2011-03-28 - Appearance Review Team - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑Appearance Review Team
Document Type: ❑Agenda 0 Minutes
Meeting Date: 03/28/2011
Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting
Preliminary ART (Appearance Review Team) Meeting
MARCH 28, 2011
1493 W. DUNDEE ROAD, BIZ SOLUTIONS
DEVIATION TO THE PLAZA VERDE SHOPPING CENTER SIGN CRITERIA
PRESENT
Ghida Neukirch, Deputy Village Manager
Brian Sheehan, Deputy Building Commissioner/Operations
Carol Berman, Deputy Building Commissioner/Administration
Robert Pfeil, Village Planner
Nidhi Vaid, Associate Planner
Joe Wallace, Plan Examiner
Louis Windecker, ZBA Commissioner
Mike Sobel, Mark Your Space
PROPOSAL
Request is being made by Biz Solutions, 1493 W. Dundee Road, for Deviation to the
Plaza Verde Shopping Center Sign Criteria to allow the use of multiple colors; to allow
the use of the corporate logo; to allow the sign to be installed on a raceway; to allow
the logo height to be 30-1/2"; to allow two (2) lines of text; to allow the sign width to be
120"; and to allow the use if LED lighting.
Mr. Sobel explained that the proposed sign is the preferred sign package for this
location of a Clear authorized dealer.
Mr. Sheehan asked about the different sign packages available. Mr. Sobel provided two
(2) photographs of existing "Clear" signs and explained that in the photographs, the
"Clear" sign is green. The proposed sign is white with black trim around the lettering.
Clear is moving toward the white lettering as it is easier to read than the green lettering.
Mr. Sheehan stated that all the other signs within this shopping center are red. From an
aesthetic standpoint, this sign would stand out from the rest of the center. Mr. Sobel
replied that Clear is worried about the sign looking too much like a Christmas
advertisement if it was red lettering and the green logo.
Mr. Sobel clarified that the logo will not contain white, but that the swoosh would be cut
out.
Mrs. Neukirch asked if the lease is dependent on white being allowed for the sign color.
Mr. Sobel stated that the lease is not dependent on the color of the sign, but that the
client prefers white lettering.
Mr. Sobel also explained that Clear wanted twenty four (24) inch high lettering for
"Clear" but they could not do that at this location. He also explained that forty eight (48)
inch long lettering would not be visible from the roadway. Clear dictated the "Authorized
Dealer" lettering and chose the size. The "Clear" and "Authorized Dealer" lettering
would be white with a black outline so they would be visible during the day.
Com. Windecker advised Mr. Sobel that when he is before the ZBA he should be
prepared to provide alternative sign packages.
Mr. Sheehan asked for any details regarding the approved sign packages for Clear. Mr.
Sobel distributed a document that contained some information on the sign packages for
review. He will need to get approval from Clear to provide a copy of the approved sign
packages before he can provide a copy.
Mr. Sheehan stated that, in his opinion, the size of the proposed sign does not look out
of proportion compared to the size of the space. He also does not have any issues with
the use of a raceway or LED lighting.
Mr. Sheehan stated that in the color photographs submitted of other Clear signs it
appears that the logo is the same size of the "Clear" lettering and not the size of both
lines of copy. Mr. Sobel stated that the customer at that location preferred the smaller
logo, but that the proposed sign for the Plaza Verde Space was in favor of the larger
logo. He will provide information concerning the different size logos.
Mr. Sheehan also asked Mr. Sobel to provide documentation about what being an
"Authorized Dealer" is meant to convey to the customer and why the "authorized Dealer
sign could not be placed in the window instead of as part of the wall sign. He also
requested that Mr. Sobel provide the full dimension from the outside edges of the
sign/logo. The sign exceed the one hundred twenty (120) inches depicted on the
rendering.
Mrs. Neukirch stated that she appreciates that they want the sign stand out from the
rest of the center. She asked Mr. Sobel to provide a reason to the ZBA regarding the
use of the color white and why the sign needs to larger.
There were no additional questions or comments.
RECOMMENDATION
The ART has determined that the appearance of the sign as proposed does not meet
the criteria set forth in the Village of Buffalo Grove Appearance Plan and is not in
harmony with the building and is not compatible with the surrounding area.
The ART recommends the following-
1. Provide alternative approved sign packages for Clear;
2. Remove the "Authorized Dealer" sign; consider placing this information in the
window;
3. The ART prefers the "Clear" sign to remain red to match the rest of the signs
in the center, the logo can remain green;
4. Reduce the size of the logo to match the size of the "Clear" lettering.
The request for the Deviation to the Plaza Verde Shopping Center Sign Criteria will be
heard at the April 12, 2011 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
Prepared by:
Julie Kamka
Building & Zoning Department