Geneva aldermen OK sign variance

GENEVA – Aldermen unanimously approved a sign variance for DePAW Canine Campus, 100 S. Glengarry Drive, Geneva, at the City Council meeting April 19.

The pet service business has been at the corner of Glengarry and Commerce drives since 2007 and occupies the entire 16,000 square feet of the building, City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said.

The variance, which was approved unanimously by the Planning and Zoning Commission, seeks to have a wall sign on the building’s secondary facade instead of the primary side, which fronts Commerce Drive, Dawkins said.

“The applicant feels that the secondary façade is a more appropriate location for their wall sign because this façade faces and is visible to the East State Street corridor,” Dawkins said.

“The applicant states that this sign location may improve the business’ visibility to help customers and deliveries easily locate the business from East State Street,” Dawkins said. “The sign would not be illuminated and would be located below the roofline of the building. The sign is currently erected on the secondary façade, pending further action of the requested variation.”

Because the business is in an industrial park, no one can see the sign unless they are entering the park because of a related business, according to the applicant’s original filing.

“If the sign were allowed to be placed along the north side of the building, it can be observed from both Route 38 and Kirk Road,” thus increasing visibility to potential customers, according to the applicant’s filing.