Missed Opportunity

Editorial: Last night the Planning Commission had an opportunity to improve the Village's historical district and they failed to take advantage of it. The freestanding sign at 124 South Main Street was the subject of an application requesting approval of replacement panels. The sign was originally designed to be internally lighted and is constructed of a metal frame holding plastic panels. In past years, whenever requests for changes to signs came before the Commission, they always required the property owner to bring the sign up to code. Not this time.

The code in this case is Chapter 1161 of the Planning and Zoning Code and, among other things, it says, "Materials and texture are particularly important in terms of their relationship to surrounding buildings and the use of natural materials should be encouraged."

When looking at other signs within the historic district, this seems to be the only commercial sign that isn't made of wood. This is the only sign that is of modernist design.

The Planning Commission missed the opportunity to make this sign "stylistically compatible with other new, renovated and old structures in the Village District," as the law requires.

It's a small thing, perhaps, but lots of small things like this could change the character of our Village.

Let's hope the Planning Commission is more vigilant in the future. After all, that is their job; enforce the law.