Merlin Gets Sign Variance; Grace Hall

The big deal tonight at the Woodstock City Council was whether the new Merlin muffler shop would get approval for its south-facing sign at its new Woodstock location. The new store will be opening on Davis Street, just east of Route 47, between the Mobil station and the Super 8 motel.

Merlin had asked for approval of a variance to allow it to install a sign on the south side of its building that didn't quite squeak through the UDC; you know, that ominous, you'd-better-line-up Uniform Development Code.

The new business, operating in a business area, wanted a sign that was to be installed higher than the UDC allowed and above landscaping that would be installed, rather than leaving an ugly (sorry, Merlin), plain, unadorned wall of a building. Kudos to them. This was the only agenda item to be discussed tonight, so the City fathers (and mothers) weighed in on the issue and, after lengthy discussion, voted in favor of the business's request.

CuppyCoffee had not been so lucky with its sign request, but hopefully the City will recognize the need of a business to have a tasteful advertising sign where the public can see it. Drivers may not stop the first time or the second time, or even a third time passing, but they do become familiar with there being a new business there. In the case of Merlin, when you need a muffler, you'll head on over there.

Coffee or smoothie? The same thing. The more often you pass the business and see its sign, even if only out of the corner of your eye, you know it's there. And a business needs signs to attract customers.

Councilman R.B. Thompson asked about Grace Hall, and City Manager Tim Clifton responded that Woodstock Christian Life Services (WCLS) hasn't directly asked yet for a place on the City Council's agenda. Tentatively, time is reserved on the August 19th Agenda, but it's only tentative.

After the meeting I was asked whether demolition had started yet on Grace Hall. After all, WCLS does own it. Would they need the City's permission to tear it down? Is there any chance that they might just go ahead with plans to knock it down and not even ask the City for permission?

What's that old saying? "It's easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission." (Woodstock has had a little practice with that one, if you remember the Waverly House issue.) If they made a big enough hole in it on the first day, before anyone could get to a judge and get an order to stop demolition, then they'd "have to" go ahead and knock it down. Right? Is anyone watching for cranes and bulldozers? Would they pull a Dick Daley stunt like killing Meigs Field in the middle of the night?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

For Low-Flying Stunt Planes?

How long should it take IDOT to repair a speed limit sign, when all they have to do is stop and put in a new bolt and nut?

This sign is on eastbound U.S. 14 between Ridgefield Road (West) and Lucas Road and has been like this for well over a month. Three weeks ago I emailed IDOT and the repair was put "on the list." How many times a day do IDOT trucks run up and down U.S. 14 between Woodstock and Crystal Lake? How many IDOT employees have seen it (or maybe they don't look at speed limit signs, like most other drivers)?

How many others have noticed it and reported it, perhaps even (erroneously) to McHenry County or to Crystal Lake? But those agencies should have relayed the request to IDOT.

What else in the world is upside-down?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

21 Days = 4 Months?

How long does a Grand Opening last? When a business celebrates its opening, that's a Grand opening; right? And the City recognizes that... Every city is happy to have new businesses opening.

The Woodstock City Code allows a business to announce its Grand Opening with a temporary sign. For the paltry sum of $30.00, a business can post a temporary sign for 21 days. That's a pretty good deal. Hang out your sign. Let passersby know that you are open and ready for business.

What kind of calendar do we have here in Woodstock? Sometimes time passes slowly. Sometimes a day seems like a week. Sometimes, a day repeats itself over and over. Well, pretty soon it will be 21 WEEKS that this sign has greeted motorists on Route 47 in front of Xpert Insurance, near the Shell station. This is clearly a Grand Opening sign and it's clearly a temporary sign. Notice the wooden frame and the sandbags keeping it from blowing away.

From time-to-time I'll make an inquiry at the Code Enforcement office about this sign, and there has been no reply when I have asked to be informed of the Issue Date of the Permit for this sign or when the Permit expires. Could it be that no Permit has been issued?

This sign has been there since at least mid-November, when I first contacted Code Enforcement about it. That's 4 1/2 months. If there is no Permit, then the City should have been acting since November to have the sign removed. Are there any teeth in the Sign Ordinance?