Building Review Board
The Building Review Board was established in 1962. The Board is made up of seven Lake Forest residents who are appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council. The Board is responsible for carrying on the long tradition of Lake Forest by working to preserve the special character and uniqueness of various neighborhoods in the City and protect property values throughout the community.
The Board reviews projects that are outside the boundaries of the City’s Historic Districts and all proposals for demolition, in whole or part, of existing buildings, the architectural design of new buildings, building additions and alterations, requests for building scale variances, exterior lighting, signs, landscaping and overall site plans for new developments. To determine if your upcoming project requires review by the Building Review Board, contact Jen Baehr, Planner at 847-810-3520 to schedule a predevelopment meeting.
The Board meets regularly on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Municipal Services Facility, located at 800 Field Drive. This meeting is conducted in a workshop format in an effort to facilitate a more engaging discussion in a collaborative setting.
To submit an application for Building Review Board consideration, click here. You will be taken to the online submittal portal. Select "Apply for a Planning, Zoning or Engineering Process" in the left column and upload your Building Review Board Application and submittal documents.
2023 Building Review Board Meeting ScheduleThe * indicated below in the approved meeting schedule is a change in the normally scheduled meeting. Meetings dates are subject to change from the approved schedule. Please check the Public Meeting Schedule for up to date information on the upcoming meetings.
| Meeting Date | Submittal Deadline |
| January 4 | November 18 |
| February 1 | December 22 |
| March 1 | January 20 |
| April 5 | February 24 |
| May 3 | March 24 |
| June 7 | April 21 |
| July 5 | May 26 |
| Thursday, August 3* | June 23 |
| September 6 | July 21 |
| October 4 | August 25 |
| November 1 | September 2 |
| December 6 | October 20 |
Building Review Board Members
| Name |
| Joanne Bluhm |
| Jim Diamond, Chairman |
| Sally Downey |
| Timothy G. Franzen |
| John Looby III |
| Scott Renken |
| Richard Walther |
| Staff: Jen Baehr, Planner |
| Staff: Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development |
To provide input to the Board, please send correspondence to Jen Baehr, Planner or call 847-810-3520.
For access to historical agendas, minutes or packets, please visit the City's Online Records Portal available through the City's Content Management System, Laserfiche.
| 12/06/23 Regular Meeting |
| 11/01/23 Regular Meeting |
| 10/04/23 Regular Meeting |
| 09/06/23 Regular Meeting |
| 08/03/23 Regular Meeting |
| 07/05/23 Regular Meeting |
| 06/07/23 Regular Meeting |
| 05/03/23 Regular Meeting |
| 04/05/23 Regular Meeting |
| 03/01/23 Regular Meeting |
| 02/01/23 Regular Meeting | Agenda |
| 01/04/23 Regular Meeting - Cancelled | Agenda |
| 12/07/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet |
| 11/02/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 10/06/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 09/07/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 08/04/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 07/06/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet |
| 06/01/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 05/17/22 Rescheduled Meeting | Agenda Packet |
| 05/04/22 Regular Meeting - Cancelled | Agenda Packet |
| 04/06/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 03/02/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 02/02/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Video |
| 01/10/22 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 01/05/22 Regular Meeting - Date Change | Agenda |
| 12/01/21 Regular Meeting - Cancelled | Agenda |
| 11/03/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 10/06/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 09/01/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 08/19/21 Regular Meeting - Date Change | Agenda Packet Minutes |
| 08/05/21 Regular Meeting - Postponed |
| 07/07/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet |
| 06/02/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 05/05/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Video |
| 04/07/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 03/03/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 02/03/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 01/06/21 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 12/02/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Video |
| 11/04/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 10/07/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 09/02/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 08/05/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 07/01/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Packet Minutes Video |
| 02/05/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 01/07/20 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 12/04/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 11/06/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 09/04/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 08/08/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 07/02/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 06/05/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 05/01/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 04/03/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 03/12/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 02/07/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 01/03/19 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 11/29/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 11/07/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 10/03/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 09/05/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 08/02/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 07/05/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 06/06/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes Video |
| 05/02/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 04/04/18 Cancelled Meeting | Agenda |
| 03/07/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 02/07/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes |
| 01/03/18 Regular Meeting | Agenda Minutes Video |