Possible LED Sign Ban Unlikely To Help Algonquin

The McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee Thursday sent an LED Billboard moratorium up the chain for full Board consideration but even if it passes it probably won't stop a pair planned for Algonquin.

The measure would put a hold on accepting applications for any sort of billboard until either mid-April or the County Board passes a new Unified Development Ordinance.  It made it through the P&D Committee, short two members, on a tight 3-2 vote.  Chairman Tina Hill, Woodstock, said when it comes up before the full Board Sept. 18 she'll offer an amendment to clarify that it won't apply to billboards with applications are already pending. "I don't know if that would pass legal muster,"  she said.

Pending approval in the County hopper already is a big LED sign planned for Route 31 north of Klassen Road in unincorporated Algonquin. A second LED billboard on Algonquin Road in another unincoporated Algonquin island is already a done deal.  Earlier this week the Village Board asked the County to stop approving the things, at least until it settles on new sign regulations.

District One Board Member Marc Munaretto, Algonquin, voted against the temporary sign hold, though.  He said he thought the committee was moving too fast, especially approving a measure with a plan to change the language later. "I don't operate that way," he said.

In the pic:  LED billboards are big these days.  Figuratively and literally.