Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board met Feb. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Craig Sockwell

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Spencer

Kim Johnsen

Joel Zirkle

Absent: Jarmeise McNeal

Tom Fabiano

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Tim Morris - Fire Inspector

Jacob Rubin – Assistant City Attorney

Traci Madison – Administrative Assistant

Others:

Isidro Barrios-11th Ward Alderman

Camille Connell Court Stenographer

Applicants and interested parties

Scott Capovilla, Planning & Zoning Manager, explained the format of the meeting will follow the Boards Rules of Procedure generally outlined as follows:

•  The Chair will call the address of the application.

•  The Applicant or Representative will come forward and be sworn in.

•  The Applicant or representative will present their request to the Board.

•  The Board will ask any questions they may have regarding this application.

•  The Chairman will then ask if there are any Objectors or Interested Parties. Objectors or Interested Parties are to come forward at that time, be sworn in by the Chairman, and give their name to the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board secretary and the stenographer.

•  The Objector or Interested Party will state their name and present all their concerns, objections and questions regarding the application.

•  The Board will ask any questions they may have of the Objector or Interested Party.

•  The Applicant will have an opportunity to rebut the concerns/questions raised by the Objector or Interested Party.

•  No further discussion from the Objector or Interested Party will occur after the rebuttal of the Applicant.

•  The Board will ask any final questions they may have regarding this application.

•  The Board will then deliberate and a roll call vote taken.

The LTAB meeting is not a final vote on any item. However, it is the only time in which the public may participate. After the LTAB meeting, the item moves on to the Code & Regulation Committee. Although the public is invited to attend the meeting, public input is not allowed at the committee meeting. The date of the Code & Regulation meeting will be Monday, February 26, 2024 at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers (2nd floor of City Hall) as the second vote on these items. The third and final meeting in this process is the City Council. That vote is tentatively scheduled on Monday, March 4, 2024. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, March 19, 2024. If for any reason the item is laid over at the committee level or on the City Council floor, the item is automatically laid over for two (2) weeks.

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the January 17, 2024 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 4-0-1 with Joel Zirkle abstaining.

24-LTAB-001 1344 East State Street

Applicant Abdullqader Saleh / State Street Gas Mart, Inc. dba BP Gas Station Ward 2 Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Attorney Mario Tarara presented on behalf of the applicant, Abdullqader Saleh, owner of BP Gas Station. Attorney Tarara is requesting a tobacco license for the BP gas station located at 1344 East State Street. This licensing would be a continuation from the previous ownership and business operations would not change. Attorney Tarara stated the staff recommendations had been reviewed and his client has no problem with complying with the conditions. Attorney Tarara, however, request condition number13, removal of the non-conforming freestanding sign be extended to June 30, 2026. Kim Johnsen asked Attorney Tarara if the hours of operation suggested by staff for Sunday through Saturday 5:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight) were ok. Attorney Tarara answered yes.

One interested party was present.

John O’Dea lives in the Camelot Square Condominiums. Mr. O’Dea has lived in the condominium since 2006. Mr. O’Dea expressed there is a lot of noise coming from the gas station late at night and according to Mr. O’Dea crimes have occurred and a lot of litter. Mr. O’Dea mentioned a makeshift memorial on the property that in his opinion should be removed as it negatively impacts the neighborhood. Attorney Tarara spoke to Mr. O’Dea concerns with the makeshift memorial and to his knowledge is not in conjunction with the gas station property and he believes it is on a ComEd pole. Attorney Tarara also stated that the neighborhood concerns in regards to the noise and litter would be worked on to correct in the future. Attorney Tarara offered the owner’s contact information should any issues arise and stated they would make every effort to keep the property clean and looking good. Mr. O’Dea stated he would like the contact information. Kim Johnsen stated not being open 24 hours should correct some of Mr. O’Dea concerns. Jennifer Spencer stated two years would be too long of an extension for the removal of the sign, but would consider one year. Craig Sockwell agreed with Ms. Spencer on the length of time of the extension and that the maximum should be one year.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District amending condition 13 for removal of the non-conforming freestanding sign by June 30, 2025. The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

Approval is based on the following conditions:

1. Meet all Applicable Building and Fire Codes.

2. Compliance with all City of Rockford Code of Ordinances including Tobacco Codes.

3. Submittal of a revised floor plan indicating location and types of products for sale.

4. Submittal of a revised site plan to include the location of parking spaces, dumpster location and perimeter landscaping along East State Street and Summit Street.

5. Submittal of a landscaping plan for Staff review and approval by April 30, 2024.

6. Installation of the approved landscaping plan by June 30, 2024.

7. Window display signage is limited to 20% of window area.

8. The windows shall not be covered with bars or other devices that block the windows.

9. The sale of tobacco products shall be limited to the location as shown on the revised floor plan.

10.The sale of rose tubes, airplane-sized bottles (50 ml (1.7 ounces) or less) and any other products that can be deemed to be easily manufactured into drug paraphernalia is prohibited.

11.The sale of water pipes and “huka” or “hookah” pipes are prohibited.

12.Hours of operation shall be limited to Sunday through Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight).

13.Removal of the non-conforming freestanding sign by June 30, 2025.

14.Any pending general ordinance case(s) must be resolved prior to issuance of the license.

15.All outstanding general ordinance fines must be paid prior to the issuance of the license. 16.All conditions must be met prior to issuance of license and establishment of use.

24-LTAB-002 8070 East State Street

Applicant QuikTrip Corporation dba QuikTrip #7206

Ward 1 The sale of packaged liquor (Class PKG) and sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Attorney Rob Anderson spoke on behalf of QuikTrip Corporation. Store manager Ali Bukhres was present as well. Attorney Anderson is requesting tobacco and liquor license for a gas station convenience store at 8070 East State Street. The station is currently under construction and is scheduled to open sometime in April. Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked if Attorney

Anderson had read and reviewed the staff recommendation and agreed to the conditions. Attorney Anderson stated yes.

No objectors or interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the sale of packaged liquor (Class PKG) and sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

Approval is based on the following conditions:

1. Meet all applicable Building and Fire Codes.

2. Compliance with all City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Codes.

3. The sale of liquor shall be limited to the submitted plan (Exhibit F).

4. The sale of tobacco shall be limited to the submitted plan (Exhibit I).

5. There shall be no single serving sale of beer or wine in volumes of 16 oz. or less.

6. The sale of rose tubes, airplane-sized bottles and any other products that can be deemed to be easily manufactured into drug paraphernalia is prohibited.

7. The sale of water pipes and “huka” or “hookah” pipes are prohibited.

8. Window display signage is limited to 20% of window area.

9. There shall not be temporary exterior signage.

10. The windows shall not be covered with bars or other devices that block the windows.

11. Any pending general ordinance case(s) must be resolved prior to issuance of the license.

12. All outstanding general ordinance fines must be paid prior to issuance of the license.

13. All conditions must be met prior to establishment of use.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.

http://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=2500&Inline=True