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Unified Recommendation of ECHO, NCC, NHS & Naperville
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Process
Fast Track COA Approval
Field Change Procedures
Historic Building Design and Resource Manual
Historic Preservation Ordinance Revisions
Agenda Packets, Minutes and Meeting Information
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Unified Recommendation of ECHO, NCC, NHS and City of Naperville
On May 19, 2009, the Naperville City Council approved an initiative to revise the Historic Sites Commission’s composition, scope and mission and change the process and standards for Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) review for increased property owner satisfaction. The initiative was presented as a set of unified recommendations by representatives of the East Central Homeowners Organization, North Central College, Naperville Heritage Society and City of Naperville and was the product of several months of community collaboration.
Based on the City Council’s direction, city staff has developed a comprehensive work plan which includes immediate, ongoing and long-term action steps to implement the Unified Recommendation. Over the past year, the following activities have been completed to help improve public communication and education, clarify procedures and standards for historic properties, and simplify the approval process for district residents:
- Developed the “Improving Your Historic Home” handout regarding the new COA procedures and standards and distributed it to property owners and residents of the Historic District;
- Amended the Naperville Municipal Code to define and establish the Historic Preservation Commission to replace the existing Historic Sites Commission (see “Historic Preservation Commission” below);
- Restructured the COA review and approval process to include expedited administrative review, enhanced department-wide coordination of various teams, and integration of the COA process with other processes (i.e. building permit, inspection, and field changes);
- Initiated fast-track meetings every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. where COA applicants can talk about their projects with staff from the Planning, Building and Inspection Teams and receive approval at the end of the meeting for improvements that qualify for administrative review (see “Fast Track COA Approval” below).
- Completed the Historic Building Design and Resource Manual, which serves primarily as an educational document to encourage appropriate maintenance and renovations consistent with the historic architectural style and character of the structure and scale of the existing historic district (see “Historic Building Design and Resource Manual” below);
- Conducted a three-part window restoration webinar training session for interested residents/commissioners.
- Conducted a seminar on May 11, 2010 to educate residents on proper care for mature trees and plantings in their neighborhoods.
- Conducted a seminar on October 18, 2010 to educate residents on “Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Improvements for Historic Buildings.”
Further information about implementation of the unified recommendations will be posted on this Web page once they become available and will be sent via email to those signed up to receive the Historic Preservation e-Newsletter. To sign up to receive the e-Newsletter, visit the e-News page of the city’s website and select the “Historic Preservation” topic.
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
On Tuesday August 18, 2009, the City Council approved amendments to the Municipal Code establishing a Historic Preservation Commission in accordance with the Unified Recommendations. The amendment adjusts the title and membership of the current Historic Sites Commission and modifies the powers and duties.
The Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of at-large representatives and owners/residents of historic district properties. Nine members serve staggered three-year terms and are supported by a designee of the Naperville Heritage Society (non-voting member) and city staff.
The Historic Preservation Commission meets monthly to review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness; guides the development of Historic Building Design Guidelines and ongoing training activities that will be coordinated by city staff; and assists in reaching out to the community to create awareness of historic preservation and educating residents about available resources for preservation activities.
A copy of the amended commission membership, powers and duties can be downloaded by clicking the link below:
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Process
A COA is a certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission or City staff authorizing plans for exterior alteration, construction, demolition or material change of a property which has been designated a Landmark or which is located within an Historic District. The City of Naperville has two locally designated Landmark buildings and approximately 320 properties within a locally designated Historic District that includes part of the North Central College campus and approximately 250 residential homes. Visit the Historic District web page to learn more about existing Landmark and Historic District structures.
The Unified Recommendation expanded the list of improvements that do not require a COA. The following improvements are now exempted from the COA requirements.
Please note: A building permit may still be required; call (630) 420-6070 for more information.
- Any work performed on the interior side or rear façade of the home that is not visible from the street
- Rear addition on an interior lot, if the addition does not extend beyond the side walls and existing roofline
- In-kind siding replacement of less than 50% of the front or corner façade with use of original materials or fiber cement board in place of wood
- New detached garage or change to existing detached garage.
Any accessory building or structure (e.g. shed, deck, patio, trellis) located in the rear yard
- New or relocated driveways with alley access or retaining existing street access
- Wood or iron open picket fence parallel to a primary façade, or fence of any style parallel to an interior side or rear façade
- Typical appurtenance (e.g. window air conditioning unit, gutters, storm windows and doors, and painting)
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Signs and graphics
Improvements that are not listed above must obtain a COA prior to the commencement of such improvements. Please refer to the "Improving Your Historic Home" handout for more information. A COA is either subject to an administrative review through the Fast Track Approval process or the review of the Historic Preservation Commission at a public meeting. Information regarding the Fast Track Approval process is outlined below. COA application packets through both processes are available at the Municipal Center, located at 400 S. Eagle Street, or can be downloaded below:
Fast Track COA Approval
Historic District property owners and residents applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) can now receive expedited staff review and approval for qualifying improvements to Landmark and Historic District structures through the city’s new Fast Track Approval Process. The following improvements performed on front and corner side facades of the home or driveways may qualify for the Fast Track Process:
- Doors: In-kind replacement with use of wood or original material
- Windows: In-kind replacement with use of wood or aluminum clad wood
- Roofs: In-kind replacement with use of asphalt or original material
- Exterior Building Materials: In-kind replacement of 50% or more of the front or corner side façade(s) with use of original material or fiber cement board in place of wood
- Porches: In-kind replacement in whole or replacement of porch columns with use of wood, plaster or cement materials; in-kind replacement of porch flooring with use of wood or composite decking materials; or in-kind replacement of other porch components with use of wood or original material
- Shutters and Awnings: In-kind replacement with use of original material
- Reconstruction Of Principal Structures: The primary facade(s) of any exact duplication of the original structure with use of approved materials.
This process has been designed to expedite your application for a COA. To achieve this goal, please download a copy of the Fast Track COA Application Packet and follow the process steps outlined in this application packet.
The Fast Track COA Application Packet can also be picked up at the Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group, located on the first floor of the Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street. Once the application is complete, please call 630-548-2950 to submit your application.
For questions, please contact Community Planner Ying Liu at (630) 548-2950.
Field Change Procedures
An improvement authorized through a COA shall be constructed in all respects in accordance with the approved COA. Any change to the approved COA requires additional review from either staff or the Historic Preservation Commission before the work begins through a field change process. Detailed field change procedures and a copy of the application form can be downloaded by clicking the link below:
Historic Building Design and Resource Manual
Adopted by the Historic Preservation Commission on April 22, 2010, the Historic Building Design and Resource Manual serves as an educational document that encourages appropriate maintenance and renovations consistent with the historic architectural style, character, and scale of the existing historic structures and neighborhoods. The Historic Preservation Commission and the City staff reference the manual as a resource in consideration of COAs. A copy of the manual is available below:
Historic Preservation Ordinance Revisions
Introduction
On May 19, 2009, the City Council approved the Unified Recommendation, which proposed comprehensive revisions to the city’s preservation ordinance, the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) review process and standards, and the commission membership, mission and scope. At the same time, the City Council directed staff to prepare corresponding amendments to Title 6 (Zoning Regulations), Chapter 11 (Historic Preservation) of the Municipal Code, also known as the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
On March 1, 2011, the City Council approved a comprehensive re-write of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The revised ordinance codified the changes approved through the Unified Recommendation and included clarified and improved language to enhance the applicability and user-friendliness of the code. The revised ordinance is contained within the Naperville Municipal Code and can be viewed by clicking the link below:
Public Review Process
- The revised Historic Preservation Ordinance was released for public comment on October 25, 2010.
- A public open house was held on November 18, 2010 to answer questions and receive feedback from residents. A total of 14 people attended the open house. Click here to download a PDF copy of staff’s PowerPoint slides presented at the open house.
- The ordinance was updated based on all written and verbal comments received and forwarded to the Historic Preservation Commission for consideration. On December 9, 2010, the Historic Preservation Commission voted to recommend approval for the revised Historic Preservation Ordinance unanimously (approved 6-0).
- On January 5, 2011, the Plan Commission considered the revised Historic Preservation Ordinance (PC #10-1-144) and requested additional revisions to be made. The Plan Commission tabled the case to January 19, 2011.
- On January 19, 2011, the Plan Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance subject to the condition that the last sentence of Section 6-11-4:3 (Designation of Historic Districts: Owners’ Consent) be revised to “The City Council shall not grant a designation of an Historic District unless a petition is presented supporting the proposed designation that contains signatures of 51% or more of the Owners of real property within the area to be considered for designation as an Historic District, accompanied by an affidavit certifying the same” (Approved 7-1).
- The City Council conducted the first reading on February 15, 2011. At this meeting, two members of the public spoke in support of the Historic District designation process recommended by the Unified Recommendation, Historic Preservation Commission, and staff.
- On March 1, 2011, the City Council voted to approve the revised Historic Preservation Ordinance as proposed by staff (Approved 7-1).
Agenda Packets, Minutes, Meeting Info, Application Submission Deadline
Below you will find the scheduled meeting dates and room, application submission deadline, approved minutes, and full agenda packets which include all reports, attachments and supporting documentation for Naperville's Historic Preservation Commission meetings.
The commission approves meeting minutes for any given date at a subsequent meeting.
All COA applicants are required to submit complete applications at least 21 calendar days prior to the scheduled commission meeting. A 21-day advance submission is necessary to provide sufficient review time for planning, building and Inspection staff; commissioners; and residents. The remaining 2011 and 2012 meeting dates and submission deadlines are provided below:
7 p.m.
Meeting Rooms B and C
Naperville Municipal Center
400 S. Eagle Street
Application Submission Deadline
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Meeting Dates
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Agenda Packets
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Minutes
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September 12*
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October 3*
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October 3
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October 3
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October 13*
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November 9*
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Meeting Canceled
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January 5,
2012
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January 26, 2012
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January 26
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March 1, 2012
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March 22, 2012
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May 3, 2012
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May 24, 2012
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July 5, 2012
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July 26, 2012
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September 6, 2012
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September 27, 2012
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November 15, 2012*
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December 6, 2012*
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* Changes to regular schedule
An archive of agendas and minutes from past Historic Preservation Commission and Historic Sites Commission meetings is also available.
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