Appearance Review Commission (ARC)

Approved Copy Appearance Review Commission Meeting Minutes August 24, 2015 A meeting of the Appearance Review Commission was held on Monday, August 24, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall Conference Room, 850 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, Illinois. Ch. Coen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Dick Coen, Chairman Beth Chaitman Lisa Dunn Sean Ehlke Elizabeth Low Absent was: Sherry Flores Jim Hollis Also Present: Jean Spagnoli, Village Planner Jeri Cotton, Secretary Public Comment: There was no Public Comment on non-agenda items. Document Approval Ms. Dunn moved to approve the minutes from the July 27, 2015 Appearance Review Commission meeting. Ms. Low seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote with Ms. Chaitman abstaining. Business: 1. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 775 Waukegan Road – wall signs (continued) Linda Berlin, owner of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, was present. Ms. Berlin explained they have gone down to three colors rather than the five colors previously proposed at the last meeting. She indicated the sign would be the same size on both elevations. Ch. Coen indicated the top of the word Menchie’s and the top of the word frozen would be in alignment, even though the proposed height of the word Menchie’s is 1’8-1/2” and the proposed height of the stacked words frozen yogurt is 1’10-3/4”. The sign would be Appearance Review Commission August 24, 2015 Page 2 of 5 centered vertically within the space. Ms. Dunn would have preferred even fewer colors. Ch. Coen confirmed the returns and trim caps would be raspberry. Ms. Berlin confirmed the green back panels have been replaced. Ms. Low moved to approve the Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt wall signs as presented. The signs will be centered vertically with the words frozen yogurt on both the south and east elevations. The top height will align with the top of the logo, the word Menchie’s and the top of the “F” in frozen. Ms. Chaitman seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Ehlke, Low (4) NAYS: Dunn (1) 2. Mattress Firm, 92 S. Waukegan Road – signage Lynne Rzeszutko, project manager with Identity Service, was present. Ms. Rzeszutko explained they acquired a number of Back to Bed and Bedding Expert stores. They propose replacing the old signage with direct mount, face lit channel letter “Mattress Firm” sign. Ch. Coen noted there is a free-standing location already at Deerbrook Mall. Ms. Rzeszutko explained they have an existing lease in the inline portion of the mall. Ch. Coen noted the surface behind the sign needs to be made to like-new condition. Ms. Rzeszutko indicated patching the background of the sign panel was within her scope. Ch. Coen noted the sign color should be the same as the other Mattress Firm sign color within the center. Ms. Spagnoli noted Jewel will be coming before the Commission with a new red sign. Ms. Rzeszutko explained the sign color will be PMS 485 and will match both the new Jewel sign and the existing outlot Mattress Firm sign. Ms. Rzeszutko noted the returns and trim caps will be black and the sign would be illuminated with red LED. Mr. Ehlke moved to approve the building sign for Mattress Firm. The front elevation wall will be patched and clean to a like-new condition. The red color must match the existing Mattress Firm store in the center. Ms. Dunn seconded the motion. Ch. Coen noted any approval will be contingent upon the petitioner being in compliance with the Village’s Window Signage Ordinance. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Dunn, Ehlke, Low (5) NAYS: None (0) The commissioners discussed the proposed two-sided monument sign. Mattress Firm will take over the existing Back to Bed panel on the existing monument sign. Ch. Coen noted the color listed on the sign needs to match Benjamin Moore #700 Enchanted Forest. He indicated there is a note stating, “Any specifications not explicitly listed herein shall be determined at the sole discretion of IDM.” Ms. Rzeszutko will remove Appearance Review Commission August 24, 2015 Page 3 of 5 the note. Ch. Coen noted there is a 4” margin of negative space. Ms. Spagnoli explained the white on the panel needs to match the Bed Bath & Beyond and the Office Max panels. Mr. Ehlke moved to approve the two-sided monument sign for Mattress Firm. The color of the panel will match the existing panel colors, Benjamin Moore #700 Enchanted Forest, satin finish and the white will match the background panel of the Office Max sign. The note about the sole discretion of IDM will be deleted. Ms. Dunn seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Dunn, Ehlke, Low (5) NAYS: None (0) 3. Athletico Physical Therapy, 43 Waukegan Road – signage Karen Dodge, president of Municipal Resolutions, was present. Ms. Dodge explained they propose a wall sign and 2, two-sided panel changes because Accelerated Physical Therapy is now Athletico Physical Therapy. Ch. Coen confirmed the entire sign is being replaced, so the façade needs to be patched and cleaned to a like-new condition. Ch Coen indicated there were three different blues called out. Ms. Dodge explained the colors are all the same PMS color. Ch. Coen questioned the Inset Oracal #052 vinyl. Ms. Spagnoli noted it is a vinyl that would adhere to the white acrylic. Ch. Coen confirmed the words Physical Therapy would align at the same base height as the word Athletico. He would like to see the dimensions between all three words. Ch. Coen would also like a reference dimension from the edge of the “”A” in Athletico to a specific point. Ms. Dodge confirmed the proposed sign has flush-mounted, channel letters. Ms. Dunn questioned the thickness of the letters. Ms. Dodge explained the letters are 5” deep. Ch. Coen noted the “A” in Athletico is centered vertically. Ms. Chaitman noted the submittal does not call out the light source. Ms. Dodge noted the light source is the same as the existing sign. Ch. Coen noted it would be white LED. Ms. Chaitman moved to approve the Athletico Physical Therapy wall sign. The wall sign color will match PMS 300. The petitioner will provide additional dimensions including the horizontal dimension, dimensions between the words, the letter depth, and light source to Ms. Spagnoli. The fascia will be patched and painted or cleaned to appear like new. The sign will be flush mounted, channel letters. Ms. Dunn seconded the motion. Ch. Coen added the disconnect switch will need to be non-visible. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Dunn, Ehlke, Low (5) NAYS: None (0) The commissioners discussed the proposed monument sign panels. Ch. Coen ensured the blue color would match the wall sign. The white background will be the same white Appearance Review Commission August 24, 2015 Page 4 of 5 as the existing sign panels on the monument sign. Ch. Coen questioned the proportion of the words “Physical Therapy” on the pylon sign, because it is substantially smaller in proportion to the wall sign. Mr. Ehlke noted making the words “Physical Therapy” larger would cause the word Athletico to be made smaller. Therefore, he is okay with what is proposed. Ch. Coen questioned whether the words “Physical Therapy” will be readable. He suggested only having the word “Athletico” and making it larger. Ms. Dodge noted their logo is Athletico Physical Therapy. Ms. Chaitman moved to approve the Athletico Physical Therapy monument sign panels based on the drawing with a revision date of 8/4/15. The background white will be the same white as the four existing panels. Ms. Dunn seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Dunn, Ehlke, Low (5) NAYS: None (0) 4. El Tradicional, 649 Lake Cook Road – wall sign Brenda and Luis Martinez, business owners and Mario Mercado, owner of Mario’s Sign Designs were present. Ch. Coen noted the petitioners are asking for one sign over the entrance. The sign can be 30 feet above the curb level and below the roof deck. The former tenant was granted a sign modification to allow their north wall sign height to be approximately 21’ above curb level and above the roof deck. The proposed sign will be flush mounted, internally illuminated channel letters with white LED. Ch. Coen confirmed the petitioner can take advantage of the sign modification provided the sign is not more than 21’ above curb level. The sign will have black can aluminum returns and white acrylic faces. The sign will have 1/8” green and red trim caps, with the green trim caps for the word, “El” and red trim caps for the word “Tradicional”. Mr. Mercado explained the red trim cap will be non-illuminated. It will only be visible during the day. He noted the owner originally wanted a map of Mexico as a logo. Mr. Ehlke believes the green is very minimal. Mr. Martinez stated he would have both red if the Commission preferred. Ch. Coen understands the concept but would like the trim caps to be thicker than 1/8”. Mr. Mercado could use a translucent vinyl application instead of the trim cap to make the green more visible. Ch. Coen does not believe the 1/8” thickness will be very pronounced. He suggested having the “El” with green returns and trim caps and white faces and the “Tradicional” with red returns and trim caps and white faces. Mr. Mercado asked if they could add a 3” panel behind the letters. Ch. Coen noted it would increase the square footage of the sign and does not believe it would make a substantial difference. Mr. Mercado asked if they could change the font of the word “El” to a cursive font rather than the Helvetica as proposed. The petitioner showed a rendition with the cursive font. The commissioners would be in favor of supporting the cursive font with the green returns. Mr. Ehlke expressed concern about the height of the sign. He suggested lifting the sign by 1 brick course for better visibility. Appearance Review Commission August 24, 2015 Page 5 of 5 Ms. Spagnoli noted the petitioner also needs sign panels on the pylon signs. Ch. Coen noted any additional signs need to come before the Commission before they are fabricated. Ms. Dunn moved to approve the wall sign as proposed with the following changes, to be considered for possible fast track approval. The wall sign will have the word “El” in cursive. Petitioner will submit new drawings showing the returns and trim caps in green for the word “El” and the word “Tradicional” with red trim caps and returns. The sign will be lifted 1 brick course. Ms. Low seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Coen, Chaitman, Dunn, Ehlke, Low (5) NAYS: None (0) Items from the Commission: Mr. Ehlke noted representatives from Deerfield Square came before the Commission about a year ago. It does not appear they have done what they said they would do in their parking lot. Ms. Spagnoli will send Chuck Malk an email asking for a status. Ms. Low asked about the Metra platform. Ms. Spagnoli indicated it has not been completed yet. Ms. Low observed that the Commission is spending a lot of time correcting submittals. She asked what can be done to ensure petitioners are submitting correct and complete submittals with dimensions, light sources, colors, etc. Ch. Coen suggested adding something in the Sign Code stating that incomplete submittals will not be reviewed. The commissioners suggested adding the minimum requirements in a check list as part of the Sign Code. Items from the Staff: Ms. Spagnoli noted there will not be a September meeting. The next meeting will take place Monday, August 31, 2015 at 7:00 pm. The Commission will discuss Jewel and outlot buildings in Deerbrook Mall. Adjournment: There being no further business or discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jeri Cotton Secretary