Remove 'Neighbor Influence' On Hinsdale Historic Issues: Official

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale officials talked on Tuesday about making it easier for owners of historic homes to renovate and add to their homes as long they preserve their historic qualities.

During that discussion, Building Commissioner Robert McGinnis talked about streamlining the process by limiting neighbors' involvement. He said the Historic Preservation Commission should review such requests for alterations to historic homes in public meetings, but not public hearings, in which neighbors must be notified.

"We cut the time and most important, we remove the neighbor influence," McGinnis said at a joint meeting of the commission and the Village Board. "If the standards are codified, then we're less likely to get an objecting neighbor."

Village Trustee Luke Stifflear questioned that idea.

"We talk about a lot of other things where we say, 'Let's see what the neighbors think.' What you are saying is counter to how we approach a lot of other issues," Stifflear said.

McGinnis said that if a resident were seeking a variation from the code, then the village should hold a public hearing and notify neighbors. But he said that doesn't have to be the case if a resident is following the standards under the code.

He said the village's Zoning Board of Appeals has always been cognizant of neighbors' views, even though the code does not require neighbor buy-in.

"While we are not trying to ice out the neighbors, we're trying to balance what's fair and reasonable with these relaxed zoning provisions against what we think will fly and not create a ton of pushback from neighbors," he said.

In one recent situation, a prospective homebuyer hired an architect to come to the house to review the possibility of adding a garage, McGinnis said.

"Apparently, the next door neighbor came out and threatened to sue him before they ever had a contract signed or closed on the property," McGinnis said. "As a result, the deal died."

Also at the meeting, Bethany Salmon, the village's planner, noted the village was considering incentives for residents to preserve their historic homes. In doing so, she said the village must make sure those seeking incentives are not essentially building new houses behind historic facades.

But Alexis Braden, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, held a different view.

"I'm all for facades right now because at least we're preserving our streetscape, especially in the Robbins Park Historic District," she said. "I would love to see the old Dean home, for example, to have that facade still up and gutted inside. It at least preserves that look for the neighbors."

The Village Board and the Historic Preservation Commission have been meeting before the board's regular sessions for the last few months. Members expect to continue such meetings through the fall.