CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Direct staff to amend Section 5-2C-3 (Exterior Wall Construction) of the Naperville Municipal Code to permit composite siding as an acceptable masonry material
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Allison Laff, AICP, Deputy Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Section 5-2C-3 (Exterior Wall Construction) of the Naperville Municipal Code states that a minimum of 50% of the exterior wall construction of all multi-family dwellings, townhomes, and duplexes shall be constructed of solid masonry, face brick, manufactured concrete stone veneer, or other masonry products as approved by the City Council. This section was added to the Code in 2002 and was intended to improve the appearance of multi-family developments and maintain long-term property values through the use of high-quality building materials.
In 2019, the Building Review Board (BRB) recommended that this code section be revisited to permit additional materials, such as fiber cement siding, to also meet the ordinance based on their durability and aesthetic qualities. The BRB recommended this code amendment following their review of three cases (2017-2019) in which variances to the 50% masonry requirement were sought and eventually approved by the City Council.
BRB's recommended amendment was reviewed by the City Council on July 16, 2019 (see attached agenda item and minutes). At that meeting, the motion to initiate an amendment to Section 5-2C-3 failed (vote: 1 in favor; 8 opposed).
DISCUSSION:
Since 2019, certain new residential developments, including the Belvedere Apartments, West Street Executive Homes, 4th and Loomis, Chicago Commons, Mill & Bauer, and Charleston Row, have complied with the 50% masonry requirements.
However, requests for variances to the 50% masonry requirements have also been common and, when requested, have been consistently approved by the City Council. While some var...
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