Verizon Sign in Northbrook Village Square Was Not Approved

Verizon constructed a big, highly visible red and white sign outside its store in the Village Square of Northbrook. It sticks out among other business signs in the area.

But there’s just one problem. Nobody approved it.

Certainly not the Northbrook Village Board, the body that gives final approval to permit applications.

According to the Northbrook Star, both the phone company and village agree that a Verizon contractor requested the sign at the same time they applied to put up a much simpler banner sign, which was approved without discussion. But the one actually constructed, which cost “tens of thousands of dollars,” was not.

“The contractor proceeded with both projects but with only one permit,” according to the Star.

So at a recent meeting, Verizon representative Doug Merritt requested the board declare what they’ve done as a “minor code change.”

“Agreements were memorialized, and ultimately it was poorly executed by your planning and building services,” he said. “We received a phone call on the eighth of October 2014 that the permits were approved.”

But at least four trustees were opposed to allowing it to pass.

“It’s big, ugly and not in keeping with the rest of the signs,” said Trustee Michael Scolaro. “It doesn’t look right. A mistake has been made and someone’s going to have to pay for it. I’m just not sure it has to be Northbrook. Take the sign down.”

Trustee Kathryn Ciesla noted Verizon isn’t a mom ‘n’ pop organization that doesn’t understand the ways of government.

“This is a corporate entity that just should have known better,” she said.

The matter is now likely to be settled or decided in court.

more via the Northbrook Star