Controversial Darien Sign Rejected

DARIEN, IL — The Darien City Council rejected a controversial 25-year agreement for a digital sign at its main intersection this week. Opponents contended the city would have little control over the messages on the sign.

The 12-foot-high monument-type sign would have been at the northwest corner of Cass Avenue and Plainfield Road. Businessman John Manos proposed that he be allowed to build the sign at the corner in return for the city granting an easement. At any one time, the city's messages would be one of eight rotating advertisements, officials said.

Manos owns Brookhaven Plaza, which is next to the site of the proposed sign. His firm, Bloomingdale-based Jemco & Associates, advanced the idea for the sign during the recent process in which the city allowed the company to construct a building to house Dunkin' Donuts and a pizzeria near the proposed sign.

Ward 5 Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said the city should not give up control of messages on the sign. "A 20-plus-year commitment with them and our not having control over what goes on the sign is not the right thing for this corner at this time," she said.

Ward 1 Alderman Ted Schauer agreed.

"Why are we going to put our advertising in the hands of somebody for over 20 years to begin with? It's one of those questions that keep coming up," Schauer said. "What's going to stop them from advertising for businesses outside Darien?"

Mayor Joseph Marchese said when Manos and others approached him about the idea, they said they didn't usually receive advertisements from businesses more than 1 1/2 miles away from a sign. But he said nothing in the agreement would limit the sign to local businesses.

Ward 2 Alderman Lester Vaughan said the sign would provide "added value" for local businesses, saying it was another way they could market themselves.

"It will cost us $250,000 if we do (the sign) ourselves," he said. "This company is coming in and they're doing it for us."

Marchese said the agreement would mean a sign with a brick wall, landscaping and a water feature.

"If you don't approve a sign, you will get nothing on that corner. You will see a drive-thru around the entrance to Dunkin' Donuts," the mayor said.

At the least, he said, the city could later approve a scaled-down entry sign for Darien at the corner. Such a project would cost $30,000, plus ongoing maintenance, officials said.

"It's an entryway to the city," Marchese said.

The council voted 4-3 against the sign proposal. Against it were Sullivan, Schauer, Joseph Kenny and Tom Chlystek. The supporters were Vaughan, Eric Gustafson and Tom Belczak.

In early March, the council voted in favor of the type of sign at the site, but that was just a first step.