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Raising Cane's plan for Shops of Scherrill raises sign‑height and safety questions at Plan Commission study session
Summary
Raising Cane's representatives outlined a proposed 3,300–3,400 sq ft restaurant with double drive‑through, 50 parking spaces and a proposed 20‑foot pylon sign at Shops of Scherrill Lot 2; commissioners said the monument/pylon sign exceeds the town's sign height limits and required bollards for the outdoor patio will be enforced.
Representatives for Raising Cane's presented plans at the May 19 Schererville Town Plan Commission study session for a freestanding Raising Cane's restaurant on Lot 2 of the Shops of Scherrill, addressing layout, parking, drive‑through operations, signage and outdoor seating safety.
Debbie Stos of Premier Design Group described the proposal to demolish the existing TGI Bridal building, construct a roughly 3,300–3,400 square‑foot Raising Cane's, and reconfigure most of the parking lot. "We'll be providing 50 parking spaces; 46 are required," Stos said, noting the design includes a double drive‑through with two queuing lanes and a raised patio with about 16 outdoor seats.
Commissioners and staff focused on signage and outdoor‑dining protection. The petitioner proposed a pylon sign with a top elevation near 20 feet; zoning ordinance limits were cited as 8 feet for monument signs. A Plan Commission member noted, "Just so you're aware, that is larger than what's allowed by ordinance," and other members said a 20‑foot sign would be out of scale for the town. Stos said she would verify the sign base height and consider adjusting the design, and the commission indicated preference for a monument sign that fits the town's limits or a formal waiver process if necessary.
The commission also required traffic‑bearing bollards and protective fencing at the patio. The architect, Jeff Poutney of ADA Architects, described the patio fencing as a metal fence and said the team would add bollards in accordance with zoning specifications. "There should be a spec in the zoning ordinance," a staff member said; staff agreed to provide the specification page and sign standards to the petitioner.
Other details discussed included expected operations and hours, queuing capacity and murals. Stos said some Cane's locations remain open very late; typical hours vary by market, and she cited examples of locations open past midnight. The petitioner said Cane's emphasizes quick service and hires staff to manage queuing at busy openings. The design team said Rice/brand elements such as a hand‑painted community mural are sought where permitted.
No formal motion or vote was recorded during the study session. Staff told the petitioner to coordinate sign and bollard specifications with town staff (Denise and Andy) and to expect to return to the Plan Commission for final review; the petitioner estimated construction could take about 120 days after permitting with a possible first‑quarter 2026 opening window.
The commission indicated the principal outstanding issues that must be addressed before final approval are sign height and compliance with monument sign standards, plus provision of bollard specifications and confirmation of landscaping and dumpster enclosures.
