Verizon Store Owner Ordered to Remove Signs, Plans to Appeal Decision

The owner of the Oakland Avenue Verizon store is not happy that the Design Review Board is requiring him to remove four advertising signs on the front of the building.

"I'm trying to clean up the building," said Dan Rosenbaum. "You guys pick and choose on what to enforce and it doesn't seem fair for the small business guy."

By code, village businesses are allowed one exterior sign each, and two if located on a corner. The board on Thursday considered whether to grant an exception to the store at 4144 N. Oakland Ave., but voted against it.

"I think the fact that it's advertising sets a bad precedent," Board Member Chad Omon said. "We don't want to see advertising plastered up on buildings all over the village."

Rosenbaum said he replaced framed artwork on the exterior of the building with advertisements in the same frames when the Verizon store opened in March. He plans to appeal the decision to the village Board of Appeals, saying other businesses violate advertising codes without consequence.  

The board also further discussed for the Sendik's parking lot.

The board is scheduled to vote on the design at their June 9 meeting, but members said they still had many questions and disagreements.

"Overall the whole thing looks a little too lofty, a little too warehouse-y for Shorewood," Board Member Ann Weninger said. "I have a lot of questions."

Some concerns from board members included the balance and pattern of metal and brick on the exterior of the building, the design of the parking garage, and the lack of definition of the residential entrance.

To keep the plans moving forward, village Planning and Zoning Administrator Ericka Lang said the committee could vote to approve the design conceptually on June 9 with the caveat that they work out the details of the design later.

Also Thursday, the board voted to approve the implementation of a monument sign no higher than 12 feet to go in front of the Building in the southernmost planter. The sign will include the logos for the bank and Walgreens, and the building's address.

Additionally, members approved a new facade window and blade sign for the .