Highland Park High School LED Sign on Vine

HPHS PTO has proposed a Illuminated LED Sign on Vine Ave. The proposal is for the sign to be 7 feet off the ground so you can read the bright amber LED sign on Vine in both directions. Every Councilmember except yours truly supported this signs height and illumination.

While I am all about compromise and am willing to give a little to get some, I do not think this type of sign has any place in Highland Park and especially in a residential neighborhood. Now if the High School has one, will the elementary schools be next? Next will be our other governmental bodies and the religious institutions. Then we can start allowing them in our commerical districts.......... If these signs are good for our KIDS, it can be good for the Community, and might also generate more sales tax dollars. How much commercialization of our community and information jamming (good taste or not) can we endure?

I think these signs are ugly, non-compatible with the historic image we try to embrace, and an intrusion into the quiet lifestyle we try to promote especially in our residential neighborhoods.

All that being said this sign request was sent back to Design Review for another look at approval with a note that the Council did not object to height or the illuminated sign as proposed. The wisdom of our Design Review commission was to deny the request 4-2. Now if this will pass at the DRC or upon denial at the Council, I would hope it would be at least turned off shortly after dusk and when the schools are not in session.

While this individual sign does not show the worst case scenario, I hope this is not the spark that causes a city wide use of these signs.