A. Time and Nature of Preliminary Review. The Historic Preservation Commission shall meet and determine within 60 days after the filing of a complete demolition application whether the building and/or property that is the subject of the permit application is of sufficient historic or architectural merit to warrant conducting an historic and architectural impact study prior to the issuance of the demolition permit.
B. Preliminary Property History Study. Upon receiving a complete demolition application, the Director shall conduct a preliminary property history study, which shall include the following information:
1. information about the original building, including date of construction, name of property, architect and owner;
2. current photographs of the property, including photographs showing each side of the building the applicant seeks to demolish; and;
3. a chronological list of work on the property for which the Village issued a permit, beginning with the original construction.
C. Notice of Preliminary Review. No less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before the Historic Preservation Commission meets to conduct a preliminary historic and architectural review, the Director shall issue a notice of preliminary review to the owners of record of all properties located within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the subject property, to the occupants of all such properties, and to the Winnetka Historical Society. The notice shall state the address of the property, the proposed demolition schedule and the date, time and location for the Historic Preservation Commission’s preliminary review meeting. The notice shall also state that the application materials and the preliminary property history study shall be available for review and give the dates, times and location of their availability.
D. Preliminary Historic Preservation Commission Determination and Findings.
1. Upon completing the preliminary historic and architectural review, the Historic Preservation Commission shall enter preliminary findings on the issue of whether the demolition permit application affects a building or property that has sufficient architectural or historic merit to warrant conducting a full historic and architectural impact study prior to the issuance of the demolition permits.
2. In making its determination, the Historic Preservation Commission shall consider the following:
b. Comments of the Winnetka Historical Society on the application and preliminary study; and
c. Any other information, comment or evidence received by the Commission at the preliminary review meeting.
3. If the Historic Preservation Commission finds that the impact study is warranted, it shall so notify the Director and shall order the applicant to conduct such study.
4. If the Historic Preservation Commission finds that an historic and architectural impact study is not warranted, it shall notify the Director that it finds no historic or architectural grounds for delaying the demolition.
5. The preliminary determination of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be supported by findings of fact based on the record. The findings of fact shall include statements as to whether or not the building or property has architectural merit, historical significance, both, or neither.
6. The Historic Preservation Commission shall require an historic and architectural impact study for any demolition permit application that meets any of the following criteria:
a. The property or structures have been designated a landmark pursuant to Chapter 15.64 of this Code;
b. The property or structures have been included in the most recent Illinois Historic Structure Survey conducted under the auspices of the Illinois Department of Conservation;
c. The property or structures have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the Illinois Register of Historic places; and
d. the property or structures have sufficient architectural or historic merit to warrant a full historic and architectural impact study prior to issuance of a demolition permit.
(MC-06-2024, Amended, 7/16/2024; MC-2-2021, § 3, Amended 03/16/2021; MC-5-2009, Amended, 05/05/2009)