Sign deal in works
By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com April 29, 2012 8:38PM
Channahon Junior High School’s wind energy team included (from left, top) Shalyn Horvat and Abby Holloway. (bottom from left) Morgan Gierman, Katie Engle, Amy Geldean, and Brooke Dykstra. | Jeanne Millsap ~ For Sun-Times Media
Updated: June 1, 2012 8:09AM
JOLIET — The city wants to put one of eight private-public electronic signs near the Westfield Louis Joliet mall.
The sign planned for the corner of Essington Road and Hennepin Drive is one alternative location after the city dropped three sites last year when faced with objections from nearby residents.
Councilman Don Fisher said he did not expect any objections to the mall site, which was presented to the Joliet City Council Land Use Committee at its meeting on Wednesday.
“It’s a very busy, large intersection,” Fisher said. “In my opinion, it does not cause any negative issues.”
Joliet made an agreement last year with Impact Outdoor of Naperville to allow up to 12 electronic signs on city property and other sites that would carry commercial advertising along with public service messages. Ten sites were proposed but three were dropped because of opposition.
The mall site would replace one of the dropped locations if it is eventually approved. The proposal will go to a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals.
None of the signs have been erected so far, although they are expected to go up in the coming weeks once they are approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The signs will be 6 feet by 12 feet in size. The city and Impact Outdoor continues to look for at least two alternative sites to replace the locations that were dropped for the program.
