Story posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Aldermen Finalize Historic Preservation Ordinance
With only one more wording change, Park Ridge finally has a Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Ald. Robert Ryan (5th) asked for, and received, a change to the wording of one paragraph, specifying that an owner's consent for landmark designation must be written. The requirement was implied but not specified.
The ordinance creates a nine-member Historic Preservation Commission.
The commission will be the advising body to the council regarding the designation of landmarks and historic districts within the city and review any changes planned to structures so designated.
No property can be declared historic without the permission of the owner. At an earlier meeting, aldermen restricted the ordinance so that the commission cannot even consider an application without the owner's consent.
The ordinance was created by the Historic Preservation Task Force, a group that held its first meeting on Oct. 16, 2008. The members of the task force were Ald. Jim Allegretti (4th), Dep. City Manager Juliana Maller, Community Preservation and Development Director Carrie Davis, and City Attorney Everette Hill. Also on the force are Paul Adlaf from the Historical Society, Milton Nelson from the Heritage Committee, Brian Kidd from the Appearance Commission, Alfredo Marr from the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Anita Bloom from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Citizens for the task force are Kirke Machon, a former first ward alderman; Steve Huening, also a member of the liquor commission; Randall Derifield, former director community preservation and development for the city; Judy Barclay of the Citizens United to Retain Residential Balance; and Herbert Zuegel, Kalo Foundation representative.
The task force presented its ordinance to the council in a workshop on Sept. 14, 2009. It passed through the Committee of the Whole meetings where aldermen amended it; then the council, after more changes, approved it on first reading on Dec. 21.
After Ryan began asking for additional changes to the ordinance, Barclay addressed the council. She explained the task force worked for more than a year creating the ordinance and complained about it being "picked at at every meeting since it came out of there."
"It's time to put this baby to rest. You need to vote on it and move on," she said.
The council agreed and unanimously approved the existing ordinance.
"We now have a Historic Preservation Ordinance in Park Ridge," said Mayor Dave Schmidt after the vote. "I want to thank the task force and I want to thank all the residents who for years and years and years have been pushing for this."
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