PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the public hearing to consider variances for proposed ground signs for Westridge Court Shopping Center - DEV-0144-2025
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Therese Egner, Community Planner
ENTITLEMENTS REQUESTED:
Variances to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) and Section 6-16-3 (Prohibited Signs) to allow for the installation of two proposed ground signs to replace existing ground signs along Aurora Avenue.
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Official notice for the public hearing for DEV-0144-2025 was published in the Naperville Sun on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
The subject is located at 2823 Aurora Avenue and consists of an approximately 49.65-acre shopping center with frontage along IL Route 59 and Aurora Avenue. The property is zoned B2 (Community Shopping Center District) and includes approximately 473,398 square feet of commercial space.
On November 19, 2019, City Council passed Ordinance 19-149 approving a preliminary/final plat of subdivision for Glacier Park Resubdivision No. 10 (Westridge Court Shopping Center), which subdivided the subject property into six lots to further redevelopment efforts on the site.
On January 21, 2020, City Council passed Ordinance 20-006 approving variances for two monument signs along IL Route 59 for Westridge Court Shopping Center and to allow two existing monument signs along Aurora Avenue to function as off-premises signage.
At this time, the petitioner is requesting multiple sign variances from Section 6-16-3 and 6-16-5 of the Naperville Municipal Code for two new signs along Aurora Avenue and to allow them to exceed permissible signage allowances and to function as off-premises signage. These signs are proposed to replace the two existing signs for Westridge Court along Aurora Avenue, triggering the need to request new entitlements.
DISCUSSION:
The petitioner requests approval of variances for two ground signs advertising the Westridge Court Shopping Center. Additional details regarding each sign proposed are outlined below:
Monument Sign 1 / West Sign Variance
Along Aurora Avenue, there is an existing ground sign located west of the southern entrance of Westridge Court Shopping Center. The existing sign is currently a non-conforming sign in terms of height, sign area, changeable copy area and setbacks. The petitioner proposes replacing the sign while maintaining its current location and has indicated that the proposed sign will be similar in height and size as the existing sign. The sign is proposed to be improved with updated branding of Block 59 and Westridge Court, consistent with previous sign approvals for the properties.
The following variances are requested for a new west sign:
• A variance to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) to allow an increase in the maximum sign area from 45 square feet to 290 square feet.
• A variance to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) to allow an increase in the maximum sign height from 10 ft to 33 ft 10 ½ inches.
• A variance to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) to allow a 15 ft interior side yard setback in lieu of 40 ft.
• A variance to Section 6-16-3 (Prohibited Signs) to allow the west sign to function as an off-premises sign to identify uses on interior lots.
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Code Allowances |
Existing Sign |
Proposed West Sign |
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Height |
10 ft. |
33 ft. 6 in. |
33 ft. 10 ½ in. |
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Width |
N/A |
16 ft. 7 in. |
16 ft. 7 in. |
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Overall Sign Area |
45 sq. ft. |
276 sq. ft. |
290 sq. ft. |
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Interior Setback |
40 ft |
15 ft. |
15 ft. |
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Additional Notes |
Off premises signage is not permissible |
Off premises signage exists |
Off premises signage is proposed |
Staff is supportive of each variance due to the aesthetic enhancements and the consistency in design with the prior approved signs along IL Route 59, as well as comparability in height and size with the existing west sign along Aurora Avenue. The off-premises nature of the sign is reflective of existing conditions and a result of the way the shopping center was subdivided in 2019. If approved, the existing sign will be demolished and the proposed sign will be installed in the same footprint as the existing sign.
Findings of Fact
The petitioner’s responses to the Standards for Granting a Zoning Variance can be found in the attachments. Upon review, staff agrees with the petitioner’s west sign variance findings and recommends their adoption by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Monument Sign 2 / East Sign Variance
Along Aurora Avenue, there is an existing monument sign at the east entrance to Westridge Court. The existing sign is currently a non-conforming sign in terms of height and sign area. The petitioner proposes replacing the sign while maintaining its current location and has indicated that the proposed sign will be similar in height and size as the existing sign. The sign is proposed to be improved with updated branding of Block 59 and Westridge Court, consistent with previous sign approvals for the properties.
The following variances are requested for a new east sign:
• A variance to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) to allow an increase in the maximum sign area from 45 square feet to 127.8 square feet.
• A variance to Section 6-16-5:2.2 (Ground Signs) to allow an increase in the maximum sign height from 10 ft to 20 ft 1 ¾ inches.
• A variance to Section 6-16-3 (Prohibited Signs) to allow the west sign to function as an off-premises sign to identify uses on interior lots.
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Code Allowances |
Existing Sign |
Proposed East Sign |
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Height |
10 ft. |
20 ft. 1 ¾ in. |
20 ft. 1 ¾ in. |
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Width |
N/A |
16 ft. 7 in. |
16 ft. 7 in. |
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Overall Sign Area |
45 sq. ft. |
111.5 sq. ft. |
127.8 sq. ft. |
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Additional Notes |
Off premises signage is not permissible |
Off premises signage exists |
Off premises signage is proposed |
Staff is supportive of each variance due to the aesthetic enhancements and the design consistency with prior approved signs along IL Route 59, as well as the comparability to the attributes of the existing east sign. The off-premises nature of the sign is reflective of existing conditions and a result of the way the shopping center was subdivided in 2019. If approved, the existing sign will be demolished and the proposed sign will also be installed in the same footprint as the existing sign.
Findings of Fact
The petitioner’s responses to the Standards for Variances can be found in the attachments. Staff concurs with the petitioner’s findings and recommends their approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Key Takeaways
• The petitioner requests approval of multiple variances from Sections 6-16-3 and 6-16-5 of the Municipal Code to permit two ground signs on the subject property to exceed signage allowances.
• Monument Sign 1 / West Sign: Staff supports all variances associated with the west sign due to the aesthetic enhancements to match prior approved signs for the shopping center and comparability to the existing sign attributes.
• Monument Sign 2 / East Sign: Staff supports all variances associated with the east sign due to the aesthetic enhancements to match prior approved signs for the shopping center and comparability to the existing sign attributes.
RELATED FILES
N/A