Council reopens Compass sign variance after Mould Center objections; signage vote tabled to next meeting
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Summary
The council agreed to reconsider an omnibus-approved sign variance for 3100 Skokie Highway after the Mould Center's attorney and owner said the proposed sign would not be visible to their business; Alderman Coleman moved to reconsider and later successfully moved to table the item to the May 19 meeting to allow further negotiation with Compass.
Adam Kingsley, attorney for Jim Sackelman of the Mould Center, and Sackelman told the council they were not given adequate opportunity to resolve a sign dispute with the Compass project at 3100 Skokie Highway. Sackelman said the sign option the developer offered was only 3 feet high and would be obscured by traffic, hampering the Mould Center's visibility and livelihood.
"The sign that they've offered us is 3 feet, and the cars are next to it ... All we're asking is 8 feet high ' the starter sign so we're visible," Sackelman said during public comment. That representation followed an attorney presentation that sought a variance for the Compass development's signage plan.
The sign variation had been included on the council's omnibus vote agenda and approved earlier in the meeting. Alderman Robert Coleman told the council he had not received sufficient information from the city attorney before voting and moved to reconsider his omnibus vote on agenda item 6‑5; Alderman Michael R. Jackson seconded the motion. The motion to reconsider carried on roll call, bringing the signage matter back to the regular agenda.
On the regular agenda, Alderman Coleman moved to table consideration of Ordinance 6‑5 (the sign variation for North Chicago 2023 LLC at 3100 Skokie Highway) to the council's next regular meeting to allow additional negotiation with Compass and to give affected businesses more time to be heard. Alderman Dante Brooks seconded the tabling motion; the motion carried by roll call vote (motion carried; Alderman Jackson recorded a No vote). The council directed staff to work with Compass and the Mould Center to explore sign placement options, including a possible compromise that would place the Mould Center's logo within or alongside Compass's monument signage.
Council members and staff described the dispute as a negotiation over visibility and business livelihood rather than a zoning change to the property. Staff said the city would follow up with Compass to see whether a middle option or the owner's preferred 8‑foot‑high sign could be achieved without undermining the developer's signage plan.
Council action: Item 6‑5 was removed from the omnibus vote by a successful motion to reconsider and then tabled to the May 19 regular meeting for further negotiation and public discussion.
