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CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE:
AGENDA ITEMNUMBER: — A. |
Zoning Text Amendment
Government Facility Signs
FILE NUMBER:
COMMITTEE AGENDA DATE: April 8, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-O-0013
COUNCIL AGENDA DATE:
STAFF REVIEW: Tom Dabareiner, AICP SIGNATURE _( 6 —
APPROVED BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Michael Guttman SIGNATURE
ITEM SUMMARY:
Signs that are used by Government Facilities are exempt from the requirement to obtain a sign permit.
These signs, however, are still subject to other signage regulations such as the total number of signs
permitted on a Government Facility property as well as the size of each individual sign. For example,
a Government Facility is limited to only one freestanding sign on a property. This can be problematic
given that signs for a Government Facility contain information that benefit the public and often require
multiple signs or signs that may require a larger area than what is permitted. For instance, a public
school may require more than one freestanding sign to provide information at various points on a
property. Current regulations, however, prohibit this from occurring. The City’s signage regulations are
effective at regulating commercial businesses, which use signage to advertise or promote services or
products of a business. Government uses, however, have different priorities than commercial entities
and are necessary to provide the public with important information.
Staff is therefore proposing a Zoning Text Amendment that would further exempt signs for a
Government Facility from the maximum number of signs and from the maximum size of an individual
sign. It is not uncommon for municipalities to exempt government signs from most sign regulations. All
signs would still be subject to visibility requirements to ensure vehicular and pedestrian sight lines are
not obstructed by any sign. Staff is also proposing an amendment to the definition of Government
Facility, which currently only mentions “units of government”, to include “public schools” to make clear
that public school signs are also exempt from certain sign regulations.
At the April 2"? hearing, members of the Plan Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend
approval of the proposed zoning text amendment with additional language that requires sign plans to
be submitted and reviewed by staff for compliance with Section 12.6 of the Zoning Code, which
regulates illumination levels, intersection visibility, and structural requirements of signs, though no
formal building permit would be required. This recommended language is in italics in the attached
draft ordinance under Section 2.
ACTION PROPOSED:
Discuss and recommend approval of the Zoning Text Amendment related to Government Facilities,
including the proposed language recommended by the members of the Plan Commission.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Attachments: Draft Ordinance
PC Report

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ORDINANCE NO. 24-0-0013
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF WEST CHICAGO — APPENDIX A
ARTICLES IV AND XII RELATING TO GOVERNMENT FACILITY SIGNS
WHEREAS, the City of West Chicago periodically reviews the text of the Zoning Code
for inefficiencies and redundancies; and
WHEREAS, the City’s sign regulations exempt signs for Government Facilities from the
requirement to obtain a building permit; and
WHEREAS, these signs, however, are still subject to other signage regulations such as
the total number of signs permitted on a Government Facility property as well as the size of each
individual sign; and
WHEREAS, this can be problematic given that signs for a Government Facility contain
information that benefit the public and often require multiple signs or signs that may require a
larger area than what is permitted; and
WHEREAS, the City’s signage regulations are effective at regulating commercial busi-
nesses, which use signage to advertise or promote services or products of a business; and
WHEREAS, government uses, however, have different priorities than commercial entities
and are necessary to provide the public with important information; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes it is in the best interest of the City to amend the
Zoning Code to exempt signs for a Government Facility from the amount and size regulations; and
WHEREAS, Notice of Public Hearing on said zoning text amendment was published in
the Daily Herald on or about February 19, 2024, as required by the ordinances of the City of West
Chicago and the statutes of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was conducted by the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of
Appeals of the City of West Chicago on March 5, 2024 and on April 2, 2024 pursuant to said
Notice; and
WHEREAS, at the Public Hearing all interested parties had an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the City of West Chicago have received the
recommendation of the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals which contains specific
findings of fact, pursuant to Recommendation No. 24-RC-0005, a copy of which is attached hereto
as Exhibit “A” which is, by this reference, made a part hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of West Chi-
cago, Du Page County, Illinois, in regular session assembled, as follows:
Ordinance 24-0-0013
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Section 1. That Section 4.1 — Construction of terms, of Article IV, Appendix A, of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be amended as follows:
“Government facility: A building, structure or parcel of land owned, and operated, or used
by a unit of government, including a public school.”
Section 2. That Section 12.3(E) — Signs-Exempt Signs-Government Facility Signs, of
Article XII, Appendix A, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be amended as
follows:
“(E) Government facility signs, including signs used for identification, information, or di-
rectional purposes and other signs incidental thereto, shall not be required to obtain a
building permit but shall submit signage plans for review for compliance with Sec-
tion 12.6 of the Zoning Code. Such signs shall not be located within the vision triangle
as defined in section 12.6-3, and-shal-eomplh-with the regulations set forth in-see-
dent”
Section 3. That all ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict with the pro-
visions of this Ordinance are, to the extent of such conflict, expressly repealed.
Section 4. That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage, approval
and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law.
PASSED this day of , 20
Alderman D. Beebe ee Alderman L. Chassee _
Alderman J. Sheahan ee Alderman H. Brown _
Alderman A. Hallett ee Alderman C. Dettmann _
Alderman M. Birch Ferguson Alderman S. Dimas ee
Alderman J. Smith, Jr. ee Alderman C. Swiatek ee
Alderman R. Stout ee Alderman J. Short ee
Alderman J. Morano _ Ward 7 — Vacant
APPROVED as to form:
City Attorney
Ordinance 24-O0-0013
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APPROVED this day of , 20
Mayor Ruben Pineda
ATTEST:
Executive Office Manager Valeria Perez
PUBLISHED:
Ordinance 24-0-0013
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EXHIBIT “A”
RECOMMENDATION # 24-RC-0005
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
SUBJECT: PC 24-05
Proposed Zoning Text Amendment to Section 4.1 (Construction of terms) and
Section 12.3(E) (Exempt signs — Government facility signs) of Appendix A (the
Zoning Code), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago.
DATE: April 2, 2024
DECISION: The motion to recommend approval of the proposed amendment was approved by
a vote of seven (7) “yes” and zero (0) “no”.
RECOMMENDATION:
After a review of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment as presented, the Plan Commis-
sion/Zoning Board of Appeals finds that the proposed Amendment does not pose a threat to the
health, safety and welfare of the community provided that language be added requiring the re-
view of sign plans for compliance with Section 12.6 of the Code prior to the installation of said
signs. It is the Commission’s opinion that the proposed Amendment will be beneficial to the City
of West Chicago.
The Amendment is in keeping with the purpose of the Zoning Code and the Comprehensive
Plan. The Plan Commission is of the opinion that the proposed amendments will protect, pro-
mote, and improve the public health, safety, morals, convenience, order, appearance, prosperity
and the general welfare of the citizens of West Chicago community.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Laimins
Chairperson
VOTE:
For Against Abstain Absent
Laimins
Henkin
Billingsley
Banasiak
Kasprak
Slattery
Terrazas
Ordinance 24-O0-0013
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