Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - October 7, 2026

The Historic Preservation Commission of Park Ridge held a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of minutes, updates on grants and the awards program, a significant public comment on demolition, and discussions on future work plans and meeting logistics.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – The commission approved the regular meeting minutes of September 2, 2026, with an amendment to change the date from “2028” to “2027” regarding a discussion on potential new meeting dates. The special meeting minutes of September 14, 2026, were also approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Commissioner Rowe (speaking as a citizen) – Expressed concern about the demolition of 926 Bell Plain, a historic home, and noted numerous community comments on Park Ridge Virtual Chatter expressing outrage. She asked whether the commission could work with the Appearance Commission to protect such properties, suggested exploring a demolition delay ordinance, and encouraged the city to better preserve the historic character of neighborhoods.

Discussion Items

• Future SHPO Grants Update – Staff reported receiving a contract for a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) grant. Once signed, staff will begin the RFP process.
• HPC Awards Program – The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the KLO Center. Plaques will be unwrapped before presentation. Attendance is expected around 35 people, including council members, department heads, previous winners, and judges. Commissioners discussed inviting recipients of 100-year home birthday cards. The ceremony is considered a meeting for OMA compliance; attendance by commissioners is encouraged but not required for quorum.
• Demolition of Historic Homes – Following the public comment, the commission discussed the lack of tools to prevent demolition of non-landmarked historic homes. Staff noted that demolition delay ordinances are not currently in Park Ridge’s code, and that the only preservation tool is landmarking. Commissioners expressed interest in researching other municipalities’ demolition delay policies and potentially proposing a change to city council. Staff recommended residents speak at city council meetings to advocate for such measures.
• 2027 Work Plan – Staff asked commissioners to review the Historic Preservation Plan and identify goals for 2027, with a report expected at the November 2026 meeting.
• Meeting Date and Time Change – Staff indicated they will privately contact commissioners to discuss adjusting the regular meeting schedule to allow for longer sessions (up to two hours), targeting implementation in June or July 2027. The goal is to avoid rushed discussions, especially on complex topics like demolition delay.
• Historic Survey Update – The survey of the “pretzel” area (historic district) is pending final state approval. A 10-minute presentation will be given to city council on October 19, 2026. The full report is expected to be available to the commission in November.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of September 2 and September 14 approved with amendments.
• Awards ceremony confirmed for October 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM at KLO Center.
• Staff will research demolition delay ordinances and report back.
• Commissioners will review the Historic Preservation Plan to propose 2027 goals by November.
• Staff will survey commissioners individually on preferred meeting times, with a schedule change targeted for mid-2027.
• A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a new sign at Main Cemetery is expected at the November 2026 meeting.