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Cedar Lake zoning board denies proposed digital billboard variance after residents raise safety and proximity concerns
Summary
The Town of Cedar Lake Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4–1 on July 9 to deny Robinson Outdoor’s request to relax distance requirements for a proposed digital billboard, following residents’ concerns about proximity to homes, visibility at an intersection and use of cameras.
The Town of Cedar Lake Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request from Robinson Outdoor on July 9 to reduce the minimum separation between an off-premise digital billboard and nearby residences.
Danny Marler, who identified himself as a real-estate lease-acquisition specialist for Robinson Outdoor, described the proposed sign as an 8-by-16-foot, two-sided digital billboard mounted about 19 feet above grade. He said the company’s signs include auto-dimming and amber-alert features and that the firm has turned billboards over to emergency officials after disasters: “We actually turned both billboards ... over to the city officials, the FEMA, Red Cross. We did no advertising for 4 months on those billboards because Red Cross and FEMA ... were utilizing our boards,” Marler said.
Residents and several board members opposed locating the sign near residences and condos. Multiple participants noted the company requested a site roughly 63 feet from a house where the town ordinance requires about 600 feet separation; board members said that is an order-of-magnitude reduction from the ordinance distance and would undermine the rule’s purpose to keep billboards away from housing.
A resident also asked about cameras mounted on the structure and who would control or access those images. Terry Broadhurst said, “This is the 1st we’re hearing about the cameras ... who do they what what rights do they have to the information they’re filming?” The petitioner replied the system provides a constant feed, is not recorded, and access is restricted.
Board members raised safety and precedent concerns and questioned whether the chosen site defeats the intended sight-line and traffic-safety benefits of the town’s setback rules. After discussion a board member moved to deny the variance; the motion passed on a roll call recorded in the meeting as four votes in favor of denial and one vote against.
Why it matters: The decision preserves the local ordinance’s separation standard and addresses neighbors’ safety and privacy concerns while rejecting a proposal that would place a digital billboard much closer to housing than the rule intends.
What happens next: The petitioner may revise its proposal, pursue a different site, or reapply with additional information. The record does not show any immediate appeal or follow-up action scheduled.
