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East Side residents ask commission to expand mural guidelines after large murals appear
Summary
Two East Side residents urged the commission to adopt citywide mural guidelines and asked whether large new murals near Jewel‑Osco were installed without approval; planning staff said murals are not treated as signage unless they contain advertising text and will research the issue further.
Residents who live on Saint Charles’ East Side used the public‑comment period to urge the Planning Commission to expand mural guidelines beyond the historic district after they noticed two very large murals on new commercial buildings.
Sheila Ducci, who said she has lived on the East Side for more than 20 years, told commissioners she recently saw "two very large scale in your face murals" on new buildings near Jewel‑Osco and asked whether the city had design guidelines for murals on commercial buildings. "If these murals were installed without proper approval or outside scope of previously approved plans, I would like to ask whether the city can require their removal before final inspection and final sign off on these buildings," she said.
Planning staff responded that murals are not considered signage unless they include text advertising a business, and that painting a building (including murals) generally is not regulated by the zoning ordinance. Staff acknowledged a "gray area" because the buildings were approved with elevations as part of a PUD and said the department would investigate internally and research whether citywide guidelines or permitting changes are appropriate.
Commissioners expressed interest in reviewing potential approaches used by neighboring towns and asked staff to report back with findings. No formal action was taken; staff said it would bring more information to a future meeting.
