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Historic Preservation Commission approves landmark and preservation incentive requests for two Hinsdale properties
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness, permit fee waiver and recommended a property tax rebate for the Frank Lloyd Wright‑era Bagley House (121 S. County Line Road) and approved a preservation incentive package including zoning relief and fee waivers for 131 N. Garfield Street.
The Hinsdale Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved several actions on March 4 to advance two local restoration projects.
121 South County Line Road (Bagley House): Architect Douglas Gilbert presented a revised plan that removes a previously proposed contemporary rear wing, restores the historic exterior envelope, removes later additions, salvages and reuses historic shingles and leaded‑glass elements, and proposes a larger three‑car garage sited to meet zoning requirements. The commission approved three motions: a certificate of appropriateness for the designated landmark, a building permit fee waiver with expedited processing, and a recommendation that the village board approve a property tax rebate and matching grant to support the preservation effort. Gilbert told the commission the clients purchased the property to save it from demolition and that the plan focuses on restoring historic details while reconfiguring service spaces to make the house suitable for modern family occupancy. "This is going to be a fantastic restoration," Gilbert said.
131 North Garfield Street: Owner Katie Raymond described a modest rear addition that extends an existing 1970s addition to provide a larger kitchen, breakfast nook and a fourth bedroom above while leaving the original portion of the house untouched. Planning staff confirmed the addition meets zoning dimensions with minor adjustments for insulation depth at certain gutter lines. The commission approved the preservation incentive application, alternative zoning relief, a building permit fee waiver and expedited processing, and recommended a property tax rebate and matching grant to the village board.
Zoning and permit limits: Staff clarified that Hinsdale zoning permits a bathroom or a kitchen in a detached garage but not both at the same time (i.e., not an accessory dwelling unit). "You are not allowed to have an accessory dwelling unit, but you can have a kitchen or bathroom either, so long as it's not a dwelling unit," Bethany said on the record.
Votes: Each motion for both properties carried on unanimous roll calls of the members present.
