Geneva historic preservation law remains the same
Geneva aldermen decided Monday to leave the city’s historic preservation ordinance as is.
They voted 8-1 in favor of not requiring landowner consent for the council to establish historic districts or designate properties as historic landmarks.
They also declined to require such actions to require a supermajority vote to pass.
Alderman Dawn Vogelsberg was the only one to vote “no.” Alderman Ralph Dantino was absent.
Vogelsberg said she did not like to put that much restriction on private property without the owners’ consent. When a property is in a historic district or designated as a landmark, there are more procedures to be followed regarding work on its exterior, to make sure it preserves the historic features of the property.
Despite his “yes” vote, Alderman Richard Marks said he leaned toward adding a supermajority requirement. “We really are taking a property away from someone,” as a historic designation may affect a property’s value, he said.
Alderman Craig Maladra said the city’s current process is adequate. Property owners who do not like decisions made by the Historic Preservation Commission can appeal to the city council. Only once has the city designated something as a landmark over the owners’ objection — when a developer proposed to turn the Riverbank Laboratories’ site on Route 31 into a townhouse development.
“How many things do we require a two-thirds majority on?” Maladra asked. “It is a big gun to be used on really big circumstances.”
Resident Colin Campbell, who lives in the city’s only historic district, praised the council. “We trust you. You guys do a good job. You don’t have to put restrictions on yourself,” he said.
In May, residents of a proposed second historic district — south of the Union Pacific line from the Fox River to Cheever Avenue, and Fargo Boulevard to Meadows Road — were incensed to learn the city could designate such an area without their permission. They persuaded the council to drop the proposal. The ideas of requiring owner consent and a supermajority vote came out of those discussions.