Council OKs bar and future restaurant as accessory uses at St. Charles Motorcycle Museum with conditions

The Planning and Development Committee approved a request to allow a tavern/bar and future restaurant as accessory special uses at the St. Charles Motorcycle Museum, located at the subject property identified in staff materials.

Staff reported the museum opened last year following approval as a cultural facility and that since opening the operator expanded operations to include a bar on site and now seeks permission for both bar and restaurant uses, which are special uses in the city’s BL zoning district. Staff said the Plan Commission held a public hearing on Oct. 7 and recommended approval subject to three conditions; the applicant submitted a site plan addressing those conditions.

The plan-commission conditions listed by staff include: updating a few parking-lot light fixtures on existing poles to improve lighting; revising vehicle circulation to function as a one-way system using pavement arrows and directional signage; and providing a trash enclosure. Staff said the noted items, plus a landscape setback along Main Street, will be required at the time of permit for the kitchen addition. Staff also said food trucks would be permitted on site as accessories to a bar or restaurant.

Committee members who spoke offered supportive comments about reusing the building and bringing activity to the site. A motion to approve passed on a roll-call vote after a motion by David and second by Bob. The roll call in the transcript recorded a number of "yes" votes and the motion passed.

The approval is contingent on the plan-commission conditions; staff indicated the items will be enforced at permit review and that the site plan provided addresses those conditions.