1977-03-10 - Appearance Control Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE CONTROL COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE
MARCH 10, 1977
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:39 P.M. , March 10,
1977. In the absence of Chairman Helms, Commissioner Hardt motioned
to appoint Commissioner Rosenfeld as temporary Chairman.
Commissioner Bentley seconded the motion, which was accepted
unanimously. Roll Call was as follows :
PRESENT: Acting Chairman Rosenfeld, Commissioners
Bentley, Hardt and Tolle.
ABSENT: Chairman Helms, Commissioners Butler and Gramm.
QUORUM PRESENT
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Acting Chairman Rosenfeld deferred approval of the minutes
until the next meeting when Chairman Helms is expected to return.
3. DISCUSSION
a. BRIGHT LIGHTS - Temporary Mobile Sign
Mr. R. Fields
1271 West Dundee Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60090
Mr. Richard Fields presented his request for temporary
mobile signage. He explained that during the summer months,
newspaper readership, which is his present advertising medium,
declines and so do his sales. He is unable to purchase a
billboard, since all of these are reserved for realtors.
Mr. Fields requested permission for a temporary sign for a duration
of one month, and will agree to an unlit sign, with no flashing
lights, with a white background and black lettering. Mr. Fields
went on to explain the economics of renting such a sign, $185. 00 for
a one month period, and his previous experience with increased
sales with the use of temporary signs.
Commissioner Hardt felt such signs were unattractive in
any fashion, and did not wish to establish a precedent by allowing
the use of mobile signs. He recalled that the Commission had
earlier approved the use of mobile signs for new businesses for a
period of 30 days, but he did not wish to see the regular use of
this form of advertising.
Both Commissioners Bentley and Tolle expressed their
concern about the lack of esthetic value of these signs.
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Acting Chairman Rosenfeld asked if Mr. Fields had any
more specific information as to the wording, dates, etc. he would
want. Also, Acting Chairman Rosenfeld felt the trailer upon which
the mobile sign rests is quite unattractive and wondered if perhaps
the sign could be supported without the use of the trailer.
Mr. Fields replied he wanted immediate approval of the
sign, for a period of 30 days, from March 11. The sign is 4- feet
by 8 feet, with no flashing lights, white background with
black lettering, and would prefer a lit sign.
The Commissioners expressed concern that many other
merchants would also request mobile signs, and did not feel they
would be able to discriminate. Mr. Fennell stated his department
has had three inquiries about the use of temporary signs recently,
and felt if all requests were approved, temporary signs would be
spaced approximately every 500 to 1,000 feet along Dundee Road.
Mr. Fennell stated that the building inspectors, if authorized by
the Appearance Commission would be able to insure maintenance
on the signs by renters.
Acting Chairman Rosenfeld stated that if Plaza Verde
management and the Merchants' Association could work up plans
for a suitable sign to be used by tenants, temporary signs might
be approved in the interim. He suggested that the signs be
removed from the trailer, and placed within a U-shaped hedge of
evergreens to soften the appearance of such signs. Commissioner
Tolle suggested the use of either junipers or pfistzers as
suitable plantings.
After some further discussion, Commissioner Hardt moved
to accept the temporary display sign as proposed by Bright Lights
with the following recommendations :
1) A fencing or shadowing of the base be taken care of
by the planting of suggested evergreens in a U-shaped manner;
2) the sign be removed from the trailer base, and the sign
face be of a white background with black lettering;
3) the flashing lights on top of the sign be removed I
possible, and the sign itself will be lit only during
business hours ;
4) Bright Lights is willing to conform to any hspections
by the building inspectors to make sure the sign is
properly maintained;
5) the approval is for a time not to exceed 30 days, with
immediate renewals;
the sign location is to be the same general area as used in
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hardt and passed
unanimously.
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b. ELSTON BUILDERS Shopping Center - Lighting
Mr. Ronald Dahlquist
1701 Lake Avenue
Glenview, Illinois
Mr. Dahlquist came before the Commission to present the
lighting package for the Elston Builders Shopping Center. A.
layout of the center showing location of lighting was shown to the
Commission, and the various fixtures proposed were explained.
Fixture "A" , a clear glass, French Colonial Country
designed fixture was proposed for the building front. The
fixture is to have a black and grey-green finish.
Fixture "B" is a matching smaller type of fixture "A" ,
to be used on the back of the complex.
Fixture "C"is a recessed fixture to be used in the
fascia all around the soffit.
Fixture "D" is a pole - mounted fixture for the parking
area, with four arms having four lights. The pole is 13 feet high
with a 2 foot base.
' Fixture "E" represented security lighting, holophane wall-pack,
for the service drive.
r .,.
The Commissioners thought the lighting package
attractive with few recommendations. Chairman Rosenfeld suggested
an alternative be sought for the pole-mounted parking lot
fixture (Fixture "D" ) since it' s design was not similar with
other fixtures. Mr. Dahlquist stated after much searching, Fixture
"D" seemed the most compatible, but was willing to look into it again.
After discussion on security lighting, Commissioner Hardt
moved to accept the lighting package as presented by Elston Builders
with the stipulations that should an alternate for Fixture "D" be
found, it will be supplied to Mr. Fennell who will present it to
the Commission, and that Fixture "E" will have not more than one
candle illumination at the property line. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Bentley and was passed unanimously. '
c. THE GOLDEN SPOKE - sign change
Mr. J. Eisenbeis, owner Mr. A. Chmielewski, designer
253 West Dundee Road 226 Frances Lane
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60090 Barrington, Ill. 60010
Mr. Eisenbeis explained that to increase sales in his
bicycle business, he has purchased the rights to sell Raleigh
bicycles , and a new sign to boost business by advertising this fact
is requested. The proposed sign is the same size as his present one,
is red, white and blue , and reads," Raleigh Bicycles, The Golden Spoke,
Parts and Service" .
Discussion ensued that although the sign was
attractively designed, it has been the policy of the Appearance
Commission to prefer that the store name, in this case , Golden
Spoke, be more prominently displayed than that of the merchandise
carried (Raleigh Bicycles) .
Mr. Eisenbeis stated that he purchased the expensive
rights to carry Raleigh bicycles in order to save his business by
carrying a more elite line of bicycles and it was advantageous
for him to advertise the brand he stocks. Also, the Raleigh Bicycle
sign as proposed is one of the "recommended" signs Raleigh
suggests.
Although several suggestions for rearrangement of the
wording were made , no decision could be reached by all concerned.
A vote on the approval of the sign ended in a two-Aye and two-Nay
stalemate. Acting Chairman Rosenfeld suggested Mr. Eisenbeis
appeal to the Board of Trustees.
4. OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Fennell reported that his discussion with Koenig & Strey
Realtors on the requirements for roof screening decided at the
January 27, 1977 meeting for Building B included painting the roof
eauipment to match the fascia, It was felt that the trees would
provide additional screening.
Golden Bear Sign - Mr. Fennel reported that inquiries have
determined that Golden Bear owns the land the restaurant is on,
and leases the parking facilities. Acting Chairman Rosenfeld
requested that Mr. Fennel obtain a copy of the deed or the plat or
survey.
Grand Spaulding Dodge Sign - Mr. Fennell reported he has
contacted the company on the maintenance of their sign, and
Grand Spaulding Dodge has promised to correct the problems with the
missing lettering.
Acting Chairman Rosenfeld requested that the owners of
Buffalo Grove Mall be contacted to correct their signs, (remove
bank name, etc ) .
5. ADJOURNMENT
Since there was no further business to come lefore the
Commission, Commissioner Tolle moved to ajourn the meeting. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Hardt, and the meeting was
adjourned at 9 :50 P.M.
Res ect ly( u tee,
Lte'C. A. uerc o, Recording Secretary
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