Appearance Commission Holds Fast to Its Standards

Afraid of creating a dangerous precedent, the  required Life Source Blood Services to follow Village code and reduce the size of the letters on its new sign at its July 6 meeting. 

Life Source wanted its new sign to have larger lettering that the 18 inch requirement. The Commission unanimously gave approval to the proposed sign at a new facility at 2510 Waukegan Road only if the letters were smaller.

Life Source wanted the sign above its new location to exceed the Village’s 18-inch lettering requirement by two inches with the logo even bigger. The Commissioners were afraid other tenants in the strip center mall would want similar attention as well as other local businesses. 

“If we allow the L to be 20 inches then Panera will want a larger letter and then everyone else in the center will come to us,” Commissioner Amy Olson said. She was referring to existing tenant . 

“Then we’ll hear from businesses in other locations,” Commissioner Tina Shaw added. 

Life Source representative Gary Demma argued the fact that Panera Bread’s sign contained wider letters while his client’s were narrower should make a difference. 

“I always tell my customers width is more important than size,” Demma said. “Smaller letters with this type face won’t be noticeable,” he added referring to his proposal. 

The Commission was afraid to set a precedent that could bring an avalanche of requests for larger lettering in signs. It was unwilling to allow Life Source to exceed the Village sign ordinance of 18 inches. 

Life Source was granted its certificate of appropriateness conditioned on a logo not to exceed 20 inches, the L and S in Life Source not exceeding 18 inches on the sign and the rest of the letters being no more than 16 inches. Demma was agreeable. 

In other business, the Commission continued a request by Patton House at 939 Harlem Avenue so the petitioner could return with a more specific proposal. The provider of senior affordable housing is replacing its sign because of damage to the existing standard. 

The Commissioners were concerned with the placement of logos on the sign. Olson and Shaw were joined by Commissioner Jon Leverenz seeking the continuance. Commissioner John Bradshaw voted against it. 

Certificates of appropriateness were given to at 1746 Glenview Road, Subway at 2401 Sanders Road and Nella Consulting at 755 North Milwaukee Avenue. All three votes were unanimous.