Rockford Sun

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Jennifer Smith

Craig Sockwell

Joel Zirkle

Jennifer Spencer

Tom Fabiano

Absent: Kim Johnsen

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

Matt Flores – Assistant City Attorney

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Tim Morris – Captain, Fire Prevention

Traci Madison- Administrative Assistant

Others:

Kyaton Shanklin - 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, July 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, August 4, 2025. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, August 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 6:08 PM.

A MOTION was made by Joel Zirkle to APPROVE the June 17, 2025 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-2 with Jennifer Smith and Jennifer Spencer abstaining.

25-LTAB-020 3701 and 3705 Auburn Street

Applicant Obaidah H. El Kassab / RF Food & Liquor, Inc. dba RF Food & Liquor

Ward 7 The sale of packaged liquor sales (Class PKG) and the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a liquor and tobacco store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Laid over from June

Chairwoman Smith announced at the beginning of the meeting that the Applicant had withdrawn this application prior to the meeting.

25-LTAB-024 109 North Showplace Drive, Suite 133

Applicant Mustafa Naji / Sahar Barwaree / Premium Cigar & Vape, LLC dba Premium Cigar & Vape

Ward 1 Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a cigar and vape store in a C-3, Commercial General Zoning District

Raven Ross, Business Development Manager for Solutions Business Center, was present and spoke on behalf of the Applicant, Mustafa Naji. Ms. Ross stated that Mr. Naji is the owner of Premium Cigar & Vape, LLC which will be located at 109 North Showplace Suite 133. Ms. Ross stated this is a new business proposing to sell tobacco products at this location. 

Jennifer Spencer asked if there were more locations in Rockford owned by Mr. Naji. Ms. Ross answered no, but said Mr. Naji is the owner of several businesses in Chicago. Mr. Fabiano asked if the sales would be strictly tobacco products or cigars. Ms. Ross answered the proposed sales will be premium cigars. 

Assistant City Attorney Matt Flores asked Ms. Ross if Mr. Naji had received the staff report and reviewed the conditions of approval. Ms. Ross answered Mr. Naji had received and read the conditions of approval and agreed to the conditions.

Objectors and Interested parties were present. 

Michael Lepart is an adjacent business owner. Mr. Lepart stated he has owned his business adjacent to this property for 7 years and was speaking on behalf of the neighboring owners. He has concerns with tobacco products being consumed on the inside of the businesses. Planning & Zoning Manager Scott Capovilla answered according to the State of Illinois regulations, consumption of any tobacco products is prohibited per the Clean Indoor Air Act. Only standalone buildings, such as a hookah lounge, can consume tobacco products. Mr. Capovilla state that consumption cannot be within a multi-tenant building. Mr. Lepart asked if this regulation could change. Attorney Flores answered this is a state law and it would be up to the General Assembly to make any changes to this regulation. 

Joseph Spangenberg spoke as an interested party. Mr. Spangenberg said, in his opinion, businesses adjacent to vape shops could see their business sales increase. 

Ms. Ross appreciated and thanked Mr. Lepart and Mr. Spangenberg for their comments and concerns. Ms. Ross stated they plan to adhere to the rules, regulations, and requirements that have been set to be compliant with the City of Rockford’s ordinances. 

Joel Zirkle and Tom Fabiano both expressed displeasure with this type of use at this location as they believe it did not fit in with the adjacent uses. Craig Sockwell agreed. Staff recommendation is for approval. 

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a cigar and vape store in a C-3, Commercial General Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle and FAILED by a vote of 2-3 with Joel Zirkle, Craig Sockwell and Tom Fabiano voting nay. 

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:28 PM.

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