Crete Township received approval from the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday for a new digital sign at its community center, a project that required a special use permit and two variances to move forward.

The commission voted unanimously to support the township’s plan to install an on-premise dynamic display at its facility located at 25930 S. Cottage Grove Avenue. The township plans to repurpose an existing brick sign structure, replacing the static center portion with a modern digital screen to display community announcements and event information.

The property, formerly a workshop facility for the New Hope community service agency, was acquired by the township in October 2024 to serve as a hub for residents.

“The Crete Township Community Center currently offers senior citizen activities, women’s exercise groups, and in the fall, the community center will expand to youth and family programs,” said Katie Nagy of Ancel Glink, the attorney representing the township.

Nagy also highlighted a critical public safety function for the new sign. “Crete Township and the county are actually currently discussing emergency management plans and the community center will be used as an emergency shelter,” she explained. “The dynamic display can also be utilized to share any news related to potential emergencies as well as directing residents to the community center as an emergency shelter.”

The project required three separate approvals from the commission due to its location and zoning. Because dynamic displays require special permission in residential and agricultural zones, the township needed a special use permit.

Additionally, two variances were necessary because the existing sign, built over two decades ago, does not meet current county codes. One variance allows the sign to be 219 feet from the nearest residential structure, closer than the 300-foot setback required for digital displays. The second variance permits the sign to remain at its current location 7 feet from the street right-of-way, inside the required 10-foot setback for freestanding signs.

Will County planning staff recommended approval for all three requests. In a staff report, planners noted that the closest residence is heavily screened by a dense hedge and mature trees, which would likely obscure much of the sign’s messaging. They also concluded that repurposing the existing sign would not alter the essential character of the area and would help the township manage project costs.

The county’s zoning ordinance places several restrictions on the sign’s operation, including limiting message dwell time to a minimum of 10 seconds and regulating brightness levels, particularly at night. The commission’s approval is contingent on the township adhering to all county codes for dynamic displays.