MDRN Creating Community

MUNICIPAL DESIGN REVIEW NETWORK creating community

WELCOME our warmest John Hedrick, JD Founder and Liaison, MDRN

This illustrated volume recounts the activities and accomplishments of the Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN), an initiative led by a group of professionals committed to improving public spaces. By reviewing the professional programs and the remarkable people involved in MDRN, it brings to light the network’s enormous contributions to metropolitan Chicago in the dozen years since its creation.

The growth of MDRN—the only collaboration of its kind in the United States—is an inspiration for the many professionals who have witnessed its transformation from an informal group to an established organization. MDRN has a mutually supportive relationship with the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University. The network’s focus on suburban design complements Chaddick’s broader urban-planning mission and that of other professional groups.

We hope you enjoy this road map of the network’s journey, which also helps us plan our equally exciting future.

Thanks to all who have participated in this important endeavor,

Joseph P. Schweiterman, PhD Director, Chaddick Institute

John Hedrick and Joe Schweiterman

community of

whom work in metropolitan Chicago. Many regularly gather for programs that explore trends and best practices in design. These programs—often hosted by municipal governments—and our extensive communication between programs, testify to the dedication of

section of the diverse and experienced MDRN

The network has grown steadily in recent years. To make this possible,

from several dozen municipalities have served (or presently serve) in leadership roles for MDRN. Many dedicated

Advisory Committee members and guests,

after 2007 summer mobile workshop.

Professionals gather for an onsite presentation by one of the local MainStreet leaders at Libertyville’s historic park site

credit, Village of Libertyville).

GLENVIEW FORM-BASED CODES SYMPOSIUM

MARCH 1. This inaugural gathering, hosted by the Village of Glenview, brought together more than 80

Out of this spirited symposium, the MDRN community was born. Speakers: John Hedrick, Chair, Village of Glenview.

ILLINOIS LEGISLATION & NEW URBANISM SYMPOSIUM

JULY 19.

architectural review from the Congress for the New Urbanism’s perspective followed. Speakers: Julie Tapperndorf and Victor Fillipini, Holland+Knight and Mahender Vasandani, Congress of the New Urbanism-Illinois.

SHOPPING CENTERS, MULTI-TENANT SIGNAGE WORKSHOP

SEPTEMBER 19. This session focused on the practical aspects of shopping center design, corporate architecture, and monument signage regulation. Speakers: Tom Farace, Village of Schaumburg and John Zoerner, Mid-America Asset Management.

LEGAL UPDATES FOR DESIGN REVIEW SYMPOSIUM

JANUARY 24. An exploratory committee, led by attorney John Hedrick, worked closely with Julie Tappendorf and the Holland &

MDRN at the University Club in downtown Chicago to address emerging legal issues. Mr. Hedrick began with an overview of the initiative’s mission and was followed by an insightful case study of the work of Glen Ellyn’s appearance commission.

The program explored the legal challenges and litigation, which had threatened traditional approaches to architectural design review and the processes used by appearance commissions and the associated work of municipalities. These issues had been evident in earlier programs and culminated in State of Illinois legislation to clarify authority and support for municipal design review.

Speakers: Julie Tappendorf, Attorney, Ancel Glink; David Silverman, Attorney, Ancel Glink; and Michele Stegall, Planner, Glen Ellyn.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

APRIL 22.

Heights and featured insights on the role of “green” features in downtown redevelopment plans, including landscaping and streetscapes. The workshop culminated in a downtown walking tour. Our speakers included: Charles Perkins, Village of Arlington Heights and Rick Hitchcock, Hitchcock Design.

SIGN CONTROL, PLANNING & LAW WORKSHOP

JULY 22. Professionals gathered to learn from experts in national litigation of signage and municipal regulation of signs and billboards, followed by a summary of key local developments. Speakers: Bill Cogley and Rick Kozal, attorneys, City of Elgin and Marya Morris, Duncan Associates.

GOOD DESIGN IN HARD TIMES SYMPOSIUM

NOVEMBER 13. Recognizing the dramatic real-estate downturn as changing the work of design review professionals, the network came together to discuss the challenges that architects face maintaining quality design in the midst of economic recessions. Speakers: Greg Mulac, Vice President of Turner Construction Co. and Peter Theodore, Camburas and Theodore Inc. Moderated by John Hedrick.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: WINNETKA

JULY 22. This mobile workshop—hosted by the Village of Winnetka—explored practical aspects for community planning of public landscapes. Our walking tour highlighted some of the Village’s most exciting recent improvements. Speakers: Nan Greenough, former Winnetka Village Trustee; Gwen Somers Yant, Kenilworth Plan Commissioner; Scott Freres, the Lakota Group; and Mike Donofrio, Winnetka Community Development.

BEST PRACTICES IN DESIGN FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

FEBRUARY 25. This hands-on seminar focused on the growing budgeting constraints. Speakers: John Hedrick; Cathy Czerniak, City of Lake Forest; and Bob Sullivan, Village of Orland Park; and John Houseal, Houseal Lavigne.

PLANNING LAW UPDATE SYMPOSIUM

NOVEMBER 17. symposium focused on recent legislative and litigation issues

Berman, Foley & Lardner LLC; Julie Tappendorf and David Silverman of Ancel Glink; Tom Smith, University of Illinois at Chicago, Urban Planning; and Richard F. Friedman, Neal & Leroy LLC.

NEW ISSUES FOR COMMUNITY DESIGN

MARCH 11. This gathering, having an academic twist, featured noted DePaul professor Robert Rotenberg, who led a participatory discussion about the history and current meaning of community aesthetics in a suburban context. The discussion explored the many subtle dimensions of design’s value observed through the experiences of municipal

DePaul, culminating in an American Planning Association review of the Rotenberg study.

EMPOWERING EFFECTIVE PLACEMAKING WITH DESIGN GUIDELINES

NOVEMBER 10. This technical workshop, co-sponsored by APA-CMS, explored the role and intent of design guidelines and focused on how guidelines should be integrated into the design-review process. Speakers included: Mahender Vasandani, President, M Square; Doug Hammel, Senior Associate, Camiros, Ltd; and John Hedrick.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: GLEN ELLYN

MAY 27. This annual mobile workshop—this time in the western suburbs—explored the interaction between design and community character. It also looked at how the public process played a role in creating and implementing a downtown strategic plan. The walking tour showcased the Village’s picturesque downtown, led by Staci Hulseberg and Michele Stegall, Village of Glen Ellyn. Additional speakers: Rita Tungare, St. Charles and Carrie Haberstich, consultant.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR:

LIBERTYVILLE

JULY 14. Pam Hume, Mainstreet Libertyville; and John McLinden, School Street Development.

GREENING OF DESIGN REVIEW

MARCH 10. This special symposium showed how green technology can be seamlessly incorporated into communities for an aesthetically-appealing design. Speakers: Tom Farace, AICP Senior Planner, Village of Schaumburg and Alan Bombick, Legat Architects.

DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP: CO-EXISITING IN DIFFICULT TIMES

NOVEMBER 3. The legacy of the Great Recession made this an opportune time to discuss ways to strike a balance between promoting development and pushing for high-quality design. Moderator: Jacques Gourguechon, Camiros, Ltd. Speakers: Tom Poupard, Village of Northbrook and Judith Brill, Association of Licensed Architects.

PROGRESS

The Municipal Design Review Network has steadily progressed both as a convener of professionals and provider of high-quality technical materials, including case-study analyses and publications supported by the Chaddick Institute.

comparison (page 10).

work has also provided research and service opportunities for students at DePaul, as well as opportunities for collaboration with other related professional planning, architectural, and design organizations.

MDRN STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVE

Near the mid-point in its over twelve years as an active network, and in the midst of sustained growth, MDRN launched a strategic planning initiative giving professionals from existing and new stakeholder communities an opportunity to assess its past and shape its future. This distribution of past participants, and the continuing urgency of our core mission. Among the most promising outcomes were fresh programmatic ideas and The Value of Design Review, a publication that the network continues to use for public education and community-support purposes. DePaul alum Diane Testa, with KOI Consulting, served as the facilitator of the day-long event.

how we’ve grown

PUBLICATIONS

Building on early momentum from research pursuits and analyzing surveys—capped by collaboration on a study by Professor Robert Rotenberg exploring the lexicon of design

publishing articles in prominent magazines and journals, including Illinois Municipal League Review and Planning written for professionals (02) and creating an online library housed on the Chaddick Institute website also helped the network grow, which is poised to continue (04 & 05).

By: John R. Hedrick, J.D. SeniorAdvisor Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: NAPERVILLE

JULY 19. This mobile workshop featured downtown developments in Naperville, with a focus on

tour featured technical highlights of the Main Street Promenade, Central Park, and the Riverwalk. The visits to downtown sites were led by economic development and design professionals, and they featured

representatives involved in downtown development and design; and Richard Hitchcock, Hitchcock Design, who provided a big-picture perspective on land use planning.

MDRN & APA-IL SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 18. At this inaugural and jointly-sponsored conference, MDRN experimented with allowing professionals to exchange ideas related to sustainability percolating in their communities, which proved a success. Since this full-day event, the network has used this technical approach to spark interest in its work among urban planners, engineers, architects, elected and appointed

Village of Park Forest; K.C. Poulos, Village of Oak Forest, Mike Jackson, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Nick Kalogeresis, The Lakota Group; Kirk Bishop, Duncan Associates; Arista Strungys, Camiros Ltd.; Beth Drucker, Go Green Wilmette; Karen Miller, Kane County; and Lindy Wordlaw, CNT Energy.

SPRING SYMPOSIUM

DESIGN & DENSITY: INFILL REDEVELOPMENT

IN POST-RECESSION URBAN AREAS

MARCH 15.

development in a suburban context, including discussions of collaboration,

Participants shared and compared experiences, best practices, and new insights. Case studies presented by Robert Horne & Michael Breclaw, Eastwood Development, and Linda Bolte, Village of Oak Park.

SPRING SYMPOSIUM

SIGN REGULATIONS, LOCAL CONTEXT & NEW TECHNOLOGY

MARCH 19. This interactive symposium included commentary from sign industry experts about trends and technology. A question-and-answer session and discussion among participants from around the region review profession. Andy Cross of Highland Park emphasis on practical examples from the Village of Glenview’s recent sign code updates. Additional Speakers: Robert Whitehead and Guy Dragisic, Olympic Sign Company.

PLACEMAKING WORKSHOP: FORM-BASED CODES & COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION

SEPTEMBER 26. Coordinated with APA-CMS, this workshop focused on placemaking and form-based codes. After presentations by Carol

Village of Glenview; and Mike De Rouin, FitzGerald Associates Architects, the program focused on applications of form-based coding and breakout sessions.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: DES PLAINES

JUNE 20. This annual mobile workshop, hosted by the City of Des Plaines, allowed participants to tour two high-density and mixed-use transit oriented developments to gain insights in best practices. Attendees viewed the “before, during, and after” stages of the downtown streetscape project that put great focus on pedestrian and bicycle design improvements. Participants enjoyed a full-group

Speakers and guides: Scott Mangum and Derik Peeples, City of Des Plaines and Shari Cain, History Center.

“ON THE ROAD” AT THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS

MARCH 18.

presentation at APA’s popular "Tuesdays@APA" series, which was made a podcast featured on the Association’s national website. Speakers John Hedrick and Robert Rotenberg, DePaul University, discussed the history of the design review processes in metropolitan Chicago and provided case studies for successful implementation.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: WILMETTE

JUNE 20.

around the downtown area. Wilmette Village President, Bob Beilinski, provided practical insights on partnership involving the conversion of the Village’s railroad station-restaurant, culminating in an on-site luncheon. Speakers: John Adler, Lucas Silversten, and Erika Fabish, Village of Wilmette.

MDRN/APA-CMS JOINT PLANNING CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 13. This event was held at the Glenview Tyner Center, a LEED Platinum community building, and featured insights from sustainability experts, designers, and municipal planners who discussed cutting-edge design considerations for landscapes and hardscapes. Topics discussed included permeable pavers, green roofs, and energy-saving systems. Speakers: Jamie Meyers, Walgreens Co.; Jay Womack, WRD Environmental, Inc.; and Karen Daulton Lange, Village of Downers Grove.

synergies

Villages have a community character which is enhanced

preserved through design review…and good design is good economic development.

Design

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: SKOKIE

JUNE 25.

Development Award, for its visionary work in redeveloping the downtown area around the Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line Station at Oakton Street. Carrie Haberstich, Village of in the downtown area, including facades along Oakton and at the station, the Illinois Science and Technology Park, and a new urbanist residential development along Floral Avenue. Additional speakers: John McClindon and Thomas Simson, Streetscape and Steve Marciani, Skokie.

CONSOLIDATING DESIGN-RELATED COMMISSIONS: STREAMLINING OR SURRENDERING?

MARCH 12. This event, held jointly with APA-CMS, explored traditional commission approaches to overseeing design and the emerging pressure to combine design review and historic preservation commissions. Participants explored the varying requirements placed on volunteers serving on the commission around the region, and the implications for governance. Speakers: John Hedrick; Andy Cross; Doug Karre, Historic Preservation Planner, Village of Oak Park; John Spoden, Village of Libertyville; and Laurie Marston.

MDRN/CNU CONFERENCE: DENSITY BY DESIGN

SEPTEMBER 24. This special event, co-hosted with the Illinois Chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), featuring Joseph Minicozzi, the nationally-recognized urban design expert and density, registrants participated in a charrette featuring real development opportunities across our metropolitan region. Workshop facilitators: Scott Mangum (Des Plaines), Susan Criezis (Kenilworth), and John Spoden (Libertyville). Event organizers: Chuck Renner and Gary Scott, CNU.

“

The solution to city economics is hiding in plain sight. In study after study, we have found that the payback to cities comes in the package of urbanism.

Joseph Minocozzi, Principal of Urban3 & Event Keynote

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: GLENVIEW

JULY 14. Th included analysis and discussion of the redevelopment projects undertaken in this north shore community. These projects included the revitalizing of downtown, rebuilding the Amtrak and Metra train station, repurposing a Dominick's grocery store, and creating a riverwalk along the North Branch of the Chicago

and Tim King, Hitchcock Design.

AESTHETICS & AGING: DESIGN FOR SUBURBAN SENIOR LIVING

OCTOBER 20. A panel of local planners, architects, attorneys, and urban designers discussed how municipalities are addressing senior care developments and challenges. Panelists explored ways to put many of the tenets of urbanism to work by creating more walkable downtowns and developing a greater sense of community for citizens. Speakers: Brad Winick, Author of Planning Aging-Supportive Communities; Mark Muenzer, City of Evanston; Steve Montgomery, AIA’s Design for Aging Knowledge Group; and David Shaw, Attorney.

BRANDING: BEYOND THE LOGO

MARCH 10. MDRN’s annual conference, co-hosted with APA-CMS, focused on the role of municipal branding with respect to placemaking, design, and economic development.

Speakers: Bridget Lane, Director, Business Districts, Inc.; Jodi Mariano, Principal, Teska Associates; and Karie Frilling, Development Services Director, Village of Orland Park.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: DOWNERS GROVE

JULY 20. Municipal professionals representing over twenty Chicago area municipalities met in the Village of Downers Grove, which hosted our tenth-annual MDRN summer workshop. Presentations and the walking tour—led by Director of Community Development, Stan Popovich and Director of Public Works, Nan Newlon—focused on leadership in sustainable urban settings. Advisory Committee members Laurie Marston, Scott Mangum, and Jean Spagnoli facilitated small-group discussions contrasting the Village’s green infrastructure and TOD projects

COLLABORATIVE SESSION: URBAN DESIGN & YOUNGER GENERATIONS

MARCH 16. This joint program between APA-CMS, the American Institute of Architects-Chicago, and CNU-Illinois attracted over 60 attendees. They explored how urban design is helping suburbs attract young professionals and families who are seeking urban-like social and cultural amenities outside Chicago's core. Presenters: John Hedrick; Emi Adachi, Heitman, LLC; Eileen Franz, the City of Elmhurst; and Ferhat Zerin, AICP, Ginkgo Planning + Design. Moderator: Laurie Marston.

MUNICIPAL BEST-PRACTICES

WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 16. Recognizing that participants in the network often lack opportunities to share insights from their own communities with others in systematic ways, MDRN hosted a best-practices workshop featuring small group discussions led by members of the Advisory Committee. These hands-on discussions centered on new technologies, sign codes, and

planners representing 20 municipalities attended. Moderated by Andy Cross.

2017

BEST PRACTICES FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN

SEPTEMBER 14. This session was a

outreach. Held in downtown Naperville as part of APA-IIllinois Chapter’s annual conference, the session explored trends in industrial development and strategies to improve the design of warehouses and manufacturing spaces. Speakers: Tom Farace; Karl Heitman, Heitman Architects; and Steven Rockwell, Village of Romeoville.

COLLABORATIVE SESSION: LEGAL SCOPE OF DESIGN REVIEW—HOW

FAR CAN YOU GO?

MARCH 15. This workshop, co-hosted with APA-CMS, attracted a “sold out” audience of professionals in a theater-style venue. The discussion explored legal foundations for design review, including an interesting history of related legal issues. Keynote speaker: Hart Passman, Holland & Knight. Discussant: John Hedrick.

FALL IDEA SHARING & NETWORKING WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 15. MDRN’s second annual best-practice workshop, rebranded as an “idea exchange,” explored emerging design review techniques and allowed professionals to brainstorm possible solutions to problems. Municipal planners discussed a range of themes that included lighting technology, small wireless facilities, and building materials. Moderated by Andy Cross.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR:

BARRINGTON

JULY 19. This summer tour, MDRN’s eleventh, was hosted by the Village of Barrington, which showcased community collaborations to advance public-private partnerships, restoration and preservation projects, and the results of its urban design review process in the downtown area. More

planners, and students interested in urban design took part in the walking tour. Presentations featured the town's redevelopment plan. Speakers: Beth Rasenan

and Peggy Blanchard and Jennifer Tennant, Village of Barrington.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR: GLENCOE

JULY 18. Dozens of professionals and civic leaders attended our mobile workshop, hosted by the Village of Glencoe. Glencoe resident and Chaddick senior advisor, Dudley Onderdonk, set the stage with a fascinating discussion of the history of this North Shore community. Plan Commissioner Caren Thomas

behind-the-scene tour of the theatre's new home.

CREATING LOCAL CHARACTER

MARCH 14. MDRN’s annual co-hosted session with APA-CMS explored emerging strategies and tools to engage stakeholders, including residents, boards, commissioners, and policy makers, in conversations about design. Speakers: Lesley Roth, Ratio Design and Scott Freres, The Lakota Group.

FALL IDEA SHARING & NETWORKING WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 19. MDRN’s second annual “idea exchange” brought together representatives from 20 discussions focusing on current design trends, recent sign control issues, and technology impacts were Stream. Moderator: Andy Cross.

new decade, renewed commitment

2020 & BEYOND

Looking back at more than a dozen years of programming and research, one can certainly say that MDRN has navigated adolescence and is nearing maturity. Accolades shared at the Chaddick’s Institute 25th anniversary celebration made clear that the network has crossed many milestones. Fittingly, John Hedrick, founder and continuing advisor, received an award for his astute guidance of the network. Spring 2020 began

more interesting and nuanced designs for suburban buildings, particularly new, multi-story designs.

The network’s trajectory, bolstered by the strength of its partnerships and wide support for the Chaddick Institute’s mission, means that more exciting times lie ahead. Some of the faces may change, and areas of emphasis will shift, but the network’s core principles—and its collaborations with professional associations devoted to planning, architecture, new urbanism, and municipal policy—fuel the next stage of its growth.

Susan Aaron

Emi Adachi

Consuelo Arquilles

Anton Bailey

Alyssa Berman Alice Bieszczat Peggy Blanchard Linda Bolte Alan Bombick

Fred Brandstrader Michael Breclaw Judith Brill Lee Brown Joanna Bye Bill Cogley

Susan Criezis Andy Cross

Cathy Czerniak Dan Dalziel Mike De Rouin Ellen Dean Liz Delevitt Mike Donofrio Guy Dragisic Tom Farace Jon Faris

and grateful for all of our

CONTRIBUTORS

MDRN Advisory Committee Member

Victor Fillipini

Lauren Fischer

Ryan Franklin Eileen Franz

Scott Freres Richard F. Friedman Karie Frilling Dee Gotta Jacques Gourguechon Nan Greenough Carrie Haberstich Afshan Hamid Doug Hammel John Hedrick Rick Hitchcock Robert Horne John Houseal Staci Hulseberg Pam Hume Mike Jackson Matt Jacques Bonnie Jacobson Brooke Jones Nick Kalogeresis Doug Karre Joseph Kearney Hildy Kingma

Rick Kozal

Bridget Lane

Mallory Livingston

Scott Mangum

Jodi Mariano Karen Marren Laurie Marston John McLinden Joseph Minicozzi

Marya Morris Greg Mulac Nan Newlon

John Norquist Dudley Onderdonk Linnea O'Neill

Hart Passman

Charles Perkins

Stan Popovich

K.C. Poulos Tom Poupard Donna Pugh Chuck Renner Karyn Robles Stephen Robles Robert Rotenberg Lesley Roth

Chris Sandine

Kon Savoy

Marisa Schulz Joseph Schwieterman

Gary Scott David Silverman

C. Scott Smith

Rachael Smith

Sara Smith Tom Smith

Gwen Somers Yant Jean Spagnoli John Spoden

Michele Stegall Bob Sullivan

Julie Tapperndorf

Jennifer Tenant Peter Theodore Caren Thomas

Rita Tungare

Mahender Vasandani Robert Whitehead

Brad Winick Steve Wilson Stephen Woodring Carol Wyant Ferhat Zerin John Zoerner

Both developers and municipal leaders seek to create attractive places where people want to live and work. News quickly spreads among developers when a community is serious about design review.

Andy Cross, City of Highland Park (and long-standing MDRN member).

ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES

Plaines

Glenview

Stream

Ellyn

Downers Grove