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Plan & Design Commission approves R Marts sign package for 10 Skokie Valley Road
Summary
The Highland Park Plan & Design Commission approved a design review and sign package for the Shell station at 10 Skokie Valley Road to be rebranded as R Marts, allowing modest increases in wall and ground signage with restrictions on future lighting changes.
The Highland Park Plan and Design Commission on Oct. 30 approved a design-review and sign package for the gas station and convenience store at 10 Skokie Valley Road, which the operator said will be rebranded as R Marts.
Senior staff walked the commission through before-and-after renderings and measurements for the property’s exterior signage, noting a roughly 7.9-square-foot increase in wall signage and a 58.7-square-foot increase in total ground sign area. Staff emphasized that the certificate of approval preserves the site’s existing white accent lighting and that any change to that lighting would require a return to design review.
Ryan Wazowski, who identified himself as president of Our Parts LLC and Lake Cook and Skokie LLC, said the redesign is the first major investment at the site since 1996 and is intended to keep the family-operated location competitive with larger chains while offering fresh food and an improved car-wash experience. “Our goal with this exterior redesign is to stay competitive with large corporate-run operators,” he said.
Commissioners asked whether the renderings’ red accent lighting would be installed and whether mirrors and pole-mounted signs would change size or visibility; staff and the applicant confirmed the depicted red lighting will not be installed and that existing white accent lighting will remain. The commission also discussed how much new signage is directional for the on-site car wash versus visible from the street; the applicant said much of the added area is on pole-mounted signs adjacent to the car-wash entrance that are not highly visible from the roadway.
A commissioner moved to approve the design review and sign package with the requested variations; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. Commissioners who voted “aye” in roll call were Commissioner Nanczyk, Commissioner Fettner, Commissioner Nannas, Commissioner Henry, Commissioner Mantis and Chair Karen Moore. The motion carried and the item was approved.
Staff noted the PDC’s approval adopts the draft certificate of approval and exhibits; any future material changes to lighting or sign location not reflected in those exhibits would require an amendment and a return to the commission.
