06/30/2014Case #14 -032 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Teat Amendment
June 30, 2014
Page 1
DES PLAINES PLAN COMMISSION MEETING
JUNE 30, 2014
MINUTES
The Des Plaines Plan Commission Meeting held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 30, 2014, at
7 p.m., in Room 102, City Council Chambers, of the Des Plaines Civic Center.
PLAN COMMISSION
PRESENT: Lane, Niemotka, Yi
ABSENT Bar, Perez
ALSO PRESENT Scott Mangum, Senior Planner/Community & Economic Development
Gale Cerabona, Recording Secretary
Chairman Niemotka called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Roll call was conducted.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A motion was made by Commissioner Yi, seconded by Commissioner Lane, to approve the sleeting minutes
of April 14, 2014, as presented.
AYES: Yi, Lane, Niemotka
NAYES: None
..:T,:' MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY :i::T::T:
NEW BUSINESS
1. Address: Citywide Case Numb er: 14 -032 -TA
Petitioner: Lee Gotfried, Olympic Sign, 1130 N.Gatfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
Text Amendment to the City of Des Plaines 1998 Zoning Ordinance, as amended, amending Section 11.6B
regarding wall signage regulations for properties adj acent to an Interstate Highway.
Chairman Niemotka read this evening's case then asked Staff to summarize the staff report.
Petitioner: Lee Gotfried, Olympic Sign, 1130 N. Garfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
Issue: Text Amendment to the City of Des Plaines 1998 Zoning Ordinance, as amended, amending Section
11.6.B regarding wall signage regulations for properties adjacent to an Interstate Highway.
Case #14 -032 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
June 30, 2014
Page 2
Analysis:
Text Amendment Report
Petitioner Lee Gotfried, Olympic Sign, 1130N. Garfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
Owner Muggio Properties, LLC, 2600 S. Des Plaines River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018
Case Number 14 -032 -TA
Address Citywide
Proposed Amendment
Applicant, Lee Gotfried of Olympic Sign (representing American Eagle), has proposed a Text Amendment
to increase the maximum size of wall signage allowed for properties with frontage on an Interstate Highway.
The existing sign regulations in Section 11.6.B of the Zoning Ordinance allow up to three square feet of wall
signage per one linear foot of building frontage up to a maximum of 100 square feet throughout the City. A
variation can be requested for a maximum of up to 50% of this size limitation.
While the applicant has proposed the amendment in order add an additional 150 square -foot wall sign at a
particular location on Des Plaines Road, the proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance would apply
citywide. The commercial or manufacturing properties that abut Interstate Highways within Des Plaines are
primarily limited to the area between Touhy Avenue and Devon Avenue along I-294 and between Devon
Avenue and the City limits (just west of Elmhurst Road) along I-90.
To properly evaluate the text amendment request, the standards below, which are contained in Section 3.7-5
of the Zoning Ordinance, must be employed. Following is a discussion of those standards:
A. Whether the proposed amendments are consistent with the goals, objectives and policies contained
in the Comprehensive Plan:
Comment: The City of Des Plaines Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2007, does not
specifically address wall signage. The Economic Development section of the Plan does have objectives to
retain and attract businesses, while the Urban Design section has the goal to enhance the appearance of key
community entry points and traffic routes.
B. Whether the proposed amendments are compatible with the current conditions and the overall
character of existing developments in the immediate area:
Comment: The Zoning Ordinance currently limits wall signage to no larger than 100 square feet, regardless
of location or type of street frontage. The proposed amendment would allow for wall signage of up to 300
square feet for properties that have frontage on an Interstate Highway. The character of Interstate Highway
corridors is significantly different than that of other areas of the City with regard to speed of traffic and
setback of buildings from vehicle travel lanes.
Case #14 -032 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
June 30, 2014
Page 3
C. Whether the amendments are appropriate considering the adequacy of public facilities and services
available to the property:
Comment: The proposed amendment to allow larger wall signage should not have a direct effect on public
facilities or services.
D. Whether the proposed amendments will have an adverse effect on the value of properties
throughout the jurisdiction:
Comment: The increased signage may help businesses by increasing the visibility of wall signage for
properties with frontage on Interstate Highways with high traffic volumes.
E. Whether the proposed amendments reflects responsible standards for development and growth:
Comment: This zoning text amendment does not appear to conflict with the City's Comprehensive Plan, the
official policy guide to future land use, development, and conservation with the community. Therefore, the
proposed text amendment would not appear to be in conflict with responsible standards for development and
growth. The increase in wall sign area has the ability to alter the aesthetics of the community as viewed from
Interstate Highways and should be weighed as a policy consideration.
Recommendations: Based on the above analysis, the Community and Economic Development Department
recommends approval of the requested text amendment regarding the size of signage for properties with
frontage on an Interstate Highway. The posted speed limits on Interstate Highways are higher, and buildings
are generally setback further from travel lanes, than those on other roadways within the City.
Plan Commission Procedure: Under Section 3.7-4 of the Zoning Ordinance (Amendments) the
Plan Commission may vote to recommend approval, approval with modifications, or disapproval. The City
Council has the final authority on Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
Chairman Niemotka swore in Lee Gotfried, Olympic Sign, 1130 N. Garfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
who stated he is also the designer of the sign. Petitioner advised that, currently, the lighting is very soft &
not visible from the South. This new 150 sq. ft. sign will have backlit channel letters.
Chairman Niemotka asked Petitioner if the existing sign is 150 sq. ft. Petitioner advised — yes.
Commissioner Lane asked if these signs would not go above the buildings. Mr. Mangum advised — they
would not. Petitioner stated — the sign will not go above the roof line; 150 sq. ft. is necessary for a visible
sign.
Commissioner Yi stated he is not against this; however, would it affect other signage? Mr. Mangum
advised — this would affect commercial and industrial properties along I-90 and I-294.
Commissioner Lane asked if the principal tenant doesn't choose this signage, then other tenants could not
utilize the signage either? Mr. Mangum advised — that is the way it's proposed, although the sign could also
identify the building or office park.
Commissioner Yi asked if this affects signs in residential areas. Mr. Mangum advised — no, it would have
to be in a commercial or industrial development.
Case #14 -032 -TA -Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
June 30, 2014
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A motion was made by Commissioner Lane, seconded by Commissioner Yi, to approve the proposed
Text Amendment.
AYES: Lane, Niemotka, Yi
NAYES: None
*** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ***
Other sign projects were discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
It was stated there would not be a meeting on Monday, July 14, 2014.
A motion was made by Commissioner Lane, seconded by Commissioner Yi, to adjourn the meeting at
7:12 p.m.
AYES: Lane, Niemotka, Yi
NAYES: None
*** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ***
Sincerely,
Gale Cerabona
Recording Secretary
cc: City Officials, Aldermen, Plan Commission