AGENDA MEMO
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: August 2, 2010
Issue Statement
PZC 2010-09: 8975 Lemont Road, Circle K/Shell service station: Petitioner seeks approval of a variation from the Sign Code to permit a LED price display.
Discussion/Overview
Both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Municipal Services
Committee considered this matter at their regular meetings. Both bodies recommend approval of the
petition, as presented, subject to the following:
1. LED
price display is not to blink, flash, flutter, produce
varying light intensity or have any other animated graphics.
A draft ordinance is attached.
The complete agenda memo follows as “Additional Information.”
Decision Mode
The Planning/Zoning Commission considered this item at its meeting on July 7, 2010.
The Municipal Services Committee considered this item at its meeting on July 26, 2010.
The City Council will consider this matter at its meeting on August 2, 2010.
Additional Information
Issue Statement
PZC 2010-09: 8975 Lemont Road, Circle K/Shell service station: Petitioner seeks approval of a variation from the Sign Code to permit a LED price display.
Applicable Regulations: Sign Code, Section 4-3-7(C): Illumination of Signs
General Information
Petitioner: Auna Foote
Corporate ID Solutions
5308 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60630
Property Owner: Circle K/Shell
4080 Jonathan Moore Pike
Columbus, IN 47201
Property Location: 8975 Lemont Road
PIN: 10-05-105-027
Existing Zoning: B-3 General Business District
Existing Land Use: Service station with car wash and convenience store
Surrounding Zoning and Land Use:
North: R-1 Single-Family Residence – open space.
South: B-3 General Business – farm field.
East: R-1 Single-Family Residence – open space.
West: R-2
Single-Family Residence (
Comprehensive Plan Update: Commercial
Floodplain: None.
Natural Features: None.
Transportation: Property has frontage and
access on
Documents Submitted
This report is based on the following information submitted to the Community Development Department by the petitioner:
1. Sign drawing, 1 sheet, prepared by Corporate ID Solutions, dated March 22, 2010.
2. LED sign panel, 1 sheet, prepared by Sign Resource, dated December 15, 2006.
3. Plat of Survey, 1 sheet, prepared by Marchese and Sons, Inc., dated August 8, 1994.
4. Summary of Variation Request, 2 sheets, prepared by Corporate ID Solutions, not dated.
Planning Overview/ Discussion
The subject property is located on the east side of
The petitioner seeks to install a LED illuminated price display on an
existing sign. The sign dimensions (area
and height) will not change.
The Sign Code does not specifically permit LED sign displays. Therefore, staff has viewed such requests as
requiring a variation. A variation from
the Sign Code does not require a public hearing, public notice was not
provided.
The petitioner submitted a letter indicating the price display will not
blink or flicker. The LED display will
show the gas price only, changed once per day at 2:00 AM.
The current Sign Code requires the sign base to be flush with the
grade, that is, sign poles are prohibited.
If the variation is approved, staff recommends installing a sign base to
the sign.
The area surrounding the sign is landscaped, fulfilling the landscape
requirements under the Sign Code.
The LED illumination details were sent to the City’s consulting engineering
firm for review. Staff hopes to have
comments at the meeting. Regardless, the
LED illumination brightness will be required to comply with the Sign Code.
In considering a sign variation, the following criteria shall be
considered per the Sign Code:
1. The
available locations for adequate signage on the property.
2. The
effect of the proposed sign on pedestrian and motor traffic.
3. The cost to the applicant in complying with the Sign Code as
opposed to the detriment, if any, to the public from granting of the variation.
4. If undue hardships and practical difficulties result in
complying with the sign Code and if these hardships are a result of previous
actions of the applicant.
5. The
general intent of the Sign Code.
Staff Findings/Recommendations
Staff does not object to the proposed LED price display. Staff finds that the existing LED price displays on signs in Darien have not presented any problems, nuisances or complaints; there have not been any reports that such signs have caused problems for motorists; the proposed sign meets the general intent of the Sign Code in that the proposed sign is reasonable, orderly and provides an effective display without causing distraction.
Therefore, staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Commission make the following recommendation:
Based
upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated
with PZC 20010-09 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code
and, therefore, I move the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of
the petition, subject to the following conditions:
1. Sign base
to be added to sign, so that sign is flush with grade.
2. LED price
display is not to blink, flash, flutter, produce varying
light intensity or have any other animated graphics.
3. LED
illumination brightness to comply with the Sign Code.
Planning and Zoning Commission Review – July 7, 2010
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this matter at their meeting on July 7, 2010. The following members were present: Beverly Meyer – Chairperson, Donald Hickok, Ronald Kiefer, John Lind, Raymond Mielkus, Michael Griffith – Senior Planner and Elizabeth Lahey – Secretary.
The following members were absent: Robert Erickson, Gloria Jiskra, Kenneth Ritzert and Susan Vonder Heide.
Michael Griffith, Senior Planner, reviewed the staff agenda memo. He stated the existing sign is to remain but the petitioner is proposing to replace the existing price display with a LED illuminated display. He stated the City Engineer has reviewed the illumination details and has found that it complies with the Sign Code.
Mr. Griffith stated the petitioner provided information that the sign will not flash, flutter, etc. He noted that several other service stations in the area have similar price displays.
Auna Foote, Corporate ID Solutions, the petitioner, was present. She stated the LED saves money, uses less energy to illuminate and eliminates maintaining/replacing the plastic numbers currently used. She stated the price is changed at 2:00 AM each day.
Chairperson Meyer noted the staff comment to incorporate a base for the sign and if the petitioner had a problem doing it.
Ms. Foote stated putting a base on the sign would not be a problem.
There was not anyone from the public to comment.
Without
further comment, Commissioner Hickok made the following motion seconded by
Commissioner Lind:
Based
upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated
with PZC 20010-09 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code
and, therefore, I move the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of
the petition, subject to the following conditions:
1. Sign base
to be added to sign, so that sign is flush with grade.
2. LED price
display is not to blink, flash, flutter, produce varying
light intensity or have any other animated graphics.
3. LED
illumination brightness to comply with the Sign Code.
Upon a roll call vote, THE MOTION CARRIED by a vote of
5-0.
(Absent, Commissioners Erickson, Jiskra, Ritzert and Vonder Heide)
Staff Comments - Municipal Services Committee, July 26, 2010
The City Engineer has determined that the LED illumination meets the Sign Code standards, letter from John Caruso, PE, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, dated July 6, 2010.
The petitioner submitted a revised sign drawing, showing a panel inserted at the sign base.
Based on the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation, staff recommends the Committee make the following recommendation:
Based
upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the request associated
with PZC 20010-09 is in conformance with the standards of the Darien City Code
and, therefore, I move the Municipal Services Committee recommend approval of the
petition, subject to the following conditions:
1. LED price
display is not to blink, flash, flutter, produce varying
light intensity or have any other animated graphics.
Municipal Services Committee – Review, July 26, 2010
The Municipal Services Committee considered this matter at
its meeting on July 26, 2010. The
following members were present: Alderman
Joseph Marchese – Chairperson, Alderman
Members absent: Michael Griffith – Senior Planner
Mr.
Mr. Gombac reported that the petitioner has meet the criteria per the Sign Code and that the PZC recommended approval. He stated that the Committee received a colored copy of the proposed sign and that the ground elevation will be altered to meet the City Code. He stated that the photo displays the old and the new sign.
Ms. Auna Foote, Corporate ID Solutions, explained that daily pricing changes would be updated at 2:00 a.m.
There was no one in the audience wishing to present public comment.
Alderman Galan made a motion and it was seconded by Alderman Schauer
that based upon the submitted petition and the information presented, the
request associated with PZC 2010-09 is in conformance with the standards of the
Darien City Code and move that the Municipal Services Committee recommend
approval of the petition as presented subject to the following:
1. LED
price display is not to blink, flash, flutter, produce
varying light intensity or have any other animated graphics.
Upon voice vote, THE MOTION CARRIED
unanimously 3-0.