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Committee approves zoning variances, a conditional-use permit and two liquor-license increases
Summary
The Waukegan Community Development Committee approved a set of zoning and licensing measures at its meeting, granting a setback variance for 705 Chestnut Street, a conditional-use permit and lot-size variance for an auto-repair business at 4840 Grand Avenue, and increases in the city's liquor-license totals to add one Class F-1 license at 2601 Grand Avenue and one Class K catering license for College of Lake County.
The Waukegan Community Development Committee voted to approve four items on its agenda during the meeting.
The committee approved an ordinance granting a variance for an accessory-structure setback at 705 Chestnut Street (zoning calendar no. 2786). The motion to approve was moved by Vice Chair Bolton and seconded by Alderman Martinez; the roll call showed unanimous support by the five members present and the motion passed.
The committee also approved a conditional-use permit (CUP) and accompanying lot-size variance to allow motor-vehicle repair and service on a lot smaller than the 15,000-square-foot requirement at 4840 Grand Avenue (zoning calendar no. 2787). Alderman Martinez moved the measure and Alderman Donaworth seconded. During discussion committee members emphasized concern about curbside storage and a potential "junkyard" appearance and asked what enforcement tools would be available after the business opens. Planning staff and code-enforcement staff told the committee that the approval includes voluntary site improvements (landscaping and striped parking) and that enforcement would rely on the city's licensing and zoning/code-enforcement process. The motion carried 4-1 (Alderman Hayes recorded a dissenting vote).
On liquor licenses the committee voted 4-1 to approve an ordinance increasing the number of Class F-1 (package beer, wine and gasoline) licenses by one for S Grama's Rand Gas Station LLC, d/b/a VP, at 2601 Grand Avenue. Alderman Martinez moved and Alderman Donaworth seconded. During the item members raised a clerical inconsistency in the application (the applicant had listed a Waukegan address in one place and the gas-station address in another). The applicant said he lives in Woodridge and that the corporation holds the location on the application; licensing staff (Susana) and the applicant agreed the application address would be corrected before the item reaches the full council for final action. The committee also approved an ordinance, moved by Alderman Martinez and seconded by Vice Chair Bolton, to increase the number of Class K (catering) liquor licenses by one for College of Lake County, 34 N. Sheridan Road; that measure passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: 5(a) variance, 705 Chestnut St. (zoning cal. no. 2786) '1 motion: approve; mover: Vice Chair Bolton; second: Alderman Martinez; tally: 5-0; outcome: approved. 5(b) CUP and lot-size variance, 4840 Grand Ave. (zoning cal. no. 2787) '1 motion: approve CUP and variance; mover: Alderman Martinez; second: Alderman Donaworth; tally: 4-1; outcome: approved. 5(c) increase Class F-1 license by one, 2601 Grand Ave. (Rand Gas Station LLC d/b/a VP) '1 motion: approve; mover: Alderman Martinez; second: Alderman Donaworth; tally: 4-1; outcome: approved (committee instructed licensing staff to update application record). 5(d) increase Class K catering license by one, College of Lake County, 34 N. Sheridan Road '1 motion: approve; mover: Alderman Martinez; second: Vice Chair Bolton; tally: unanimous; outcome: approved.
Committee members repeatedly noted that code enforcement capacity constrains the city's ability to police appearance and parking after approvals. Planning staff said the site subject to the CUP will add voluntary landscaping and marked parking and that the city's licensing and code-enforcement officers are the primary enforcement path if violations occur. For the Grand Avenue CUP, staff noted that prior occupants had a separate parking agreement with a neighboring property; that agreement had helped manage parking for earlier tenants.
The Class F-1 liquor-license item will be forwarded to the regular council meeting for final action; licensing staff and the applicant agreed to correct the application address before that meeting.
Provenance: agenda items and transcript excerpts for each action are listed below.
Ending: The committee advanced each measure to the next step in the city process. Items that require council finalization will appear at the next regular council meeting; staff follow-up was requested for enforcement details and for correcting the liquor-application address.
