HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2004 P&Z minutes 39-04
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
CASE NO. PZ-39-04
Hearing Date: October 28, 2004
PROPERTY ADDRESS:
CVS Pharmacy
1 E. Rand Road
PETITIONER:
Kari Myers, Site Enhancement Services (Agent for CVS)
PUBLICATION DATE:
October 13, 2004 Journal/Topics
PIN#:
03-34-200-001-0000
REQUEST:
Special Use - Electronic Message Board Sign
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chair Arlene Juracek
Merrill Cotten
Joseph Donnelly
Richard Rogers
Matthew Sledz
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Leo Floros
Keith Youngquist
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Michael Jacobs, AICP, Deputy Director of Community Development;
Judy Connolly, AICP, Senior Planner
INTERESTED PARTIES:
Kari Myers, Site Enhancement Services (Agent for CVS)
Chairperson Arlene Juracek called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Richard Rogers made a motion to approve
the minutes of the September 23, 2004 meeting and Merrill Cotten seconded the motion. The minutes were
approved 5-0. Ms. Juracek asked for a motion to continue PZ-26-04, Variations for the S1. Paul Lutheran
Church project. Matt Sledz made a motion to continue PZ-26-04 to November 11, 2004; Richard Rogers
seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5-0. After hearing another case, Ms. Juracek introduced Case
No. PZ-39-04, a request for a Special Use permit for an electronic message board sign. She noted that the
request would be Planning 7 Zoning Commission final.
Judy Connolly, Senior Planner, presented the case. She said that in the summer of 2000, the Zoning Board of
Appeals denied the Petitioner's request for multiple wall signs on the north elevation. The Petitioner revised the
package and the signs installed complied with the Village's Sign Code. The Petitioner is now seeking Special
Use approval to install a freestanding sign with an electronic message board at the northwest comer of the
Subject Property.
Ms. Connolly said that the Petitioner is allowed to have one freestanding sign per street frontage. The existing
freestanding sign on the Elmhurst Road frontage would be removed, but the freestanding sign on the Rand Road
frontage would remain in its current location. The location and size of the proposed sign would comply with the
Village's Sign Code regulations.
The Petitioner's exhibit indicates that the overall height of the sign would measure no more than 12-feet from
grade. The base of the sign will be red brick and capped with a standard masonry material. The electronic
message board would include three lines of copy (text) used to advertise CVS's sale items and/or services.
Ms. Connolly said that in order to approve the proposed sign, the P&Z would have to find that it met the
standards listed in the Sign Code. She summarized the standards and said that the size and location of the sign
Planning & Zoning Commission
Arlene Juracek, Chairperson
PZ-39-04
Page 2
complies with Sign Code regulations. The Village's Traffic Engineer reviewed the proposal and found that the
electronic message board would not adversely impact traffic. In addition, Staff found that the design of the
proposed sign would not create a negative impact on adjacent properties. However, the two freestanding sign
materials (proposed and existing Rand Road frontage sign) will no longer match. In order to ensure that the
proposed sign is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, Staff recommends that the base of the
existing sign (Rand Road frontage) be modified to include a brick base.
Ms. Connolly said that based on these findings, Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Commission approve
the proposed Special Use to permit an electronic message board for the CVS freestanding sign subject to the following
conditions:
I. Remove the existing CVS sign on the Elmhurst Road frontage;
2. Modify the existing Rand Road frontage freestanding sign so it has a brick base and matches the proposed
freestanding sign; and
3. That the proposed sign comply with the standards listed in Sec. 7.330.A of the Sign Code.
The Planning & Zoning Commission inquired whether the proposal complied with the 600-foot separation
requirement from another electronic message board sign, as there was one such sign at Randhurst. It was
confirmed that the Randhurst sign was removed and that the proposal complied with all Village Code
requirements.
Kari Myers, Site Enhancement Services, Agent for CVS, 3699 W. Lathrop, South Bend, IN, was sworn in. Ms.
Myers reviewed the proposed sign elevations. She testified that the sign would comply with the Village's Sign
Code regulations: the text would not flash; the text would not be continued from 'screen-to-screen'but would
appear as one message at one time; the text would be displayed for a 10-15 second interval.
There was general discussion regarding the sign and the existing signs. Mr. Cotten stated that he does not like
electronic message board signs in general because he feels they cause traffic accidents and distract drivers. Mr.
Rogers said that he did not like the location of the proposed sign. He said that the intersection experiences
significantly high traffic volumes and that the electronic message board would not be appropriate at this
location. Mr. Donnelly stated concerns regarding the location, the high traffic volume, and how the sign could
cause traffic hazards. Mr. Sledz said that he would abstain from the vote because he works for a competitor of
CVS.
Chairperson Juracek told Ms. Myers that she had the option of asking for the case to be continued so she could
meet with CVS and modify the proposal to address the Commissioner's concerns. Ms. Myers said that the
Village's Traffic Engineer did not feel the sign posed a traffic hazard, which was stated in the Staff Report.
Therefore, she did not feel any modifications to the sign would address the Commissioner's traffic concerns.
She asked the P&Z vote on the request.
Ms. Juracek asked if anyone was in the audience who wanted to address the Planning & Zoning Commission.
As there were none, she closed the Public Hearing at 8:02.
Richard Rogers made a motion to approve the request for a Special Use permit to install an electronic message
board sign subject the conditions listed in the Staff Report, Case No. PZ-39-04. Joseph Donnelly seconded the
motion.
Planning & Zoning Commission
Arlene Juracek, Chairperson
PZ-39-04
Page 3
UPON ROLL CALL:
AYES: Juracek
NAYS: Cotten, Donnelly, and Rogers
ABSTAIN: Sledz
Motion was denied 3-1.
At 8:36 p.rn., Richard Rogers made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Joe Donnelly. The motion was approved
by a voice vote and the meeting was adjourned.
Judy Connolly, AICP, Senior Planner
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