CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance amending 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.
At the January 21, 2025 meeting, the City Council concurred with a request from staff to initiate an amendment to Section 5-2C-3 to permit composite siding as an acceptable masonry material (approved, 9-0). This amendment was requested based upon a series of masonry variances that have been approved since 2019.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has prepared an amendment to Section 5-2C-3 to additionally permit composite siding, including but not limited to fiber cement and engineered wood siding, as an acceptable masonry material. The amendment also proposes to specifically exclude vinyl or aluminum siding from being construed as masonry.
If the amendments to Section 5-2C-3 are approved, products consistent with recent variance approvals would be permitted and the time and costs related to processing a variance for a masonry reduction would be eliminated. Any petitioner wishing to utilize materials not permitted in this Section may continue to seek approval of a variance through the standard process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A