Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Mechanical Board met May 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Craig Sockwell

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Spencer

Tom Fabiano

Kim Johnsen

Joel Zirkle

Absent: Jarmeise McNeal

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

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 secretary and the court reporter.

∙ 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 Tuesday, May 28, 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, June 3, 2024. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, June 18, 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 9:08 PM.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the April 16, 2024 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

24-LTAB-008 3708 North Main Street

Applicant Ahmed Aldhaiah / Sky Tobacco, Inc. dba Sky Tobacco Inc. Ward 12 Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a tobacco shop in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District

Laid over from March, April

Raven Ross and the Applicant, Ahmed Aldhaiah, were present. Ms. Ross stated this was a layover from the last LTAB meeting. Ms. Ross stated the board has the documents regarding the closure of J & Y Tobacco and with the replacement store, Sky Tobacco, so they are not adding any additional store to the area.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked Ms. Ross if had she reviewed the staff recommendation and agreed with the conditions of approval. Ms. Ross answered yes and agreed.

No objectors or interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a tobacco store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

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 what products will be displayed for sale and where they are located, where shelving will be located and where the tobacco sales would occur.

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

9. Hours of operation would be Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

10.The Applicant will complete the acquisition of the inventory of J & Y Tobacco and J & Y Tobacco will forfeit their license prior to the issuance of the new license for Sky Tobacco, Inc.

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 the issuance of the license.

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

24-LTAB-012 212 East State Street

Applicant Paul Sletten / Disco Chicken, LLC dba Disco Chicken Ward 3 Sale of liquor by the drink (Class NG-L) and the sale of package liquor (Class PKG) in conjunction with a restaurant and bar with an outdoor seating area in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District

Laid over from April

The Applicant, Paul Sletten, was present. Mr. Sletten apologized for missing the last meeting. He is requesting a liquor license for Disco Chicken which will be located at 212 East State Street. Mr. Sletten said there is not a lot of remodeling just the décor inside. Mr. Sletten has been selling fried chicken sandwiches, tater tots, fun juice drinks and ice cream with his Disco Chicken truck for the last 5 years. The goal is to have a big presence in the center of downtown, catering to late night and weekends, families, and people hanging out after concerts and shows.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked Mr. Sletten if he had reviewed the staff recommendation and agreed with the conditions of approval. Mr. Sletten answered yes and agreed.

Km Johnsen asked Mr. Sletten if he was continuing to use the Disco Chicken food truck. Mr. Sletten answered yes.

Jennifer Smith highly recommended the food especially the chicken sandwich. No objectors or interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the sale of Sale of liquor by the drink (Class NG-L) and the sale of package liquor (Class PKG) in conjunction with a restaurant and bar with an outdoor seating area in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0-1 with Jennifer Spencer abstaining.

Approval based on the following conditions:

1. Must meet all applicable Building and Fire codes.

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

3. Submittal of a revised interior floor plan for the lower level, first floor, second floor and roof top patio that includes tables, chairs and bar stools for Staff’s review and approval

4. The sale of liquor by the drink shall be limited to the site plan and revised interior floor plan approved by Staff.

5. The hours of operation will be limited to Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 am to 12:00 am and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:00 am.

6. The proposed use and facility are prohibited from having any video gaming machines

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 restaurant and outdoor seating area shall not have a cover charge, dance floor or any DJs.

10. Outdoor music would have to cease operations at 11:00 P.M. per the City’s Noise Ordinance (Section 17-28).

11. The restaurant and outdoor seating area shall not operate as a nightclub.

12. Any pen

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

14. All conditions must be met prior to issuance of license establishment of use.

24-LTAB-016 211 Elm Street, Suite C

Applicant Thomas Minnihan / Michael Minnihan / Minni’s Bar, Inc. dba Minni’s Bar

Ward 13 Sale of liquor by the drink (Class L50) in conjunction with a restaurant with an outdoor seating area and video gaming terminals in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District

Attorney Gino Galluzzo and the Applicant, Thomas Minnihan, were present. Attorney Galluzzo stated they are requesting a liquor license (Class L50) in conjunction with a restaurant with outdoor seating and video gaming terminals at 211 Elm Street Suite C. Attorney Galluzzo stated the business is locating here where there is approximately 2,200 square feet and it seats about 54 people inside and 16 people for outside dining. Attorney Galluzzo has reviewed the staff recommendation and the conditions of approval and agrees with the conditions. Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin stated Staff neglected to include in the staff recommendations a condition of approval that the restaurant have no more than 5 video gaming terminals. Attorney Galluzzo agreed to the additional condition.

No objectors or interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the sale of liquor by the drink (Class L50) in conjunction with a restaurant with an outdoor seating area and video gaming terminals in

a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District adding a condition the restaurant have no more than 5 video gaming terminals. The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0

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 Liquor Codes.

3. Hours are limited to 11:00 a.m. to 12:00am (midnight) Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday as shown in Exhibit F.

4. Window display signage shall be limited to 20% of the window surface area.

5. There shall not be a cover charge, dance floor, DJ’s or live entertainment.

6. The restaurant use shall not operate as a nightclub.

7. The sale of liquor by the drink in the outdoor seating area shall be limited to the area as shown on Exhibit E.

8. Submittal of a menu for staff’s review and approval.

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

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

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

12. All conditions must be met prior to issuance of license and establishment of use.

13. The restaurant shall have no more than five (5) video gaming terminals.

24-LTAB-017 3605 Auburn Street

Applicant Marco Revoredo / Taqueria La Katrina, Inc. dba Taqueria La Katrina

Ward 7 Modification of an existing liquor license for the sale of liquor by the drink in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Arturo Zepeda and the Applicant, Marco Revoredo, were present. Mr. Revoredo is the owner of Taqueria La Katrina and he is requesting a modification of an existing liquor license. The current license is for beer only and he would like to expand to full liquor service. Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked Mr. Revoredo if he had reviewed the staff recommendation and agreed with the conditions of approval. Mr. Revoredo answered yes and agreed.

One interested parties was present.

Alderman Isidro Barrios spoke in favor of this application and stated this was a good business for the area.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE a Modification of an existing liquor license for the sale of liquor by the drink in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

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 Liquor Codes.

3. The subject property must be in compliance with the approved site and landscaping plans, Exhibit E, including the reconfiguration of the ADA parking spaces.

4. Submittal of a revised interior floor plan that includes the number of chairs, stools, and video gaming terminals should be submitted to Staff’s for review and approval.

5. The sale of liquor by the drink shall be in conjunction with a restaurant and limited to the revised interior floor plan approved by Staff.

6. The hours of operation shall be limited to Monday through Sunday 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 a.m.

7. The proposed use shall not have a cover charge, dance floor, DJs or live entertainment.

8. The proposed use shall not operate as a nightclub.

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

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

11. All conditions must be met prior establishment of use and issuance of license.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.

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