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Commission approves exterior and site changes for district administration building at 133 E. Ogden
Summary
The commission approved option 1 (red brick) for exterior appearance and accepted parking-lot landscaping changes for the administration offices at 133 East Ogden Avenue (case A-49-2024), after the applicant reduced lot coverage and added landscape islands and screening for utilities.
The Hinsdale Planning Commission voted May 14 to approve case A-49-2024, the exterior appearance and site plan review for the district administration building at 133 East Ogden Avenue, selecting the applicant’s option 1 (red brick) and accepting changes to parking-lot landscaping and lighting.
The vote matters because the project alters the facade and parking area of a visible municipal-school property on Ogden Avenue and responds to prior board direction to reduce impervious area and improve screening and lighting.
The applicant (representing the school district) told the commission they added about 443 square feet of planted islands in the parking lot, reducing lot coverage from 85.2% (original submittal) to 82.4% after prior revisions. The applicant also said they added plantings to screen a gas meter and will install dimmable parking lights. For the building appearance, the district proposed three options: maintain the existing red brick (option 1), a cream-painted brick option, or a gray-painted brick option. In all options the windows will be replaced with black-framed units, existing shutters removed and stone trim retained.
Commissioners and staff supported option 1, citing cost savings, easier long-term maintenance and consistency with the Ogden Avenue corridor. Commissioners also praised the additional landscape islands and attention to the service area at the rear of the site. One commissioner asked the applicant to consider snow-removal impacts on landscape islands; the applicant said district staff arranges snow removal and that the contractor had managed the lot during the previous winter.
Commissioner Moore seconded a motion to approve case A-49-2024 as submitted with selection of option 1 (red brick). The motion passed on a roll call vote with all commissioners present voting aye.
The approval authorizes the exterior changes listed in the application (selection of option 1), the additional planting and dimmable parking lighting; signage changes will be submitted separately, and staff will continue to coordinate final materials and drawings with district representatives.
