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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 4/7/1987 - Landmark Commission MINUTES OF THE CITY OF MCHENRY LANDMARK COMMISSION 7 April 1987 The monthly meeting of the City of McHenry Landmark Commission was called to order at 7 : 05 P.M. at the McHenry Public Library. The time and location a result of election day. Commission members present were: Nancy Fike, Adele Froelich, Tom Hopkins , Don Howard, Dick Rabbitt, Karla Meyer, Earl Walsh, Keith Adams , Dorothy Uttich, Mary Vycital , Marya Weber. Frank Gans was absent. The minutes of the previous meeting were corrected as follows : Dick Rabbitt was absent from that meeting. The minutes of the March 3 meeting were approved as corrected. The Riverside Hotel and Barbian House plaques have been approved by the City Council . Lettering of the plaques (no. 5 & 6 ) can now proceed, with presentation of the plaques to be arranged for a future City Council meeting. No other applications were received this month. The Commission proceded to discuss and comment on the previous month' s meeting in regard to dialogue with the Main Street property owners , and what may result from that meeting. The property owners that attended the meeting were interested in preservation and the possible formation of a historic district, but it is doubtful that they would pursue this on their own. An ordinance to create an historic district and protect other historic structures still needs to be discussed in more detail . Members of the Commission voiced concern over the future of Landmark School following the referendum. The Commission discussed contacting the School Board to determine plans for use of the building and to monitor future developments , including attending a School Board meeting to discuss the situation. A motion was made approved to send a letter to the School Board inquiring as to future plans and stating the Commission' s concern concerning preservation of the building. Commission members terms that will expire this month are: Earl Walsh, Adele Froelich, Mary Vycital, Marya Weber & Frank Gans . Keith Adams will be graduating this year. None have received any communication from the Mayor as to their future involvement. Nancy asked that they continue to attend until re-appointments or new appointments are made. It is possible that we will have new faces at the next meeting. The Business District Signs are under construction by the Park District. James Weber was recommended by Pete Merkel to do lettering for the text portion of the displays. Nancy will obtain a quote from him for the work involved. The Commission authorized by vote Nancy Fike , Tom Hopkins and Dick Rabbitt to make the decision on this prior to the next meeting. Nancy will obtain copies of the 1908 Plat Maps for inclusion in the displays . The Signs are to be erected prior to the May 16 historic walk on Main Street. City of McHenry Landmark Commission, 7 April 1987 ( continued) Nancy recently attended a conference on historic preservation as a representative of the McHenry County Planning Commission: "Preservation as a Tool for Revitalization" , and read her report to the Commission. Some key points are as follows : Preservation should play some role in the Zoning Ordinance; goals of the ordinance first need to be identified; owner consent should not be permitted, just as other provisions of a zoning ordinace do no permit owner consent; an economic hardship provision should be included in and ordinance; other localities ordinances should not be copied verbatim; a new ordinance should start out strong, as it is more difficult to strengthen an ordinance after it is in force; and the ordinance should be tied to the building permit process . The Commission received a letter of thanks for the donation of the book "Houses by Mail" . Goals for the next year were discussed. Suggestions included participation of some kind in the Fiesta Days activities , continuing presentations on neigborhood history at the monthly meeting, doing more research on revitalization of the business districts and involve- ment with the Economic Development Commission, arranging for a speaker on downtown revitalization at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and continuing to examine an ordinance for preservation. These topics and additional ideas will again be discussed at the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8 : 15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Aia\1J Tom Hopkins Secretary P.S. Don 't forget the program on the National Register at the Opera House in Woodstock, May 4 , 7 : 00 P.M. And, historic walk on Main Street, May 16 , 10 : 00 A.M. starting at City Hall .