Plan Commission approves wall signs for 333 W. Chestnut, defers ground sign after design revisions

The Hinsdale Plan Commission on May 13 approved illuminated wall signs for the multi-tenant building at 333 West Chestnut but asked the applicant to return with revised options for the ground monument sign.

Owner Jen Lambert and contractor Robbie Whitehead of Olympic Sign Company presented plans for two face-lit channel-letter wall signs and a multi-tenant monument sign that would include tenant panels and an identifying panel for the building owner, VistaMark. Commissioners praised the thoroughness of the packet but repeatedly raised concerns about the monument sign’s bulk and color palette.

“I think the sign is bigger, though,” a commissioner said, citing nearby monument signs and the need for the ground sign to fit the scale of surrounding buildings. Commissioners noted village code limits primary sign colors to three and asked staff and the contractor to work with tenants to reduce visible color variety. Whitehead warned of fabrication limits: shrinking corporate logos further could compromise the logo strokes when the sign is illuminated.

The commission approved the wall signs with three modifications: relocate the north wall sign shown on the elevation to the east side of the building entrance for better visibility, require the contractor and staff to limit the monument/tenant colors to three (counting white as a color), and require the applicant to return to the Planning Commission in June with revised ground-sign options that reduce height (below the current 8-foot example) and explore placing the VistaMark identifier within the cabinet to lower overall height. Commissioners also confirmed exterior sign illumination will be controlled by a timer (lights off at 10:00 p.m.).

The motion to approve the wall signs passed; the monument/ground sign review was continued to the June meeting to allow the applicant to submit alternate designs.