Pure Oil Plans OK'd by the Historic Preservation Commission; Plan Commission Next

Meeting at the Geneva Fire Department headquarters Tuesday night, the city's Historic Preservation Commission gave a cool thumbs up to plans for a bank drive-through that will preserve much of the historic Pure Oil Building.

Commissioners voted 7-0 to accept the landscape plan and the demolition of the south part of the Pure Oil building as presented by Geneva developer Joe Stanton and St. Charles Bank & Trust. The plans also call for demolition of the building at 12 S. Fifth St. and the exterior modification of the "Stanton" building at 514 West State St.

Most of the issues Tuesday were minor ones, including some adjustments on the landscaping plan so that signage could be pulled within the lot lines. The HPC still will review the graphics of the "Lolly Pop" sign that will be posted, if the plan wins approval from the City Council.

Some walkways were added to the north and east sides of the former gas station building, a tree was removed, adjustments were made to the building interior, a freestanding sign was moved and the curb cut on State Street was reduced.

The next step in the process is staff review of plans that will be submitted to the Geneva Plan Commission. The applicant is likely to request a special use for the bank and drive-through facility.

Community Development Director Dick Untch said Wednesday that the application has not been submitted. He said the Plan Commission hold a public hearing, most likely in July or August.

"Overall, I think the process has been excellent in terms of the public input that’s been received," Untch said. "I believe that the plan we now have is well balanced in that it preserves the historic building that has been a great concern, and it appears to provide all the functionality the bank requires."

In the HPC minutes from May 15, architectural consultant Jeff Lietz of Charles Vincent George Architects, Naperville, said he would like to have the construction completed on the 502 Building before winter and then focus on the interior of the 514 Building during the winter.

In early April, the HPC had voted against demolition of the iconic blue-roofed, cottage-style former gas station. Stanton came back with a revised plan the preserves much of the building facade.

Plan Commission member Kurt Wehrmeister, who had cast the single vote to allow building demolition in deference to the economic hardship of preservation, said he was pleased with the 

"I think it’s a good and creative solution, especially given what could have occurred," he said. "I wish we could have seen (this plan) in late February or early March, as opposed to the delay, but they claim they simply responded to the will expressed by the community, and we'll accept that on its face."

Untch pointed out that the building is zone for business use and there are more than 100 uses allowed in the business district.

"I really believe we have to approach it from the standpoint of what are the property rights of the property owner," he said. "It's zoned B-2, and the property owner has the right to build a bank.

"I’ve heard some of the concerns about a drive-through interrupting the retail flow and pedestrian interaction—and it’s true, it’s not going to be a shop there. But my own sense is that this is a solution that respects the rights of the property owner and the totality of the district."