Hinsdale Panel's Frustration Leads To Proposed Rule Changes

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is looking to use its powers of persuasion with owners who want to demolish their historic houses.

This is in response to the Historic Preservation Commission's frustration that the village's preservation ordinance has no teeth in stopping demolitions.

The issue came to a head in recent months with the house at 425 E. Eighth St., which is in the Robbins Park Historic District. The owners wanted to level the house, built in 1937 in the Colonial Revival style.

Commission members said the proposed postmodern house with a glass bridge did not fit into the neighborhood. One member said the owners wanted to "screw the rest of the neighborhood."

At a Village Board meeting last month, Village President Tom Cauley said the village would consider a "less antagonistic" process.

On Tuesday, the Village Board is set to review a proposed ordinance that calls for creating ad hoc design review teams. The teams would examine plans for replacement houses on landmark properties and provide feedback and guidance.

This would be earlier in the process. Now, by the time a matter gets to the commission, owners have spent a lot of money on architectural plans.

Under the proposal, the commission's denials of "certificates of appropriateness" for replacement houses would go to the Village Board for votes. Now, new homes are approved administratively after commission votes as long as they meet codes.

The commission's and board's decisions would be advisory only and not binding. Their decisions would be meant to persuade owners, according to a village memo.

Under the proposed rules, the ad hoc teams could require a historic and architectural impact study as part of a formal application for a certificate of appropriateness.

The Village Board also plans to consider raising demolition fees for houses in the Robbins Park Historic District. That, the village said, would defray the costs of additional staff and consultant time.