Appearance Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-04-09

Meeting Minutes for
 Appearance Commission
 April 9th, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Skokie Village Hall | 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL 60077 | Council Chambers
 Members Present: Michael Lynk, Chair
 Thomas DaMario, Vice Chair
 Joe Maschek
 Julie Naumiak
 Archana Shah
 Maryjane Klein
 Jay Pathak
 Members Absent:
 Presiding Officer: Brian Augustine, Zoning Administrator
 Staff Present: Jose Acosta, Planning Coordinator
 Others Present:


 1) Time Meeting was Called to Order/Declaration of Quorum

 A quorum being present, Chairman Lynk called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

 2) Approval of Meeting Minutes

 A motion was made by Commissioner Naumiak to approve the minutes of the March
 26th, 2025 Appearance Commission meeting. The motion was seconded by
 Commissioner Pathak. All members voted aye.

 3) New Business

 2025-008A – 4416 Concord Ln (Residential)
 Applicant & Owner: Daniel Wiewel & Lisa Milosavljevic
 Request: 1st floor addition

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk asked the Commissioners if they had any comment on the proposal, the
 Commissioners had none.

 Commissioner Maschek stated that this would be an improvement to a unique street.

 Recommendation & Voting



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 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Maryjane Klein Second: Julie Naumiak

 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


 2025-009A – 8158 Floral Ave (Residential)
 Applicant: Emily Reidy
 Owner: Liz & Jeff Henderson
 Request: 2nd floor addition

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Commissioner DaMario asked the petitioner if they will be enclosing the deck on the
 second floor, the petitioner confirmed this to be true and stated that materials will match
 existing.

 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Thomas DaMario Second: Jay Pathak

 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0




 2025-010A – 3506 Lake St (Residential)
 Applicant & Owner: Erika Storlie
 Request: 2nd floor addition

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Commissioner Lynk asked if any of the Commissioners have comments on the proposal.
 Commissioner Joe Maschek mentioned that he is pleased with the color and the larger
 windows proposed.




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 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Julie Naumiak Second: Jay Pathak

 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


 2025-011A – 7840 Kildare Ave (Residential)
 Applicant: Jerry Pysz
 Owner: Mark & Betsy White
 Request: 1st and 2nd floor addition

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk asked the petitioner if he understand the parking requirement as outlined
 in the code. The petitioner confirmed that he understands.

 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented subject to
 zoning review. The vote was unanimous.

 Motion: Jay Pathak Second: Julie Naumiak

 Ayes:7
 Nays:0


 2025-006A – 9323 Skokie Blvd (Non-Residential)
 Applicant: Tony Zanlungo / Light Rx Med Spa
 Owner: SK investments Skokie Chicago LLC
 Request: signage requiring a variation.

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk asked if the petitioners were present at the meeting, they were not, the
 case is continued. The case will be heard at the May 14th, 2025 Appearance Commission
 Meeting.




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 2025-012A –9410-9466 Skokie Blvd (Non-Residential)
 Applicant: Keely Damm
 Owner: CMK2 Old Orchard LLC
 Request: Façade

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk asked if the proposed improvements encompass the entire strip mall. The
 applicant confirmed that everything will be improved except for the Ross storefront.

 Commissioner DaMario requested that the petitioner talk about the materials. The
 petitioner explained that they will use a thin brick panels that will stick onto the existing
 portion of the building.

 Commissioner Maschek asked if all of the signage will be placed within the passive grey
 sections. The petitioner confirmed this to be accurate and explains that all signage will
 stay the same size and be repaired.

 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented subject to
 zoning review. The vote was unanimous.

 Motion: Joe Maschek Second: Jay Pathak

 Ayes:7
 Nays:0


 2025-013A – 5533 Touhy Ave (Non-Residential)
 Applicant: David Sloan
 Owner: Minnie Bird LLC
 Request: façade and signage

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk asked the petitioner if this restaurant is part of chain, the petitioner
 confirmed that there is one other restaurant.

 Commissioner Maschek asked if the utility door and window is already existing, visible
 from Touhy Avenue. Brian Augustine, presiding officer, confirmed that it is a utility door
 and window with graphics that serves a bathroom.

 Commissioner DaMario asked if the other half of the building has a tenant, Mr.
 Augustine, the presiding officer, confirms that it is being occupied by a bank.



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 Commissioner Maschek mentioned that he is glad to see that the outdoor space is being
 improved.

 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented with the
 encouragement of adding additional landscaping to the Touhy Avenue façade. The vote
 was unanimous.

 Motion: Joe Maschek Second: Thomas DaMario

 Ayes:7
 Nays:0


 2024-049A – 7852 Lincoln Ave (Mixed-Use)
 Applicant: Yung-Wu Chen
 Owner: DDMBA Chicago Chapter
 Request: Mixed-use building

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.

 Chairman Lynk prefaced the discussion by clarifying that the purview of the Appearance
 Commission is the exterior appearance of the building and will not entertain any public
 comment regarding zoning or parking.

 The project architect explained the building layout and exterior features including glass
 panels, community garden, and aluminum grills that serves a shading. The second floor
 will contain channel glass, which is more of a frosted glass to provide privacy. Majority
 of the building façade is precast concrete panels.

 Chairman Lynk asked the project architect what the channel glass he referred to looks
 like. The architect explains it is more of a frosted glass that provides additional privacy to
 the first and third floor.

 Chairman Lynk inquired about light omitting from the building and how it would affect
 the neighboring properties to the south. The architect explains that due to the south
 elevation abutting the alley being majority precast concrete panels, the light from the
 building will have little impact on neighboring properties.

 Commissioner Maschek and Commissioner Klein requested to see a landscape plan part
 of the proposal. The architect mentioned that there is no landscape plan, but there is a




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 garden that is proposed as part of this project. Commissioner Maschek suggested that the
 petitioners consider relocating the position of the bike rack and adding more landscaping.

 Mr.Chen, the project applicant, explained that their landscape plan contains the
 Commissioner Maschek recommended the petitioner to add more shade trees. And
 commented that he would like to see more windows on the Lincoln Avenue elevation, as
 it is now, it appears stark. The petitioner explained that the there are less windows on the
 Lincoln Avenue elevation due to the use of the interior space, which requires more
 privacy and controlled lighting for meditations.

 After hearing public comment, Commissioner Naumiak commented that she is very
 familiar with this neighborhood and thinks that it is a massive structure that is out of
 place for this neighborhood. Commissioner Klein agrees with this statement.

 Chairman Lynk shared that he is conflicted with this proposal since many religious
 assembly uses are located in residential districts, where local residents often find issues
 with larger buildings in their neighborhoods. It is a use that is allowed by right, but often
 times residents feel as though they are being affected one way or another by these
 structures, so it is difficult to comment on it.
 Commissioner Maschek shared that he would like to see more glass on the Lincoln
 avenue elevation in addition to improved landscaping plans.
 Chairman Lynk asked the petitioner to address some of the comments heard and present
 improvements to the elevations on Lincoln Avenue and the alley.


 Recommendation & Voting
 No vote was taken, the case was continued to the May 14th, 2025 Appearance
 Commission meeting.



 4) Old Business

 5) Communication from Staff

 6) Public Comment

 Paul Lucas, a neighbor on Babb Avenue, explained that the proposed building in its mass
 and its appearance does not fit in with the aesthetics of the neighborhood. He described it
 as stark and stated that it does not belong on the block.

 Mrs. Kim, a resident on Babb avenue, presented her arguments to the Commission and
 mentioned concerns with security and neighborhood compatibility. Mrs. Kim shared that


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 the building has a stark and institutional design and believes that the building appears
 more like a detention center than a residence and does not fit in with the aesthetics of the
 neighborhood.

 Chairman Lynk, reiterated that the Commission is only concerned with the appearance of
 the building and will not consider or listen to any concerns over parking or other
 unrelated matters to the building aesthetics.

 James Kim, another Babb Avenue resident, shared concerns with the building height.
 Brian Augustine, clarified that the building height is permitted under site plan approval,
 which was approved by the Plan Commission.

 Tony Vicil, a resident on Babb avenue, shared that the building does not fit in to the
 neighborhood and believes it will be an eye sore.

 7) Adjournment

 Meeting adjourned at 9:02 PM

Respectfully Submitted

Jose Acosta,
Planning Coordinator




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