Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board met April 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Jennifer Smith

Kim Johnsen

Craig Sockwell

Joel Zirkle

Jennifer Spencer

Absent: Tom Fabiano

Jarmeise McNeal

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

Jacob Rubin – Assistant City Attorney

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Darius Morrow – Land Use Planner

Others:

Gabrielle Torina – 5th 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, April 28, 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, May 5, 2025. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, May 20, 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 8:14 PM.

A MOTION was made by Kim Johnsen to APPROVE the March 18, 2025 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Jennifer Spencer and CARRIED by a vote of 4-0-1 with Jennifer Smith abstaining.

25-LTAB-007 641 South Perryville Road

Applicant Camelia D. Padilla / The Spider Sushi Bar, Inc. dba Spider Sushi Bar

Ward 1 Modification of an existing liquor license to allow for the sale of full liquor by the drink and to modify the hours of operation on

Friday and Saturday to 11:00 pm in a C-2, Limited Commercial

Zoning District

Anahi Rubi, presented on behalf of the Applicant, her mother Camelia Padilla. Ms. Rubi stated her mother is the owner of Spider Sushi on Perryville. They sold Spider Sushi on Harrison in 2021 but they have been in business for 16 years. Ms. Rubi explained they have their basic beer and wine license but are ready to provide a variety of drinks to meet customer demands because there have been customers that have left because we don’t have their beverage of choice. Ms. Rubi stated this will also help their business be more competitive and attract more customers.

Attorney Jake Rubin asked for an explanation on the proposed change in the hours of operation. Ms. Rubi stated it will just be one more hour. Attorney Rubin asked Ms. Rubi if they reviewed the report and conditions and if her mother agreed to these conditions. Ms. Rubi stated yes, they agreed to the conditions.

Jennifer Spencer asked if the hours are extending the hours on Saturday and Sunday. Ms. Rubi stated yes, the hours will remain the same during the week.

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the Modification of an existing liquor license to allow for the sale of full liquor by the drink and to modify the hours of operation on Friday and Saturday to 11:00 pm in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle 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. 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 subject property must be in compliance with the approved interior floor plan, Exhibit F.

6. The hours of operation shall be limited to Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

7. 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.

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

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

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 issuance of the license.

12. 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 8:23 PM.

http://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=2755&Inline=True