Condo residents don't like Nicor's plans

A proposed renovation that will quadruple the footprint of a 49,000-square-foot Nicor facility on Glen Ellyn's eastern edge has neighbors in Lombard upset because they say a large parking lot and a backlit sign on the property's eastern side will diminish property values.

Residents of Finley Place Condominiums, 1133 Finley Road, Lombard, told Glen Ellyn officials at a workshop Monday that signage and the parking lot related to the expansion is not necessary and that they hoped Nicor officials would reconsider the 4-foot-by-8-foot sign, which will be placed on the building about 31 feet up.

Janice Beisner, a member of the association, said the sign's height means it will shine directly into the third and fourth floor condominiums.

“The sign will certainly be the kiss of death for any sales in our building, she said. “This isn't about what is in-code and what is out-of-code. This is about what it's going to do to our property values.

The company sought approval for several code variations, including a variation to the village's sign code, which usually limits signs to 25 feet.

As residents and Nicor officials each made their cases, village officials said a little bit more information might be necessary. One trustee suggested adding more landscaping as a natural shield between the sign and parking lot, and the homes across Finley Road.

Some residents said the sign was unnecessary, and that they preferred the present sign that sits closer to the road but faces north and south.

They said the new sign was not necessary because the building is an employee-only facility, and that employees should know where the building is located.

However, Nicor officials pointed out that the company is at times an emergency provider and that it is sometimes necessary for people outside of the company to visit the site. The company's real estate manager, Dave Behrens, noted that the present sign is 133 feet from Finley Place and that the new sign will be between 450 and 600 feet away.

The $22 million project will result in a 200,000-square-foot facility that will include an office center and warehouse space, as well as a testing facility and fleet garage. It will consolidate operations of its Aurora and Lagrange Park facilities into the Glen Ellyn site.