The proposed development agreement that Lance Osborne presented to Council this week was incomplete and lacking
in exhibits, but it did include one new item: gigantic, 18-foot-tall, illuminated/LED GetGo signs.
Even if Osborne’s 270+ square foot signs aren’t actually big enough to be seen from
space—okay, maybe that’s a little bit
of an exaggeration---his proposed signs would be big enough (18’ x 15’2”) and
brightly lit enough to be seen from Richmond Heights, from I-271 and from planes
flying to and from the Cuyahoga County airport.
Heck, not even Mayfield
Heights allows signs like that, even along heavily commercialized Mayfield
Road.
Where does Osborne thinks this GetGo will be located----Lake County?
The Bishop/Brainard/Wilson
Mills intersection is a well-established commercial area. The businesses in
that area---the Shell gas station, the Brown-Flynn building and the large professional
building ---use tasteful ground signs to advertise their businesses.
Those signs reflect the established aesthetics of that commercial corner.
Those signs reflect the established aesthetics of that commercial corner.
Obviously Osborne doesn’t care about those aesthetics---or about
fitting into the neighborhood.
He might not care about those things, but Council should.
Highland Heights Ordinance 1145.01 lists five “purposes” for
the city’s sign ordinances, including:
- “protect property values” ( #1)
- “protect and enhance the appearance and character of all areas of the City (#3)
- and “protect …the visual environment along City streets (#4)
Ordinance 1145.08 limits “free-standing” signs in Motor
Service districts (the proposed new zoning classification for the mega GetGo
gas station, subject to voter approval in November) to:
“a single free-standing sign, not to exceed thirty square feet in area”.
Of course a 30 square foot sign isn’t big enough to be seen
from space...
Osborne dismissively called the Highland Heights zoning code
“antiquated” when discussing his gigantic mega GetGo outdoor advertising signs with Council
this week.
Osborne's beef with the Highland Heights zoning code is that it's
designed to protect residents and residential neighborhoods instead of enabling his"development at all costs" project.
Boo hoo.
If he can't follow the rules, maybe it's time for him to come up with a different plan.
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| Ground sign outside of professional building at Brainard/Wilson Mills intersection |
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| Ground sign outside Brown-Flynn building on Wilson Mills Road |
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| Ground sign for Shell gas station at Bishop/Wilson Mills intersection |
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| Osborne's proposed illuminated 18' x 15'2" ( 270+sq. foot) GetGo signs Look at the size compared to the natty-looking guy at the right |
