Arlington Heights board OKs sign variation to allow electronic menu boards at Popeyes on W. Dundee

Arlington Heights

On Feb. 17 the Village Board directed staff and the village attorney to prepare final documents granting a sign-variation (DC-25-091) to allow two fully electronic menu boards at Popeyes, 7 West Dundee Road. The petitioner said both boards will be located behind the building and will not be visible from the street.

Charlie Shelley of Site Enhancement Services told the board the request is for two digital boards — one menu board and one presale board — located at the restaurant’s rear. "No sign that we're asking for is gonna be visible from the street," Shelley said in his presentation.

Village staff (Miss Rodman) described the existing menu boards as approximately 52 square feet and about 7 feet high and said the proposed signs are significantly smaller. The staff presentation included conflicting square-foot figures for the proposed signs (the record described them as "less than 8 square feet" and also "about 23 square feet"); the transcript records both figures and does not resolve the discrepancy. Design Commission members unanimously recommended approval, and staff told the board a code amendment to permit similar electronic menu boards (except adjacent to residential districts) is in progress but had not been completed before this request.

Trustee Bertucci moved to direct staff and the village attorney to prepare final documents granting the requested sign-variation relief; Trustee Manganaro seconded. The board took a roll-call vote and approved the motion, as recorded by the clerk.

What’s next: the petitioner said construction will begin once permits are obtained. Staff will prepare final documents for formalization of the variation.