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Glendale planning commission recommends raising guideline height to 2½ stories; residents ask for clearer measurement rules
Summary
The planning commission recommended amending the village's historic design guidelines to align with zoning code height limits (recommended move from 1.5 to 2.5 stories); residents raised concerns about how 'height' is measured and the visual impact of basements and accessory structures.
The Glendale planning commission recommended, and council opened a public hearing on, amendments to the village historic design guidelines that would change guidance on allowable building height in the historic district from 1½ stories to 2½ stories to match the zoning code.
Village Administrator David Lumsden told council the planning commission deliberated across two meetings and settled on language recommending that new construction “should not exceed 2.5 stories” to harmonize guidelines with existing zoning limits. The revisions are guidance ("should") rather than a binding code change ("shall"). Any new construction must still comply with the zoning code and be reviewed by planning.
A resident asked for clarification about how the village measures building height — whether it is the peak of the roof or a midpoint within the roof structure — and worried that basements partly above grade or tall accessory structures could create buildings that look much larger than neighbors expect. Lumsden explained the zoning measurement method: a story is measured to a central point within the roof form used in the code, not to the roof's peak, and accessory structures have lower limits (accessories limited to 1½ stories).
Council indicated it would bring the guideline amendments to the September meeting as an ordinance for additional consideration and public comment.
