HO_011620

4 | January 16, 2020 | the homer horizon NEWS
homerhorizondaily.com
Homer Glen Village Board
Amendments to sign regulations hope to clarify confusing language, more
Benjamin Conboy
Assistant Editor
The Homer Glen Village
Board continued
debating the best way to
amend its sign regulations
at its Jan. 8 regular meeting.
The board’s aim in
amending the sign regulations
is multifaceted.
The key objectives are
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to clarify confusing language
in the existing ordinance,
expand the allowable
sign types, create
architectural consistency
with the signs, amortize
non-conforming signs,
allow for better sign visibility
and address sign
lighting.
The board discussed
the use of electronic messaging
signs in the village.
Officials ultimately
agreed that electronic
signs could only be used
by public schools, libraries
and government
buildings but would not
be able to be used by
businesses.
Trustee Ruben Pazmino
expressed his concern that
the new regulations will
be harmful to businesses
and that “the board should
be doing everything we
can to help businesses.”
Pazmino added he felt
“things are being taken
away” from businesses.
Trustees Beth Rodgers
and Brian Burian disagreed.
Rodgers and Burian
said the amended regulations
are much looser than
those in the current ordinance.
The amended ordinance
would also allow
for more types of signs for
businesses.
“Nothing is being taken
away,” Rodgers said. “Everything
is being done to
help [businesses].”
Rodgers also said one
of the goals of amending
the sign regulations is to
preserve the character of
the village and protect its
charm.
The board likewise
discussed how to bring
non-conforming signs
into compliance with the
new regulations. They reduced
a proposed 10-year
amortization period to six
years, citing the 10-year
proposal as being needlessly
long.
In addition, Trustee
Keith Gray expressed
concern about a clause
regulating flagpoles that
restricted the types of
flags can be flown. Gray
called it a “possible infringement
of the First
Amendment.” The language
would have banned
residents and businesses
from flying “organizational”
flags, such as sports
teams, as well as flags of
other countries. Gray had
the language removed.
The board plans on voting
on the sign ordinance
at its next meeting on Jan.
22 once changes requested
by the trustees have
been inserted into the final
ordinance.
Approving financials
The board approved
a pay estimate from D
Construction for its 151st
Street Bike Trail Project
for a combined amount
of $73,971.83. The board
also approved a $26,250
invoice from TRIA Architecture
for their schematic
design for Heritage
Park.
Recognizing hard work
At the meeting, the
board recognized and
thanked Mike McCoy, the
5
senior project representative
for Stanley Consultants
contracted by the
Illinois Department of
Transportation to oversee
the 159th Street Improvement
Project.
McCoy said his team is
happy with the results of
the project, even though
they have a few more
loose ends to tie up. He
said he appreciates the patience
of the community
in what was sometimes a
frustrating process.
“Sometimes, I would
answer my phone and
say, ‘Complaint Department,’”
McCoy
joked.
He added it is nice to be
recognized for his work
by the board because “we
don’t always get recognition
in this business.”
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