Northbrook Park District seeks special permit for electronic message board; board asks that public hearing return to village board
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Summary
The Northbrook Park District asked for a special permit to install an electronic message board at the Leisure Center (3323 Walters Ave); staff said the proposed double-sided, full-color sign would sit about 145 feet from the nearest residence and would auto-dim and limit messages to six per minute.
Representatives from the Northbrook Park District presented a preliminary request for a special permit to install a double-sided electronic message board at 3323 Walters Avenue (the Leisure Center). Planning staff explained that electronic message boards are permitted in the institutional building (IB) district as a special use when they are closer than 250 feet to a residence; the Park District's proposed sign would be approximately 145 feet from the nearest home across Mulder's Avenue.
Staff described the sign as full-color, double-sided, capable of six messages per minute (a cap intended to limit distraction to traffic), illuminated with an auto-dimming feature tied to ambient light, and operating on a 24/7 schedule with landscaping proposed at the sign base. The sign area, height and setback would comply with the new zoning code, but the request is currently at preliminary review and will return as a public hearing should the applicant proceed.
Trustees asked about siting relative to the existing sign and cited visibility concerns; staff said the proposed location is a slight shift intended to increase visibility and that staff would work with the applicant on final placement. Several trustees expressed support for returning the matter to the Village Board for the public hearing rather than routing it through the Plan Commission; the board moved and approved that the public hearing for the requested relief be conducted by the Village Board.
Why it matters: Electronic message boards raise visibility, traffic-safety, and neighborhood-character questions; the specific distance to homes, message-rate cap and auto-dimming proposal are the key technical constraints the board asked staff to evaluate in final application materials.
Next steps: Staff will work with the applicant on a final application, site details, and recommended conditions; the public hearing will be scheduled before the Village Board if the applicant chooses to advance the request.