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2010-06-15 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Minutes (2) App []BwE REGULAR MEETING As Scum ITS Slack) BUFFALO GROVE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS JUNE 15, 2010 Chairman Entman called the Zoning Board of Appeals regular meeting to order at 7:31 P.M. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Commissioner Stein Commissioner Windecker Commissioner Lesser Commissioner Shapiro Chairman Entman Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Dunn Commissioner Au Also Present: Brian Sheehan, Deputy Building Commissioner William Raysa, Village Attorney APPROVAL OF MINUTES April, 20, 2010 minutes: Corn. Windecker made a motion to approve the minutes of the Zoning Board of Appeals regular meeting held on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Com. Stein seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE — Stein, Windecker, Lesser, Shapiro, Entman NAY —None ABSTAIN — None Motion Passed 5 to 0. Minutes approved as submitted. May 18, 2010 minutes: Corn. Windecker made a motion to Table the minutes of the Zoning Board of Appeals regular meeting held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Corn. Lesser seconded the motion. Voice Vote — AYE was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS 55 W. DUNDEE ROAD, QUALITY CAR CENTER-CAR WASH — SIGN CODE, SECTIONS 14.20.030; 14.20.070; AND 14.40.025, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFACING THE EXISTING GROUND SIGN THAT IS LOCATED THREE (3) FEET FROM THE WEST PROPERTY LINE AND WITHIN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY (250) FEET FROM Li ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PAGE 1 of 4 — JUNE 15, 2010 - ;� n ' ..;: • AN EXISTING GROUND SIGN LOCATED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET. THE NEW FACE WILL INCLUDE A CHANGEABLE COPY LED SIGN Mr. Bob Kuhlman, Quality Car Center-Car Wash, 55 W. Dundee Road, was present and sworn in. The public hearing notice published in the Daily Herald on April 29, 2010 was read at the May 18, 2010 meeting. Mr. Kuhlman explained that he purchased the business with his son in December. There were numerous zoning violations over the last fifteen (15) years that were never taken care of or enforced. He has taken care of all the violations even though they date back way before him. In the process, they put up a new wall sign. They have yet to change the ground sign. All he wants to do is put a logo on and change what is yellow to black and what is black to yellow and at the same time put an LED sign on the top. Since they have been there, their business is significantly down. They have lost about twenty five thousand (25,000) dollars. LED signs have the ability to bring in business because it is point of purchase sale. Now it is not just worrying about himself as an employer but he is an employer that has employees and he is worried about having to lay people off. They have looked at several options and they feel that an LED sign will enhance their business and bring the traffic flow in that they need. They would be able to advertise daily specials. LED signs cost thousands of dollars. If he did not believe that the sign would bring in business it would not be a consideration since he is already losing money. After seeing the results that an LED sign can make he feels that this sign would be appropriate. Com. Stein asked about the timing between messages. Mr. Kuhlman stated that the sign would change not less than every ten (10) seconds. The sign would not continuously change. Corn. Shapiro stated that the proposed sign looks better than the existing sign. He can see where a business like the Petitioner's would benefit from a changeable copy sign. He would like to see the sign not so large. Eight (8) feet by seven (7) feet is fairly big. Mr. Kuhlman stated that the size of the sign is not changing. The proposed sign fits within the existing sign. Com. Shapiro stated that he could support the request. This is an existing sign that is within code. Mr. Sheehan stated that the existing sign was approved by variation so it is code compliant by variation. Corn. Shapiro stated that the Zoning Board of Appeals has always put restrictions on these types of signs such as: advertising is limited to the Petitioner's business; hours of illumination; etc. Mr. Kuhlman added that a lot of people know about the car wash, but there is a large percentage of people that do not know about the auto shop. Corn. Shapiro asked if the lower part of the sign is illuminated. Mr. Kuhlman stated that the lower part of the sign is illuminated. They are changing the lower part of the sign because it was focused on the car wash. Sixty (60) percent of his business is mechanical and only forty (40) percent is the car wash. They are trying to increase traffic. Com. Lesser agrees with most of Corn. Shapiro's comments. He believes that the proposed sign is a marked improvement over the previous sign. He believes that the Petitioner has done a nice job identifying the different aspects of the business. He does not have an issue with the size and Li ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PAGE 2 of 4 — JUNE 15, 2010 location of the sign. He does have an issue with the LED portion of the sign. He believes that the Petitioner can accomplish the same thing with some changeable copy. That is a busy area. He does not like the idea of LED signs. They are distracting and could pose safety concerns. He would like to see the Petitioner accomplish his goals without the LED sign. He supports the sign but not the LED sign. Mr. Kuhlman stated that he realizes that Buffalo Grove High School is out of the Village's jurisdiction,but he has not received any reports that there has been an increase of traffic accidents or disturbances on that road because of their LED sign, nor on 294 or 355. He comes down Dundee Road everyday and he loves the sign at the school. He loves to know what is happening with their sports, and when their programs are going be, etc. He does not believe that the high school sign, versus Dakota K's sign that has to be changed manually, would be any more or less of a distraction. Com. Windecker asked how many employees the Petitioner has. Mr. Kuhlman stated that he has three (3)mechanics and three (3) car wash employees and himself. Com. Windecker asked if Mr. Kuhlman works all day. Mr. Kuhlman stated now that his son is home from the military, he will be the day to day person. Com. Windecker asked about the hours of illumination for the existing sign. Mr. Kuhlman said it is lit all day and evening. Corn. Windecker asked if the sign is turned off at 11:00 p.m. Mr. Kuhlman stated that the sign is on a timer and goes off with the rest of the lights. He does not know the exact time. Corn. Stein asked about the number of lines of copy. The proposed rendering shows two (2) lines of copy. Mr. Kuhlman stated that the sign can provide for up to three (3) lines of copy. Corn. Stein stated that five (5) years ago the Zoning Board of Appeals would have said no. He believes that the direction of the Village is going in a way of saying that these types of signs are acceptable, especially in the area that the sign is located. It is located in a business area surrounded by other businesses. He believes that the two (2) lines of LED copy are not going to be an issue. He would like to see a minimum thirty (30) second delay between screen changes. This is not a large sign that would take people a long time to read. He does prefer this sign to people standing on the street holding a sign. He would rather see this sign approved than something that might be more objectionable. There were no additional questions or comments from the Commissioners. There were no questions or comments from the audience. Corn. Stein made the following motion: I move we recommend to the Village Board to grant the request made by Quality Car Center-Car Wash (Regina Melman), 55 W. Dundee Road, for variance of Sign Code, Section 14.20.030, pertaining to Business Districts; Section 14.20.070, pertaining to Ground Signs; and Section 14.40.025, pertaining to Changeable Copy Signs, for the purpose of refacing the existing ground sign that is located three (3) feet from the west property line and within two hundred fifty (250) feet from an existing ground sign located on the same side of the street. The new face will include a changeable copy LED sign. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PAGE 3 of 4—JUNE 15, 2010 Subject to the Village Engineer's memorandum dated May 3, 2010. The sign will be limited to operating and illumination between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The copy will change no more than once every thirty(30) seconds. Pursuant to Sign Code, Section 14.44.010, Subsection B. Com. Shapiro seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE—Stein, Windecker, Shapiro NAY—Lesser, Entman ABSTAIN—None Motion Passed 3 to 2. Item to appear on the July 12, 2010 Village Board agenda. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Kamka advised that an appeal of the Creekside Commons ground sign is scheduled before the Village Board on Monday, June 21, 2010. Mr. Sheehan advised the Commissioners on the status of the Sign Code update. He will send out the website link. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Com. Stein and seconded by Com. Lesser. Voice Vote—AYE was unanimous. Ch. Entman adjourned the meeting at 7:58 P.M. Submitted by, r 1 i 4,,,,4„,,,.... J ie Kamka Recording Secretary ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PAGE 4 of4—JUKE 15, 2010