HomeMy Public PortalAbout1994-05-03 ZBA minutesPLAINFIELD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
DATE: May 3, 1994
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
AT: Plainfield Labrary
Chairman Sobkoviak
L. Kachel D. Norris
W. Schempf W. Manning
P. J. Waldock, Village Planner
J. Djerf, Village Engineer
S. Hart, Secretary
Chairman Sobkoviak called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Sobkoviak led the
pledge to the flag, roll call was taken. M. Krippel and A. Consola, were absent. The minutes
of September 7, 1993 and March 1, 1994 were approved as presented.
OLD BUSI1ESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
CASE NO. 441-033094.SV SIGN VARIANCE
Planner Waldock summarized his report as follows: Plainfield School District has requested a
variance to permit construction of a 70 sq. ft. free standing ground sign at 10' 4" in height,
where Village sign regulations limit signs to 40 sq. ft. and 8' in height. The sign as proposed
is to be located 8' from the property line and 60 ft. from the west or main driveway entrance
to the High School on Fort Beggs Drive. Setbacks are acceptable according to ordinance
standards. The only consideration for this case was the height and sign area. The school
District has indicated that the 40 sq. ft. and 8 ft. height requirements create a sign area which
would be visually lost, because of the unusually large building area. The High School site is
41 acres, the building is 250,000 sq. ft. They are requesting the variance in order to have their
sign visually compete with the scale of the building and property.
The Village has supported the argument of increasing sign area to accommodate large scale
buildings. For example, the Village approved sign variances for Fox Valley Press, which also
had a very large building mass with a large lot. Staff feels the High School has a similar
condition. Based on the Village's past performance with regard to the Fox Valley Press, Staff
felt that the High School does have a similar condition, therefore the variance maybe justifiable.
The sign as designed has a message board with an architectural masonry base to match the High
School facade. The only thing that Staff found in its review, may be the height of the sign. The
sign plan indicates four feet of masonry base between the grade and the bottom of the message
board. Because of the speed limit on Ft. Beggs, at 25 mph, Staff does not feel the added height
is necessary at this location. Therefore, Staff felt that a two or three foot separation between
grade and the bottom of the message board would be acceptable, at 8' 4" or 9' 4" would do the
job. Staff finds the sign face at 70 sq. ft. to be acceptable.
ZONING BOAl~D OF APPEALS MINUTES
May 3, 1994
Page 2
Findings of Staff:
1. The High School building and site are large in scale, creating a unique condition for
signage concerns.
2. A 70 sq. ft. sign may not be out of character with the scale of the building and land area
of the site.
3. A variance if approved would not provide a negative impact on adjoining properties.
4. Speed limits on Ft. Beggs Drive do not warrant the extra height of the sign, therefore, a
sign height of no greater than 9' 4" Staff felt was the maximum necessary.
Therefore, Staff recommended approval of the Sign Variance for the Plainfield High School with
sign area of 70 sq. ft. and an overall height not to exceed 9' 4", with a masonry monument
style base, 16' 8" wide as requested, with an overall masonry height of no higher than 7~.
James Waldorf, said when the High School was designed, the marque was designed but did not
purchase it at that time. The Board of Education has over 50% of the cost through donations.
Virtually every aspect of the sign will be donated, materials and labor, through the Athletic
Booster Organization; this puts the finishing touch on the building.
Concerns of the Plan Commission were, vandalism if the sign was only 2 or 3 ft. off the ground,
and the possibility that it may be damaged when mowing, and the internal lighting of the sign.
One Commissioner asked how Planner Waldock arrived at the overall height.
Planner Waldock answered, he tried to keep the sign as close to code as possible.
Many of the Commissioners felt the sign was good as it was, and should not be lowered. After
a short discussion, W. Schempf made a motion to recommend to the Village Board the approval
of the Sign Variance as presented. Including Finding of Facts 1 - 3. Vote by roll call:
L. Kachel, yes; D. Norris, no; W. Schempf, yes; W. Manning, yes; Chairman Sobkoviak,
yes. Motion carried 4 yes 1 no.
Adjourn: 7:25 p.m.
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Sharon Hart, Secretary