Darien Proposal For Controversial Sign Dead

DARIEN, IL — The proposal for a digital sign at Darien's main intersection appears to be dead, with a split City Council rejecting it last week. The 12-foot-high monument sign would have been at the northwest corner of Cass Avenue and Plainfield Road, along with landscaping and a water feature.

Two months ago, the council turned down a previous version of the proposal from Chicago Billboards. The latest proposal would have given the village control of two of eight advertising slots, rather than one, to spread public messages. The new version also shortened the contract to 10 years, down from 25.

The agreement for the sign would be in return for the city granting an easement on its right-of-way.

Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said she disliked the proposal because the city would have no control over the six other advertising slots. She predicted many of those ads would promote out-of-town businesses.

She said none of the communities that Darien likes to use as comparisons — Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Western Springs — have such billboard signs in the middle of town.

"With the Chicago Billboard sign, we are failing our residents by giving up 75 percent of the advertising," Sullivan said. "I would like to pump the brakes on this project to do further research and explore alternatives or abandon the idea of a billboard sign."

Probably the best option for the spot, Sullivan said, is a welcome sign and some "beautiful" landscaping.

Alderman Eric Gustafson supported the proposal. He said the sign costs taxpayers nothing and that it would communicate information to residents who lack internet access.

"If we don't go ahead and get a free sign, it'll come down the chute and we'll spend money on our own sign. I'll totally oppose spending a dime when we walked away from a free sign," Gustafson said.

The council voted 4-3 against the sign. Aldermen Sullivan, Joseph Kenny, Ted Schauer and Tom Chlystek opposed the sign, while Gustafson, Lester Vaughan and Tom Belczak voted for it. They voted along the same lines in April. Last month, the council voted 5-2 to continue negotiations.

Earlier this year, businessman John Manos proposed that he be allowed to build the sign at the corner in return for the city granting an easement. 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 process earlier this year in which the city allowed the company to construct a building to house Dunkin' Donuts and a pizzeria near the proposed sign.