HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) request for 219 Center St. - COA 24-3620
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Brad Iwicki, Assistant Planner
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Submitted for Historic Preservation Commission Review
BACKGROUND:
The Subject Property is an approximately 7,500 square foot parcel located midblock, on the west side of Center Street, between North Avenue and School Street. The property is zoned R2 (Single-family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residence District) and is improved with a two-story duplex residence in the Gabled Ell architectural style, constructed in 1905. A shared driveway north of the residence leads to an existing detached garage near the center of the property, closest to the north property line.
The principal structure is listed as “contributing” to the Local Historic District and in “good” condition in the 2008 Architectural and Historic Survey. Prior alterations to the residence include aluminum siding, replacement front stoop and railings, replacement supports and railings on south porch, fixed shutters, three-part window on south/rear, exterior stair addition, and south door replacement. The Survey identified several significant features; front gable bay; south side gabled bay with 1st story cutaway corners; historic front entry canopy and south porch roof; historic 1/1 windows.
The proposed improvement does not impact the exterior of the principal structure.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant, John Velez, seeks a Certificate of Appropriateness on behalf of the owners, Paul Felfle and Sandra Velez Felfle, to allow for a new driveway access from the front street. The proposed improvement is subject to Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) review and approval due to the addition of the new driveway access to the front street that specifically serves this property. The scope of the HPC is limited to the driveway access and is not inclusive of the driveway design which will be subject to the standard permitting and engineering review process. The proposed driveway access is south of the existing residence, measuring 14 feet wide at the right-of-way and 10 feet wide at the property line.
The Historic Building Design and Resource Manual (2010) discourages the adding new driveway access from the front street but if there is no alley, then a driveway to the garage could be constructed between the house and its neighbor.
Historically, the properties at 219 and 223 Center St. to the north shared a driveway access that leads to a detached garage on each individual parcel. The owner at 223 Center St. redesigned the driveway on their property as part of the overall renovation of the property. Concurrently, the owner of 219 Center St. has demolished the portion of the shared driveway on their property to install a new driveway south of the home, resulting in one driveway access for each property. Notably, there is no alley access for properties located on the west side of Center St. Besides the Subject Property, each property has individual driveway access from the front or side street. The shared driveway from the front street and lack of alley access to the Subject Property are both uncommon in the Local Historic District.
There is an active Code Enforcement case at 219 Center St. due to the parking of vehicles on an unqualified surface. To meet the standards of the Municipal Code, a new driveway is being proposed, including new driveway access to the front street.
Factors for Consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness Application: Review of COA applications are conducted based on the compatibility with the Factors for Consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness Application (Section 6-11-8:5; Certificate of Appropriateness Required). The owner has detailed their justification of the factors considered. Their justification is included in the attachments for review by the HPC.
The petitioner has provided required notice of the requested COA, as stipulated in the Naperville Municipal Code, in advance of the October 24, 2024, HPC meeting.
Key Takeaways
• The applicant requests approval of COA 24-3620 to allow for a new driveway access from the front street.