Appearance Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2013-04-10

MEMORANDUM
Community Development Department


To: Michael Lynk, Chairman
 and Appearance Commission Members

From: Peter Peyer, Community Development Director
 Carrie Haberstich, Planner
 Nathan Kriska, Building and Zoning Supervisor
 Brian Augustine, Zoning Administrator

Date: April 5, 2013

SUBJECT: APPEARANCE COMMISSION/CASE SUBMITTAL –
 STAFF REPORT

Staff offers the following comments on the cases scheduled for the April 10th Appearance
Commission meeting:


RESIDENTIAL REQUESTS

2013-013A (7530 Keeler) Staff recommends that the petitioner clarify “top of roof” (24.5 feet
 and 26 feet are noted) as it may impact whether or not the design meets the overall
 height requirement of 23 feet to “top of beam”. In addition, windows on the south
 elevation in the stairwell area are recommended. Technical items that need to be
 addressed include compliance with the 50% masonry requirement, the removal of the
 bedroom in the basement, and the relocation of the air conditioning units to a
 location at least 10 feet from the property line (or relief will be required by the
 Zoning Board of Appeals).

2013-014A (5220 Dobson) Staff has no objections with this request.

2013-015A (8422 Kimball) Staff has no objections with the overall design; however, it is
 recommended that the entry porch stoop be widened to the width of the door and
 sidelight ensemble. Technical items that need to be addressed include the detached
 garage meeting zoning code requirements and the foundation of the existing carport
 structure meeting building code requirements. Staff questions: (1) if the existing
 glass block on the front façade will be removed, and (2) the height of the limestone
 base on the elevation drawing.

2013-016A (9606 Keystone) Staff has no objections with the overall design; however, the
 location of the windows in the south elevation in relation to the stair landings should
 be described. Technical items that need to be addressed include ensuring the
 driveway does not exceed the maximum impervious surface coverage in the front

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 yard of a home in a R1 Single-Family district, and any attic area with a ceiling height
 of 6’-9” or greater is included in the floor area ratio (FAR) calculation.


COMMERCIAL REQUESTS

2013-017A (Northwest Corner of Touhy and McCormick) The “Skokie Commons” planned
 development review process is expected to occur later this spring or early summer.
 Staff has no objections with the overall design package; however, it is requested that
 the following design-related issues be considered:

 All Buildings
 1. Provide “four-sided” architecture, as all four sides of the buildings can be
 seen by the passers-by and visitors to the center.
 2. Ensure all HVAC units are screened.

 Building Design – Mariano’s
 3. Consider relocating the round tower from the northeast corner of the building
 (and the back side of the property) to the southeast corner of the building (to
 serve as a gateway at the main entrance to the center). Alternately, consider
 adding a second tower or other special building design feature to the
 southeast corner of the building, including the use of more metal panels and
 darker brick.
 4. Consider adding height to the round tower with an “uplifting” roof design.
 5. Consider additional opportunities for shadow lines and other features that
 create depth to the building façade.
 6. Consider individual channel letters on contrasting backgrounds for the wall
 signs on the south and east façades.
 7. Consider orienting the building entrances to face east so their locations can
 be easily recognizable from the parking lot.

 Building Design – Multi-Tenant Retail
 8. Consider how the north façade looks to southbound motorists, as this is the
 gateway to the north side of the site.
 9. Consider adding piers, brick reveals, and awnings/canopies to all four sides
 of the building to create a more interesting façade design.

 Building Design – Longhorn Steakhouse
 10. Consider the first impression of the north façade to users of the driveway off
 McCormick Boulevard.
 11. Consider giving depth to the tall feature walls so they appear to be more
 substantial than just a wall.

 Building Design – Bank – Future Appearance Commission Meeting



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 Sign Package
 12. The sign package, as proposed, would require requests for relief and
 determinations during the planned development approval process.

 The Sign Code allows one sign per occupancy per street frontage (or one sign
 per occupancy per façade facing a parking lot if no street frontage is
 provided).

 Per the Sign Code and the Sign Location Map, Mariano’s is allowed a wall
 sign facing Touhy (“M1”); the multi-tenant retail building is allowed a wall
 sign facing McCormick (“R6”) and wall signs for each tenant façade facing a
 parking lot (“R1” – “R4”); Longhorn Steakhouse is allowed 1 wall sign
 facing Touhy (“LH2”) and 1 wall sign facing McCormick (“LH4”); and the
 bank is allowed 1 wall sign facing Touhy (“B1”).

 The remaining wall signs will require relief and the ground signs will need
 specific approval by the Appearance Commission and the Plan Commission
 and Village Board during the planned development approval process.




For reference only:

Sec. 82-28(b)(1)a. 1 sign allowed per street
Sec. 82-28(b)(1)b. 1 sign allowed toward parking lot façade
Sec. 82-28(c)(1)a. number of ground signs permitted as part of a planned development approval

Allowed as proposed:
  Mariano’s: sign facing street (“M1”)
  Multi-tenant retail: sign facing street (“R6”) and 4 signs facing the parking lot (“R1” –
 “R4”)
  Bank: sign facing street (“B1”)
  Longhorn: signs facing streets (“LH2” and “LH4”)

Relief needed as proposed:
  Mariano’s: sign facing parking lot (“M2”)
  Multi-tenant retail: 1 sign facing parking lot (“R5”)
  Bank: allow 3 additional wall signs facing the parking lot (“B2” – “B4”)
  Longhorn: allow 1 logo sign facing street (“LH1”) and 2 additional wall signs facing the
 parking lot (“LH3” and “LH5”)

Specific approval needed as proposed:
  Allow 3 ground signs (“A”, “B”, and “C”)
  (All ground signs are dimensionally correct)


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