Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Signs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeKalb planning commission approves larger digital sign for school property
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance allowing DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 to install a 55-square-foot electronic changeable-copy sign at 901 S. Fourth St., exceeding the UDO maximum of 40 square feet; the vote was 4-0.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance to allow DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 to install a larger digital display sign at 901 South Fourth Street, voting 4-0 to permit a 55-square-foot electronic changeable-copy portion where the Unified Development Ordinance limits such displays to 40 square feet.
The petition, presented by Tammy Carson, director of facility and safety operations for DeKalb Community Unit School District 428, asked the commission to allow a wider, shorter sign using the existing post. Carson said the district secured a grant to help pay for the sign and plans to use the display for announcements, community events and to advertise open positions in the district. "We feel like we may have a great opportunity to get it in front of more people and be able to let people know when we have positions open," Carson said. She also said the district pays the electric service for the sign and that the Children’s Learning Center (a daycare co-located in the building) would be listed on the sign at no cost for installation, maintenance or electricity.
Planning staff described the proposal as a variance to Article 13.0.6.04.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Staff said the existing sign is approximately 40 square feet (8 by 5) and about 17.5 feet high; the proposed sign would be slightly shorter but wider. The digital display portion would comprise roughly 73% of the total sign area and the display would sit about 38 feet from the curb, farther from the road than several comparable signs on South Fourth Street. Staff noted the UDO requires a minimum message dwell time of five seconds to avoid flashing signs. "Our code does have [a] minimum time limit before messages can change, which is five seconds," staff said during the presentation.
Staff reported three written public comments in support and recommended approval. In the meeting, a commissioner asked about an old sign base in the parking lot; Carson said the district has a parking replacement project planned for the summer and that ownership/timing for removal of the old base was not fully determined.
Commissioner O'Flaherty moved to approve the variance "based on the submitted petition, testimony presented, and findings of fact," referencing the exhibit materials provided by the applicant. Commissioner Becker seconded. The clerk recorded roll-call votes from Becker, O'Flaherty, Wright and McMann; the motion passed with all voting yes.
The commission's approval allows the district to replace the existing ground sign with the proposed digital sign as shown on the submitted exhibit. The decision does not change other UDO regulations; staff said the sign must comply with the ordinance's other provisions (message timing, static elements, setbacks and electrical/maintenance requirements).
