Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board met March 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members:

Jarmeise McNeal

Kim Johnsen

Tom Fabiano

Craig Sockwell

Joel Zirkle

Jennifer Spencer

Absent: Jennifer Smith

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

Jacob Rubin – Assistant City Attorney

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Traci Madison – Administrative Assistant

Others:

Gabrielle Torina – 5th Ward Alderman

Brianna Bramlett - 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, March 24, 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, April 7, 2025. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, April 15, 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 6:12 PM.

A MOTION was made by Craig Sockwell to APPROVE the February 19, 2025 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Jarmeise McNeal and CARRIED by a vote of 4-2 Jennifer Spencer and Joel Zirkle abstaining.

25-LTAB-001 311 Mulberry Street

Applicant Jaskirat Singh / Majha ASR Corp. dba Riverside Marketplace

Ward 3

The sale of packaged liquor (Class PKG) in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District Laid over from February

This item was withdrawn by the Applicant prior to the meeting.

(Future Ward 13)

25-LTAB-003 3402 North Main Street, Suite #112

Applicant Jeremy Petrocelli / Adam Fitzgerald / Vape N Juice, Inc. dba Vape N Juice

Ward 12

The sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a retail (vape) store in a C-2, Limited Commercial District

Laid over from February

The Applicants, Jeremy Petrocelli and Adam Fitzgerald, were present. Mr. Petrocelli stated that he and his business partner, Mr. Fitzgerald, have been working together for 10 years and have two other locations in Rockford located at 4437 East State Street and 3224 South Alpine Road. This property will be their third location in Rockford.

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

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jarmeise McNeal to APPROVE the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a retail (vape) 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 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. Window display signage is limited to 20% of window area.

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

5. The sale of tobacco products shall be limited to the location as shown on the interior floor plan, Exhibit E.

6. 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.

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

8. Hours of operation would be Sunday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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.

25-LTAB-005 3130 North Rockton Avenue

Applicant Harwinder Kaur / AAG Groceries, Inc. dba Wicked Wings

Ward 9

The sale of liquor by the drink (Class L50) in conjunction with a restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District

The Applicant, Harwinder Kaur, along with her husband, Gurvinder Kaur, were present. Ms. Kaur stated they have operated the grocery store located at 3118 North Rockton Avenue for four years and they are proposing to open a restaurant at 3130 North Rockton Avenue next to the grocery store.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked if Ms. Kaur had received the staff report, reviewed the conditions of approval and agreed to the conditions. She 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 (Class L50) in conjunction with a restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

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. Hours of operation are limited Monday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. as shown on Exhibit G.

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 and/or live entertainment.

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

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

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

9. Removal of non-conforming free-standing sign by July 1, 2025.

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

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.

25-LTAB-006 1555 Sandy Hollow Road

Applicant QuikTrip 1818, LLC dba QuikTrip

Ward 6

The sale of packaged liquor (Class TRK) and the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station, convenience store and licensed large truck stop with video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Attorney Robert Anderson was present along with QuikTrip project manager, Skyler Evans. Attorney Anderson stated this request is for the sale of packaged liquor and tobacco products at a truck stop along with 10 video gaming terminals.

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

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Joel Zirkle to APPROVE the sale of packaged liquor (Class TRK) and the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station, convenience store and licensed large truck stop with video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Jarmeise McNeal and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0.

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 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 F).

5. 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.

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

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

8. There shall not be temporary exterior signage.

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

10. The gas station, convenience store and large truck stop facility shall have no more than ten (10) video gaming terminals.

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 issuance of license and establishment of use.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:26 PM.

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