Delia Dela Cruz seeks extended hours for Club La Bodega amid parking concerns

The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held on March 13, 2025, in Waukegan, Illinois, focused on the conditional use permit for Club La Bodega, a banquet hall seeking to extend its operating hours. The meeting began with a review of compliance issues related to landscaping and parking requirements for the establishment.

City staff reported that Club La Bodega had been working with a contractor to develop a landscaping plan but had not received updates, prompting the need for the business to either comply with the original plan or negotiate a new one with the city. Additionally, a discrepancy in lighting requirements was noted, with the city code stipulating a maximum of 3,000 Kelvin, rather than the 4,000 Kelvin initially mentioned.

The owner of Club La Bodega, Delia Dela Cruz, addressed the commission, explaining that the request for extended hours was driven by customer demand for family-oriented events. She emphasized that her establishment had not been open since October and had not received complaints regarding noise or parking issues during that time. Dela Cruz attributed parking congestion to a nearby bar, stating that her venue had adequate parking and had implemented measures to manage it.

Community member Don Titus, who lives nearby, voiced concerns about parking problems, claiming that patrons of Club La Bodega had blocked driveways and contributed to street congestion. He expressed frustration over the situation, suggesting that the banquet hall's operations were impacting the residential area negatively.

In response, Dela Cruz's daughter, Melissa, defended the banquet hall's practices, asserting that they were working to mitigate parking issues and maintain cleanliness around their property. She highlighted that the congestion was exacerbated by the bar across the street and that their events did not typically cause large crowds to leave simultaneously.

The commission members engaged in discussions about the conditional use permit, considering the history of compliance with previous conditions and the implications of extending operating hours. The meeting concluded with a call for further deliberation on the matter, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to address community concerns while supporting local businesses.

Overall, the meeting underscored the ongoing challenges of managing business operations in residential areas, particularly regarding parking and noise, while also highlighting the importance of community engagement in the decision-making process. The commission is expected to continue reviewing the application and community feedback in future sessions.