HomeMy Public PortalAbout1991-12-17 ZBA minutesPLAINFIELD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
DATE: December 17, 1991 AT: Village Hall
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT; Chairman Sobkoviak, H. Bayer,
M. Krippel, D. Norris, W. Schempf
A. Consola
ALSO PRESENT: P. J. Waldock, Village Planner
S. Hart, Secretary
Chairman Sobkoviak called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll
call was taken.
The minutes were approved at the November 19, 1991 meeting, for
the meeting of November 5, 1991 meeting.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: CASE NO. 334-112091-V
REQUEST: A variance to permit the construction of
a free standing sign six feet in height
where four feet is the maximum allowed in
the central sign district.
LOCATION: Plainfield Public Library Building.
705 North Illinois St.
P. Waldock summarized his report as follows:
r
The Plainfield Public Library District wishes to construct a
message board sign, including permanent lettering identifying the
Library itself. The message board is 17 square feet in area and
approximately six feet in height. Central sign district
regulations limit sign area to 20 square feet but four feet in
height. This sign meets the area requirements but exceeds the
height limit and therefore has a need for variation to provide for
erection of the sign.
In Staff's analysis of this application we have explored the
possibility of installing the sign at the required height of four
feet, but found that height to be too low to be properly viewed
from the street, even pedestrians would have to bend over to read
the sign. From the street visibility would be hampered by traffic
and parked cars. For this reason, Staff has no objection to the
request:
ZONING BOARD OF APPERALS MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 1991
Page 2
1.~ Signage as proposed would not provide a negative impact on
surrounding properties.
2. The subject site is unique due to its public use and need to
communicate community messages.
3. Hardship in this case relates to readability of a changeable
copy sign mounted at less than six feet in height.
Staff is recommending the variation from sign regulations to allow
a free standing sign six feet in height where four feet is the
maximum permitted in the central sign district. Further Staff,
recommends that special sign approval be granted for the Plainfield
Public Library District for the free standing sign.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Miss Pitney, do you have anything to add.
8. PITNEY: Peter has really said it all. The height problem that
we have is parked cars and viewing from traffic.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Before we ask you any questions, would you
please step forward, and be sworn in? Do you swear to tell the
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you.
B. PITNEY: I do.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Do any of the Commissioners have any questions
of the Library Representative or the Planner?
D. NORRIS: Is the sign going to be lit?
B. PITNEY: It has built in lighting, we do not plan to light it
at this time, we believe there is enough reflective light in that
area that it can be seen without it.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Were the adjacent landowners notified?
B. Pitney: Yes they were.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Are any of the adjacent landowners present?
None were present.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: How high is the bottom of the sign from ground
level?
ZONING BOARD OF APPERALS MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 1991
Page 3
P. WALDOCK: The sign is parallel to the building wall, and three
feet off the ground, It will not be a hazard to bicyclists or
pedestrians.
H. BAYER: I have no problem with this except I am wondering if in
the future if a business would say the same thing, that you can't
see over the parked cars. I wonder if maybe our Ordinance is a
little short.
P. WALDOCK: We may need to look at increasing it to six foot,
there are some other adjustments to the sign code that I am in the
process of working on. If the Commission so desires, I will be
glad to make that adjustment.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAL: I think that is something we should consider.
P. WALDOCK: The sign meets all aspects of the Ordinance, but the
overall height, all the other paramaters of the Ordinance are met,
size and placement on the lot.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Is there any further discussion? If not, the
Chair will entertain a motion.
H. BAYER: I move to recommend to the Village Board that we grant
the variation as applied for by the Library District.
D. NORRIS: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: A motion has been made and seconded to
recommend to the Village Board the approval of variatian as applied
for by the Library District.
Roll call vote: M. Krippel, yes; D. Norris, yes;
W. Schempf, yes; H. Bayer, yes;
A. Consola, yes; Chairman Sobkoviak, yes.
6, Yes; 0, No; Motion carried.
CHAIRMAN SOBKOVIAK: Motion is carried, this will go to the Village
Board at its January 6, meeting.
Adjourned 7:15.
~~
' Sharon Hart