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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/24/2008 P&Z minutes 21-08 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION CASE NO. PZ-21-08 Hearing Date: July 24, 2008 PROPERTY ADDRESS: 828 E. Rand Road PETITIONER: Mr. David Weiner, Culinary Freedom LLC PUBLICATION DATE: July 16, 2008 PIN NUMBER: 03-35-300-022-0000 REQUESTS: Special Use and Variation for an Electronic Message Board Sign MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Rogers, Chair Joseph Donnelly Leo Floros Marlys Haaland Ronald Roberts Keith Youngquist STAFF MEMBER PRESENT: Brian Simmons, AICP, Deputy Director of Community Development INTERESTED PARTY: David Weiner Chairman Richard Rogers called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Joseph Donnelly made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 26, 2008 meeting and Marlys Haaland seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 5-0 with Keith Youngquist abstaining. Chairman Rogers introduced Case PZ-21-08, a Special Use and Variation request for an Electronic Message Board Sign at 828 E. Rand Road, at 7:36 p.m. Brian Simmons, Deputy Director of Community Development, showed a location map of the subject property. The property is on Rand Road, with Wal-Mart to the South and the Brunswick Bowling Center to the West. The subject property is situated on a flag lot with very narrow street frontage along Rand Road. Mr. Simmons stated the proposal was to replace the existing monument sign. The proposed sign is nine (9) feet in height and 74 square feet in area. The message center would be in the center portion of the sign and would comprise of25% total square footage of the sign. The lights would be red monochrome. Mr. Simmons said through discussions with the Petitioner, the messages would be displayed with a time interval no less than ten (10) seconds. Mr. Simmons stated that the code currently has a maximum number of items that are permissible on a monument sign; this limit is ten (10). The proposed sign exceeds this limit. Mr. Simmons said after discussions with the Petitioner, Mr. Weiner would revise the verbiage on the sign to reduce the maximum amount of items to conform with code; therefore, no Variation was required for this. Mr. Simmons stated the Variation that was requested is for the location of the sign. By code, variable message signs cannot be located within 600 feet of an existing message center sign. The current and proposed location of the sign is within 117 feet of the existing Brunswick message center sign. The Variation requested is a 117 foot separation between the two signs. Mr. Simmons said Staff reviewed the proposed Variation against the Variation standards listed in the sign ordinance and believed the proposed location met those standards. The existing banquet facility is a unique establishment that warrants utilizing a message center sign. Mr. Simmons also stated with the location of the facility being on a flag lot, there is limited visibility for the property along Rand Road. Proving the message Richard Rogers, Chair Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting July 24, 2008 PZ-21-08 Page 2 center would increase the visibility. Mr. Simmons said the sign was consistent with the nature of the commercial corridor. The proposed sign met the standards for a Special Use and Variation; therefore, Staff recommended that the Planning & Zoning Commission approve the following motion: "To Approve: I. A Special Use to permit an electronic message board on a freestanding sign for the property located at 828 E. Rand Road, Bristol Court Banquets, subject to the following conditions: a. Remove the existing ground sign from the property. b. Reduce the items of information displayed on the sign to a maximum of ten (10) items. c. The text displayed on the message board shall be static message that changes no less than every ten (10) seconds. d. The intensity of the message board lighting shall comply with the requirements of Section 7.405 (H) (2) of the Sign Code. e. The proposed sign shall comply with the standards listing in Section 7.330 (A) of the Sign Code. f. Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the petitioner shall submit a planting plan which demonstrates the required foundation plantings around the base of the sign. 2. A Variation to permit the electronic message board sign for the property located at 828 E. Rand Road, to be located within one hundred seventeen feet of an existing electronic message board sign." Chairman Rogers asked if any Commission members had questions for Staff. Joseph Donnelly asked how close the Frankie's Fast Food sign was to the Brunswick sign. Mr. Simmons said approximately 900 feet. Chairman Rogers swore in David Weiner, Partner at Bristol Court Banquets, 828 E. Rand Road, Mount Prospect, IL. Mr. Weiner said with running his business, people have trouble seeing where the banquet hall is located. He said he can seat up to 700 guests, and a lot of people drive by the facility. Mr. Weiner stated that it was a special use facility, brides and grooms would like to have their names illuminated on the sign. He said it would be nice to announce events going on at the hall. Mr. Donnelly said trees seemed to block the view of the facility along Rand Road, he asked the Petitioner if there were any plans on moving the trees. Mr. Weiner said he would like to remove trees and has talked with Staff There was a solution of taking down the larger trees and replacing them with smaller trees. Mr. Simmons said Staff has discussed with the Petitioner on revising the landscape plan to increase the visibility of the sign, but still met the intent of the landscape ordinance. Chairman Rogers confIrmed by revising the landscaping would mean removing trees. Mr. Simmons stated removing or replacing with other existing materials. Chairman Rogers asked the Petitioner ifhe was aware of providing landscaping around the sign. Mr. Weiner said absolutely. Chairman Rogers said the Planning and Zoning Commission would not normally consider this proposal because of its location within 600 feet of an existing message center sign. He stated these signs tend to clutter and draw attention on the major thoroughfare. Chairman Rogers realized the difficult situation with only 50 feet of frontage off of the road. Chairman Rogers asked if Mr. Donnelly had any questions regarding the coloring of the proposed message center. Mr. Donnelly said the Staff Report stated that the Petitioner would be required to install a dimmer. Mr. Donnelly asked the Petitioner if he has had any negotiations with Brunswick. Mr. Weiner said no, but he would have to negotiate with the Thunderbird Office Complex because they are on the bottom of the existing sign, and would include them on the new sign. Richard Rogers, Chair Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting July 24, 2008 PZ-21-08 Page 3 Mr. Donnelly asked if the Thunderbird Complex utilizes the Bristol Court Property, or was the entry way an easement. Mr. Weiner said Thunderbird utilizes the easement that Bristol Court owns and maintains. Keith Youngquist confIrmed previous comments stating that the property is diffIcult to fInd due to the flag lot layout. He fully supported what the Petitioner was trying to accomplish. Mr. Weiner said he loved doing business in Mount Prospect and the sign would enhance the facility even greater. Chairman Rogers said this case was not a precedence setting idea. He stated that the Petitioner has a very unique situation and that is the only reason why it was being considered. Chairman Rogers said that he did not want to set precedence in reducing the distance between signs. Leo Floros made a motion to approve Case Number PZ-21-08, a Special Use and Variation request for an electronic message board sign at 828 E. Rand Road. Keith Youngquist seconded the motion. Chairman Rogers called for additional questions or comments; hearing none, the public hearing was closed at 7:47 p.m. Ronald Roberts stated the Planning and Zoning Commission was very sensitive to electronic message centers. They could be very distracting to drivers. He said it was apparent that a lot of people miss the turn into the facility causing them to turn around. Mr. Roberts believed this turning around could be a bigger concern rather than the sign itself. He was in support of the sign for this specifIc situation. UPON ROLL CALL: A YES: Donnelly, Floros, Haaland, Youngquist, Roberts, Rogers NAYS: None Motion was approved 6-0. After hearing one additional case, Joseph Donnelly made a motion to adjourn at 9:48 p.m., seconded by Ronald Roberts. The motion was approved by a voice vote and the meeting was adjourned. Ryan Kast, Community Development Administrative Assistant