Sign location swap could bring billboards to I-355 in Lombard
A plan that could bring three electronic billboards to the west side of I-355 in Lombard also would take away two billboards on Roosevelt Road.
Village officials say it's a swapping of advertising locations that could remove two highly visible signs near businesses and homes and replace them with three signs on the property of a stormwater retention site and a sewage treatment plant.
But some residents who live nearby say they doubt they're the only ones who don't like the idea of 48-foot-wide, 14-foot-tall signs along the highway.
Kathleen and Tom Savage, who live in an unincorporated area separated from the proposed billboards by Glen Oak Country Club, say they worry they would see the billboards from their home, the Illinois Prairie Path and roads they frequently travel, such as Crescent Boulevard.
"During the winter months, there's a chance I could definitely see the glow through barren trees," Kathleen Savage said.
Still, the sites where Lamar Advertising Company hopes to put signs - 630 Crescent Blvd. and 625 W. Glen Oak Road - could be an improvement over signs the company has along Roosevelt Road, near Stewart Avenue and Westmore-Meyers Road, said Bill Heniff, community development director.
"It is somewhat far removed from residents. It is sandwiched between the interstate, ComEd lines and the sewage treatment plant," Heniff said about the village-owned land where the new billboards could be placed. "When we talk about the nature of properties and where it'd be the best location, this one seemed much better."
The signs would contain static messages that would alternate every 10 seconds, and Lamar would sell eight 10-second slots to advertisers. As property owner, the village would enter into 20-year leases with Lamar and would receive annual payments.
Heniff said the leases haven't been finalized so he could not say how much the village stands to make. But he said the public would benefit because revenue from two signs that would be placed on Glenbard Wastewater Authority property would be used to fund treatment plant maintenance and improvements. Money from the other sign could be spent on village projects to be determined.
Plan commission members on Monday recommended changes to the village's sign and zoning codes that would allow the new billboards by a 4-1 vote with Martin Burke opposed. He said billboards are uncommon, if not nonexistent, on I-355.
"I don't know that it's appropriate for Lombard to be the leader in this category," Burke said.
Burke and Stephen Flint opposed plans for one billboard to be built at 630 Crescent Blvd, which received a 3-2 vote. Burke alone opposed plans for the two other billboards to be located at 625 W. Glen Oak Road.
The village board has the final say on whether the billboards will be allowed. The topic will be listed on the agenda for the board's next meeting Aug. 17, but Heniff said discussion will be delayed until Sept. 7.
In the meantime, the village plans to post a frequently asked questions document about the billboard proposal to the proposed projects section of its website and its Facebook page.