Bears’ electronic billboard can remain in Arlington Heights following ‘good faith’ approval

An electronic billboard towering near the former site of Arlington International Racecourse, which the Chicago Bears now owns, will stay up another year – over one village trustee’s objection, despite the town’s ban on such advertising and because it could show “good faith” as Arlington Heights continues to woo the NFL football team there.

The Village Board voted 8-1 at its meeting Tuesday night to allow the team to continue to have the billboard, located on Illinois Route 53 at Northwest Highway in the northwest suburb, until June 30, 2025. Trustee Wendy Dunnington was the lone “no” vote.

Initially, the vote on the extension request was to be part of a package of agenda items the board would consider with one vote and usually no discussion. But Dunnington asked that it be removed from that consent agenda so she could share her opposition to the billboard, which was erected seven years ago.

“I agree with the original purpose of the billboard,” Dunnington said. “It was to provide revenue for the racetrack and to attract more visitors and events to the racetrack.

The trustee explained that when the former owners of the racetrack, Churchill Downs Inc., was first granted permission to have that outdoor advertisement, the racetrack was the largest employer in the village. She said part of the goal in approving it was so racetrack visitors would also patronize other village businesses.

“Since the racetrack is gone, I think it’s time for the billboard to be removed,” Dunnington said. “In my opinion, billboards are an eyesore and this billboard also needs to be repaired,” explaining the Arlington International label on the sign is missing the letter “l” in international.

“I don’t think there’s any benefit to Arlington Heights having this billboard, so I think it’s time for it be removed,” Dunnington said.

But Mayor Tom Hayes and village staff said they believe the billboard’s location is appropriate and they supported the extension.

“Although we do have a policy of not having billboards in Arlington Heights,” Hayes said, “we do have exceptions to our policies and our ordinances. This calls for such an exception. I’ve been in favor of this billboard from the start.”

The Bears purchased the horse racing venue from Churchill Downs last year, inheriting the billboard. The racecourse has since been demolished, and the $5 billion mixed-use redevelopment the NFL team presented to village leaders shortly after buying the site – which included building an enclosed stadium – is in jeopardy.

After being embroiled in property tax squabbles, including with area school districts that get revenue from the land, the Bears made a redevelopment pitch in April that would see a new stadium built right near where the team currently plays on the city of Chicago lakefront.

“Our focus right now is on the city of Chicago” and the lakefront property, Bears CEO Kevin Warren told the Chicago Tribune editorial board right after the city plans were announced. “That’s where we are pouring all our time, energy and effort.”

Nevertheless, Hayes has said Arlington Heights would not count itself out of the running and would continue to work to have the Bears play in his town.

“I would grant an exception regardless of the ongoing redevelopment discussions,” Hayes said, “but the extension also shows our good faith in dealing with this property owner.”

Hayes told Pioneer Press a day after the Village Board meeting that the town’s aversion to billboards and electronic billboards is “primarily aesthetics.” He said proposals for new ones in the village would generally be rejected.

But, the mayor said, the board may consider exceptions, as it did with the Chicago Bears’ billboard.

“The majority of the Village Board, myself included, feel that the location and nature of this billboard warrants an exception,” Hayes told Pioneer Press. “It is not in the heart of a residential or business area that would create an eyesore.”

According to Village Manager Randy Recklaus, the electronic billboard at Arlington Park was originally permitted by the village if it was removed after horse racing operations ended on the property. The racetrack closed Sept. 25, 2021. The Bears were granted an extension last year for the electronic billboard which was set to expire later this month.

“Staff believes the billboard location is unique with the adjacency to Illinois Route 53 and its proximity to other billboards that are just outside village limits and along the same highway,” Recklaus said during the board meeting. “This is something we felt was a unique circumstance, different from other places in town when you’re driving through a retail area and quasi-residential area and seeing a proliferation of signs.”

Village staff had also received a letter from the football team requesting the extension.

“The current owners of the property wish to continue to use the billboard as they plan for the property’s long-term development,” Recklaus said. “The village remains in communication with the ownership and other area stakeholders regarding the potential redevelopment of the site and actively engaged in working with stakeholders to resolve any open issues.

Charles Witherington-Perkins, village director of planning and community development, told Pioneer Press a comprehensive sign code amendment was enacted in Arlington Heights in the 1980s with “the intent to allow tasteful signage without creating sign blight.” Its purpose is to establish standards for signage “preserving property values and enhancing the physical appearance of the village.” He doubted billboards were allowed in the village even before that.

Perkins said the billboard at the racetrack was only allowed because the racetrack was a tourist destination and had direct frontage on Illinois Route 53 and was not near a residential area. In 2017, the Village Board amended the sign code to allow electronic message signs on limited commercial corridors, subject to standards, and permitted them only after a conditional review process.

At the board meeting Wednesday, Trustee Nicolle Grasse said she was in agreement with the good faith partnership with the current property owners but said it was important to reevaluate the sign in a year’s time and ask for repair of the billboard.

Grasse is currently serving simultaneously as a village trustee and state representative after being appointed to the latter post earlier this month.

A pair representing the Bears said the stated problems with the current billboard can be rectified.

“Absolutely, we can give it a facelift, that’s not an issue,” said Stacie Nelson, a procurement and operations specialist with the Chicago Bears.

She joined John Bostrom, senior advisor of operations and safety, who said the team has a company that monitors the electronic sign via camera to make sure cell blocks do not black out which he said can be repaired locally.

Bostrom said he would take the repair request back to the team to evaluate.

Elizabeth Schiele is a freelancer. Pioneer Press staff contributed.