Plan Commission grants special‑exception sign permits for three Schofield/Business 51 sites after vision‑triangle debate

The Village of Weston Plan Commission approved three special‑exception sign permits at its March 9 meeting, allowing existing monument or pylon signs to be refaced or replaced while addressing nonconformities.

Staff described a common pattern: a number of monument signs installed in the early 2000s had been built or moved in ways that now conflict with the village’s updated sign code, producing issues of height, area or setback. For each application staff recommended a special exception and an encroachment agreement when the sign sits in the public right of way.

Mako’s Floor Covering (3111 Schofield Ave) sought to replace the cabinet on an existing monument sign that partially encroaches into the Village road right‑of‑way. Matthew Clark, a sign vendor working for Mako’s, told the commission the plan is to retain the existing foundation and posts and slide a new cabinet onto the existing frame; he confirmed the applicant will perform an ALTA survey to establish exact property lines. Commissioner Gurrent moved to approve Mako’s permit with three conditions from the packet; the motion carried.

The replacement of the monument sign at 6307 Schofield Ave (Weston Psychiatric) prompted the lengthiest debate. Residents and commissioners raised safety concerns: one audience member said the sign sits in the vision triangle at the Schofield–Teagan intersection and forces drivers to ‘creep’ forward, creating pedestrian risk. Staff recounted that when the sign was moved in 2008 there was a complaint and a site check; at that time the sign was found to meet the standards in force then, but changes in the code since mean the sign is now nonconforming (height 10 ft; proposed area 97.71 sq ft vs. a 64 sq ft maximum; current setback about 5 ft vs. required 10 ft). After discussion — including staff’s recommendation that the commission require an encroachment agreement and a boundary or ALTA survey — the commission approved a special exception to allow the refacing of the nonconforming monument sign, with the recommended conditions.

The Burger King site (6003 Business Hwy 51) requested a replacement pylon sign as part of a planned site redevelopment. Staff said the new sign would continue to exceed code limits but would be smaller than the existing sign; the commission heard one email from an adjacent neighbor concerned about lighting and foot‑candle levels and discussed controls for brightness and message change rates. Commissioners voted to approve the Burger King exception; the applicant will need to obtain the formal sign permit and follow staff review for final sign permit issuance.

For the two signs that encroach into the right‑of‑way, staff said the next step is an encroachment agreement for the board to consider; staff also asked that accurate surveys be submitted to resolve discrepancies with older plans.