1991-06-13 - Appearance Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE , ILLINOIS
THURSDAY , JUNE 13 . 1991
I . CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Eddie Larsen called the meeting to order at 7 : 40 F. M. on
Thursday, June 13 , 1991 at the Village Hall , 50 Raupp Boulevard.
II . ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present : D. Ehrhardt , F . Weissman, R. Gordon ,
A. Viehman and E. Larsen. Quorum Present .
Commissioners Absent : C . Bruno
Bldg . Dept . Liaison: Edward Schar ,
Acting Deputy Building Commissioner
Building Inspector : James Kelly
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 23 . 1991 - Motion to approve as submitted made by Com . Weissman.
Motion seconded by Com. Viehman.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman, Gordon ,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
Minutes of May 23 , 1991 approved and will be placed on file .
IV. BUSINESS
A. Sports Express Chernin Shoes
Sign Face Change - Plaza Verde
The presentation was made by Steve Vavrek , North Shore Sign,
1925 Industrial Drive , Libertyville , IL 60048 (708) 816-7020
and John Reid , General Manager of Chernin' s at Plaza Verde .
Mr . Vavrek described the proposed additional signage to be
mounted east of the existing sign. Sports Express will be
non-illuminated (matching) red letters with bronze trim caps .
A special area has been remodeled to feature sports equipment .
Ch. Larsen recalled that this is an anchor store and the
original signage for Chernin' s Shoes was approved by Marvin
Hymen, former owner of Plaza Verde . When a variance for a
ground sign was denied , Chernin' s elected to put up the maximum
size permitted by the Buffalo Grove Sign Code (5 ' 8-1/2" x 65 ' ) .
The proposed sign has been approved by Eric Maletsky , President
of Malet Realty , Authorized Agent for Buffalo Grove Associates .
`./ This will be a pilot sign and if the advertising is successful ,
it will be used at their other stores .
The Plaza Verde Sign Criteria was reviewed and Ch. Larsen
informed the petitioners that the proposed signage does not
meet the specifications of letter style (Helvetica Medium) or
size (two feet 2 ' or less) and is more than the signable area.
The Appearance Commission can make a recommendation to the
Zoning Board of Appeals to review the signage and the ZBA can
recommend that a variance be granted by the Village Board .
A suggestion was made that window signs could be used if they
do not exceed the allowed 1 /3 amount of window coverage .
After conferring , Mr . Vavrek and Mr . Reid requested that a
recommendation be made for a variance . They will be using
Sports Express in their advertising and the sign is necessary.
It was determined that the sign will be within the store
frontage area . It is lower than the Chernin' s sign band .
Ch. Larsen asked if the size of Sports could be reduced from a
total height of seven feet ( 7 ' ) and if Express can be reduced
from 30 inches down to 24 inch letters and the total length be
reduced from 33 feet to about 25 feet? The Sign Criteria
specifies 24 inch maximum sized letters . Other Plaza Verde
signs two feet (2 ' ) in height can be seen from Dundee Road .
Since Mr . Vavrek and Mr . Reid do not have the authority to
agree to make any changes . They requested a recommendation
for a variance relative to the proposed sign as submitted .
They will relay the AC' s suggestion to reduce the size and , if
necessary, a compromise could be made with the Zoning Board .
Ch. Larsen responded that the AC may not give a positive recom-
mendation for the sign as submitted and it would be better to
go to the ZBA with a reduced sign. He suggested moving the
Express letters closer together and reducing the total height
of Sports . He also commented that non-illuminated letters
would not be seen at night , so the sign would be useless during
fall and winter evening shopping hours .
The Commissioners discussed the sign and agreed that it is too
large for a favorable recommendation to the ZBA for variance .
Mr . Reid understood and asked for the recommendation of a
variance for the sign as presented .
`./ APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Two
Com. Ehrhardt made a motion in opposition of recommending a
variance to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village Board
for the Sports Express addition to the Chernin' s Shoes sign,
as submitted to the Appearance Commission. It was further
stated that the AC would probably be in favor of a variance if
the sign was to be reduced by 20% to 25% ( for that area) .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman, Gordon,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion in opposition to variance passed by vote of 5 to 0 .
Representatives were informed that an application for variance
can be obtained at the Building Department . The filing dead-
line date for the July 16 , 1991 ZBA public hearing is next
Tuesday , June 18 , 1991 .
B. Steeple View Condominiums - Entrance Signs on Lake Cook Road
Review for recommendation for variance to ZBA
Dennis Hughes , H & H Management , 15 East Palatine Road ,
Prospect Heights , IL 60070 (708) 808-1818 , made the presen-
tation. The proposed signs will be 5 ' x 2 ' with 2 ' posts .
They will be constructed of redwood with stained copy. Colors
will be blue copy on a brown background with brown posts .
Ch. Larsen informed Mr . Hughes that a variance is necessary
for one of the signs because they would be less than 250 feet
apart at the entrance on Armstrong Drive . A permit could be
issued for one sign before the variance is granted .
The Appearance Commissioners had no objections .
Com . Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of a
variance to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village Board
of Trustees for the Steeple View Condominium entrance signs
as submitted.
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman, Gordon,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Three
C. First American Bank - Security Lighting
Mr . Robert Hill and Mr . John DeMarco . First American Bank ,
1 Bank Lane , B.G. made the presentation.
Mr . Hill explained that security lighting at all First American
Banks is being increased for. several reasons . After several
robberies occurred and a woman was killed while using a cash
station machine , an ATM Task Force Advisory Committee was
established by Alderman Burke and Police Supt . Leroy Martin.
An ATM security check list was published as a result of the
study and First American reanalyzed the lighting at all 19
locations . The following changes have been instituted :
1 . Cameras have been installed that record all
activity in and around the ATM booths .
2 . Drive up ATM windows have been installed at all
locations .
3 . All interior vestibule units have card access
entry doors .
4 . All obstructions , including landscaping , have
been removed.
The lighting is the last phase of the increased protection for
the Buffalo Grove facility. Interior lighting has also been
increased and cameras also record vestibule activity.
The Appearance Commissioners had no objections or questions .
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of additional
security lighting as submitted by First American Bank .
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman , Gordon,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
D. Humana/Health Care Plans/Michael Reese
400 Mc Henry Road , Wall Sign on the East Elevation
George Del Cotto , Construction Manager for Michael Reese Health
Plan, with Matacha Associates , 4 S. Walker Avenue , Clarendon
Hills , IL 60514 (708) 920-1641 described the box sign and said
it will be the only identification on the building. The front
of the building faces north and the sign will be on the east
elevation toward Mc Henry Road . Felt green letters which stand
out from the sign and will have a white lexan background panel
with white neon tubing that will give the sign a halo effect .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Four
The Commissioners discussed lowering the sign to the brick
portion of the building , but decided it would be obscured by
the berms and landscaping .
Ch. Larsen observed that the proposed letters will appear to be
black at night and said it will be very difficult to get light
through the Cross/H if constructed as described . He suggested
a routed out sign face that would permit light to come through
the green letters .
Mr . Del Cotto said the developers had seen the Little Company
of Mary Hospital sign and want the same effect . They hope to
open the facility by August 1st and need the sign by that time .
A sign company has not been chosen and the bids have not been
clarified , so he cannot definitely say how the sign will be
constructed.
Ch. Larsen made a sketch of the Cross/H suggesting a way to
construct it . He explained the construction to Mr . Del Cotto .
The Cross/H could be built as one 4" deep perimeter box . The
solid portion would be metal and the cross portion would be
white plastic with painted stripes . The box would have neon
inside that shines out the back creating silhouette lighting.
The rest of the letters would be also be silhouette illumin-
ated . He suggested covering the back of the letters with clear
lexan to keep the birds from building nests . This type of
sign would be very nice . The back of the sign could be
scalloped to fit the brick courses and since the background is
to match the brick , he suggested lowering the sign so that it
is just above the first course ( leaving one stripe) .
Mr . Del Cotto agreed that Ch. Larsen' s diagram was helpful .
Com. Ehrhardt made a motion to recommend approval of the sign
for Humana/Health Care Plans/Michael Reese , as described and
depicted on the drawing , with the stipulation that it be
positioned low enough to rest upon the first alternate color
of the brick coursing .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman, Gordon,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Five
E. Roslyn Woods Sales Trailer - Hoffman Homes
Lots 26 & 27 , West of Prairie Road
Mr . Robert Nielsen, Vice President , Land Development and
Engineering , Hoffman Homes , 300 Park Boulevard , Suite 515 ,
Itasca , IL 60143-2633 (708) 250-7878 , described the sub-
division. The property is triangular shaped , zoned R-4 , and
consists of 44 lots . It is situated west of Prairie Road ,
south of the Mormon Church property and bounded on the west by
railroad tracks . Six models are being offered , ranging from
2 , 300 to 3 , 200 square feet and the price range of $237 , 000 to
$295 ,000 . They have 15 contract purchasers . The land was
formerly part of the Fiore Nursery and has a large conservatory
area from which trees will be marked and saved , or transplanted
to locations within the subdivision, or Buffalo Grove parks .
The 24 ' x 48 ' sales trailer will be located on Lots 26 and 27 .
The double trailer has a porch with twin canvas covered peaks
connected by a lattice trellis over the doorway . Mr . Nielsen
presented photographs of a similar trailer used at Burr Ridge .
The entryway will be constructed with weather treated wood and
the canvas awnings will be maroon color . The front area will
be bermed with trees and shrubs . A landscaping plan was not
submitted but there is an inventory of all the Fiore trees and
the Village Board was very specific in requiring the trees to
be protected and kept within the area or transplanted elsewhere
in Buffalo Grove . An Austrian Pine was moved to the center of
Roslyn Court for accent .
The Commissioners had no objections to the proposed trailer .
Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the Sales
Trailer as submitted by Hoffman Homes for Roslyn Woods .
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman, Gordon,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
V. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Mr . Schar distributed copies of the Williamsburg Estates
Color Packages . The developer , Carl Kupfer , has requested
mixing the approved colors in different combinations to
meet the preferences of purchasers . There have also been
requests to eliminate the shutters from some houses .
The Commissioners had no objections to the proposal .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Six
•
Com . Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the
changes to the Williamsburg Estates Color Packages as
requested , including elimination of shutters on some models .
Com. Ehrhardt seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Ehrhardt , Weissman , Gordon ,
Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 .
B. Ch. Larsen distributed an announcement from Chipper ' s
Restaurant that a 15% discount will be given to all Village
Commissioners upon presentation of their identification
cards .
C. Mr . Schar introduced James Kelly , Building Inspector , who
was present to observe how the Appearance Commission
functions . Jim was welcomed !
D. Mr . Schar has tried to contact Nissan about the excessive
window signs , but the person who is responsible has not been
available .
E. The Broasterie has filled their windows with signs again.
F . There is a real estate sign on a fence at Thompson Blvd . and
Buffalo Grove Road advertising a Scarsdale house for sale .
Mr . Kelly was asked to look for the sign and remr've it .
G. The Village Board approved the tcmporary sign for the Harris
Trust at Woodland Commons , but Mr . Schar does not know where
it will be located because of the 250 foot distance require-
ment . The Woodland Commons temporary signs are going to be
changed and could be repositioned.
H. The Buffalo Grove Appearance Commission CONGRATULATES THE
CHICAGO BULLS on winning the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 1991 .
VI . ADJOURNMENT
Com. Ehrhardt made a motion to adjourn.
Ch. Larsen adjourned the meeting at 9 : 10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted ,
Z•Ja —
Shirley Bate
Recording Secretary
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 13 , 1991 - Page Seven