Planning staff introduced draft architectural commercial design standards intended to raise facade and material quality for new commercial, industrial and multifamily development, with an eye to corridor treatments on 42 and 161. Staff said the goal is to convert an advisory design guide into enforceable code language so the village can require higher-quality materials and consistent design performance.

Staff said the draft would set primary and secondary material lists, limit vinyl as a primary material on commercial facades and propose a primary-to-secondary material ratio (staff discussed a model such as 70% primary/30% secondary). A planning staff member said, “We don't wanna see vinyl on commercial,” as an example of the types of material restrictions being considered.

Nut graf: The change is aimed at establishing objective code standards that planners can enforce during site plan review rather than relying on advisory guidelines. Staff said the village’s current design guide lacks the legal “teeth” to require material choices and that converting those guidelines into code will give the village clearer grounds to deny noncompliant materials.

Staff described a timeline for the draft: present to Planning & Zoning in October, bring a council introduction in November, aim for council passage in December and an effective date of Jan. 1. Council members asked how the code would apply to existing buildings and renovations; staff said the ordinance would likely include a threshold (for example, a percentage of facade alteration) that triggers compliance for substantial renovations, a common approach in peer municipalities.

Council members discussed creating a design‑review or architectural board to handle exceptions and to remove some workload from the Planning & Zoning commission. Staff said new construction outside of the downtown “uptown” area would be the main focus and that uptown already has separate guidelines.

Ending: Staff will finalize a draft for Planning & Zoning review next month and return to council with the proposed ordinance schedule and recommended thresholds for renovation triggers.