Board grants sprinkler exemption for historic Tangle Oaks manor with safety conditions

The Village of Lake Bluff Architectural Board of Review on April 1 voted 4-0 to grant a fire sprinkler retrofit exemption for the historic Tangle Oaks manor owned and occupied by Terlato, subject to Fire Safety Consultants (FSCI) recommendations and conditions from staff, including a requirement that the building remain in business use group B and that condition B be interpreted to require exit signs and emergency lighting only (not full structural rework).

The exemption matter drew a multi-person presentation from Terlato nd technical review by Fire Safety Consultants. Nick Standiford, a land‑use attorney for the applicant, described the property s a historically significant manor restored by the owners. Tom (Tom Reykjavich), the project architect, outlined the house s a 1916–1932 Tudor Gothic manor by architect Harry Lindbergh and said the structure—eatures vitrified clay tile, Ludovisi clay roof tile and many original interior finishes that would be severely disturbed by a full…