Residents: Electronic Signs Could Mean the Difference Between 'Mayberry and Las Vegas'

Commission wants more input from the community as it looks to tweak the zoning code.

Elmhurst residents have until March 8 to give the city their opinion on electronic signs in residential neighborhoods. A Planning and Zoning Commission public workshop Thursday provided some feedback from residents, but city staff want more—not just opinions on these kinds of signs but also ideas on how the zoning code could be updated to reflect the community's needs and wishes. “We're at the point where ... (the current code) is not going to work anymore,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Than Werner told the audience. While Thursday's meeting was not meant to address one specific situation, the discussion was prompted last year when Redeemer Lutheran Church requested a 7-by-3-foot electronic sign on its property at 345 S. Kenilworth …

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Jim Court

10:47 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013

Many of the incumbents did a very good job. Mike Bram definitely comes to mind.   more ›

Committee Says Redeemer Lutheran's Request for Electronic Reader Board Sign Should be Rejected

Attorney says city code does not permit electronic signs in residential neighborhoods.

Following a legal opinion that an electronic billboard is not allowed per village code in a residential area, Elmhurst's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee on Monday recommended denying Redeemer Lutheran Church's  request to install an electronic sign on its property at 345 S. Kenilworth Ave. The church is requesting a 7-by-3-foot electronic reader-board sign at the northeast corner of St. Charles Road and Kenilworth. Redeemer's request was unanimously approved by the Zoning and Planning Commission May 24. But after much controversy and many questions from church neighbors, the DPZ Committee sought the opinion of Elmhurst City Attorney Don Storino. On Monday, Scott Day, the attorney for Redeemer, asked that the committee make its …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Troubled By Signs in These Times

Electronic signage issue needs more public input.

I want to express my opinion about the alarming practice of nonprofit organizations easily gaining approval for increasing numbers of big, intrusive, electronically-changing signs in Elmhurst.  Most recently, I was also dismayed by a nonprofit insisting on such a sign despite neighborhood opposition and the lack of neighborhood input allowed by the nonprofit into the process. For example, I received no notice until months into the approval process. As far as I know, no neighborhood input was solicited, let alone included, until well into the approval process – nearly too late, I fear, to really affect the approval process. The original proposal called for a large sign elevated 2 feet to comprise 75 square feet off the ground with roughly …

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Angie Pool

1:51 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Nicely said Mr. Ries.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: Church Sign Raises Safety Questions

Resident questions move to area in light of sign proposal.

To the editor: As a new resident of Elmhurst, we were really happy with our decision to move to the city back in July, 2010. We were considering many neighboring towns, but in the end, we settled on Elmhurst because of its central location, proximity to trains, O’Hare, freeways, etc. and, most importantly, the quaintness of the downtown area. We ended up moving into the Cherry Farm neighborhood just 4 doors south of the intersection of Kenilworth and St. Charles road. We were delighted with our selection of neighborhoods, especially because we knew very little about Elmhurst prior to moving to the community. Then, we began to think about our home in the context of our ability to grow into it. We were considering a renovation to the home …

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Signs of Stress: Church Neighbors Say Electronic Sign Would Detract from Character of Neighborhood

Committee urges the church to reach out to neighbors.

A group of neighbors is opposing a request by Redeemer Lutheran Church to install an electronic sign on its property, at 345 S. Kenilworth Ave. The church is requesting a 7-foot-by-3-foot electronic reader-board sign at the northeast corner of St. Charles Road and Kenilworth. The overall width of the sign would be 14 feet. About 25 neighbors showed up at Monday's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee meeting to protest the sign. They said it would hurt their property values and is out of place in the neighborhood. One resident commented through an email to Elmhurst Patch that the proposed sign is larger than a similar sign at York High School, which is not zoned residential. "Why does the church need such a gaudy sign that is clearly …

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