1992-06-11 - Appearance Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE , ILLINOIS
THURSDAY , JUNE 11 , 1992
I . CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Eddie Larsen called the meeting to order at 7 : 32 on
Thursday , June 11 , 1992 at the Village Hall , 50 Raupp Boulevard .
II . ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present : R. Gordon, F . Weissman, A. Viehman and
E. Larsen QUORUM
Commissioners Absent : None
Bldg . Dept . Liaison: James F . Kelly , Building Inspector
Village Board Liaison: William Reid , Trustee
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 14 , 1992 minutes were postponed until after the business
meeting .
IV . OLD BUSINESS
A. Harris Bank - Half Day Road and Buffalo Grove Road
Recommendation for variance to install a Wall Sign
on the east elevation
Presentation was made by Mr . George Woock , White Way Signs Co .
Ms . Nan N. Beckman, Asst . V. P. of the Harris Bank Barrington,
201 S . Grove Avenue , Barrington IL 60010 (382-4000) Mr . Woock
described the Harris Bank as a free-standing building located
at the northwest corner of the Woodland Commons Shopping Center
at Half Day Road and Buffalo Grove Road . Since the two wall
signs were installed on the walls facing the right-of- ways ,
many people have commented that they do not realize the
building is a bank . It looks like a bank with a drive-thru ,
but there is not sign to indicate that it is a bank building .
Photographs of the bank and existing signs were presented .
The proposed sign is identical in size , layout and colors to
the existing signs , and will be installed on the east
elevation. He requested that a recommendation for variance be
made .
Ch. Larsen commented that a set of letters over the drive-thru
would offer better identification.
Mr . Woock replied that this has been considered and rejected .
Com . Weissman made motion to recommend to the Village Board and
to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the Harris Bank in Buffalo
Grove be granted a variance for the purpose of installing an
additional wall sign on the west elevation of the building
located at Half Day Road and Buffalo Grove Road , as presented .
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman, Gordon, Weissman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
B. Jay 'n Bee Office Solutions , Inc .
Ground Sign - 230 Lexington Drive
Mr . George Pullman , Vice President of the company , made the
presentation. He affirmed that the Jay 'n Bee sign will
replace the existing Washburn International Inc . sign. Only
the face is being changed . The structure remains the same .
There were no questions or comments .
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the new
Jay 'n Bee Office Solutions , Inc . sign at 230 Lexington Drive ,
at the Buffalo Grove Commerce Center . as submitted .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion .
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Gordon,. Weissman, Viehman, Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to O .
C. Woodland Commons Ground Signs
Dominick ' s Color Change
Mr . Gregory Jenkins , Architect . was not able to be present and
asked that the item be Tabled until June 25 , 1992 .
V . NEW BUSINESS
A. Shoney' s (Wag ' s Conversion) - 51 Mc Henry Road
The Grove - Route 83 and Lake Cook Road
Full Review - Elevations/Materials/Signs
Mr . Robert N. Blessing , Chief Operating Officer of Lunan Family
Restaurants , Inc . 4247 George Place . Schiller Park . IL 61076
(678-2032) made the presentation. He explained that they
acquired 29 WAG' S Restaurants last year and they became a fran-
chisee of Shoney ' s in the Chicago area . Fourteen restaurants
have been converted so far and the Buffalo Grove Wag ' s will
become Shoney' s in August of 1992 , with about $260 ,000 being
invested in the process .
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June 11 , 1992 - Page Two
Shoney ' s is a family operation with separate menus for Kids
and Senior Citizens . They do not serve liquor and will not be
open 24 hours . The Buffalo Grove Wag ' s staff of 35-40 people
will be maintained and about 60 new people will be employed .
1 . ELEVATIONS/MATERIALS :
They will be changing the Wag ' s image to Shoney ' s by using new
contemporary subdued colors . An atrium will be added , staying
within the column lines of the existing building , and the
interior will be renovated using new contemporary colors that
are compatible with the exterior colors . The kitchen will be
completely reorganized .
Samples of the awning fabric and building colors were provided .
The building , including the brick , will be repainted with
Glidden exterior latex paint . Colors will be teal blue , maroon
and beige .
After the glass atrium is constructed , the awning fabric is
placed on top of the glass . The atrium has been designed to
withstand the Chicagoarea snow loads . etc .
Com. Gordon expressed concern with the maintenance of the
exterior paint on aluminum. He recommended thorough cleaning
of the surface before application.
Ch. Larsen commented that if the paint is applied when
the temperature is 50 degrees or over , it will adhere .
Mr . Blessing described the power wash and application process
and said it would not be to their advantage to have the paint
deteriorate . Some of the buildings in the area were completed
before this past winter and the paint is still in good
condition.
When the remodeling takes place , the restaurant is kept open
for three weeks while the atrium and freezer are added . The
outside freezer is unique in that it is a stucco material ,
making it look like part of the building . They close on a
Saturday night for a four day period while the mechanical
changes , booths , carpeting , tile , etc . are completed . Then
employee training takes place during the next four days . They
reopen, as Shoney ' s , after the eight day period . Reconstruc-
tion of the Buffalo Grove Wag ' s is scheduled for August .
2 . SIGNS :
Mr . Blessing said they will replace the existing sign faces on
the building , the monument sign on Lake Cook Road and The Grove
entrance sign with the Shoney ' s logo . The colors are compati-
bile with the building .
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June 11 , 1992 - Page Three
Ch. Larsen asked if there is a sign on the northeast corner
of the building? If so . it is not shown on the drawing .
Li Mr . Blessing responded that there is a sign on that wall and
all existing signs are to be replaced . He apologized for the
oversight .
Com . Wiessman made a motion to recommend to the Village Board
and to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the name change from
Wag ' s to Shoney ' s , on the building located at Route 83 and Lake
Cook Road . including the ground sign and The Grove pylon sign,
be approved as submitted .
Com . Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman, Gordon, Weissman , Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the
elevation changes , including the addition of the glass atrium
with the awnings and the freezer , materials and colors , as
submitted .
Com . Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Weissman. Gordon. Viehman , Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
D. Riverwalk Permanent Ground Signs
Recommendation for variance .
Mr . Tim Beechick , Partner with Hamilton Partners , made the
presentation. He referred to the 1991 meeting that was held
with the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Appearance Commission.
The size and location of a permanent monument sign that would
appropriately announce and identify the project in light of
the future overpass over Milwaukee Avenue . The original sign
proposed was 31 feet in height and this was rejected .
The sign has been scaled down to 24 feet in height and two
locations are being requested : One ( 1 ) on Lake Cook Road
and one ( 1 ) on Milwaukee Avenue . One sign has been located
at the far eastern edge of the project because there is a
right turn entry at that location. This entry will remain
after overpass is constructed . Secondly , with the grade
separation , it would not be feasible to locate a sign any
closer to Milwaukee Avenue .
The sign on Milwaukee Avenue has been located about half way
between the overpass and the entry on Riverwalk Drive .
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June li , 1992 - Page Four
The sign as depicted on the revised sketch will have a four
foot (4 ' ) granite base that will match the granite base of
the building. The address , 2150 E. Lake Cook Road , will be
in black lettering . The balance of the sign will be metal
and will be charcoal grey to match the roof of the building
as well as the roof of the stair towers and monuments on the
lower portion of the building . The lettering will be white ,
and it will be back lit , for visibility after dark .
The lettering on the sign will be Riverwalk and Zenith for
the time being . There is ample room on the sign for at least
one other major (anchor ) tenant , with two smaller spaces used
to feature tenants of a semi-retail nature . They would submit
additions to the signs to the Appearance Commission for review.
Comments from Commissioners :
Com . Viehman verified that the Riverwalk and Zenith letters are
both 14 inches in height .
Mr . Beechick said they do not want telephone numbers on the
sign and asked that the temporary sign be permitted to remain.
Ch. Larsen said the permit for the temporary sign should be
renewed when necessary.
Com. Gordon questioned if the address is the same for the whole
building?
Mr . Beechick ' s response was that there is no address on the
building now, and they just tell people to look for the tall
building and they have had no complaints . If they want to add
any copy to the sign or numerals on the building , they would
be submitted to the Appearance Commission for approval .
Com . Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the
materials and aesthetic values of the Riverwalk double-faced
pylon signs , 24 ' in height by 15 ' in width by 3 ' in depth:
and further recommend to the Village Board and Zoning Board
of Appeals that the required variances required for height
and total square footage of each individual sign be granted .
The variance is strongly recommended in view of the fact that
the Petitioner has been willing to work with the ZBA and the AC
to resolve the unfortunate and unique situation caused by the
highway being elevated in front of the property.
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Gordon, Weissman, Viehman, Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
June 11 . 1992 - Page Five
E. Winchester Estates - Route 83 . North of Bank Lane
Permanent Signs - Recommendation for variance
Mr . Michael Larsen, V. P. of Red Seal Development made
the presentation. He described the proposed monument
sign to be located on Route 83 . It will be masonry and stone .
The sign at the entrance to the subdivision from Bank Lane will
be sandblasted wood . The background will
be white with blue letters and logo .
Mike Larsen said he has calculated the distance between the
proposed sign and the small Seigle ' s sign will be about 62 feet
away.
Ch. Larsen commented that the small Seigle ' s sign is located on
a right-of-way that is not in the Village , Mr . Harry Seigle had
an agreement with Mr . Perrillo , the owner of the former pig
farm , to put the sign up . The Village never issued a permit
for the sign and it is not on Village property , so the proposed
sign does not require a variance . The Seigle ' s sign is an
off-premise sign.
Mr . James Kelly said that Mr . Schar has been involved with
this situation and would have to make the final decision
It was Mike Larsen' s understanding that the Seigle ' s sign
is going to be moved approximately six feet (6 ' ) east .
Ch. Larsen asked why the entry sign is going to be thirty
feet from the intersection? He asked the reason for the
variance? He cited Chatham and Lexington In The Park as
examples of multi-family zoned developments that were required
to have a variance because they have two signs within 250 feet
of an existing sign; not because the signs were supposed to be
against a wall and/or meet the set back of the zoning district
in which they are located , pursuant to Sign Code , Section
14 . 20 . 010 . He added that Seigle ' s sign is not a legal sign.
The bank sign is on the opposite side of the intersection at
Bank Lane and it does not count . There are more that 250 feet
the bank sign and the proposed permanent monument sign.
Mr . Kelly said he would review the situation with Staff
and inform Ch. Larsen and Mr . Mike Larsen of the final
decision.
Ch. Larsen said the entry sign does not require any
variance .
The Commissioners had no questions or comments .
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June 11 , 1992 - Page Six
Com . Gordon made a motion to recommend approval of the
Winchester Estates construction and materials of the
monument sign as depicted , and positioned as indicated on the
plat of survey. It is further recommended that a variance be
granted , if it is determined that a variance is required .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman , Weissman , Gordon, Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the
entry sign on the east side of the Winchester Estates
driveway as submitted .
Com . Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman, Weissman, Gordon, Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
VI . ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Approval of May 14 , 1992 Minutes - Com . Viehman commented
that the minutes have some blank spaces (names and phone
numbers) that need to be filled in. Also , on page 4 , the
word "not " should be changed to no (questions , etc . )
Com . Viehman made a motion to approve the May 14 , 1992
minutes as corrected . Com . Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Gordon, Viehman. Larsen
NAY - None
ABSTAIN - Weissman
Motion Passed - 3 to 0 , 1 abstention.
Minutes will be corrected and placed on file .
B. Ch. Larsen welcomed Trustee William Reid as the new Village
Board Liaison and said his input will be appreciated .
Mr . Reid confirmed that President Mathias is aware of the
need for AC Commissioners and they should be appointed soon.
C. Ch. Larsen asked about the 2 black houses at Westchester I and
II . Was black an approved color? Mr . Kelly will research.
VII . ADJOURNMENT
Com. Gordon made a motion to adjourn. Ch. Larsen adjourned the
meeting at 8 : 31 P.M.
Respectfully submitted ,
Shirley Bates ,
Recording Secretary
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June 11 , 1992 - Page Seven