Steve Balich Editors Note: The Former Homer Chamber President Spoke to the Village Board some years ago against banning flag signs to no avail. Point being Business depends on signs to not only know they are actually there, but to attract business. The argument for restricting signs was “What If” every business had unsightly signs. First problem is unsightly is an opinion. Second problem is that if every business had the same type of sign the sign would have very little value since people would not notice any of them. Business is tough enough without over restricting signs. The signs should be restricted by size, and not allowed to block vision of turn lanes. A dynamic bright sign needs to be above the height of cars so drivers vision is not impaired. That car wash being talked about has a sign well above the direct vision of cars going down 159th. It has been there for as long as I can remember, and no accidents because of it. What on earth is it hurting?
Derek Swanson, Freelance Reporter3:36 pm CST February 17, 2020
#homerglen #twill #tcot #sbalich #signs #regulation
In the Old Business portion of the regular Feb. 12 meeting of the Homer Glen Village Board, Trustee Brian Burian addressed Trustee Ruben Pazmino for his recent Facebook comments supporting the owner of Classic Express Car Wash, who had violated the Village’s new signage ordinance.
Pazmino wrote on Facebook, “Let’s help out this local business folks! Great family who is trying to make it after the 7 year construction project. One of the reasons I am against our signage ordinance. #supporthomergrelbusinesses.”
In his response to Burian, Pazmino insisted that the ordinance, passed on Jan. 22, did not allow enough leeway for signage that local businesses were allowed to display, namely digital signage, as the reason for his vote.
“Good people can have different opinions and not be disagreeable,” Burian said in his statement. “I didn’t get everything I wanted in the sign ordinance, and I’m sure others can say the same. But when I agree with 95 percent of something, I take the win and move on.”
The board members continued to disagree, with Pazmino taking particular issue with the idea that he was “anti-business,” based on him voting “no” for the ordinance. Pazmino, who has been a business owner in Homer Glen for seven years for Rubi Agave Latin Kitchen, went on to defend his stance on the sign ordinance and the social media posts, saying, “Show me something on there that was false, and I will resign.”
Trustee Ann Holtz, who also voted against the sign ordinance, was absent from the Feb. 12 meeting.
The board concluded the Old Business portion by agreeing to focus on plans for the construction of 143rd Street — which will add a second traffic lane to each direction, a mountable median and channelized left turn lanes — along with the impact it will have on business owners over the next few weeks.
Workshop for Glenview Walk Park
A Village-owned lot in the Glenview Walk neighborhood is in the planning stages to become a children’s park with two playground areas.
A 2- to 5-year-old area, along with a 5- to 12-year-old area, will fill the .88-acre lot, featuring swing sets, slides and a jungle gym for each.
Two options for the park construction were presented to the board, with Option 1 being the more affordable with an estimated cost of $81,458.
The board showed more interest in the second option, which would provide nicer amenities and would be predicted to see more use, though the cost of the second option would require a budget of $200,000. The key difference between the parks would be a mulch play area for Option 1, and a pour-in place rubber surface for Option 2, with the possibility of a pavilion for seating being added.
Parks & Recreations Committee member Marty Pavlik, who started the push for the new park a year-and-a-half ago, spoke at the meeting.
“I got the idea from a few neighbors and took it and ran with it,” Pavlik said. “At the meeting we had, there were probably 60 people, with kids. I was shocked … I couldn’t believe all those people came to support the park,”
Pavlik said he attended that Jan. 30 meeting with the Glenview Walk Homeowners Association intended to gauge residents’ support of the park.
Though no action was taken on solidifying either option, the board was to revisit the park discussion at its next regular meeting.
Once action is taken, estimates set construction to begin either this May or June.
Complete Streets policy enacted
Homer Glen was voted to become a Complete Streets village, which would allow all new roadways to be accessible to all anticipated roadway users, including bicyclists.
“For roadway projects, we’re going to be looking to accommodate not only vehicular traffic, but also ways to accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, as well as any public transportation opportunities,” said Michael Salamowicz, development services director. “So, every time we do any kind of roadway project, these are things we are going to look at.”
