Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board met Jan. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Jennifer Smith

Kim Johnsen

Jennifer Spencer

Tom Fabiano

Craig Sockwell

Absent: Jarmeise McNeal

Joel Zirkle

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager Jacob Rubin – Assistant City Attorney

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Tim Morris – Fire Prevention

Traci Madison – Administrative Assistant

Others:

Gabrielle Torina – 5th Ward Alderman 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 Monday, January 27, 2025 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, February 3, 2025. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Wednesday, February 19, 2025. 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 7:34 PM.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the November 19, 2024 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

24-LTAB-032 7676 East State Street

Applicant Mohee Uddin / Vishna Rockford, LLC dba Courtyard by Marriott Ward 1 Sale of liquor by the drink, packaged liquor sales and outdoor seating area in conjunction with a hotel and restaurant in a C-3,

General Commercial Zoning District

Elliott Rhoade, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott, was present. Mr. Rhoade spoke on behalf of the applicant, which is the new owner and operator of the Courtyard by Marriott and is requesting to sale liquor by the drink under the new ownership.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked if Mr. Rhoade had received the staff report, reviewed the conditions of approval and agreed to the conditions. Mr. Rhoade said yes and agreed.

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, packaged liquor sales and outdoor seating area in conjunction with a hotel and restaurant in a C 3, General Commercial Zoning District The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

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. The sale of liquor by the drink and packaged sales shall be limited to the area shown on Exhibit G.

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

5. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

6. The hotel shall not operate as a nightclub.

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

8. The hotel and restaurant is prohibited from having any video gaming machines.

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 the issuance of the license.

11.All conditions must be met prior to issuance of license and establishment of use. 24-LTAB-033 6876 Spring Creek Road, Suite 128

Applicant Anthony Artale / Artale Wine & Spirits, LLC dba Artale & Company

Ward 1 Modification of existing liquor license to include an expansion of the liquor store to include an event space with small catering kitchen with the sale of liquor by the drink in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

The Applicant, Anthony Artale, was present. Mr. Artale is requesting to modify his liquor license to sell beer and wine by the drink in an event space.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked if Mr. Artale had received the staff report, reviewed the conditions of approval and agreed to the conditions. Mr. Artale said yes and agreed.

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE a Modification of existing liquor license to include an expansion of the liquor store to include an event space with small catering kitchen with the sale of liquor by the drink in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District The MOTION was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

Approval 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 hours of operation are limited to Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

4. The sale of liquor by the drink is in conjunction with a liquor store and event space.

5. The sale of alcohol shall be limited to the liquor store and event space as shown on Exhibit G.

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

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

8. The proposed use shall not have a cover charge, a dance floor or any DJs.

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

10.The proposed use and facility is prohibited from having any video gaming machines.

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.

Scott Capovilla, Planning & Zoning Manager explained and reviewed the proposed revisions to the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board Rules of Procedure.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Smith to APPROVE the revised Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board Rules of Procedure. The MOTION was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.

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