By Dee Longfellow
At a recent meeting of the Elmhurst Zoning & Planning Commission (ZPC), a discussion about height and setback variance requests were discussed concerning District 205 and York High School’s plans to place a video scoreboard at Clarence East Field, located on the southwest corner of St. Charles and Spring roads.
The area neighborhood group has been consulted and appears to be happy with the plans, seeing no real changes in impact to the neighborhood. The sound system will not change, so sound levels are not expected to increase.
One of the concerns Commissioners brought up was safety, considering the traffic at that corner, especially along St. Charles Road traveling eastbound, where drivers might be distracted by a large video screen.
Sponsorship will be allowed on the sign, but company names and logos only—no messages like “Shop at Joe’s,” etc. Sponsors will have to be companies that serve the school community in some way or sponsor a school activity.
“District 205 has met about it and they fully want to control ad revenues and make sure it’s a ‘proper’ sponsor,’ ” said Commissioner Carole Snyder. “It will have a dramatic impact. It seems like 13 feet by 3 feet is a gross underestimate.”
Snyder also asked if there was a possibility that a student could climb up there and somehow hurt themselves or damage the sign. There was also discussion about the possibility of increased traffic accidents with the railroad tracks that cross St. Charles and stretch over to Spring Road.
The measure passed the Commission by a vote of 6-2, approving the setback and height variation.
“This is a very committed group [working on the project],” said ZPC Chairman Susan Rose. “If conditions seem reasonable to them and there is no evidence of damage to property then it should be approved.”
More information will be provided to the Commission after a period of 90 days. City staff said conditions are still able to be modified if a concern comes up during that time.
At this point, the project goes to the Development, Planning & Zoning Committee for its approval; then on to the full City Council.
