Planning & Zoning Board

August 11, 2015 WHEATON PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE Chair Schwarze called the August 11, 2015 Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley Street. Upon roll call, the following were: Roll Call Vote Present: Bob Gudmundson Linda Johnson Robert McDonough Patricia Schwarze Scott Weller Absent: Chris Derrick Mark Plunkett City Staff Present: Tracy Jones, Staff Planner II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 14, 2015 The minutes were approved as presented. III. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none. IV. NEW BUSINESS ZA #15-15/ SPECIAL USE PERMIT/ 306 WEST GENEVA ROAD/ THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Pursuant to notice duly published on July 25, 2015 and letters mailed to neighboring property owners on July 23, 2015, Chair Schwarze called to order the August 11, 2015 public hearing requesting approval of a special use permit to install an electronic message board sign in front of the Quest Book Store (owned by the Theosophical Society) located at 306 West Geneva Road. The new electronic message board sign would replace an existing ground sign. A letter of opposition from David Murison at 25W032 Geneva Road was incorporated into the record. Karen Dodge, 325 Sandpebble Lane, Aurora was sworn in. Mr. Dodge stated that he was representing the Aurora Sign Company on behalf of the property owner, the Theosophical Society. Ms. Dodge stated that the subject property is adjacent to commercial properties to the north, residential properties (owned by the Theosophical Society) to the east and west and institutional properties (owned by the Theosophical Society) to the south. Ms. Dodge stated that the proposed electronic message board is intended to better advertise events, workshops and retreats at the Theosophical Society as well as to better advertise products at the Quest Book Store. Ms. Dodge stated that the proposed sign would be 7 feet in height, 42 square feet in size per face, situated 10 feet from the Geneva Road property line and would replace an existing ground sign. The proposed electronic message board portion of the sign is 21 square feet in size per face. Staff Planner Jones stated that the proposed sign is compliant with all of the size and setbacks requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.  Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board August 11, 2015 Page - 2 - of 2 Ms. Dodge addressed the special use standards as required by the Zoning Ordinance. She stated that the proposed special use would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience or general welfare of the neighboring property owners. Staff Planner Jones stated that the Zoning Ordinance requires that electronic message board messages shall be constant and not variable, with the message changes limited to no less than every 4 seconds; and that when an electronic message board message changes, the prior message shall disappear simultaneously with the appearance of the new message; and that electronic message board signs shall not cause illumination in excess of 0.05 foot candles at any property line in or adjoining a residential use. Staff Planner Jones stated that the applicant has indicated that the proposed sign would be operated in accordance with the performance provisions for electronic message board signs required by the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Weller moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to close the public hearing. On a voice vote, all voted aye. Chair Schwarze stated that she had viewed the proposed sign location from the sidewalk in front of Mr. Murison’s residence at 25W032 Geneva Road. Given the distance between his property and the proposed sign location and existing landscaping screening on adjacent properties, she did not feel the sign would cause a problem for him. The rest of the Board agreed. The Board decided to vote this evening. Mr. Weller moved and then Mr. McDonough seconded the motion to approve ZA #15-15 as presented. Roll Call Vote Ayes: Bob Gudmundson Linda Johnson Robert McDonough Patricia Schwarze Scott Weller Nays: None Absent: Chris Derrick Mark Plunkett Motion Passed Unanimously V. MISCELLANEOUS There was none. VI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Weller moved and then Mr. Gudmundson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 p.m. On a voice vote, all voted aye. Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Jones, Staff Planner