Several Des Plaines aldermen voiced their opposition Monday night to a measure that would allow three billboards in the city to change locations as a result of the expansion of the I-90 tollway.
The council ultimately voted 7-1 to defer the proposed city-wide zoning amendment, which was recommended for approval by both the city’s Plan Commission and staff, to its next meeting slated for April 20. The decision came after developers asked for more time to talk to aldermen who oppose the measure.
At issue are two billboards currently located just north and south of I-90 and east of Mount Prospect Road, in addition to one billboard located south of I-90 and east of Mannheim Road, which city staff say are at risk of condemnation by the Illinois Tollway Authority due to the widening of I-90.
All three billboards, which are owned by OUTFRONT Media, are considered nonconforming, meaning that they, along with several others in the city, existed before the Des Plaines officials placed a cap on the number of billboards allowed, said George Sakas, the city’s director of community and economic development, in an interview following Monday night’s meeting.
Senior planner for the city, Scott Mangum, said the current zoning ordinance does not allow for nonconforming billboards to be relocated. The proposed amendment would change that, allowing any nonconforming billboard the option of relocating within 500 feet of their original location only if they are being removed as a result of roadway construction by a government agency, he said. Additionally, Mangum said, the billboards must be relocated within one year of removal and adhere to all zoning requirements.
Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman strongly opposed the measure.
“I think we need to maintain maximum control of billboards in the city,” he said.
Brookman also referenced a series of legal disputes between billboard companies and the city over the past two decades.
Mayor Matt Bogusz said he agreed with Brookman. Billboard issues “have been botched so much in the past” that the city should take a step back before allowing these three billboards a fast track to relocation, he said.
Though the proposed amendment would apply city-wide, and not just to these particular billboards, several other aldermen and city staff noted that the proposed zoning change is very limited in scope.
If the council does not approve the amendment, the current code does not allow for the billboards to be replaced, Mangum said.
If they are removed, the Illinois Tollway Authority would have to pay for the value of the billboards, which could be in the six or seven digits, Sakas said. If the city were to allow for the relocation of the signs, the cost of moving them would still be born by the Illinois Tollway Authority, but it would likely be much less expensive, he said.
Rather than asking city council to approve the zoning change, Brookman said OUTFRONT Media should apply for three new billboard permits.
But Mangum said the city has a cap on the number of billboards allowed, and all those permits have been issued. The cap would have to be increased to allow for more billboard permits to be awarded, he said.
After the meeting, Sakas said the total number of billboard permits allowed by the city is 12. But there are currently 17 or 18 billboards in Des Plaines, depending on how you count, he said, because those signs existed before the cap was set.
Additionally, Sakas said, OUTFRONT Media has found new locations for its billboards in manufacturing districts in the city and, if moved to those areas, the billboards would be zoning compliant.
The council voted 4-4 on the issue while in committee. When the council was in full session, an attorney for OUTFRONT Media, Robert Kenny, asked if aldermen would consider deferring the issue to a later meeting so that he could speak with those opposed to the proposed amendment.
But Brookman said “explaining it to me for two more weeks will make no difference.”
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He was the only council member to oppose a motion to defer to the next meeting.