Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board met Sept. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

ZBA Members: Jennifer Smith

Craig Sockwell

Kim Johnsen

Joel Zirkle

Jennifer Spencer

Absent: Tom Fabiano

Staff: Scott Capovilla - Planning and Zoning Manager

Jacob Rubin – Assistant City Attorney

Jeremy Carter – Traffic & Development Engineer

Tim Morris – Captain, Fire Prevention

Traci Madison- Administrative Assistant

Others:

Gabrielle Torina – 5th Ward Alderman

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, September 22, 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, October 6, 2025. If the item is laid over at the LTAB meeting, the next meeting is Tuesday, October 21, 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 6:02 PM.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the August 19, 2025 meeting minutes. The motion was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0

25-LTAB-027 935-937 School Street

Applicant Abdo Manea dba Rockford Convenience Store and West Side Food Mart

Ward 7 Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District

Attorney Mario Tarara was present and spoke on behalf of the Applicant, the new owner of West Side Food Mart. Attorney Tarara is requesting a new license for his client to continue tobacco sales at this location. Attorney Tarara said he had read the conditions of approval and agreed to the conditions.

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the Sale tobacco products in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Kim Johnsen 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 Tobacco Codes.

3. The sale of tobacco products shall be limited to the submitted interior floor plan Exhibit F.

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

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

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

7. 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.

8. The hours of operation shall be limited to Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 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-028 2000 Harrison Avenue

Applicant Rami Fakhouri / Salameh Fakhouri / City Stop, Inc. dba City Stop Inc.

Ward 11 Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District

The Applicant, Rami Fakhouri, was present and said he purchased this existing gas station at this location and it is now the third gas station business he owns in Rockford. This request is to sell tobacco products only at this location.

Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin asked Mr. Fakhouri had he received the staff report and reviewed the conditions of approval. Mr. Fakhouri answered yes and agreed to the conditions.

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Craig Sockwell to APPROVE the Sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in an I-1, Light Industrial 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 Tobacco Codes.

3. Submittal of a revised landscape plan to include the five (5) shade trees and two (2) additional ornamental trees.

4. The sale of tobacco products shall be limited to the location as shown on the interior floor plan (Exhibit F).

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

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

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 Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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.

25-LTAB-029 311 Mulberry Street

Applicant Jaskirat Singh / Majha ASR Corp. dba Riverside Market Place

Ward 13 Sale of package beer and wine (PKG) in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District

Chairperson Smith announced that the Applicant requested a layover prior to the meeting.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to LAYOVER the Sale of package beer and wine (PKG) in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Joel Zirkle and CARRIED by a vote of 5-0.

25-LTAB-015 519 East State Street

Applicant Paul Sletten / Harvey Wallbangers, LLC dba Harvey Wallbangers Ward 2 Modification of a liquor license to allow Sunday sales for the sale of liquor by the drink (Class NG-L) and packaged liquor sales (Class PKG) in conjunction with a restaurant, bar and an outdoor seating area in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District

Elliott Ernst was present on the behalf of the Applicant, Paul Sletten. Mr. Ernst stated he was the manager of Abreo and assists Mr. Sletten with all his restaurants. Assistant City Attorney Jacob Rubin addressed the board. This application was presented a couple of months ago and Paul Sletten/Harvey Wallbangers was approved for a liquor license. They requested Sunday sales at that time but there was a miscommunication with the business plan. Staff agreed to bring this application before the board for a modification of the liquor license to allow Sunday sales. Mr. Ernst agreed with Attorney Rubin’s statement.

No Objectors or Interested parties were present.

Staff recommendation is for approval.

A MOTION was made by Jennifer Spencer to APPROVE the Modification of a liquor license to allow Sunday sales for the sale of liquor by the drink (Class NG-L) and packaged liquor sales (Class PKG) in conjunction with a restaurant, bar and an outdoor seating area in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District. The MOTION was SECONDED by Craig Sockwell 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. Submittal of an interior plan that shows the seating arrangement for the interior of the restaurant, bar and location of packaged liquor for Staff’s review and approval.

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

5. The hours of operation will be limited to Monday through Sunday 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM.

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

9. The restaurant and outdoor seating area 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 the 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 6:11 PM.

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