Appearance Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-05-14

Meeting Minutes for
 Appearance Commission
 May 14th, 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 Klein to approve the minutes of the April 9th, 2025
 Appearance Commission meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pathak.
 All members voted aye.

 3) New Business

 2025-014A – 3524 Greenleaf Street (Residential)
 Applicant: Residential Innovations Inc. – Rusian Petrov
 Owner: Robert and Bonita Markman
 Request: 1st floor addition

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

 The applicant explained that they proposed to extend the garage and add an enclosed
 room. They informed the Commission that the materials used would match the existing
 conditions.




626623
 Commissioner Maschek asked for clarification on whether the existing garage would be
 torn down and extended. The applicant responded that the owners required a larger
 garage and a covered ramp to improve accessibility.

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

 Motion: Thomas DaMario Second: Julie Naumiak
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


 2025-015A – 7428 Lowell Avenue (Residential)
 Applicant: John Berta, Architect
 Owner: Zachary Martin
 Request: 1st and 2nd floor addition

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

 Chairman Lynk asked for clarification on whether the addition was located at the rear of
 the house.

 Commissioner DaMario inquired whether the petitioners had reviewed the 51% masonry
 requirement and if they were in compliance. The petitioners stated that they were
 currently under the 51% masonry threshold and proposed using cement board siding. The
 Commissioners informed the petitioners that cement board would not qualify toward
 meeting the 51% masonry requirement.

 Chairman Lynk then asked the petitioners what material was currently proposed for the
 addition. The petitioners responded that they were proposing vinyl siding. The existing
 residence featured stucco on the upper portion and brick on the lower portion. Chairman
 Lynk noted that if the petitioners were to revise the proposed material to cement board,
 the Village would be more likely to consider granting a waiver.
 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented granting the
 waiver from the 51% masonry requirement for providing cement board siding in lieu of
 vinyl siding for the proposed addition. The vote was unanimous.

 Motion: Joe Maschek Second: Julie Naumiak
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0



626623
 2025-016A – 9221 Tripp Avenue (Residential)
 Applicant & Owner: Rajeev Kapur
 Request: 1st floor addition

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

 Commissioner asked to confirm if the petitioner was proposing to use brick and stone for
 all sides of the addition, the petitioner confirmed this to be true and added that they will
 be matching existing materials.

 No other Commissioners had comments for this proposal.

 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


 2025-017A – 3907 Enfield Avenue (Residential)
 Applicant: Wenro LLC
 Owner: Jared and Gabriella Scher
 Request: 1st floor addition

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

 The petitioner stated that they will be matching the existing materials with a very similar
 colors and material.

 The Commission has no additional comments for the proposal.
 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Archana Shah Second: Julie Naumiak
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


626623
 2025-018A – 9216 Karlov Avenue (Residential)
 Applicant: Jonathan Dress
 Owner: Rabbi Shaanan Gelman
 Request: 1st floor addition

 Discussion & Interested Parties
 Staff comments were read into the record.
 Commissioner Maschek noted that on the west elevation of the addition, he suggests
 adding a window or a door as it appears that the current proposal appears to be cutting off
 access to the back yard.
 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Maryjane Klein Second: Jay Pathak
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


 2025-019A – 5206 Touhy Avenue (Non-Residential)
 Applicant & Owner: Rob Bond for Bond Touhy LLC
 Request: Signage

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

 Chairman Lynk asked how tall the originally proposed monument sign was. The
 presiding officer, Brian Augustine, clarified that the monument sign had been proposed at
 10 feet in height.

 Chairman Lynk noted that the monument sign included teal elements and asked where
 else those colors appeared on the property. The petitioner explained that the building
 itself featured teal elements, specifically the awnings, which were teal in color.

 Commissioner Maschek noted that the newly proposed sign would be 8 feet taller than
 the original monument sign; however, the overall square footage would remain the same,
 if not slightly reduced.

 Commissioner DaMario asked for the reasoning behind the change in signage. The
 petitioner explained that the revisions were intended to improve visibility from Touhy
 Avenue and to help drive revenue.



626623
 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness as presented. The vote was
 unanimous.

 Motion: Julie Naumiak Second: Thomas DaMario
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0



 2025-006A – 9323 Skokie Boulevard (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.

 Presiding Officer Brian Augustine informed the Commission that the maximum window
 coverage permitted per pane was 25%. He explained that the petitioner had the option to
 either comply with the code requirement or proceed with the current proposal and
 subsequently seek relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals, following review by the
 Appearance Commission.

 The petitioner stated that the proposed signage was intended to enhance privacy and
 security for the business. He noted that the business used expensive equipment that
 required protection and referenced prior tenants at the location who had window signage
 exceeding the 25% maximum coverage allowed by code.

 Commissioner Maschek compared the proposed signage to the previously referenced T-
 Mobile signage. He explained that the T-Mobile signage consisted of a graphic image,
 whereas the petitioner’s proposed signage included images and text that were not easily
 visible to motorists traveling at 30 mph along Skokie Boulevard. For this reason, the
 Commission did not believe the T-Mobile and Light Rx Med Spa signage warranted
 similar consideration or approval.

 Presiding Officer Brian Augustine recommended that the petitioner resubmit revised
 signage proposals that consider staff and Commissioner feedback.

 The case was continued to a later date; no vote was taken.




626623
 2025-020A – 7952 Lincoln Avenue (Non-Res. Addition and New Mixed-Use)
 Applicant: Tyler Manic
 Owner: 7952 Lincoln LLC
 Request: Non-residential addition and new Mixed-Use building

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

 The project architect, Katie Lambert, presented the proposed development, highlighting
 key design elements, materials, and color selections.

 Wayne Mell and Wendy Kaplan, owners of the Skokie Theater, provided public
 comments expressing concerns about the proposal. They stated that the height of the
 proposed residential building would dwarf their theater, as it was significantly taller than
 the existing structures on-site. They also raised concerns about the parking layout and its
 potential impact on their business. The theater had been utilizing the adjacent vacant
 parking lot, and the proposed development would eliminate that option, creating parking
 challenges for theater patrons.

 Mr. Mell noted that in previous conversations with Community Development Director
 Johanna Nyden, she had suggested the Village consider constructing a covered walkway
 between the theater and the proposed development to improve access to the municipal
 parking lot located behind the theater.

 Tyler Manic, representing the development team, proposed a potential solution involving
 valet parking services, which would also be available to neighboring businesses along
 Lincoln Avenue. However, Mr. Mell expressed skepticism, stating that valet parking
 would not be an efficient solution for the theater, which often accommodates over 100
 patrons arriving and departing at the same time.

 Commissioner Maschek agreed that a walkway between the buildings would be a good
 idea, provided certain design standards were met. He clarified, however, that the
 Appearance Commission would not have the authority to approve such an element and
 that it would require separate discussions between the petitioners and the Village.

 The property owner, Paul Leongas, stated that they were open to collaborating with
 adjacent businesses and expressed a willingness to support the theater by allowing its
 patrons to use their parking lot.

 In response to the concerns regarding height, Chairman Lynk suggested that adding
 vertical design elements to the proposed residential building could help mitigate the
 visual impact of the height difference between it and the Skokie Theater.




626623
 Commissioner Maschek also noted that the 10-foot corridor between the theater and the
 proposed building could serve as a public walkway, given its location in the downtown
 area. He encouraged the petitioner to discuss the possibility of activating the space
 through a public easement or other creative solutions. Additionally, he recommended that
 the theater owners work with the Village to explore more formal use of the municipal lot
 located behind the theater.

 Recommendation & Voting
 A motion was made to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness with the condition that the
 right side south of elevation 6 and the left side of north elevation 1 submitted elevations,
 and that provisions be made for the 10-foot access strip between the theater and the
 proposed residential building to provide pedestrian access. The vote was unanimous.

 Motion: Joe Maschek Second: Maryjane Klein
 Ayes: 7
 Nays: 0


 4) Old Business

 5) Communication from Staff

 6) Public Comment

 Skokie Theater Staff Wendy Kaplan and Wayne Mell spoke at the meeting for Case
 2025-020A. They shared concerns over the 7952 Lincoln development creating issues for
 their business, specifically with parking. They shared that they had conversations with
 Community Development Director, Johanna Nyden, in which they discussed a potential
 pedestrian walkway being built between the Skokie Theater and the newly proposed
 residential building.

 7) Adjournment

 Meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM

Respectfully Submitted

Jose Acosta,
Planning Coordinator




626623