Belvidere council refers Perry School to historic preservation commission for landmark review

The Belvidere City Council voted 9-0 to refer Perry School to the Historic Preservation Commission for consideration as a local landmark.

Gina, the staff liaison for historic preservation, told the council the nomination process typically involves an applicant being present at the commission's public hearing to answer questions and face public cross-examination. "Typically, staff is not the applicant," she said, and asked whether the council wanted to designate an alderman to serve as the official applicant.

Alderman Peterson said he would volunteer to interface with staff and act as the signatory on the application, noting he had already assembled much of the material with Gina's assistance. Alderman Hoynes suggested multiple councilmembers sign the application and attend the hearing to demonstrate support; the city attorney cautioned that more than two council members meeting to discuss city business outside a published meeting risks violating the Open Meetings Act.

Council discussion stressed that a landmark recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission would still come back to the council for an up-or-down vote. The mayor and other members noted Perry School's long history (126 years) and potential neighborhood impact as reasons to proceed with the referral. The motion to refer passed unanimously.

Next steps: the Historic Preservation Commission will schedule a public hearing; if it recommends designation, the council will consider the commission's recommendation in a subsequent public vote.