County to review Billboard and Building Code Ordinances

[April 08, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, the Logan County Board's Planning and Zoning Committee met. Highlights included discussion of permits for billboard locations, updates on building codes and standards, and other old business.

Committee members present were Chairman Pat O'Neill, Vice Chairman Emily Davenport, Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Gene Rohlfs, David Hepler, and Zoning Officer Will D'Andrea. Several guests from Elkhart were also present to talk to the committee about their concerns over the impoundment for the Elkhart mine.

Joe Malek of WC Media in Springfield said his company has talked with Rick Farney of Four Corner's Lube about putting a billboard on that property. He said Farney agreed to having the billboard, so they signed a contract. Malek applied for a state permit with the Illinois Department of Transportation, and he said IDOT granted the permit to put the billboard up on the property. He showed the committee a survey of what the billboard would look like.

Malek said he then looked at the Logan County Ordinances on billboards and found they are only allowed in agriculturally zoned areas. He said the ordinance is different from that of the state of Illinois, which allows billboards everywhere but agricultural and residential areas.
 

Committee member Kevin Bateman asked if the property is in the city, and Zoning Officer Will D'Andrea said it is in an unincorporated part of the city.

Committee member Gene Rohlfs asked if a billboard was really appropriate on that corner, especially since the city chose not to annex that area.

Malek said it would not obstruct traffic.

Committee member Emily Davenport asked whether the billboard would work behind the building? Malek told her his company would work with the committee on the best location.

Malek asked the committee to consider redoing the ordinance, which he feels is outdated. He showed them the state regulations on billboards.

D'Andrea said regulations on billboards are not uniform among counties. Some allow them in commercial and industrial areas, while others just allow them in commercial areas.

Board Chairman David Hepler asked D'Andrea if he would see it as a problem to change the ordinance to be consistent or compliant with the state's ordinance on billboards.

D'Andrea said it is up the committee. He said the committee would need to look at zones countywide.

Bateman said he does not want to make a blanket zoning change. He said "I do not want to see billboards popping up everywhere."

Malek said WC Media looks for traffic counts of at least 7,000 before they even put a billboard up. He said the state would require a business on the piece of property where the billboard goes.

Hepler asked if the ordinance has to comply with the state ordinance, and whether a variance could be considered if the committee did not want to change the ordinance.

D'Andrea said the ordinance did not necessarily have to be the same as the state's ordinance, and a variance could be one option.

Hepler made a motion that the committee ask D'Andrea to research and bring back language that would be consistent with the state.

Building Codes and Standards for rural residences

Bateman asked the committee their feelings about having people pay for a certified home inspection before the County gives them an occupancy permit showing it up to state codes. Bateman said he does not want to hire a full-time building inspector on the "county dime."

Committee Chairman Pat O'Neill said the idea had been previously discussed and homeowners opposed the extra expense. Hepler said several years ago the county had someone who did building inspections because the county "did not have a provision for a Certificate of Occupancy."

Rohlfs asked about the cost of home inspections.

Committee member Dave Blankenship said he was not sure, but thought it was between $350 and $600. He said his industry (electrical) requires five inspections before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.

Bateman said electrical and final construction inspections should be a minimum before occupancy. He said it would help ensure the homes are better quality. Bateman said he would research what other counties are doing.

Blankenship said as a licensed inspector, he sees electrical as the biggest weakness in the county. Blankenship feels tornadic safety standards should also be considered.

D'Andrea said the county needs to be clear what they are certifying with the Certificate of Occupancy. Other counties he has worked in covered foundation, framing, construction, septic system, and well testing. D'Andrea said people would not be able to occupy a home if a well was bad. He just wants to be clear about what needs to be certified.

Updates from Elkhart community members on Viper Mine Impoundment

Toward the end of the meeting, Elkhart residents Lisa Pasquesi and Paul Lee updated the committee on concerns over contaminated water, fugitive dust, and health problems related to the mine waste storage. They presented these concerns at recent hearings with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which will soon decide whether to approve the permit.

Pasquesi said she wants to know what recourse Elkhart has if the problems get worse and what the County will do for them. She would like someone to help them.

The next Planning and Zoning Committee meeting will be Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

[Angela Reiners]