Planning board recommends school electronic sign with conditions; asks district to seek permits for other school signs

The City of Kankakee Planning Board recommended approval of a conditional use permit for an electronic message component as part of a pole sign at Millie Prigler School (710 North Chicago Avenue) with conditions intended to limit nighttime illumination and operational impacts on nearby residences.

Brian Pensac, representing the school district, said the district needs the sign for visibility, community notices and event information and asked for the electronic component to be active to convey timely messages. The district proposed a message change interval to convey multiple brief notices; Pensac said the sign could be programmed and that the district would prefer more frequent updates during school‑day hours.

Planning staff and several commissioners expressed concern about enforcement and nighttime light levels. Staff noted the existing illumination standards in the code (including an 11PM–7AM off window for signs facing residential areas) and requested that the applicant supply photometrics and a confirmation that the manufactured sign can be dimmed. The applicant confirmed the proposed sign can be dimmed and that the manufacturer provided controls.

The planning board’s recommended conditions (as adopted in the motion) include: limiting hours of electronic illumination to 7AM–7PM; message change frequency limited to once every 10 seconds per the applicant’s request and the board’s motion; a final inspection after installation to verify compliance with illumination and message frequency rules; and a request that Kankakee School District 111 apply for conditional use permits or permits for other district signs to bring existing school signs into compliance with the new code. The motion passed on roll call and will be forwarded to City Council for final action.