Calling them “garish” and out of character with village aesthetics, Lincolnwood trustees have banned “attention-getting devices” aimed at motorists and pedestrians.
Officials called the devices “non-communicative” and said 28 businesses currently using them must remove them within six months, according to the amendment banning them under Lincolnwood’s zoning ordinance.
The Village Board voted unanimously last month to add language banning such devices and defining them as “rope lighting, flexible lighting, series lighting, and other similar applications of window trimming, but excluding seasonal lights.”
“It’s a garish look,” Village President Jesal Patel said of the devices. “The crafters of our sign code would have included them, had options for them been available back then. It changes the character of buildings. Given the amount of regulation we have relative to aesthetics, to leave this one alone did not seem appropriate.”
The devices recently became popular and can be found at several smoke and vape shops, a few gas stations and a handful of other businesses throughout Lincolnwood, Patel said.
“Our sign code already restricted or prohibited flashing, chasing and animated lighting,” he said. “When that language was crafted, this type of lighting was not available. Once technology made it available, it became more popular.”
Doug Hammel, planning and economic development manager for the village, said the devices are distinct from signs that actually convey a message. The attention getting devices are “lights intended to bring attention to local businesses,” Hammel said.
“Trustees said ribbon lights are detrimental to the look of the community and commercial corridors,” he said. “They said flashing lights should not be allowed.”
The board asked the Plan Commission to prepare a proposed ordinance, Hammel said. Staff presented the commission with sample ordinance from other communities, but commissioners most liked Buffalo Grove’s ordinance, he said.
“They favored the language from Buffalo Grove because it was narrowly crafted and specifically exempted seasonal decorations,” Hammel said. “That was an important clarification they wanted to make.”
In crafting the amendment, Lincolnwood officials carefully examined the distinction between attention getting devices and signs, he said.
“The village attorney introduced the concept of communicative value versus not having communicative value,” Hammel said. “If something sent a message or image of some distinct type of message, it would be considered a sign. If it’s simply aesthetic treatment, it would be considered an attention-getting device.”
The Plan Commission recommended the Village Board adopt the amendment approved last month.
Both bodies agreed that users of attention-getting devices already implemented should not be granted any sort of “grandfather” status that would allow the devices because they were erected before the ordinance was passed.
“They do not benefit from legal nonconforming status, meaning, unlike other nonconforming characteristics that can be maintained perpetually moving forward, these types of lighting we’re talking about do not benefit from that status,” Hammel said.
Users of existing attention-getting devices will have six months from the date the amendment was enacted to remove them, he said.
“Staff will work with property owners to make them aware of the regulation and when it will be effective and enforceable,” Hammel said. “After that, staff would be able to request their removal, even if they were pre-existing.”
