco.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the city replaced all those windows on top in 2006 and each were custom. Jeff Keppler said he is torn on having one awning as it makes more sense to break up the monotony.

City Manager Brian Gregory said that Taxco has a bigger one in the middle and two smaller ones on either side but may be symmetrical. He asked about the colors of the sign because it looks brown.

Kelly Tilstra asked how bright the blue is and asked if he had any color samples.

Don Paulsen said the red is red and the blue is dark and the stripes are actually light blue. He said, he didn’t have any samples and asked if they needed a drawing of the structure.

Rick Kramer asked if he could come back with canvas samples and said that he would need a drawing of the construction of the sign for them to see and that he would also need it for the Engineering Department.

Don Paulsen asked about what the city is doing different on the sidewalk.

City Manager Brian Gregory said they are working in more stone, like they have already added to some of the signs and are planning on stone planters with the Sycamore leaf and “Welcome to Sycamore”. He said to recap, the committee wants to see the structure, but aesthetically, there is no concern with the structure. Also they want to see canvas samples and a drawing of the sign itself after it goes to B & E and to check the eligibility of everything under the grant. He said he would send Don Paulsen a sign permit application and can help him if needed.

2. Courtyard Apartments 319 West Elm Street

City Manager Brian Gregory said Marilyn Yamber is present and plans to replace stairs, replace railings, do tuckpointing, install new windows, replace rotten wood, and add new doors. She plans to replace fire escapes, do tuckpointing, and replace rotten wood in the rear of the building. He said the program is primarily for the front of the building, but if something is visible from the back, it can be eligible as well. The request comes for $5000, the total of the work is in excess of $13,000, so it exceeds the $5,000 match. The improvements listed are eligible for the program. As far as the stairs in the back, she will have to confer with the B & E department to make sure she has a permit and they are up to the new code standards.

Marilyn Yamber said she has already spoken to the B & E Department and was told that the fire escape only needs to come from the bedroom (white door) not for the one that the door comes out of the kitchen. Since it’s one large deck, she would still needed replace the entire platform, from the white door around to the side door and down the stairs. She said this is also a building with three addresses, 317, 319, and 321. She said they are trying to save the center door, with the sign above it that says “The Court”, as it is handmade and is original to the building, which is 1925. If she were to replace it, she wants everything on this building to look exactly like it is, to keep it as original as possible. She doesn’t want to change colors or anything characteristic about the building. She also added that there are two metal railings at the center door of which one has fallen off and needs to be replaced.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the back of the building is close in line with Jeff Keicher’s State Farm building, so the back of this building can be seen from city parking lot #1 especially if you go to the Regal Center.

Jeff Keppler asked if the view of the back of the building triggers the eligibility for it.

City Manager Brian Gregory said his opinion given that there are improvements made to the front are primary. He thinks with the proximity of the back side to the public view and with a banquet hall having a couple of hundred people at a time walking by, would trigger it and make it eligible as well.

Jeff Keppler told the applicant to check with B & E on if she actually needs the fire escapes if the bedroom windows were the right size to have egress out of them or because it has seven units, they may still be required.

Rick Kramer said he doesn’t have a problem with anything just to check for the fire escape and what the code is.

Motion

Kelly Tilstra moved to make a conditional recommendation to approve the grant in the amount of $5,000 total for the building at 319 W. Elm Street and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0.

3. Elm Street Realtors 204 West Elm Street

Nancy Edwards said they are looking for the grant to remove the slope awning, transom window, entry door, and wood exterior walls as they are deteriorating. They will replace the front door and side lights and have hanging pendent lights. The railings would be removed. They are unsure of the condition of the concrete steps once they remove the outdoor carpet, but will pressure wash it and add new outdoor carpet if needed. For the entrance, they plan to construct a wood framed portico gable style roof, supported by posts and attached to the existing building. They want to install new light fixtures above each windows and have signs with Residential, Commercial, Property Management, above each window to help advertise because she doesn’t have any retail window space. The signs would be white background with a black font and the lights would highlight each sign.

Rick Kramer said she will have to check into signage based on the measurements of the building and the measurements of the signs and then see if it is compliant with the sign code.

City Manager Brian Gregory said there are limits on the number of signs allowed and he doesn’t believe those signs will qualify.

Nancy Edwards asked if she could put signage in her windows and if she could put drop down lights on the east side of the building on Maple Street.

Rick Kramer said she could and yes, as long as the lights were shielded so as not to shine on the residents across the street.

Jeff Keppler asked if the new gable is the entire width of the entrance and how far does it stick out. Randy Edwards said it will stick out 5-6 feet, but not to protrude over the sidewalk.

Jeff Keppler said his concern is if zoning would allow a projection that far, as stairs are an exception to those projection requirements.

Randy Edwards said the stairs will dictate it because the soffit depth will be no more than one foot. He said from the outside of the post to the fascia will be no more than 14-15 inches.

Jeff Keppler said his only other concern is the colonial style proposed versus the very “deco” style with the building having straight, horizontal and vertical lines.

Nancy said she wanted to make it look like a home and shield a little from the rain.

Rick Kramer said they will need a full architectural drawing with exact dimensions for permits and inspections, but said he thinks it will be a huge improvement to the building.

Kelly Tilstra said she loves it and that it really shares her brand for selling homes.

Nancy Edwards added that they are replacing the old handicap ramps with the aluminum ramps.

Rick Kramer said to check on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance of slopes and other specifications.

Motion

Kelly Tilstra moved to make a conditional approval for the grant in the amount of $5,000 total at 204 West Elm Street and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0.

C. Gateway Improvement Program application: 1. 625EastStateStreetCountyLiquors

City Manager Brian Gregory said this property is the gateway and the application technically came in after the May 31st deadline for the priority period. He said the Gateway program allows for landscaping, but residential properties are excluded. There is no representative present but they are planning to replace the front windows, add stone siding 42-48 inches high on the front of the building, remove brick pavers, sand, and current vegetation, replace brick paver walkway 48 inches wide along front of building, similar to The Forge, fill in remainder of brick patio with black dirt and grass seed and add some trees and flowers. The quotes provided are over $10,000 so they will be eligible for the $5,000 and will be the first Gateway Grant this year.

Jeff Keppler asked if the stone will wrap around the building or just the front.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the front is mostly windows, so he thinks the stone will wrap around building.

Rick Kramer said they should come back with a drawing of exactly what they are doing.

City Manager Brian Gregory said they will hold this and ask them to come back with a drawing and specifics.

Motion

Kelly Tilstra moved to request more specific information with visuals and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0.

Motion

Kelly Tilstra made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Jeff Keppler seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairperson Kramer called for a vote. All members present voted aye. Motion carried 3– 0. The meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m.

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